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2008 Scion xD Preview

You might not have even heard of the brand Scion, and have never heard of the name xB, yet you could probably identify one if it drove right by. It's that little box on wheels that doesn't have a single rounded edge on its body, and is quite possibly the only vehicle on this planet that makes both the Honda Element and an old Volvo station wagon look curvy. Despite its immensely strong image, the rest of the Scion range doesn't stand out as much, and lurks in the xB's shadow. The tC, while important to the brand's youthful image, is somewhat forgettable, even though it remains the only Toyota passenger car, besides the Yaris, to bear less than four doors now that the Solara is headed towards the history books. But the most neglected seems to be the xA. It was born at the same time as the xB, and, besides the body that sits on top, is technically its identical twin. They both rode on the same Toyota Echo chassis, were powered by the efficient 1.5-liter VVT-i engine, and were highly customizable thanks to a massive array of factory-authorized

We can't help but think that with more power, more equipment and a new look, the xD will have a bigger impact than the xA. (Photo: Scion)

aftermarket parts. But the xA never rode the wave of success or notoriety in the way that the xB did.

But things changed earlier this year when Scion launched revised versions of its founding modelsat Chicago. The xB's name might've stayed the same, but everything else is different: it's bigger, less boxy, more powerful, and it's unrelated to the car of old. Likewise, things are different for the xA; it's bigger, also less boxy, more powerful and what's more, it's got a different name. Scion decided to start fresh from a new page and has shifted the name down the alphabet a bit to xD.

As far as interiors go, the xD is a big step forward over the very basic and somewhat bland

Most cars just have an aux-in jack, but the xD features a standard iPod jack that charges your player and allows control via the steering wheel or headunit. (Photo: Scion)

xA. Besides looking busier, and less simplistic, the most obvious change is a shift away from the central instrument layout of the old car to a more conventional location in front of the driver. The instruments also provide more information, and include an LCD display for fuel and mileage readings. Like the Yaris, the xD also has two glove boxes and deep door pockets for organizing life's clutter, and there's plenty of cubbies both hidden and open to stash and stow belongings. Another clever feature borrowed from the Toyota hatchback is a rear seat that slides forwards and backwards by six inches in order to increase legroom for rear passengers or cargo room in the trunk. The rear seat also reclines up to ten degrees, providing extra comfort.

Underneath though, the xD still shares its roots with Toyota's smallest

Very impressive standard equipment list; they didn't skimp out on safety features either. (Photo: Scion)

car,the new generation Echo otherwise known as Yaris. Dimensionally, the xD and the Yaris ride on the same, 96.9-inch long wheelbase, though it's longer and wider for a roomier cabin. The xD also features a simple, cost-effective layout consisting of struts up front and a torsion beam rear suspension for a good balance between cargo capacity and ride comfort; the brakes are discs up front and drums in back, though ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist is standard.

When it comes to safety, the xD is very well equipped for a car in the subcompact category, bearing front, side and curtain airbags as standard equipment, not to mention available stability and traction control, which is the only option on the xD. Come to think of it, that absolutely shames the regular Yaris, which can't be had with side or curtain airbags until the range-topping sedan model. Another unexpected safety gadget is a tire pressure monitor, which too is standard.

Sliding rear bench also reclines for extra comfort. (Photo: Scion)

It's not just the safety kit that has us impressed, as the standardequipment list is just as long. Every xD gets power windows, mirrors and door locks with keyless entry, air conditioning, and a tilt steering wheel with remote controls. Scion's philosophy with the xD is for consumers to only have to choose between colors and the transmission, plus the standalone option of stability and traction control, which takes the fuss out of purchasing. We really like the fact that Scion went all out in creating a “mono-spec” model; it saves manufacturing costs in production and it gives consumers a nicely equipped product with all the desirable gizmos and gadgets, saving the latter any temptation to hop from dealer lot to dealer lot in order to get the exact car they want. As for colors, there's a choice between white, silver, black, gray, red and navy, all of which will look familiar if you've dropped into your local Toyota dealership recently. Scion also offers three different wheel covers for the large 195/60R16 steel wheels.

We wouldn't be doing the xD justice if we didn'tdelve into the stereo that it

It's a much better looking interior; less chintzy with better equipment too. (Photo: Scion)

comes equipped with. Like style and performance, sound equipment plays a large role in the lives of many Scion customers, in particular the youthful, tuner types that the brand appeals to. Whereas almost all subcompacts under the sun come with dreadful, tinny systems sporting simple head-units plus two, or perhaps four speakers, the standard stereo in the xD kicks butt. It's a six-speaker 160-watt Pioneer system that boasts Scion Sound Processing (SSP), which offers three pre-set equalizer settings, satellite radio compatibility, speed-sensitive volume adjustment, and Sound Retouch Technology that aims to improve the sound quality on less than perfect recordings. Scion also took into account that a good portion of its customers will probably rip out the stereo system in favor of something with more power, so they've made sure that the headunit and all of its features are compatible with different speakers and subwoofers. Finally, what's likely to be a high point for all xD customers is the fact that the standard audio system not only has an aux-in jack for mp3 players, but a plug for an iPod that can be controlled via the car's steering wheel mounted controls. The headunit also displays the track credits.

Even

Scion hopes that you'll remember this one. It's the new xD, plus a modified version to the right. (Photo: Scion)

though the Yaris and xD have the same underpinnings, the xDgets a decent power hike over its plain clothes counterpart in the form of a 1.8-liter inline-four over the Yaris' 1.5-liter engine. This is the new four-cylinder that recently debuted in Europe's Auris and will most likely make its way into the next-generation Corolla. With four valves per cylinder, a DOHC and the VVT-i system, the bigger engine makes 128 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. And as usual, there's the standard choice between five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. It should be brisker than the Yaris thanks to more power, while fuel consumption should be better than the Corolla or Matrix, which use a similar size, albeit older engine, and are larger.

Thanks to the xB growing in size, the xD has now become the entry level vehicle in the Scion range. Its generous levels of standard equipment and unique take on the subcompact market segment will mean that it'll be more expensive to purchase than a Yaris, but it should nevertheless be an affordable buy. Scion also hopes that the new xD will fare better than the outgoing xA, as it no longer competes with the xB. The xD will arrive in showrooms shortly, along with the xB, and for those looking to tune their vehicle, Scion is hot on the case with a plethora of parts specifically designed for it.

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