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2006 Scion xB Road Test

Scion for Life

If you owned a plain Jane "econo-box" in 2001 it was total BS; that is "Before Scion". Before Scion, Toyotas economy cars lacked performance and style and therefore were practically invisible to enthusiasts. Scion flipped the script and now the brand and its models have major "street-cred". The Scion xB even earned a cameo in the latest Fast and Furious episode, Tokyo Drift.

With the exception of models like the Supra and Celica, both now deceased, Toyotas are generally not thought of as enthusiast cars. While the Japanese brands cars are well-built and reliable, with high re-sale values, theyre normally pretty BORING! Take, for instance, the top-selling Camry. Does anyone ever buy a Camry because of its striking style or overwhelming performance? PLEASE! We all know the answer to that. The Camry is the automotive equivalent to white wallpaper; it lacks character.

Scions xB hardly lacks style. (Photo: Larry Cornwell, American Auto Press)

No doubt peoples conception of Toyota, due in part to the Camry and other function-over-form vehicles in its lineup, was the cause of skepticism when the Scion brand was first launched in 2003 and announced that Gen Y was their target demographic. After all, many in the Gen Y group are enthusiasts who grew up with the Fast and Furious film series and Import tuner scene. I too was skeptical concerning Toyotas plans to reach the sonic youth. However, my preconceived opinions of Scion flipped after only a few minutes behind the wheel of the xB... and then I drove it! Not unlike some other experiences, crow was my main dining course

Some love it, some hate it, but the xB has an undeniable presence. (Photo: Larry Cornwell, American Auto Press)

after the first day of testing.

If you look at the Scion xB and you only see ugly, you just dont get it. In the Scion clique, unlike most other brands, its as much about the Scion culture that Toyota has creatively orchestrated as it is about the models themselves.

"The Scion brand has a tremendous social element," explains Scott Black Scion xB owner. "The web site Scionlife.com has almost 30,000 members for which I am a site moderator. And there are many Scion based car clubs throughout the U.S. As a Scion owner, I have had the privilege of meeting some quality people.  They have all helped and advised me in the modifying and tuning of my xB. The Scion culture is growing every

The xB is more about expressing lifestyle than mere transportation. (Photo: Larry Cornwell, American Auto Press)

day and looks to be a huge part of the Import Tuning scene for years to come."

In 2005, Scion sold 154,485 units, which was 31,485 over their target of 125,000 units. In making a connection to the young, the hip and the "in" crowd, Scion is not looking to put an xA, xB or tC in every driveway. Similar to everything else that has a "cool" element, whether it be music, fashion, art or films, once the mass populous has caught on, "it" is no longer where its at.
As a general rule, with any movement that involves the four elements of cool (five, if you include language), there are a few constants. In general, those in the loop seek or start trends because they want something new, something different, something they can call their own, and something that few others have. The xB is definitively cool; at least to some. (Photo: Larry Cornwell, American Auto Press) />
Toyota is in an ideal position concerning the Scion brand. As one of the most, if not the most profitable companies in the automotive industry, Toyota does not have to force the issue with Scion. Scion limits its sales reach to make sure that it does not over saturate the marketplace, which would take away its underground, cult-of-cool status. In time, this will bring younger buyers into the company fold by making them Toyota buyers and perhaps Lexus buyers down the road. Currently, the average age of Toyota buyers is around 40. Transversely, the average age of Scion buyers is an industry low at 31.

"You really have to come out to the meets to understand," says May See Yang, aka xBeepbeep xB owner. "Lots of guys are there and Im usually the only girl, so I automatically feel special. Ha Ha! Even though I dont understand the car jargon, I always feel like I fit right in and

Toyotas Scion experiment is working. Its a first step into the Toyota family. (Photo: Larry Cornwell, American Auto Press)

we have a lot of fun."

Once behind the wheel and on the road, the Scion xB pulls you in and instantly initiates you into the fraternity of cool. Similar to the exterior, the interior has a unique style of its own with its instruments and gauges off-set to the center of the dash. The only problem that I encountered with this setup came when I used the turn signals. When clicking on the left turn signal, the blinking signal indicator, which is located to the right, caught me off guard at times.

Its somewhat choppy ride wasnt unexpected in a $16,000 vehicle, but all in all it wasnt bad. In addition, as expected, its 103 horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder did not motivate the xB very well. This, in combination with its brick wall-like aerodynamics, made things interesting at highway speeds during windy conditions. In fact, during a couple of runs on the highway when headwinds were encountered, it felt like an anchor had been dropped.

Not only does the

Customization is Scions trump card, and like this "girl power" pink interior, the brand offers something for everyone. (Photo: Larry Cornwell, American Auto Press)

xB lack in power, but it leaves a lot to be desired concerning cornering ability. During slightly above-average speeds, it pushed like a lawnmower mid-curve. The brakes, however, werent too bad considering everything else.

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