 |
| 2011 Scion xb |
The front grille features a new honeycomb pattern and improved headlamp design. Changes to the 2011 Scion xB’s interior offer significantly more comfort and convenience to all of its occupants. Driver- and front-passenger seats are redesigned to include larger bolsters for greater comfort and stability.
Eight years ago, Toyota introduced the Scion brand with two cars: the xA and xB. The funky Scion xB had roots in a Japan-market car. Scion’s box-on-wheels quickly won a fan base stateside for its small footprint and versatile interior. Scion rolled out the second-generation Scion xB in 2008. The new car sported a more powerful engine and larger wheels: better suited for driving on American highways. An audio upgrade on 2010 and newer models adds standard USB and iPod connectivity.
Engineers minimized weight gain by replacing the hydraulic power steering system in the original model with a lighter, more compact electric power steering system.
A TRD wheel upgrade and rear sway bar significantly improves performance on challenging roads. The nineteen-inch wheels and tires cost $2150, while the sway bar adds $325. With the second-row seats folded flat, the Scion xB easily meets our bicycle-friendly standards.
The optional rear sway bar developed by TRD (Toyota Racing Development) enhances rear axle performance on winding roads. Four-wheel disc brakes with four channel antilock braking stop the car in a firm, linear manner. The first-generation "Scion xB" came with 15-inch wheels. The wheels and tires worked fine on surface streets, but didn’t perform particularly well on the highway. The standard 16-inch rims offer a more stable footprint, but the 19-inch wheels make the xB far more capable of aggressive performance. The front seats fully recline to increase the xB’s cargo space. Redundant audio controls on the steering wheel minimize driver distraction.
Scion’s buttered bread comes from its thick catalogue of accessories that customers can add at the time of purchase. The Scion xB has 47 different accessories, from carbon-fiber window trims and 19-inch alloy wheels, to illuminated sill plates, a different steering wheel and upgraded audio and navigation systems.
Also available are Toyota Racing Development (TRD) branded parts, from big brake kits, lowering springs, performance clutches, strut-braces, sway bars and even a limited-slip differential for cars with manual transmissions.
The Scion xB’s fuel economy isn’t terrible at 22/28 mpg (city/hwy), but that’s been blunted by this generation’s big increase in size and weight compared to the original.
