2023 Scion xB
The 2023 Scion xB is a compact car manufactured for the United States market by Scion, now a wholly owned division of Toyota. The Scion xB offers good acceleration thanks to the car’s torque-rich engine, which makes it easy to overtake at high speeds. However, both manual and automatic transmissions are outdated compared to competitors with six or more speeds. The Toyota xB steering feel is good and handling is also boxy, with very little body roll.
The Scion xB 2023 model offers 69.9 cubic feet of cargo volume with the rear seats folded down, and the room is generous for five passengers. BeSpoke audio system with navigation, 17-inch wheels, 19-inch TRD wheels, lowering springs, sport muffler, performance air intake, performance shocks, rear anti-roll bar, strut, and a tailwind deflector.
The driving dynamics of the car are also good, with the 2.4-liter I-4’s respectable power, respectable stability, and good steering feel, as we noted in our comparison test with the Kia Soul and the recently discontinued Nissan Cube. The second generation is not distinctive due to its more conservative exterior design and larger footprint, and it “lags behind the original”. The Scion xB has a four-star rollover safety rating. In IIHS evaluations, the car scored well in all four categories and scored marginally in the small-overlap pretest.
Scion xB Interior
The Scion xB is a five-seater in standard cloth upholstery. The cabin is unimpressive as many surfaces use low-rent materials, making the xB feel cheaper than its competitors. On the bright side, it’s definitely roomy. Both rows of seats have enough head and leg room for even taller adults to ride comfortably. This Scion has two full sets of LATCH connectors for attaching child safety seats. The Scion xB comes standard with a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a six-speaker Pioneer audio system, Bluetooth, USB port, auxiliary audio input, and HD Radio.
Inside, the infotainment controls are well organized and easy to reach, but the gauges are in the middle of the dashboard, making it difficult for some to read. The Scion xB is a good choice for those who value practicality, thanks to its roomy interior that can hold five passengers or 69.9 cubic feet of cargo.
Scion xB Engine
The Scion xB comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower. The 2023 Toyota xB accelerates quickly from a stop but struggles when it comes to highway crossing and merging. Both transmissions aren’t great: the guidance isn’t smooth and it doesn’t respond automatically. This Scion has precise steering, stable handling, and powerful brakes. However, it’s not as agile as some rivals and the ride feels stiff. Front-wheel drive comes standard. The Scion xB gets 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, these are below-average scores for the class.
Scion xB Safety
The Scion xB comes standard with anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, and a rearview camera. In braking testing, the xB stopped at 60 mph at 124 feet—an average distance for a small wagon or hatchback. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Scion xB with the highest good rating in moderately overlapping front stability, side-impact, and roof strength tests. The Scion xB’s seat/head restraint design was also rated best for whiplash protection in a rear-end collision. However, in this agency’s small overlapping frontal offset test, the 2023 Scion xB received the second-lowest rating.