The new xB: Scion's icon loses rough edges

The new xB, on sale now, is more powerful and smoother-riding. But Scion was known for not appealing to everyone.

Scion xB
The new xB is longer and wider than the old version a change that makes for greater interior space.
Scion xB
Cost: Prices start at $15,650

Drivetrain: 2.4-liter, 158 horsepower, 4-cylinder engine with four-speed shiftable automatic or five-speed manual transmission.

Fuel economy: 22 mpg city, 28 highway (Based on revised EPA testing methods)

The xB isn't the most popular of Scion's three models. That would be the tC, the sporty-looking coupe. But the xB is, safe to say, the car most people think of when they think of Scion.

The price is about 12 percent higher than the old version but the xB still manages to seem like a lot of vehicle for the money.

The old xB's ultra-cubic shape distinguished it from anything else on America's roads except, perhaps, for the Honda Element, which was introduced here around the same time.

The basic shape had been around in Japan for a long time. Nissan also sells a box-shaped vehicle there called The Cube, and Nissan designer Shiro Nakamura, once told me that the simple shape appeals to a Japanese fascination with efficiency.

Cars like the xB allow as much as possible to be carried in as little space as possible with a shape that speaks of a concern for practicality over style or speed.

The new xB carries a somewhat more American attitude. It's longer and has a more powerful engine than the old model, and it has a more SUV-like shape.


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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.