2007 Chicago Auto Show: More on the 2008 Scion xB, Arriving in April

News this morning is that the all-new 2008 Scion xB will go on sale this April. No prices have been announced. After seeing it in person, we can say it has a lot of room in the cabin for passengers, but with the rear-seats folded down there doesn’t seem to be as much room as there was on the almost cargo-van-like floor of the past xB because of a high floor height.

Full iPod connectivity also comes standard, with an added auxiliary jack for those who use non-iPod portable players. Scion also brought out a customized version that uses specialized parts that can be ordered at dealerships, including the TRD supercharger available on the tC coupe that adds 25% more hp.

We were impressed. Check out the horde of photos below and tell us what you think.

2008 Scion xB Customized

2008 Scion xB Interior

Comments

[sd]

Yuck. I can't believe Scion did this to the Boxy xB. What were they thinking? I hate the bubbled out backend. The xB was awesome because of its sharp edges and boxy look. Now it is just like a van. I will not be getting this...maybe I can get a good deal on a 2007 original xB. All the hype for this?? Say goodbye to all the xB lovers...

[Dave T.]

sd,
Toyota has stopped production of the old xB so you'll only get one that's currently on a dealer lot.

[JR]

I personally own a rs1.0 xB and was eagerly awaiting the newest rendition. To say that I am dissappointed is an understatement. They have abandoned all that made the xB what it is, or rather was. This car is no longer the wonderfully original eyecatcher. It has become just another hatchback, blending and mixing in the crowd of imports and domestics already out there. Inspiring comments like "it resembles a mini or VW" instead of it being unmistakably Scion. I would expect this from GM, but I had hoped for more from Toyota.
Needless to say I will not be adding one of these to the garage.

JR

[johnny t]

it does remind me of a stretched golf, but there difference here is one is a toyota, the other is a vw. toyota is high quality enough to overcome odd styling, they've been doing so for years. i like the interior, even the 'captains' chairs.

[wade]

It totally looks like a stretched Golf/Rabbit. I actually like it better than the previous model. It looks like it's been chopped. I can see a tuner/hot-rod scheme.

[David D.]

I heard somewhere that Scion was not going to revamp any models, simply build new ones - that was a distinguishing characteristic of the new, young, fresh brand. Any model they built was going to be unique and instead of restyling a vehicle, they'd move to something else (new name and all) Anyone else heard of that? If so, I guess it wasn't true.

[Happymantis]

I like the industrial-esque design of the interior.

[JD]

I had the opportunity to purchase one of the limited addition xb's about a month ago. It was the "CopperPenny" and by the looks of things I made a mistake. I opted to wait for the next release thinking that Scion would deliver on cutting edge design. I'm disapointed that Scion has bowed to the "cookie cutter" design school that has helped drive the domestic manufactures into the back seat of the automobile industry. What a bummer,my high expectations have been dashed.

[J]

Can they put a piece of glass on the frickin' thick C-Pillars?

[Troy]

The only thing they should have done to the old xB was give it the new xB's engine/drivetrain. That's the only area the original xB was truly lacking in.

[Dave]

Wow! How disappointing is this? I bought my Xb in late December of '03. Loved it onsight and love it still. What a GREAT car! Everything I always wanted... except -- agree w/ Troy -- could use a little more pep.

This new one looks like the same-old. I don't know what it is. Does somebody else? What makes the new look just so hatefully boring?

And I'd worry a lot about the observation that "there doesn’t seem to be as much room as there was on the almost cargo-van-like floor of the past xB because of a high floor height." That applies to the seats folded up for sitting, right? So now all that wonderful, spaceous headroom is compromised?

The good thing about this developement is that I don't have to wonder whether to buy a new one. I'll just drive my little sweetie until her engine train falls out and count myself lucky to have participated in the brief flash of inventiveness and delight that was the original Scion Xb.

[James]

Wow, with all of these negative comments I must be either old or boring or both at 33yo, I love the new look, both the base and customized look. I am glad they added more power, I just hope they added more room up front, at 6'4 I am cramped up there though I did find the rear of the original XB to be roomier, so if I sat in the backseat and drove it would be better. I hope the price isnt too much higher than the original.

[Dave T.]

Dave,
No there is MORE headroom in the backseat when sitting but the seats are so huge that when they fold down flat the cargo floor level seems much higher than before. I actually think passenger space wise the new xB is far superior to the current one.

[yebba]

i can not believe that the Scion company is doing this! people liked Scion xb's for their boxy-ness...DUH! why would you want to ruin a perfectly unique car and change it into something that is alike every other car?! i guess that it wouldnt be a bad idea to just make a more bubbly scion, but why get rid of the first ones???!!!! that is so stupid and i cant believe they are doing this! i liked scions because they were unique and had their own personality. duh- its not like everyone liked the regular Scion xb, but that is a no brainer!!! i bet people would rather them than the new ones. now they just look like freakin VANS!!! and they suck

[MSS]

Some people loved the old design, but others HATED it!!!! As myself, I always hated these things and the gauges need to be in front of the driver. I am 16 yo, I love the new design, well compared to the old xB. But, I will keep my Mazda6 5-door!!

[Troy]

This seems to be on par with the original xB. 50% of people love it, the other 50% hate it. Regardless, it will sell well. Why? Because it doesn't look like everything else on the road.

We have a 2004 xb and love it's boxiness and performance. We were going to buy a newer model in 2008 but now we won't. It's new look is too soft, spongy and normal.

[ROCKY]

I HAVE A 2004XA AND WE LOVE IT, BUT NOW THAT I HAVE SEEN THE NEW XB I WILL TRADE IN MY XA FOR A NEW 2008 XB I LOVE THE NEW LOOK,IT LOOKS VERY RICH AND CUSTOM YAY TOYOTA.

[happymantis]

guys come on... nobody out there likes this new design... it looks more modern and funky, and the interior looks LARGELY UPDATED... hence, much better... I'm also thankful for the larger engine... whew...
But I wish Scion/Toyota would make a diesel engine available for these models, even though that's never going to happen soon in the US unless diesel tech really catches on... sigh.

[Dave T.]

I like the new design.

[dizzy D']

I was looking forward to the new 2008 xb. Even went to a dealer to see it. Up close it does appear that roominess was sacrificed quite a bit, especially headroom. They literally scrunched it down and made it longer. To date the gas mileage is not published. As for myself, the new model turns me off, and I will probably take a real hard look at the Saturn Vue hybrid with lots of room, and good gas mileage. Too bad the Scion innovative design was tossed out in favor of a boring crossover design.

[Lori Carter]

This is being posted for Mr.Troy(Feb.9th @1:52pm) I am going to take a wild guess and say you do not own a Scion, I have owned 2 XB's!!If you people do not care for Scion's-Why are you looking on the website???? Don't be jealous of what you can't have. This nasty comments you leave on Scion's web page are more for Saturn, and you that hates your Copper Penny Scion--I will take!! You can never own too many Scion's!!! Don't be jealous people, You can always go buy a Scion Hotwheel
if you can't get the real thing!!

[xB gen2 owner]

I just bought the new 2008 xB generation 2, and traded in my xB 2006. I like it. The specs say it's one inch shorter but it doesn't affect anything. It feels like a chop top because the window size is shorter than the 2006 making the roof appear closer to the passengers.

Cargo space - didn't notice a differece. But there is no split ice chest under the mat anymore. there are longer cubbies with the same foam like material but there's no locking lids.

she handles better - which seems hard to come by knowing that the 2006 handled like a dream. but that increase in power is definitely noticeable. She's got more torque too. and the best part - CRUISE CONTROL.

Same features inside but they've been upgraded in their look. no hump on the floor in back. two cup holders in the center console (standard, no need to buy an additional armrest - with storage!) and one in each door. this is for all the passengers, so there's 8 cupholders total. I bought the automatic with sport shifter. the shift knob is stylin and placed under the radio rather than on the floor.

I'm not too happy with the dash panel instruments. I liked the one big guage for speed now there's 4 and they're all digitized and orange. I have to find out if I can change the color. Speaking of color, I'm not sure that the standard radio changes color like in the previous model. I don't have a "color" button. I'll have to read the manual.

the naysayers should really go out and at least test drive this car before calling it a piece of junk. Yes, I agree that they should have just put the bigger engine into the old model (but it probably needed to be a foot longer like the new one to fit the engine) and cruise control. But the new curves and chop top look are what made me go out and decide to buy one just 1 hour after seeing another on the road.

[girlbuffalo1]

Bought one this past weekend black on black--great vehicle. Love the engine, the size and the looks. It still sticks out quite a bit and I like it a lot better than the old one (and I am 25yo)--just gotta put it in there as there seems to be a lot of people saying it was designed for "dads generation". I love the space up front and in back for passengers too--great deal thus far! (125 miles on the odometer!)

[john wright]

this new design is great ! slammed with 20"hre wheels tucked in and the super charger ,big brake kit and 4 10" jl audio perfect !wife hated the small size of the old xb. now we just orderd the flaked navy blue. cant wait , look for me at the car shows with the full mod body kit etc.

[Brian]

My wife and I ordered a black one and it arrived today at the dealer... We pick it up this afternoon.

I think this one's going to sell better than the first because the design is more purposeful. The 1st gen xB's novelty has worn off (sales have been slowly decreasing) and I think people wanted a design that was eye-catching but not over the top.

I have to say, the design makes much more sense when you see it in person. Scion WANTS a good chunk of people to think it's ugly... That's the game they played with the first one, and it worked. The dealership we bought ours from can't get rid of them fast enough, and they have an enormous waiting list (which we were on).

Also remember that the reaction to the first xB was much more hostile when it came out than this version. My wife hated the first xB, but when she saw this in person she instantly fell in love it it... We both did.

Bottom line, this design is less radical but still very unique, the non-design enhancements from the previous version are exactly what Scion buyers asked for, and I GUARANTEE once these start being seen on the road, the old xB will look like a cheap light silly novelty vehicle that could blow off the road with a strong enough wind. And I LOVED the 1st gen xB when it came out.

Fantastic car that will sell like hot cakes because everyone hates it. Just like the prev xB.

[Ian]

Bitch and complain all you want about how much toyota has "ruined" the xB... Does'nt matter... THEY ARE GOING TO SELL A BILLION OF THEM WORLD WIDE!!!!!

[Tim]

Bought a new 08 xb this weekend, love it....

[Scion-Freak]

I don't like the new Xb. I have an 06 xb and will not be buying the 08 version. I liked the boxy design that is what sold me on it in the first place. I will just drive the 06 until the next generation is released and hope it is better than this one :(

[john wagner]

I'm not Scions targeted demographic, I'm 59 yrs young. That said I snowboard, work out and listen to Linkin park, Rammstein,etc. Here are the present cars we own; Honda Pilot, Lexus 400 SC, and a Dodge 79 Little Red Truck. About to purchase one of the following three: another Honda Pilot; 2008 Honda CRV or Rav4 2008. While looking at the Rav4 the Scion XB caught my attention. Didn't like the older model but the more my wife and I looked at this it began to grow on us. After test driving it twice at two dealers we have decided to order/purchase one of these. the deciding factors were; 1.It has a lot of room inside,2. The engine and safety features are very desirable. and 3. Even with options as upgraded wheels, sound system, you end up around 20K which is about 8 thousand less than an RAV4 or CRV.

[john wagner]

I'm not Scions targeted demographic, I'm 59 yrs young. That said I snowboard, work out and listen to Linkin park, Rammstein,etc. Here are the present cars we own; Honda Pilot, Lexus 400 SC, and a Dodge 79 Little Red Truck. About to purchase one of the following three: another Honda Pilot; 2008 Honda CRV or Rav4 2008. While looking at the Rav4 the Scion XB caught my attention. Didn't like the older model but the more my wife and I looked at this it began to grow on us. After test driving it twice at two dealers we have decided to order/purchase one of these. the deciding factors were; 1.It has a lot of room inside,2. The engine and safety features are very desirable. and 3. Even with options as upgraded wheels, sound system, you end up around 20K which is about 8 thousand less than an RAV4 or CRV.