Ch-Ch-Changes: 2010 Scion xB

We’re just going to say this right away: Nothing has changed for the 2010 model year. OK, not nothing; we wouldn’t give it the Ch-Ch-Changes treatment if there weren’t some changes, but they’re slight.

For one, there’s a new base stereo head unit that offers a better MP3 player interface, Scion says. Like the 2009, the 2010 xB comes standard with USB and auxiliary audio inputs. There’s also a new exterior paint color, Sizzling Crimson Mica, which replaces Blackberry Crush Metallic (shown here). We actually liked that Blackberry color, too. Darn.

One other thing that hasn’t changed is the starting price. Manual-transmission xBs start at $15,750, and the automatic starts at $16,700. All xBs come rather well-equipped with standard power windows, seat-mounted and side curtain airbags, cruise control, and stereo controls on the steering wheel. Considering we recently tested a similarly equipped $17,000 Toyota Yaris with an automatic transmission, these prices aren’t so bad. And the Yaris didn’t even have a USB plug.The 2010s will go on sale at the end of April.

For a picture of the snazzy new stereo, click below.

Three Boxes, One Show

If you kept up with our coverage of the L.A. auto show or were there yourself, you no doubt noticed a couple new boxy cars — the 2009 Nissan Cube and 2010 Kia Soul — vying for the sort of Gen-Y attention Scion achieves. Both employ left-field styling, near-infinite customization options, splashy marketing hype and frugal drivetrains — a combination some analysts have said bodes well for the uncertain financial times ahead.

Over at Scion’s booth was a 2009 xB. We’ve spent considerable time in that car, but not alongside its latest competitors, so we climbed around all three back-to-back for an impromptu comparison. These being show cars, we presume most cosmetic issues — like how well the buttons fit — will be smoothed out by production time. That still leaves plenty of room to rate other areas, from styling and seating comfort to cargo room and overall value. We came up with eight off-the-cuff categories to name an initial winner.

Read on for our thoughts, and add your own in the comments section.

Styling

• 1st Place: Nissan Cube

Not long after Nissan introduced the Cube, a twentysomething woman crooned from the driver’s seat: “Everything is round! So adorable. I like it.” We aren’t quite as smitten, but the Cube definitely takes the most risks — from the wraparound rear window to the circular climate controls and uber-plush seats — and, save the awful swing-out tailgate, we think it pulls most of them off.

• 2nd Place: Kia Soul

The Soul is the most conventional-looking of the three, with a slicked-back windshield and modest roofline. The nose is a bizarre amalgamation of bug-eyed lights and plastic inserts, but the tail brings everything together nicely. Inside, the dash is attractive, if conventional. In the weird wars, it looks like Kia played it safe.

• 3rd Place: Scion xB

Novelty counts for something, and the xB’s is starting to wear off. It’s still kooky as ever, but compared to the ever-adventurous Cube and cleverly packaged Soul, the xB manages to look awkward and … well, ordinary.

Amid the Storm, Boxes Look Good

At last week’s auto show, everyone from the executives to the cab drivers circling the Staples Center knew that behind the confetti was an industry on the verge of meltdown. Car shoppers are trading in pricier models for less expensive ones, or putting off purchases entirely as new-car loans dry up faster than the Colorado River. Yet two introductions, the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul, seem poised for this sort of reality: Like the Scion xB, both have offbeat styling and roomy cabins — and if their presumed mid-teens prices hold true, either one could represent a whole lot of car for the money.

At the show, I queried a few experts to hear their thoughts. The prevailing sentiment: a cautious thumbs-up.

“People are changing decisions; they’re buying less of a vehicle right now,” J.D. Power and Associates forecasting director Jeff Schuster said. “It’s not necessarily because of gas prices. In the past it was, and there’s a pretty good chance that it will be in the future. If you look at the vehicle type, it does offer a very flexible configuration. So you get good passenger space, good height for taller buyers that normally may not fit into a smaller vehicle.

“Even when you’re in a down market, people still want to identify with a vehicle they want to buy, and these types of vehicles offer that.”

IHS Global Insight analyst Tracy Handler agreed.

Movers and Losers: May's Top Compact/Economy Cars

Like hybrids, fuel-efficient compact and economy cars are hot these days. The 2009 Scion xB hasn’t changed much compared to the 2008, but because of the changeover in model years it seems to be a hot commodity. The aging Fit at No. 2 is the real surprise. The 2009 version will be out later this summer, yet folks are still buying the compact hatchback quickly.

Interestingly enough, the new 2009 Pontiac Vibe made the Top 10 while its sister vehicle, the 2009 Toyota Matrix, dropped off with a turnaround time of 38 days. New to the list are the Ford Focus and the 2009 version of the Mitsubishi Lancer, which like the xB may be due to limited supply. Losers are after the jump. 

Top 10 Movers

• 2009 Scion xB: 6 days
• 2008 Honda Fit: 14 days
• 2008 Mini Clubman: 18 days
• 2008 Mini Cooper coupe: 23 days
• 2009 Toyota Corolla: 24 days
• 2009 Pontiac Vibe: 26 days
• 2008 Mini Cooper convertible: 27 days
• 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer: 29 days
• 2008 Ford Focus: 35 days
• 2008 Toyota Yaris two-door: 35 days

Cars.com Faceoff: 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman, Scion xB, Smart ForTwo

You probably just read that headline and said to yourself, boy, these Cars.com people don't know what they're doing, comparing three cars of different prices and configurations. That would be true if we were basing it on just their MSRP, but this is the Iconic Car Faceoff, so we chose three radically styled yet relatively affordable and fuel-efficient cars.

They're also three of the most eye-catching rides around, for various reasons. Check out how the hype mixes with reality, and where it pays off for each, in the throwdown below.

Cars.comparison: Iconic Cars

Friday Fleet Notes: 3.28.08

This week our staff takes a look at the Audi R8, Scion xB, Pontiac G8 and Hyundai Veracruz. Check out what our reviewers and editors had to say, then get the full picture with our expert reviews.

2008 Audi R8

• This is the best cure for a bad day since ice cream. You’d have to be pretty far gone (or hate cars) to drive this and not feel better when you were done. The only complaint I had was that the clutch travel was quite long and my foot slipped around on the pedal face a couple of times. My shoes did have some snow on them, but it was a bit disconcerting. The brakes were the best I’ve driven: Right there, easy to modulate and confidence-inspiring. Overall, the R8 makes you smile. Just the right amount of engine noise comes into the cabin, the steering weight is just right (heavy, but not obtrusively so) and it looks really good. - William Jackson, Buying Guides editor, Weekend Athlete

Scion xB 5.0 Special Edition Coming in February

There are a lot of big events coming in February. The Super Bowl, Super Tuesday, the Academy Awards. Now, Scion’s also picked the month of St. Valentine to put its latest special edition on sale, the Scion xB 5.0. The limited edition has a body kit, special wheel covers — no, not special wheels — and a moonroof. It comes in only one color, Gold Rush Mica, and the color theme continues on the interior. The price for all this specialness is $2,470 over the base xB price of $15,650 for a manual transmission and $16,600 for the automatic. A special spoiler is an additional $320. Only 2,500 of the 5.0s will be produced, but we’re not sure it’s worth the price over what is a pretty well-equipped base model.

Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Scion xB

When we search all the new consumer reviews that come into Cars.com looking for our weekly nod at the best reader-generated comments, we’re looking for something to grab us. A BMW X3 lessee moving to a Scion xB — fully knowing the differences — and talking about his or her new ride certainly stood out this week. Phillipe from Boston, Mass., puts it all out there for us, and teaches us that fully tricking out an xB can cost you $23,000.

Cars.com Reviews 2008 Scion xB

The Weekend Athlete has gotten his bike-greased hands on it, our video staff has put it through the YouTube wringer and now Cars.com has the full expert review of the all-new 2008 Scion xB. The boxy exterior has been smoothed out and the inside beefed up, and reviewer Mike Hanley even likes the new digital speedometer, despite its center-mounted position.

2008 Scion xB Expert Review (Cars.com)

Related
Weekend Athlete: 2008 Scion xB (KickingTires)
Cars.com Video: 2008 Scion xB (KickingTires)
First Drive: 2008 Scion xB (KickingTires)

Cars.com Video: 2008 Scion xB

Almost all of us enjoyed the Scion xB’s stay in the Cars.com fleet recently. Our full review will be up shortly, but in the meantime check out Senior Editor Joe Wiesenfelder’s walkthrough of the significantly redesigned model. iPod fans will be happy to know there is both a standard auxiliary jack and an iPod-specific plug that allows the device to be controlled through the car stereo, including steering-wheel controls.

Related
Cars.com Videos (YouTube)
Scion xB News (KickingTires)