Scion xB

"The '08 xB feels more substantial and more stable, and it's ultimately more satisfying to drive than the previous model…The new 2008 Scion xB is quite a nice and practical car. We'd certainly buy it before we would a PT Cruiser or a Chevrolet HHR."

"Instead of something new, Toyota has done to the Scion xB what it has done for the past 25 years at model changeover to the Corolla and Camry: made it larger, heavier, more expensive, and more mainstream. As such, Scion seems to be following the same iterative cycle that got Toyota into trouble with kids in the first place. When exactly did America's youth start asking for a junior minivan? The bulging new Scion dwarfs its predecessor, not to mention our current favorite compact hatch, the Honda Fit. Ultimately, the new xB is an acceptable car, it's just not very cool."

"The xB has been supersized. It gains a foot in overall length, 4.0 inches of that between the wheels. Overall width is up 2.8 inches, yet height increases only 0.1. A wide and low stance, sculpted wheel arches, and a long front overhang give an appearance of visual mass and menace-a look supported by the addition of 600 pounds of real weight. The cute little box is little no more; equipped with the four-speed automatic, the new xB weighs a portly 3086 pounds."

"The new xB is a larger, more refined package at the same bargain price. And that certainly appeals to us. But will it appeal to the young, hip 20-something buyers that Scion won over the first time?"