2008 Scion xD Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

The 2008 Scion xD replaces the subcompact xA, last sold as a 2006 model. Although the xD casts nearly the same-size shadow as its predecessor, it rides on a roughly four-inch longer wheelbase. It also gets more power and additional standard safety and convenience features. The xD comes with a 128-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and manual or automatic transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Standard features include air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel with audio controls, and a 60/40 split folding rear seat that slides fore and aft to benefit either passenger or cargo room.

Competition

Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. The subcompact class is made up of the smallest hatchbacks, sedans, and wagons on the market. These are generally considered economy cars.

Our Best Buys include the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Suzuki SX4. Our Recommended pick is the Honda Fit.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Scion xD and Smart ForTwo.

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2008 Scion xD Road Test

Pros	Cons

Instruments/controls	Acceleration

Maneuverability	Visibility

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
3	3	3

Acceleration from a stop is adequate with either manual or automatic transmission, but hills noticeably slow progress. Passing power is OK around town but modest at highway speeds. Throttle action is soft, which frustrates smooth driving. The automatic transmission can be slow to downshift. The manual transmission includes a smooth clutch and shifter.

Fuel Economy

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
8	8	8.2

In Consumer Guide testing, manual-transmission xD models returned 28.8-29.2 mpg in mostly city driving and 31.4 mpg more highway work. An automatic version averaged 28.8 mpg in city/highway use. The xD uses regular-grade gas.

Ride Quality

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
5	5	4.7

Somewhat floppy suspension tuning and a short wheelbase contribute to jiggling and hopping over bumps, though no more than is typical for the subcompact class.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
5	5	5.1

xD's light steering lacks road feel. Softish suspension damping allows for early onset of tire squeal and plenty of body lean in fast turns. The brakes are strong and responsive.

Quietness

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
5	5	4.1

The engine buzzes under acceleration, and there's lots of tire noise on all except smooth asphalt. Wind rush is modest.

Controls

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
6	6	5.6

Thankfully, xD's dashboard layout is more conventional than the Scion xB, with the speedometer and tachometer sharing a round dial mounted directly in front of the driver. High-mounted audio and climate controls are easy to reach and decipher. The available navigation system incorporates some audio controls, complicating their use. Some testers disliked that the stereo's power button was separate from the volume knob.

Details

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
4	4	4.6

The interior is awash in hard plastics but avoids looking really cheap.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
6	6	5.5

Good seat comfort and driver positioning, but the seat lacks height adjustment, and taller folks might find headroom and legroom tight. The long of leg also might wish for a longer seat cushion for proper thigh support. Visibility is bad to the rear corners due to thick roof pillars but is OK otherwise.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
3	3	3.1

The seat is high set, but entry and exit suffer from fairly narrow door openings. Limited legroom means even smaller passengers will be cramped. Fore and aft sliding seats seem more like a novelty than a benefit to passenger comfort.

Cargo Room

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
6	6	4.5

The rear seat slides fore and aft about six inches to expand cargo room, and a panel flips up from the cargo floor to fill the gap that appears when the seat is forward. Split rear seatbacks lie flat and can be folded without removing the headrests. The large cargo area includes underfloor bins, but there's only room for a few grocery bags with the rear seat up and shoved back to accommodate passengers. There are plenty of in-cabin slots and pockets, but some of them are too small to be really useful.

Value within Class

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
6	6	6.8

Scion's new entry-level subcompact offers a host of safety features and standard amenities. The xD shares the practical, utilitarian nature of its xA predecessor and xB sibling but with more-conventional styling and layout that give it broader appeal.

Total Score

Base, manual	Base, automatic	Class Average
57	57	55.2

Scores for all Subcompact Cars

Low Score		42
Average Score		55
High Score		63

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2008 Scion xD Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 06/09/2008

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

Base 4-door hatchback, manual	$14,550	$13,822	$620

Base 4-door hatchback, automatic	$15,350	$14,582	$620

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Base

Powertrain

1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, antilock brakes, brake assist, tire-pressure monitor, front-seat active head restraints.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning, tilt steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, adjustable split folding rear seat, power mirrors w/turn signals, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, Pioneer AM/FM/CD player, digital-media player connection, tachometer, trip computer, intermittent wipers, rear defogger, rear wiper.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

195/60R16 tires, wheel covers.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Release Series 1.0
Base	$1,999	$1,877
Body cladding, rear spoiler, lowered suspension.

Safety
Antiskid system
Base	$650	$559
Includes traction control.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Navigation system
Base	$1,950	$1,720


Satellite radio
Base	$449	$359


iPod adapter
Base	$389	$291


Remote engine start
Base	$529	$380


Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear spoiler
Base	$385	$289


Alloy wheels
Base	$795	$570

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2008 Scion xD Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Scion xD 4-door hatchback

Wheelbase, in.	96.9

Overall Length, in.	154.7

Overall Width, in.	67.9

Overall Height, in.	60.0

Curb Weight, lbs.	2625

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	35.7

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	11.1

Seating Capacity	5

Front Head Room, in.	38.9

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	40.3

Rear Head Room, in.	37.6

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	33.9

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	dohc I4

Size, liters/cu. in.	1.8 /110

Horsepower @ rpm.	128 @ 6000

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	125 @ 4400

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

5-speed manual	27/33

4-speed automatic	26/32

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	Scion xD 4-door hatchback

Front Impact, Driver	4

Front Impact, Passenger	4

Rollover Resistance	4

Side Impact, Driver	5

Side Impact, Rear Passenger	5

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	5/60,000	--

Bumper-to-bumper	3/36,000	--

Corrosion	5/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	--/--	--

Free scheduled maintenance	--/--	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Japan

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

Tester's Comments

(what's this?)

Vehicle Evaluated: 2008 Scion XD
Trim Level: Base
Arrival Date: 09/05/2007
Engine: dohc I4
Bodystyle: 4-door hatchback
Transmission: 5-speed manual
4WD/AWD: Yes
Base Price: $14,550
Price as Tested: $16,444
Mileage at Beginning of Test: 894
Mileage at End of Test: 5986
Total Measured Miles:
Total Fuel Used: 24.662 gals.

Major Options: Vehicle Stability Control; Carpet Floor Mats/Cargo Mat; Scion Security

Consumer Guide® Fuel Economy: 31.42 mpg (what's this?)

Problems During Test: None

From The Back Seat
Damon Bell The xD occupies something of a middle ground in its class. It has good horsepower for a subcompact, but it doesn't feel quite as solid and sporty overall as the Honda Fit. It offers a host of standard safety features, but not the outright bargain pricing of the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent. Also, the xD's driver- and passenger space is a bit more cramped than most of its rivals'. Still, xD delivers practical, economical transportation with a dash of funky style.

Don Sikora The Scion xD gets impressive gas mileage and is surprisingly fun to drive. It reminds me of our long-term Suzuki SX4 hatchback. The Scion wins on fuel economy and seems a bit more mechanically refined, but the Suzuki has AWD and a nicer interior at about the same cost.

Ed Piotrowski This subcompact is an excellent example of the adage, "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link." As a brand that absolutely nailed the whole youth marketing/awareness thing, Scion seems to be trying a little too hard to both mature its product lineup and maintain the brand's almost cult-like status. It's certainly more practical, powerful, and nearly as efficient as the xA that preceded it. However, xD has lost a lot of what made xA a distinctive product: xD's styling screams "4-door Yaris hatchback" and at more than $16,000 modestly equipped, it's not a particularly strong value. The Honda Fit is more fun to drive, the Hyundai Accent is more refined, and the Suzuki SX4 offers more bang for the buck. If you really want a piece of the Scion ownership experience, pony up for the more practical xB or sporty tC.

Jennifer Geiger Overall, I'm most impressed with xD's fuel economy. In over 100 miles of near crawling traffic, it did better than expected at 28 mpg.

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Also in the 2008 Scion xD Review:

Scion xD

Scion xD Road Test

Scion xD Prices & Equipment

Scion xD Specs & Safety

Scion xD Photos

Scion xD Full Review

Scion xD New Car Quote