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2006 Scion xB Compact Minivan
The ugly, little, practical box.
New Car Review of the 2006 Scion xB Compact Minivan
Base MSRP Range: $14,030 - $14,830
Base Invoice Range: $13,328 - $14,088
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MSRP As Tested: Not available
Versions: xB
Vehicle Category: Compact Minivan
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Front-wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 1.5-liter, Dual Overhead Cam, 16-valves, I-4, 108â€' horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 105 lb-ft torque at 4,200 rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic, Five-speed manual.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): Five-speed manual 30/33, Four-speed automatic 30/34.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, Anti-lock brakes, Antiskid system.
Competition: Chevrolet HHR, Ford Focus, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Kia Spectra, Mazda Protege5, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix.
Toyota might as well have called the Scion xB the "box." Or, rather, the "ugly box." The 2006 model has changed little since last year â€' meaning it still looks a little too funky for most drivers.
Traditionally, Toyota has appealed to reasonable, everyday folks who want a dependable, economical car. But the Scion xB goes against the Toyota grain, appealing to a completely new demographic: the younger generation who want a cheap vehicle that's distinctive. It appeals to their parents' checkbooks because of the reputation of Scion's parent company - and because of its great gas mileage (30 MPG in the city, 33 on the highway). It is truly a car for the visual generation; few would purchase an xB because of what's under the hood. Which isn't much.
The XB is definitely a love-it or hate-it kind of car, but nevertheless, its sales speak for themselves. You'd be hard-pressed to drive down the freeway and not see at least one of these weird little cubes tooling past you as fast as its 1.5-liter, four-banger can carry it.
But even without all the trendy commercials, it would still attract the same demographic - the funkier among us.
SAFETYDespite the side-impact door beams that are supposed to lessen the likelihood of injury in an accident, the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) still gave the XB a crash-test rating of 3 (out of a possible 5) on a driver's side collision. Translation? In the event of a driver's side collision, there is an 11 to 20-percent chance of serious injury. It scored a 4 in every other category (both front and side impact for driver and passengers), but let's just say you better be on the lookout for would-be T-boners.
However, other than that, the xB seems to have taken lots of safety precautions â€' many more than other comparably-priced vehicles. The four-wheel Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) works with lots of other safety goodies to reduce the risk of a collision or loss-of-control situation. ABS includes electronic brake distribution (EBD), which helps each wheel brake evenly to keep the car going in one direction during the stop. If the left-hand wheels were spinning slower than the other two, it would almost certainly mean a spin-out. EBD helps prevent this. Also contributing in an emergency situation is the anti-skid system, traction control (helping the wheels stay connected to the pavement so the brakes are effective), and Brake Assist (BA), which does just what it sounds like. It senses an emergency braking situation, and helps the driver to stop the car as soon as possible by using braking power efficiently and effectively.
Inside, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) includes dual-stage airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as safety belt pretensioners and force limiters. These help keep you in position in a quick stop or collision, but also prevent the belts from tightening so much that it becomes dangerous. All safety belts are three-point restraints, and all five passengers have a headrest.
And if all else fails, break out the first-aid kit, which comes standard on the XB (and most other Toyota vehicles.)
