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Has The Scion xB Become a Little Porker?
Having wrested the title “world’s largest car manufacturer” from General Motors, Toyota’s already committing some of the same mistakes that brought GM down. The all-new 2008 Scion xB is a blot on Toyota’s relatively unblemished copybook. It bristles with classic GM-think: dumb it down, fatten it up and cheapen it out.

The original xB was a brilliant design, an instant cult-classic, as iconic as the first VW Beetle. The box fresh box elicited the same emotional responses as the old bug: children, freshly-minted motorists and the young at heart all loved it. The xB was barely longer than a MINI and almost as much fun to drive, with the accommodations of a Tahoe and 30-plus mpg.

08scion_xb_22.jpgIf the last gen xB evoked images of a lacquered bento box lunch, the new xB evokes a big, sloppy hamburger wrapped in greasy paper. Toyota’s drive to assimilate into the American heartland is relentless; its Texas Tundra brand BBQ sauce-stained fingerprints are all over this little porker.

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Has The Scion xB Become a Little Porker?



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hateslexushateslexus - 5/21/2007 9:16:50 PM
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saw one in san francisco, ugly and fat


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Agent009Agent009 - 5/16/2007 2:26:21 PMView My AgentSpace
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He actually like Toyotas, but you have to listen to his podcasts to really hear that.

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1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 5/16/2007 7:02:06 PM
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Having never listened to his podcasts (tho I have no reason to doubt your veeracity), I can only go by what is written on TTAC, and I have never read a positive review of any Toyota product.

I must second the point about how much reviewers and everyone else seems to all of a sudden love the original xB. I dont seem to recall hearing many positive statements about the old one up until now. Autospies is notorious for that game as well.

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1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 5/16/2007 7:02:21 PM
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LexusNumberOne4everLexusNumberOne4ever - 5/17/2007 10:57:26 AM
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This jerk once said that Audi used better materials for its trunk than those Lexus used for its dash.

Cheap materials? In a $90k sedan?

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froggy780froggy780 - 5/16/2007 1:51:05 PM
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"Cheap things". Yeah, that's what many Americans said about Japanese cars when they started being imported in large numbers in the 70's and 80's. Look now, many Asian cars are the top sellers in the American and world markets. Oh please!!!!!

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Agent009Agent009 - 5/16/2007 2:27:00 PMView My AgentSpace
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That doesn't change the fact they may be cheap.


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froggy780froggy780 - 5/16/2007 1:48:20 PM
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I don't agree. Toyota didn't "cheapen out" it's new xB. It has a 2.4L Camry (previous gen) engine that is much more powerful the the last xB. It's also grown in length and width. The exterior is more aggressive with a very unique and larger front facia. The interior has also been upgraded with more room and a better looking center console. The wheelbase of the next xB has also grown giving it a much better ride (not as bumpy and choppy as the 1st gen). You can't compare the new xb to the old one. There two totally different cars. The 1st gen was originally made for the Japanese market and the new one is made for the US market. Both are great cars, but inprovements were made. Toyota, wanted something different and so they lowered the roofline and "fatten it up" so it doesn't look exactly like the 1st gen xB. People get tired of the same styles and so changes are made. Toyota will probably get the LAST LAUGH because you know that the new xB will sell VERY WELL just like the TC, XA, and 1st gen XB. Toyota can charge STICKER PRICE (pure price) for their Scions and more than enough people are willing to pay that price. Take that PT cruiser or Chevy HHR---with their deep factory and dealer discounts. The PT cruiser and Chevy HHR are good examples of cheap cars. Their exteriors are ugly and their interiors are horrible looking. The HHR's exterior looks soo ugly and the interior looks like a economy car. The PT Cruiser looks ok on the exterior but the interior is also quite cheap WITH PAINTED COLOR TRIM PIECES THAT MAKE IT LOOK TACKY. Both the PT and HHR have plastic trim pieces that look like they were made by Fisher Price---soo cheap. Overall, the xB has a very good fit and finish with reliability in mind.


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izfuneyizfuney - 5/16/2007 3:42:31 PM
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Great reply there. Pretty much sums up what i would want to say .

The truth being, that people write crap about Toyota buling up its cars for the US market when every single car here that has statewide appeal is a porker. I think they addressed the main issues with the old Xb (which the same people derided as being underpowered).

Sadly , bashing Toyota is now the main game for a lot of so called car reporters. Sort of misplaced jingoism, mized with ugly xenophobia.


EnnNorakEnnNorak - 5/16/2007 1:58:34 PM
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Not just for teenagers any more. Great vehicle for frugal seniors also. Finally a sufficient engine.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/16/2007 11:21:22 PMView My AgentSpace
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I'm pretty sure more seniors than kids drove the last-gen, also.


w209w114w209w114 - 5/17/2007 12:02:19 AMView My AgentSpace
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You are actually right S4. I read a report that said most of the Scion XB drivers were elders (surprising as this car was designed to appeal to a younger demographic)


1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 5/16/2007 7:13:09 PM
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It's going to make the original xB more of a classic, it's going to attract most of the orignial fans (not the faux ones who claim to have loved the first one, but hate this one), and it's going to attract a lot of new fans.

The only thing I would have done different is, because it is so different, call it something other than xB (like xA to xD). But Scion does have a lot of brand equity in that name, and I am sure they didnt want a Taurus fiasco.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/16/2007 11:20:18 PMView My AgentSpace
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The old one was okay, and I definitely preferred it over the fugly xA (the tC is my favorite), but this new one is a disappointment. 650lbs? Where did that go to? More cheap interior plastics? And not only that- it's lost its iconic look, which is what I liked about the last-gen. The old xB was just a box, plain and simple, and it worked. The new one is just... a blob. A nothing. It has no character. All I can say is, I hope they don't ruin the tC.

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1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 5/17/2007 11:53:40 AM
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Also, in regards to the engine, Toyota has rumored to be testing a new Camry engine, which presumably would make its way into the tC and xB. Higher hp and mpg, undoubtedly, to answer any criticisms of this one.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 5/17/2007 3:29:13 PMView My AgentSpace
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The criticisms of this engine don't have to do with power and mileage- it's the bland, neutral nature of the engine that disappoints. The old xB felt peppier and more enthusiastic. The Camry engine is just boring, future or past.


bagwellbagwell - 5/18/2007 8:30:08 AM
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A9 hit the nail on the head with this one! Toyota has taken away all the things that made the xB a success - its uniqueness and most importantly is MPG!!! Its just another SUV now...and I wouldn't even think of buying one. I'd rather have the older body style + better MPG. Sorry Toyota, you blew it!

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