Scion xD Dares To Be Different

The D in the new 2008 Scion xD could well stand for different, and that is the edge Toyota is seeking with its offspring brand aimed at younger buyers.

The Scion’s option gurus were well in tune, it appears; the xD that I drove had a dedicated connector that could charge an iPod battery, using Apple’s own cables, while personal iTunes were funneled into the hatchback’s audio system.

The xD gets great mileage: 33 mpg on the highway, based on EPA estimates, and 27 mpg on city streets. It uses regular gasoline.

Although it has the underbelly of a Toyota Yaris, it has more power, thanks to a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine with 128 horsepower and 125 foot-pounds of torque (the 1.5-liter engine in the Yaris only has 106 horsepower).

The engine may be small, but it is eager to do its job. It easily got me into I-84 traffic at 65 mph, although I could have used a little more heft with tractor trailers and sport utilities bearing down on me.

The xD is boxy like its xB sibling, but is more than a foot shorter, at 154.7 inches, somewhat lighter (2,668 pounds, compared with the xB’s 3,020 pounds) and a lot smaller inside.

I could fit into the xD in my leather winter coat, but it just felt more comfortable to throw it into the back seat because front shoulder room is only 51.9 inches.

Front leg room is 40.3 inches, so I had enough space there, although some drivers with longer legs say they have problems.

In the back seat, three passengers — not bulky football players, of course — get to cozily share 50.7 inches of shoulder room, and the rear leg room is a basically standard 33.9 inches.

With the xD, the engineers tried a new speedometer/tachometer combination that puts both in the same circle with a slim slice for the tach, a design that appeals to me.

The electric power steering was handy because it enabled me to do some sprightly jockeying around to get into my driveway.

The shorter wheelbase, 96.9 inches, made me feel the highway bumps intensely, and we have not had any of the spring frost heaves yet.

There is not a whole lot of space to spare in the xD, so the fuel tank is limited to 11.1 gallons, which could conceivably cost $40 if gasoline prices keep climbing. That’s why the fuel consumption of 33 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive xD with the five-speed manual transmission is so pleasing to the purse. A four-speed automatic transmission is available.

This is a hatchback that can be personalized to the hilt with different shift knobs, mood lighting inside in different colors, a rear spoiler, alloy wheels and a touch-screen navigation system, a rarity in a vehicle of this size.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the Scion xD is $15,170, and the dealer invoice is $14,442, both of which include the delivery charge of $620. (The auto transporters should really give Toyota a discount on moving these subcompact xDs to the dealers because they weigh less than a ton and a half soaking wet.)

The xD is all-new, so there has not been some tough bargaining yet. Edmunds.com’s True Market Value guide average selling price in this region is the same as the asking price.

Scion xD
STATISTICS
•Engine: 1.8-liter I-4, 128 hp
•Transmission: manual 5-speed
•Specifications: curb weight, 2,668 pounds, length, 154.7 inches
•EPA mileage: 33 mph highway, 27 mpg city
•Base price: $15,170

source

Related posts:

1. The Scion also rises: Toyota’s new brand matures BY Connie Keane Wednesday, August 26th 2009, 4:00 AM When...
2. Scion iQ Mini Car to Arrive in U.S. in Late 2010 First shown as a concept (above) at the New...