10 Things You Need to Know About the 2015 Scion xB

2015 Scion xB ・ Photo by Scion

The 2015 Scion xB is a car for Generation Y, those born between 1980 and 1994. Well, that was the plan for Toyota’s youth-oriented brand in general. As it turns out, the average age of a Scion buyer (according to the Reuters news agency) is 49. This could easily be a statistical anomaly, since there clearly are young buyers and the xB could appeal to older drivers too, since the car’s “upright” demeanor means good visibility with easy entry and exit. Oh, and the xB has a reasonable purchase price. Ultimately, the xB has a broader appeal than the product planners originally envisioned. There’s a lot to be said for the practicality of what is essentially a box on wheels. Especially when it features Toyota’s high level of build quality and reliability.

1) The 2015 Scion xB is an urban utility vehicle.

Whatever that might mean. But that’s the term Scion has coined for the xB and it makes kind of sense. The 2015 Scion xB is short (168.1 inches), so fitting into those hard-to-find city parking spaces is fairly easy, especially since the 2015 model has a rearview camera as standard. Yet passenger space and cargo space is generous (more on that later). So if someone is moving apartments or taking a few friends to an event, the xB is a particularly useful set of wheels. That turning circle of 34.8 feet is also pretty handy.

2) The 2015 Scion xB enjoys 158 horsepower.

Small cars usually have small engines, but a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque is muscular enough for the 2015 Scion xB to leave other urban runabouts in its dust. Zipping from standstill to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds is good for a car of this class. There’s a few million of these engines kicking around the world’s roads and, like every other Toyota engine, it’s renowned for its strength and reliability. In the xB, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates consumption of 87-octane at 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined, regardless of whether the car has its standard-issue five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic transmission.

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3) The 2015 Scion xB has generous standard equipment.

It’s a Scion specialty: a decent list of standard kit all at a “no-haggle” price, which makes the dealership experience so much smoother. Here are some highlights from the 2015 Scion xB's inventory: air conditioning, power windows, rearview camera, cruise control, front bucket seats, chrome exhaust tip, LED front accent lighting, 6.1-inch touchscreen display, 160-watt/six-speaker Pioneer audio system, HD radio, auxiliary input jack and USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, and steering wheel-mounted controls.

4) The 2015 Scion xB offers a lot of interior space.

Especially for such a small footprint. The 2015 Scion xB is 14.5 inches shorter than the compact Toyota Corolla, but maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded down is 69.9 cubic feet. That’s massive. Even with the seats up, there’s still 11.6 cubic feet of trunk space. To makes things even better, there’s some storage space beneath the trunk area and a storage tray under the rear seat. There’s 40 inches of headroom up front, which expands to 41.2 inches in the rear. Legroom, meanwhile, isn’t stingy in the back: 38 inches, compared with the front occupants’ 40.7 inches. And the seats are comfortable enough to make long trips an adventure rather than an ordeal.

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5) The 2015 Scion xB offers plenty of opportunity to customize.

As well as alloy wheels in 16-inch or 17-inch sizes to replace the standard 16-inch steel wheels, there’s a range of accessories for the 2015 Scion xB that can be installed by the dealer so they come under the vehicle warranty and are also bundled in with the monthly payments. Some are cosmetic, like carbon fiber window trim and a sportier-looking steering wheel. Or they can add more practicality, like a cargo net or an ashtray cup. Alternatively, there’s a range of performance parts from TRD (Toyota Racing Development) to make the xB handle a little sharper, ride a little lower and sound more purposeful. There’s also a rich and varied choice of aftermarket parts should you want to go more “off the grid.” These include wide body kits, carbon fiber hoods and even turbocharging systems. One dealer option that comes highly recommended is the BeSpoke audio system upgrade. It brings voice-activated navigation, smartphone app integration, internet radio and Scion’s own music channels.

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6) The 2015 Scion xB is a Top Safety Pick.

For six consecutive years, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded this generation of xB (the second) its accolade of Top Safety Pick. It took the institute’s top rating of Good in most categories, including the roof strength test. The standard airbag count comes to six, including side curtain airbags. The 2015 Scion xB also has Toyota’s proprietary Smart Stop brake override function if the brake and accelerator pedals are pressed at the same time. And naturally, anti-lock brakes and traction/stability control are in the mix.

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7) The 2015 Scion xB offers complimentary servicing.

Free factory scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles (whichever comes first) is part of the deal with the 2015 Scion xB. Two years of 24-hour roadside assistance are also included. This comes with every Toyota/Scion product. It's a boon to those with tight budgets who still absolutely need reliability and to know there's a safety net should anything go wrong.

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8) The 2015 Scion xB has high sides.

And that could be a downside. Compromise is unavoidable with all vehicles, not just the 2015 Scion xB. We all have to do it at some points on our lives. To have a tall car with relatively lavish headroom means high sides, a trait that doesn’t work so well in strong crosswinds. Which makes the xB even better suited to the steel-and-glass canyons of the city rather than the real canyons out there in the wild. Not that the car will blow over (unless someone is foolishly driving into a tornado), but it could lead to a few anxious moments as well as more wind noise. While we’re on the gripe train, road noise and wind noise tend to get into the cabin too easily. Interior materials are a reminder of the xB’s budget price. And fuel economy is unremarkable. The dated transmissions have a hand in that. So does the un-aerodynamic shape.

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9) The 2015 Scion xB isn’t just for single city dwellers.

Think of a young family with one child, maybe two. They’re still fixing up their first house, so need some cargo flexibility for trips to IKEA and Home Depot. When visiting the in-laws or grandparents, they have to travel with paraphernalia like a stroller and a bunch of toys. They need space for a child seat and (despite their relative youth) don’t like to bend too much when strapping the kid in. Then there’s the weekly shop for food and the giant pack of disposable diapers. And naturally, they’re going to need something that’s reliable, well-made and safe, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy or run. Enter the 2015 Scion xB.

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10) The 2015 Scion xB bows out with a special edition.

The 2015 Scion xB is the last xB there will ever, um, be. The 686 Parklan special edition is the model’s swan song. Scion teamed up with 686, a company that specializes in snowboarding gear. And Parklan is the name of a clothes collection that makes up part of that company’s products. The car comes in Cocoa Bean Metallic paintwork, with 16-inch alloy wheels bearing the 686 logo, and there are various other touches to distinguish this model from the rest of the xB range, such as special all-weather mats in both the passenger and cargo sections. Production is limited to 686 units.

Photo by Scion