If you’re shopping for a car for your college student, new graduate or even just to motor yourself around town, it’s time to check out the 2011 Scion xD.
It’s little, perky, and has plenty of interior space and standard features — such as a telescoping steering wheel, vehicle stability control and a Pioneer audio system — that you often don’t find in cars costing thousands more than the $14,800 base price of the xD with a manual transmission and $15,600 base price with an automatic transmission.
Some call the car’s exterior look unusual, but to me it’s just thick and muscular with a long, narrow back window, accentuated wheel flares and an integrated rectangular lower and upper grill. Head- and taillamps are horizontal, and side mirrors with integrated turn signals add to the straightforward, contemporary styling.
Once inside, the cabin seems spacious and well-designed with a compact but easy-to-read instrument panel, digital clock plus temperature and audio controls. The Scion’s calling card is connectivity, and the xD doesn’t disappoint with an AM/FM/CD/USB 160-watt maximum-output Pioneer audio system. There’s also iPod connectivity, USB and AUX port in the center console, and more.
The storage and cargo spaces were plentiful with a small box in the center console, an upper and lower glove box and a hidden storage space below the rear cargo area. If I have one gripe, it’s that the small box in the center console is open, so it’s uncomfortable to leave a cell phone or other valuable there. Still, that’s a minor gripe.
The cargo is a small 10.5 cubic feet, which can expand to 35.7 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded down. Compare that with the Honda Fit, which has 57.3 cubic feet of cargo space, and you see why some critics are less than happy with the xD cargo space. If you think you may need more room, you may want to upgrade to the Scion xB, which has 69.9 cubic feet of cargo space.
For my purposes, though — quick trips around town to grab groceries and a few computer components — the xD cargo space was more than sufficient.
If you plan to haul people more than things, the xD does offer a handy extra feature that allows the rear seats to recline 10 degrees and have five different adjustments, which is especially handy for long-legged adults.
Perhaps best of all, the xD offers a spunky ride. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence that generates 128 horsepower is quick and nimble. The car I tested had the four-speed automatic transmission, and there was none of the annoying lag some smaller engines experience. The driver always feels in control, yet the ride is not stiff.
Again, you’ll hear some critics gripe that this car isn’t good for extra-long trips or off-roading. But, really, is that what you expect from a small economy car with an under-$15,000 manufacturer’s suggested retail price? If you do, you have higher expectations than I do.
As the past owner of several economy cars, I found the Scion xD to be everything — and more — I’d want in a small, economical run-around-town car.
