Reader Review of the Week: 2008 Scion xB
When we search all the new consumer reviews that come into Cars.com looking for our weekly nod at the best reader-generated comments, we’re looking for something to grab us. A BMW X3 lessee moving to a Scion xB — fully knowing the differences — and talking about his or her new ride certainly stood out this week. Phillipe from Boston, Mass., puts it all out there for us, and teaches us that fully tricking out an xB can cost you $23,000.
“I had a BMW X3 I leased, so this is a completely different price point of car. It took some getting used to. Mine has about 1,500 miles on it, so time will tell. I wanted a more affordable and sensible car, and the Scion fit the bill.
“The cargo area is amazing — so incredibly easy to get things in and out, and it holds a lot of stuff. I got basically all the options — alloy wheels, nav, leather (dealer option), sport steering wheel, etc., and wound up paying about $23,000. It’s got plenty of power, especially for a four-banger.
“It’s really a fun car. It handles well, and the styling is very progressive. It’s a little bit noisy at higher highway speeds, 65+. My leg hits the shift console, too; that’s kind of annoying, but I got used to it. The driving position is very upright. You can’t really slink down, but that’s good in terms of posture.
“For the price of the car, I really can’t complain. It’s no BMW, but it’s not supposed to be. I test drove a zillion cars in the $20K range, and this was definitely head-and-shoulders above all else in terms of utility, gas mileage, reliability and it’s just a cool/different kind of car.”
