2016 Scion tC Release Series 10.0 full tour & Startup Massey Toyota
The good The 2008 Scion xB is a car loaded with tech negotiate with a nice standard iPod interface among its many cabin electronics, plenty of space inside, and easily capable of leading.
The poor integration of Bluetooth cell phone is absent blinding, and overall the new xB is larger and less elegant than its urban-chic predecessor.
The bottom line The new Scion xB has lost its bold exterior pleats and a part of his character, but it has also grown a bit and is now one of the best high-tech values we have seen in a new car .
Our last taste of the Scion xB came there more than two years, when we reviewed a 2005 model and came away favorably impressed by all despite a lack of technological options available for indoor The one of the two models with the xA which led Scion's 2004 entry into the US market, the first generation xB was sized for the city but with a surprisingly large interior and a cockiness that helped it outsell the other Scions top the hand.
In 2008, predictably if unfortunately, the xB has become larger, hungry, and expensive in its second iteration The lovable villain style duckling who made remarkable in its initial launch has given way to rounded edges and two less obvious form box Whether these nods to convention attract a wider band of buyers or alienate the devotees of the model remains to be seen, but some of the different attitude drummer was sacrificed, and we miss.
However, the news is far from bad If the Scion has grown a bit outside, a similar maturation granted inside with a long list of high-tech options and more usable cargo space than air cabin xB original Bluetooth for hands call -Internet is the only major absence from the list of available options, but otherwise our complaints about the thin gadget offers xB soon responded with a vengeance.
Testing the Epic technology Italo-Japanese three-way How many cars offer occupants the ability to watch three separate DVDs simultaneously We're struggling to think of any, let alone with a price of 23,000 sticker under as the Scion we tested with this capability in mind, we tested the technology in 2008 xB with a simultaneous film trilogy drive viewing After briefly discussing the obvious father-son overtones of the original Star Wars trilogy, we decided that the offspring relationship was best represented in the godfather saga Star Wars more we have seen too many times.
Two rear DVD units means we can watch three movies at once in the xB.
True, the xB must be stationary to watch a movie using the 1950 navigation system DVD drive on the main LCD dashboard, but with all of the parking brake, and this two DVD players together, a 1599 option in the front seatbacks allow three movies to read both the interface of the touch screen of the optional navigation system displays DVD drives, including image-size settings and the sound is issued by the main assembly speaker.
Each rear seat players includes a wireless headset with two channels subjected to volume control and a simple two remote command mode playback functions of both Yes, children can watch all their favorite DVD, but they will still engage to siblings bonding while competing tilt remote players forward out seatbacks for top loading of the discs and hand rigidly in place for viewing, so that the angles of the seatback determine visibility to some extent, although we felt comfortable watching the 7 screens across a range of front seats possible.
In the cab The new xB offers a broad range of electronic goods cabin options, in direct contrast to the level that the input original version, which offered an auxiliary audio input as the main sign of domestic technology The 2008 model adds standard dedicated iPod port and cable, which charges the iPod and offers full control via special menus 7-inch touch screen when the navigation option is present.
With a connected iPod, the iPod interface is reproduced on the LCD.
The structure of the familiar iPod menu is reproduced for direct access to playlists, artists and genres All track information is displayed during playback, as on a screen of the iPod is frozen while connected to the car this customizing the touch screen makes it one of the most successful iPod interfaces we have seen, the only real issue being scrolling through large alphabetical lists, which is tedious using the arrow keys to jump just six points at one time the most iPod menu surfing controls are disabled while the xB is moving, that seems a little excessive because they're more entertaining than other audio controls We also played music from our Sony Ericsson K790i via the auxiliary input, but it was does not nearly as convenient as all control was on the phone with the main screen all the simple display AUX audio.
The xB standard configuration of six-speaker 160-watt includes two tweeters and works well with the touch screen, which offers controls for focusing the sound of an equalizer and various sound processing options are also managed by the a navigation screen option our tester didn t include the Pioneer audio system was updated premium, which has an extra sound processing setting for owners who add aftermarket amplifiers single CD slot is located behind the screen nav tilt, and the system played both MP3 and WMA discs without fuss, display complete ID3 tagging information.
The route guidance works well with xB navigation system.
The navigation system performance is also high end and leaves little to be desired at this price, except perhaps the voice activation as seen on some competing Hondas all other possibilities, programming destination is present, however, , including via a configurable on-screen keyboard, telephone numbers of the base points of interest data, or by the output of the drawing of the card and the motorway route calculation weren t as immediate as some systems based on current hard drive we tested Vee, but he never felt slow.
In terms of space, the redesigned xB inside the TARDIS didnt feel like the car earlier s, where the seats were sitting down and height was large but larger dimensions of the new car, including an additional four inches in wheelbase and a foot throughout the overall length, make more space for loading and the back room shoulder seat interior storage spaces are well designed, with a shelf above the box gloves and the center armrest cubby two sizes to fit CD jewel boxes is another key a shelf under the rear seat cushion, which can hold the headphones or other small objects covered organizer over the spare wheel allows small electronics and other flat objects out of sight when the car is parked.
The separate rear seats and 60 times 40 for a change of cargo seating configurations During our week with the car, we used to pick up a Samsung 50-inch plasma TV HPT5064, he swallowed in the box with the hatch rear closure easily.
In terms of internal security, driver and passenger airbags are standard with side and side curtain airbags tire pressure monitoring system is also standard dashboard is much improved compared to tiny Tash Arrangement -speedo the original xB Four main round dials digital speedometer, analogue tachometer, fuel level and the engine temperature is now seated in the center of the dashboard, slightly inclined toward the driver on the left is a digital display which shows the current gear alongside a clock, average or instant MPG, or miles to empty.
Under the hood With its increased size and heft, the 2008 Scion xB gets almost a full liter more engine displacement than the original car's anemic May 1 liter four Horsepower is up from 108 to 158, but most important is the increase in torque from 105 to 162 pound-feet 2 4 liter engine in the new xB retains the four-valve DOHC layout of the smaller engine and the variable valve timing system VVT-i Toyota .
Although it uses a more powerful engine than the previous model, SG2 4 liters more volume to move.
Our xB for this test was equipped with the four-speed automatic, which is a change of sequential manual gear It proved useful for holding reports on the hills, despite the number of increased power of the new xB, he still need a good amount of revving to maintain momentum up some of the steep San Francisco hills in regular driving, however, the xB accelerates well enough and longer wheelbase for a ball in smoother the first xB tensile behavior before handling is as expected, with good steering feel and smooth auto-recovery on the corners of the city that most drivers before.
the security features of the standard frame include traction control and vehicle stability brake control are discs all around an upgrade from rear drum of the first Xb, ABS, brake force distribution and emergency brake assist.
Estimates of the highest EPA fuel economy numbers for the 2008 Scion xB are 22mpg in the city and 28mpg on the highway Our week with the xB was spent almost entirely in the streets of the city, during which we was a little heavier foot than the average driver on our way to an average of 21 7mpg, according to the car's onboard computer.
In sum Few experts predicted the sales success of the xB original, which makes Toyota's decision to soften its funky character and move slightly upscale seem sort of risk, but looks aside, the new xB is an improved car in many ways and when well optioned can be just as much a bargain compared to the previous version.
The base MSRP of our test car was 16600 There was a fair amount of purely cosmetic options play mat, wall rear bumper, illuminated cup holders and door thresholds that we leave off of a car, we ordered this would save about 800 We maintain the navigation system, alloy wheels 795, a DVD player and safety system 469 in all, the car we tested retailed for 22,765, including a charge of 580 destination.
At this price, and with so many well-executed tech features available, the 2008 Scion xB is a great value only its lack of Bluetooth kept us from giving it more of a comfort 8 in our sub-rating.
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