2008 Scion xB

"My family still views this new xB as an ugly box, but I like it even more than the original. The aggressive restyle, combined with increased power delivery, edges the xB into a more sporting niche. The squinty fascia oozes attitude. The raked profile looks much meaner than the pedestrian pile of boxes of the first-gen. And Toyota's 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter (finally!) adds the necessary oomph to motivate the xB in a manner befitting its new facade," he goes on, "especially given the additional bulk."

Yes, it's ugly. Yes, it's funky. And yes, we kind of sort of hate the way it looks. But none of this changes the fact that the Scion xB will probably sell like gangbusters. The '08 xB is significant because it replaces a car that defined a genre--one whose resale values continue to be through the roof--and while the new xB may not be our cup of tea visually, it's sure to be a sales success.

The 2008 xB rides on an all-new platform, and is numerically better in every way: It's twelve inches longer, three inches wider, and rides on a wheelbase that's four inches longer. Its rear discs are two inches larger. It holds eight cubic feet more stuff. And the best news is that the underpowered 1.5-liter four has been replaced by the tC's 158-hp 2.4-liter, solving our biggest complaint about the old model.

The xB is still frugal at the pump, delivering about 23 mpg over its nearly 16,000-mile tenure.

As for adjustment periods, copy editor James Dryden has a recurring one when hopping in the xB. "In most of the other long-termers, I simply adjust the seat, fix the mirrors, and off I go. But in the xB, I feel like my whole body is out of place. Maybe this is due to the high seating position and awkward dash layout. It takes about 10 minutes of driving until I feel at home."

The best part, though, is that the xB doesn't really drive like an economy car. "For the economy car that it is," says Truck Trend Web producer Melissa Spiering, "I like how it felt on the highway-it wasn't rough, it reached a good driving speed without my having to put my foot to the floor, and I didn't have any 'I need more speed, captain' issues when getting around slower vehicles. Plus, it pulled nicely up a 4000-foot elevation change without a struggle, something that proved a problem in the previous generation."

The thing is darn near huge inside, with honest room for five adults plus their gear.

Comfortable, fun, and-yes-quirky (we love the center-mounted gauge cluster), our xB has put on miles fast.

One look at the second-gen xB confirms this. Though designed in conjunction with Toyota's Southern California CALTY studio and its Kanto Auto Works subsidiary in Japan, the 2008 xB is clearly an American derivation of the first-generation box van.

Most notable is how the xB has been supersized. It gains a foot in overall length, 4.0 inches of that between the wheels. Overall width is up 2.8 inches, yet height increases only 0.1. A wide and low stance, sculpted wheel arches, and a long front overhang give an appearance of visual mass and menace-a look supported by the addition of 600 pounds of real weight. The cute little box is little no more; equipped with the four-speed automatic, the new xB weighs a portly 3086 pounds.

This aggressive new compact applies design elements from the t2B concept vehicle that was shown at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. These exterior styling cues include the soft angles between its wide and flat paneling, high beltline, elongated headlamps that wrap around the side of the vehicle, inset taillights, rectangular grille, pronounced fenders, and single rear backup light on the left bumper.

Scion customers love to drive, so with that in mind, the overall size was enlarged, helping to create a more exciting driving experience.

The new xB is indeed a bigger box, but it doesn't look so much like a box any more.

With all Scions, there is just one model but a million options. That's the Scion personalization theme.

The all-new Scion xB is very different than the previous model. It's longer, wider, faster, and less quirky looking.