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2008 Scion xB Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Scion xB has undergone a significant change for 2008. The distinctively boxy vehicle, from Toyota, has grown in length by a foot, and its uniquely sharp edges have been rounded just a bit, giving it a more contemporary appearance. It still retains its unmistakable front end, however, and that unique profile that makes it easy to spot around town or on the highway.
Power for the 2008 Scion xB is provided by a light, compact 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, while a four-speed sequential automatic transmission is available as an option. Anti-lock brakes are standard, as is electric rack-and-pinion steering.
In keeping with its status as a unique, slightly out-of-the-ordinary vehicle, the 2008 xB comes with a lot of nice, even unexpected features as standard equipment. A first aid kit, for instance, is standard, as is a direct tire pressure monitoring system.
Drivers have a choice of three wheel cover designs. Chrome exhaust tips, projector headlamps, and turn signals mounted on the exterior mirrors are also part of the package.
Also included with the xB are such standard features as air conditioning, power windows, power doorlocks with remote keyless entry, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel column, and a six-speaker AM/FM stereo system with a CD player and iPod connector.
Reviewers have responded well to the xB's makeover, calling it a more stable and more functional vehicle, though they note that the xB still has a high center of gravity, requiring some caution around tight corners at speed. But it also maintains the unique characteristics that made it popular with many young drivers.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2008 Scion xB
Write a reviewUser rating:
by dj B
Sep 09, 2024
I used to own a 20008 model and I remember ordering it on my iPhone and goin to the dealer and signing for the paperwork. Took about a week to get it because I ordered it in manual transmission. Meanwhile I drive around in a cool modded loaner.
My xB was so much fun. Very economical and had many up upgrades to add on. Plus the body style was super cool. I do miss my xB.
I’m seriously considering buying another one. I really recommend them to all my friends and family. Sep 09, 2024
by John P
May 16, 2024
Seems to be a good fun vehicle. I like it.May 16, 2024
by Mike S
Mar 30, 2023
This model is an evolution of 1st generation version...bigger, heavier, rounder, significantly more powerful (Camry-asset), and a quality build entrusting longevity of Toyotas over-engineering
Remarkably versatile: cargo-swallower, comfortable for full-grown persons, not boring in driveabilty or design ( but not pretending to get cudos in either department)
Its a unique twist on a modern ride.Mar 30, 2023
User rating:
by dj B
Sep 09, 2024
I used to own a 20008 model and I remember ordering it on my iPhone and goin to the dealer and signing for the paperwork. Took about a week to get it because I ordered it in manual transmission. Meanwhile I drive around in a cool modded loaner.
My xB was so much fun. Very economical and had many up upgrades to add on. Plus the body style was super cool. I do miss my xB.
I’m seriously considering buying another one. I really recommend them to all my friends and family. Sep 09, 2024
by John P
May 16, 2024
Seems to be a good fun vehicle. I like it.May 16, 2024
by Mike S
Mar 30, 2023
This model is an evolution of 1st generation version...bigger, heavier, rounder, significantly more powerful (Camry-asset), and a quality build entrusting longevity of Toyotas over-engineering
Remarkably versatile: cargo-swallower, comfortable for full-grown persons, not boring in driveabilty or design ( but not pretending to get cudos in either department)
Its a unique twist on a modern ride.Mar 30, 2023
by Joseph J C
Jan 02, 2023
The model has features I am interested in. As a Toyota family member it has a great reputation. I did find through research some of the years have had up to 11 recall issues. Just have to research and see it the vehicle meets ones needs. Jan 02, 2023
by Gary E
Oct 14, 2021
The car was very well maintained. We drove the vehicle from Louisiana to Texas and it was a very pleasant trip. We averaged 30 MPG which is fantastic for a 13 year old car.Oct 14, 2021
by Dino R
Feb 12, 2021
Great car. Spacious and economical. The right price and courteous serviceFeb 12, 2021
by LarryLarry G
Oct 17, 2020
Doesnt look like the pictures. It look white but its Grey. The tinted windows were scratched on the inside. It didnt show from the outside. It was okay but not for meOct 17, 2020
by Vinnie L
Sep 03, 2014
Love the easy maintenance, good gas milleage and fun to drive. Handles great and has a lot of get up and go. Great car for a first time driver because of all of the above features. With the low maint. you can see this car on the road for a long time.Sep 03, 2014
by Susie M
Mar 19, 2014
I dislike that it doesn't have four or all wheel drive option. Other than that, this is the most reliable and comfortable car I could imagine. I recommend this vehicle for anyone, including families that need lots of room in the back for children and cargo!Mar 19, 2014
by Sheryl N
Dec 17, 2012
I love everything about this car, I just need something taller for me personally. This car is great for a first car or just one that is very simple for someone. Really great for almost anything you could want. Pretty much it's a small SUV. All in all, a great car and I'm sad to part with it.Dec 17, 2012
by Ashley T
Jun 24, 2012
I love this car! It's the right color, shape and size for me. I love love love it! The seats are comfy to sit in and there's plenty of storage for just about anything. The slight tint on the windows really helps out with the heat as well.Jun 24, 2012
by Phillip A
Mar 15, 2012
It's hard to pick anything wrong with her. I have been a toaster fan for 8 long
years, and now I have one! She is the 2nd gen box, and pretty much stock, for
now. My Rockbox is a winner! Mar 15, 2012
by Anonymous
Feb 09, 2012
Good car for the price. Generally happy with the car. Love the "Look" of the car. handles good. fun to drive. feel safe in car. long trips hard on the backside. have the blackberry crush paint and it looks great but paint is the worst I have ever had on a car, it scratches sooo easy, if a dog jumps up on your door--scratches-- behind your doorhandles --scratches-- from your finger nails, it is bad.
Have had car since new in 2008.Feb 09, 2012
by Anonymous
Dec 19, 2011
A great family car. We had a family of 5 (just had a baby, now a family of 6) and drove our Scion xB from Florida to California. Got 20 miles from the Grand Canyon and hit 2 elk. Drove the rest of the way to the Grand Canyon. Had our windshield fixed there and drove the rest of the way to LA 2 days later. The xB is a beast. Great car!Dec 19, 2011
by Anonymous
Nov 03, 2011
I had this car for also 5 years, no problems whatsoever. For its class, it pretty fast. Its very reliable. Wish it was bigger to hold my growing. Can't ask for better first car. Anyone is get this will surely be happy.Nov 03, 2011
by Jeff K
May 03, 2011
Great utility vehicle that is fun to drive has very good performance and gets very
good gas mileage. I drive about 40,000 miles a year and it is perfect for my work
and driving habits. The room in this car is outstanding and you don't fee compromised by buying an economy car. May 03, 2011
by Randy W
Aug 01, 2010
has disc brakes all around. Same motor as the Camry 2.4 lots of power and its just so much fun to drive! electronic stability control and ABS! Highly modifiable and lots of after market parts to add!! Fun to drive and looks cool !Aug 01, 2010
by Anonymous
Mar 26, 2010
Very dependable, but expected to get higher MPGs, especially with manual transmission. Great for everyday commuting, and surprisingly large inside for a compact car. Acceleration is slow, but it's not a sports car. Braking is very good, handling is good for a high center of gravity car. Outstanding headroom and cargo room, and excellent road vision seating position. Fit and finish have been perfect. Maintenance has been relatively inexpensive. Can be fun to drive, but annoying in bumper-to-bumper traffic due to stick shift. Mar 26, 2010
by Alexsander W
Feb 02, 2010
Not a bad car overall, kinda hard to see out of. Great for trips, much better than the older version. Much better power, but not as good on gas. This model has cruise control, a must. Kind of strange dash design. Traded in on 2008 Hyundai for personal reasons, better mileage, and lower payments.Feb 02, 2010
by Alysia W
Oct 23, 2009
This car is really fun to drive but i gotta fix it up. Rarely needs any maintenance i love the exterior and interior but i would have to say that I don't really like how much I am paying for it...Oct 23, 2009
by Justin M
Oct 15, 2009
Car is amazing for the price paid! Very quick for a V-4. Very comfortable, Very low maintence! Lots of room for a small car! Car is classified as a wagon so insurance is cheaper! Awesome outside styling! la laOct 15, 2009
by Adam G
Oct 01, 2009
Its a great car............. My favorite aspect would be
that you can fold the back seat down and turn it into a
pretty good sized bed for those nights when you are
just to drunk to drive anywhere..... AMAZING CAROct 01, 2009
by Ash M
Sep 05, 2009
Great build quality, love the space, great stereo, appearance is OK. Has good enough power. Gas milage is about average, could be better. Maintenance is cheap. Fun enough to drive. Handles OK. I feel good driving. I love my xB!!!!Sep 05, 2009
by Chuck P
Aug 19, 2009
Great Gas Mileage, sporty looking, and has alot of cargo room. I can haul just about anything in it. It is inexpensive to Own and to Maintain. I just love when you first step into the car you have so much headroom. You feel like a little kid.Aug 19, 2009
by Klay K
Jul 30, 2009
Fun to drive, economical and has lots of room! Easy to work on. Parts are plentiful even aftermarket performance or cosmetic mods. The base package comes with everything you'd want. Power windows, locks, mirrors, a/c, cruise, cd player with mp3 or ipod connect.Jul 30, 2009
by Daniel B
Jul 19, 2009
Its roomy, A good working car, comfortable ride, very smooth on turns, and handles beautifully on hills and mountains. IPod hook up, seats fold down in back for storage room, good camping car as well, It is very safe, and has all of the dash board equipment in the middleJul 19, 2009
by Abid K
Jun 24, 2009
needs more cupholders ! wish it had a 6spd automatic, i can get 30mpg when i try, whats with the 1 lighter outlet? u think they could put better visors in there. overall i love it, quality, done right. cheap. funJun 24, 2009
by Colin T
Jun 12, 2009
Performance is mildly disappointing, with extremely lack luster accelleration and top speed. Luckily it looks super bomb so no one cares that it isn't a beast off the line. Even better than the outer appearence is the interior which is simply baller. It maintains good gas mileage, and requires minimal upkeep. Finally, this car is a blast to drive as long as you don't mind people staring.Jun 12, 2009
by Brittany B
Apr 08, 2009
I got my car a few months ago and I couldnt be happier with it! The only thing is the passenger armrest, there isnt one. My boyfriend steals mine! But i love that it can go up when not in use! It it so much roomier then you would think. Go sit in one! its HUGE!Apr 08, 2009
by Michael S
Jan 04, 2009
Pros:
Quick, efficient, FUN 4 cylinder- that is very rare that i would say that.
There is enough room in this car for you to move into. I am 6 foot 3 and i can stretch out very nicely, even with my hair spiked i have a ton of headroom.
It isn't as outlandish as the old XB. If you are not a first-gen XB enthusiast, you agree that this is a decent looking car-van-thing.
Blackberry Crush color is gorgeous.
More standard options on this 16,500 dollar car than on any toyota w/ options 21,000 dollars or less. A similarly loaded camry would cost a little more, and it'd be alot less functional.
You could use this car as a family car, or as a tuner car... Scion sells an aftermarket SC setup for it!! OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP!!!
Its a trooper in snow. ABS and VSC kick ass.
Gas milage is alot better than the EPA numbers. 14 gallon tank is sufficient for around 300 miles in stop and go traffic.
Cons:
The dash is made of some plastic carbon fiber looking stuff, it gets dirty veeeery easily.
Backed up into a poll going like 1 foot an hour and put a nasty 2.5 inch crack in my bumper.. i suppose thats a safety feature though
When you tell people you own a XB, they think you're talking about the old square with 4 wheels, and you always have to explain it's different.
No option for leather... I would have liked that.
A few blind spots that take a while to get used to.
The 08 XB is perfect for pretty much anyone.Jan 04, 2009
by Abid K
Dec 12, 2008
this car is safe, reliable, comfortable. spacious. fun, no repairs, just oil changes, great gas mileage, quick, turns on a dime, stops fast, awesome radio, fun to drive, stylish and very cheap to own buy one today at naperville scionDec 12, 2008
by Heinrich B
Dec 06, 2008
Owning the Daihatsu Materia is the best thing since the
toaster... not sliced bread - but very close to the invention
of the wheel.... or man stepping onto the moon. With
enough space to fit a dead body in the back - you can
stretch it even more to fit a cow in!!! Dec 06, 2008
by Jake O
Oct 24, 2008
I think my car is great!!!!! it's performance is great, it might not be the fastest but it can hang. It is a easy car to own and customize to fit you. this is a great car to drive you can fit a lot of people in it and still have room.Oct 24, 2008
by Eric S
Sep 09, 2008
This car is really more than what it seems! If you you've tried out one of the older xBs it would completely discourage you in trying the new ones. Don't let it fool you! this is a total upgrade from the previous xBs and packs loads of power (157 hp, and if that not enough, put a TRD Supercharger which brings it up to about 210 hp!). This xB runs on a completely different chassis and the engine has increased in .9 liters in size(2.4 in-line 4 DOHC 16-valve vvt-i). The Toyota Camry, a medium to full size sedan, uses this same engine! This xB also runs on a five speed manual trans and makes the car feel really sporty! I get an average 27 mpg (which is not bad for a car that has little aerodynamics). Many of the standard features you find on the xB can be found on many European cars (led turn signals on outside mirrors, led third brake light, bi-xenon headlights, Pioneer premium audio which sounds GREAT, 4 disc brakes [try finding that on a 08' civic!] and a really stylish look that catches the eye inside and out). Other than 2 oil changes and tire rotations I have not done any major maintenance to the car and have avoided many accidents thanks to my brakes! (people in Orlando drive like crap, just an FYI). All in all I always look forward to driving my xB because it is just an amazing car, no other way to put it! Less than $20,000 (even the release edition!)Sep 09, 2008
by Alisha H
Aug 30, 2008
This is the first new car I have ever had and I absolutly love it. It is small like a car but sized like a smaller suv. It gets good on gas and is a great car for our family. I have looked at these cars for a couple years now and was so excited to finally get one. Not to mention my very tall husband can actually fit in the car without hitting his head or knees...lol.Aug 30, 2008
by Jared E
Jul 21, 2008
Performance is greater than expected. Put the car into manual mode and take off the traction control and you got a rocket. The normal person will get about 24/25 in town, and 25/26 highway; less if you speed. The fun factor is a 10/10 if you've been in my vehicle in the past. The apperance it looks smaller in the inside but it easily fits a 6' 8 person with room to spare. The built quality is high up because it is owned by Toyota.Jul 21, 2008
by Phil W
May 26, 2008
My 2nd Scion xB, one of the best cars to modify and retain its value. My last xB was the only car ever that I have owned that actually appreciated in value and I made a little money on it. Very dependable, lots of room even for someone who is 6'3 and 300lbs. Love itMay 26, 2008
by Andrew B
May 03, 2008
Although not as boxy as the first generation Scion xB (Or Toyota bB in Japan), the second generation xB (Based on the JDM Corolla Rumion) is larger and more powerful. The 2.4L engine gives the new xB a lot more power over the 1.5L equipped first generation xB, at the expense of slightly worse fuel economy (31 vs 36 MPG), but the extra horsepower is worth it, especially on models equipped with an automatic transmission. Head and foot room is plentiful, even in the back seat.May 03, 2008
by Whitney D
Apr 21, 2008
The 'Toaster Oven' of the road...Apr 21, 2008
by Alex J
Apr 03, 2008
It is no Lexux but it is a Toyota. All the safety features you may want. Good power/economy ratio. It is not a 4.3 V8 but a 2.4 4L. It would be nice if it had a 5 or 6 spd automatic but the 4 auto stick is adequate. For the price you can't beat it and did I say it is a Toyota.Apr 03, 2008
by Anonymous
Mar 14, 2008
the car is very smooth, has somewhat of a different look that people find ugly. It is not what other people like anyways. You buy the car for your personalization.Mar 14, 2008
by Anonymous
Oct 10, 2007
I own an 06 xB which i love to death. I wouldn't trade it for the world because i made it my
own by customizing it the way i want it. But i drove an 08 xB this past summer at a couple
of scion backstage events and it was just awesome to be able to feel the difference
between the two. I was able to test the power and handling in one track and i just couldn't
have been happier with both. It was nice to have more power in my hands because the 06
models only have 103 hp. If there was one reason that would keep me from getting an 08
though, it would be because it's not boxy enough. xB's are known for their shape and the
08 model just lost a lot of it in my mind. But overall i just love the 08 and would
recommend it to someone thinking about getting a scion.Oct 10, 2007
by Colin R
Jul 05, 2007
I just drove the new xB an hour ago. It is surprisingly spacious in the front AND back seats (I am a little more than 6 feet and I fit very comfortably in front as well as the back), it's deceptively small from the outside. The seats are comfortable and the power seemed to be adequate (I didn't really get the chance to test it though) and the car handled very well.
The dash seemed a little boxy but in a car that has been designed to look like a box thats not a shocker. The dash materials did feel a little plasticky and unrefined, but hey, it's a Scion and at an MSRP of around $17,000 you couldn't ask for much more than that.
I'm very surprised with my reaction to the Box. I would never has billed myself as a person who would actually consider one of these, but after driving one I am left wanting more of it. I'll definitely consider one when buying my next car. Jul 05, 2007
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Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 2008 Scion xB?Compare this car
2008 Scion xB Pricing
Original MSRP
$15,650 to $15,650Price range
$5,298 to $5,953Average price on CG
$5,313YoY price change
$5,836 to $5,313Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Pioneer · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6 · 160 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.8 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.0 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: drivers seat
Convenience Features
Center console: front console with armrest · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · One-touch windows: 1 · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: in-floor · Vanity mirrors: dual
Exterior Features
Exhaust tip color: chrome · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Steering
Steering ratio: 16.0 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.90
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 26 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent