Far be it for us to suggest that Detroit's hometown newspaper would never attack a Big 2.8 product with as much venomous vigor as Scott Burgess unleashes upon Scion's revised xD. So we won't. We'll just share some of the Detroit News' scribes's spleen venting and call it good (well, that's what our Megan Benoit did; awarding the xD four stars). So, how ugly is it? "Scion calls the flat-edged exterior 'aggressive styling,' but it comes across more Elephant Man than Man About Town." Cabin OK? "The interior materials felt like rejects from Chinese toy manufacturers. There is nothing inspiring or even interesting inside the xD." Ride quality? "Coarse and extremely loud." Steering? "The electric power steering is too sensitive, causing the xD to weave from side to side at the slightest movement, and it feels disconnected to the road." Anything nice to say? "The one area where the xD excels is parking. With its size, it's easy to move into the smallest spots. Plus, when you're parking, you know the driving experience is nearly over and you've arrived at your destination." Props to Burgess for not pulling his punches and the DTN for publishing his xD diatribe. Now, can we get Mr. Burgess' take on the Chevrolet Aveo?
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Wow, the DTN continues to impress.
Maybe Scott Burgess is trying to one up the brit who we were all upset about a few weeks ago (can’t remember his name). Maybe we should get the two of them together.
Hmmm, possible clues into Megan’s silence as of late?
Just like we talked about in “The Truth About Car Bias” editorial…..you may not agree with or like what Burgess has to say…but it was an entertaining read nonetheless. I liken Burgess’s prose to RF’s Focus review—there are elements of truth and bias mixed in….let the reader decide and be informed + entertained at the same time.
Scion’s gone from cool to clunky in one product cycle. The Toyota mediocrity watch is definitely on now.
Scions were cool?
indi500fan: Exactly! It’s hard to believe a manufacturer like Toyota could completely screw up an entire brand after just one product generation.
They really don’t have a clue anymore, do they?
As far as I can tell, the xD is merely an xA with very slightly redone styling, a better engine (more horsepower and torque with no loss of fuel economy), and a few more standard and optional features (cruise control, keyless entry, and side airbags are now standard, a nav system and traction control and now available as options). If you liked the xA, you’ll love the xD. If not, well then, probably not.
The original xB was very cool – its hip distinctive styling, practicality and affordability defined the Scion brand. The xA, xC and xD never had the same impact. Toyota’s xB redesign faux pas has not only ruined a perfectly good car but its also threatening to diminish the whole Scion brand.
Sounds suspiciously similar to my description of the new xB as “a big, sloppy hamburger wrapped in greasy paper” in my TTAC review. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Hmmm! I don’t know anyone who boils sausages!
I wonder if anyone reads the Detroit News auto reviews asides from the same Big 2.8 auto execs who continue to sign off on subpar product that doesn’t compete with the Japanese. Is this xD review preaching to the choir?
Sure the xD is sort of bad, but as I was reading about that review I also wondered whether the guy would deal as harshly with the Aveo, and then…stumbled upon the last sentence of the post.
@ alpfamike: I think the Detroit News Auto Section is a pretty good read for us….mostly good over bad.
Also—give credit where it is due–the Detroit News often provides links to TTAC in its blog section—what other newspaper has the foresight / balls to do that ?
The 1st gen xB defined the Scion brand; the other models xA and tC didn’t really stand out in any way.
Why Toyota decided to go ahead and mate the xA and xB with a Honda Element I have no idea, but the result is sad.
I own a tC and although its interior is made out of cheap materials, it doesn’t really ‘look’ cheap (unless you look closely). But I recently rode in a new xA and its interior really did look cheap.
I don’t get what Toyota thinks it is doing with Scion – if they look like Toyotas, why bother?
umterp85
Also—give credit where it is due–the Detroit News often provides links to TTAC in its blog section—what other newspaper has the foresight / balls to do that ?
Even more surprisingly, they linked to my criticism last week of Daniel Howes’ “Automakers vexed by external forces” column. Have to give them their props for that!
LOL this guy is hilarious… you guys should hire him
I align much more closely with his analysis of the xD than the xD review on the site. It deserved the four star rating as much as the Focus deserves 1. They are both about 2-2.5 in my book. Half-baked with some good features but overall lacking anything that makes them compelling like their previous models (2000-04 Focus with its unique but lovable styling and class leading dynamics, xA with its unique but lovable styling with a small and efficient twist). Now they are just too ugly and are clear examples of what cost-cutting and poor engineering/design decisions do to vehicles.
To each his own. I think the new Scions are terrible. I’ve never been a fan of the xB, but now I can’t even believe people would buy it. I used to like the xA before it went to fat camp and got ugly.
Did Toyota secretly move its HQ’s to Detroit?
Other than the looks, I still think the xD is a great little car for its class. One man’s ‘unique but lovable’ is another man’s ‘unforgivably ugly.’ If you can make it past the exterior (and I didn’t think the interior was as bad as everyone is making it out to be, again, for its class), it’s got a lot of features and great stuff for what you’re paying. Vs. the Focus, which is unattractive and offers nothing.
Frank—-“Even more surprisingly, they linked to my criticism last week of Daniel Howes’ “Automakers vexed by external forces” column. Have to give them their props for that!”
or….somebody on the Detroit News staff really has it in for Howes to inlcude that particular TTAC link ! Net—I’m sure Mr. Howes was not amused.
Toyota Scion brand was always ugly except the TC, it was a little better looking….did people forget that toyota is marketing this brand to young people and not adults. And here we have adults writing bad reviews about it. I can name two cars out there that look worst then the xD, the Volkswagon Beetle and the mini cooper…..
I don’t think Toyota screwed up Scions in one product cycle. I think they were just lucky out of the gate with the xb and that’s it. Generating appeal with the youth market is really tough and this XD just seems like the usual conservatism Toyota employs which didn’t do much for the original.
There was an ad in this morning’s paper stating that there would be a $1,000 cash rebate on all new Toyotas. Is this just regional?
His opinion of the Scion is similar to my opinion of the Toyotas I’ve driven recently. Despite my respect for their reliability, I wouldn’t buy anything Toyota currently makes.
Well, I’m open minded. If Toyota lets me down in future, I’ll try Honda. Or Subaru (assuming I can get hybrid and/or diesel fuel efficiency AND all wheel drive, at least matching within 5mph of my Prius).
Warning, Will Robinson (or even Mr Watanabe). Pay heed here.
I won’t just “stick with a brand”. Been there, done that, right AMC, Chrysler, Ford, GM? I stuck with/got disgusted/swapped between them for nearly 30 years. Nevermore.
Toyota doesn’t automatically have my biz, nobody does. But General Messup, Dorf and Chryslerebrus WON’T have my business.
Has anyone ever seen a Scion Dealership?
My experience has been that they are sold as just another Toyota. To me, it ain’t a brand at all.
So, if they keep up cars like these, they will simply stop making them with no repercussions. Scion can and will dissappear.