2010 Scion xD: The Unique Wedge Like Compact in the Family

2010 Scion xD

The Scion brand of cars has a unique flavor to them or at least the first generation was sporty and aimed at the youth. However, sometimes thing change back to their more natural state and for Toyota it is the reliable, safe and unfortunately fairly dull state of affairs. Scion escaped the dull part of that fate for the first generation, but with every redesign reviewers around the automotive industry can’t help put notice the sportiness taken out of the different models. For the 2010 Scion xD it is a mixed bag with some mixed conclusions.

Instrument Cluster - 2010 Scion xD 5dr HB Man (Natl)

Dashboard - 2010 Scion xD 5dr HB Man (Natl)

Basically, the 2010 Scion xD is the smallest Scion you get for your money and starts at a base MSRP of $14,900 for the manual version. Scion fans will remember the original small Scion was the xA, but it made way for what is considered the better looking xD. That said, the xD doesn’t get a ton of praise since it is fairly expensive for the size, has gas mileage that is significantly less than that of the new 2011 Ford Fiesta. Our sister site, FamilyCarGuide.com, called the Scion xd “Not cute or cool, but efficient and reliable.” That statement really sums it up since the under pinning are completely Toyota with power coming from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that pushes 128 horsepower to the wheels.

The interior and gauge cluster are praised for their layout out, even if the combination speedometer and tachometer are unusual in the class. The tall profile of the car allows for a lot of usable interior space and good visibility, which is lacking on a lot of small compacts in the market. The majority of reviews consider the xD a improvement on the xA looks and interior layout, but the same can’t be said for the rest of the car. ConsumerGuide found the suspension “somewhat floppy” and Car and Driver says the xD is “competent, composed, and mostly dull. In other words, they've turned it into a Toyota."

Bottom line—the Scion xD is a nice looking, fairly inexpensive car that performs with average fuel economy (definitely not best in class). However, even with over 40 dealer-installed options on the table, the xD still doesn’t come off with the same flair as say the 2010 Kia Soul. Now we know why Toyota is starting to worry about their Korean competitors.

Read our story on how fast Hyundai is gaining on Toyota in the automotive market by clicking here. Then check out the full review on the Scion xD here.