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Tedward Drives the Charmingly Ugly 2006 Scion xB, Calls It an Extinct Milk Truck

Can you believe it has been five years already since Toyota closed the doors on their Scion brand? They launched the company in 2003, and they managed to sell more than one million cars in 13 years. Interestingly, 50% of them were purchased by people under the age of 35, something they were aiming at all along.
2006 Scion xB 10 photos
Photo: Tedward
2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB2006 Scion xB
Even though the xB is not the prettiest car out on the market, I still felt an urge to see Tedward's review of the boxy little thing, as I've always felt there was more to it than meets the eye. As it targeted a younger audience, the price had to be as low as possible, and the xB retailed for around $14,000 back in the day. These days you could buy the same car for as low as $4,000.

As the reviewer points out, "the xB was Scion's attempt of selling Toyotas to Gen Y, which are now called millennials, but that generation didn't have much money, nor were they interested in Toyota's offering at the time." The car he reviews here has been driven for almost 200,000 miles (321,800 km), and it looks pretty beat up.

He further notes his mistrust regarding Toyota's plan by adding that, "I'll never understand why they thought that the youth was going to go and jump on this style, it is charmingly ugly!". Before jumping behind the wheel, he pops the hood, and we get to see the 1.5-liter engine. It was rated for 108 horsepower and 105 lb-ft (142 Nm) of torque, which is what you'd expect out of a car that's perfect for beginner drivers.

2006 Scion xB
Photo: Tedward
But this car wasn't meant to go fast; it was meant to be reliable, and as the reviewer points out, "this engine will last about 300,000 miles (482,800 km) with pretty much just oil changes!" We further get to see the inside of this vehicle, which should be big enough to accommodate up to five people, with a lot of legroom to spare.

The seating position is somewhat reminiscent of a larger Toyota, and you'd tend to think of today's crossovers when looking at it. As he gets behind the wheel, he seems eager to see what the xB is all about, especially because Scion reportedly sold around 65,000 of these back in 2006 alone.

As soon as he starts driving, he praises the car for how quiet it is. "When you set off the first thing you notice is that it's well insulated, it's a fairly enjoyable drive". As soon as the engine has come up to temperature, he gives it a bit of gas, but unsurprisingly this thing is by no means fast.

2006 Scion xB
Photo: Tedward
Still, considering the xB only weighs around 2,500 lbs (1,133 kg), it shouldn't be all that terrible and he does note that, "this is a momentum car... I'm so surprised how agile and enjoyable it is to drive". He again mentions the strange seating position, even referring to it as slightly uncomfortable. Well, at least it takes away the tiny car feeling of the whole thing.

And, if you started to think about getting one for a daily driver, Tedward kindly reminds us that the side impact safety rating of this car isn't all that good, noting that, "you don't want to get hit on the side, you will get injured". That's not the most comforting thought I've heard today, not by a mile.

With all the downsides, the xB still seems like an appealing choice if you're on a tight budget and looking for a reliable car to take you here and there. Tedward also comes to the same conclusion as he ends by saying: "This is actually a pretty sweet little car for the money, and it's still alive and kicking today, and it's fun to drive!"

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About the author: Dragos Chitulescu
Dragos Chitulescu profile photo

The things Dragos enjoys the most in life are, in no particular order: cars, motorcycles, diecast cars, and drifting. He's seen (and driven) many vehicles since he started his writing career back in 2009, but his garage currently houses a 1991 Mazda RX-7 FC3S Turbo II and a 1999 Suzuki SV650-S.
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