photo from Toyota Motor Press

When Toyota first launched the Scion product line, they started off with 2 models, xB and xA. After 2 years they released the ever-popular tC. As sales in the xA declined, Scion looked for a way to add a replacement. The answer to Scion’s quest brought us the xD–this also was met with the refresh of the Toyota iSt, the xD’s cousin from the Far East.

Sporting a 1.8 liter Dual VVT-I engine pushing out 128 horsepower and an aerodynamic body that shows parts from the Yaris and Matrix, this combo gives a very nice addition to the Scion line.

Microcarmag.com took ownership of a Scion xD, a 2008 Release Series 1.0, to be exact, and we have been driving it for the past nine months. You’re probably thinking, “Nine whole months and you are now finally writing a review on this car?” That’s right, we spent a number of months doing everything from local driving, freeways, and even a few drives to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The Review

We procured a 2008 Scion xD Release Series 1.0, #663 of 2000, equipped with XM / Navigation Radio, and a one-of-a-kind DAMD body kit. The first look of the Scion xD sporting the DAMD kit tells you that this xD was not designed to be slow.

photo from Toyota Motor Press

You might be thinking, “It’s a dang Scion…They are not suppose to be fast!” Well, don’t let the fact that it’s part of the Scion line fool you in the speed / power arena. Acceleration is steady, not the fastest from 0-60, but unlike the xA or even the first gen xB, the xD does not stutter at the press of the pedal.

In the stock xD, the interior is not super-impressive. However, our RS 1.0 came with color match-painted accent parts. The fabric seats and interior accents are an upgrade from the original xA, and it appears that they took some seat design cues from the tC.

Visibility is something that has never been a problem any of the Scion line, and I have to say that it is still not a problem. The only issue that I see–and this has been across the line of Scion cars–is that the windshields are still a weak point. We are already changing out ours after taking either a rock or some sort of road debris.

One other weakness that we have discovered is that unlike the new tC and Gen 2 xB, the xD came with a brake combo of disk up front and drum on the rear. Stopping power mixed with horse power does not seem to match and to be honest, I think Scion / Toyota should have considered all disk brakes.

Overall Opinion
Overall the new Scion xD is a very good car, even with the fact that it needs better brakes and that they still have yet to create an angle that would make your windshield last longer.

What’s ahead?
We have tons planned for our 2008 Scion xD RS 1.0. New intake, hopefully a new set of headers, exhaust, new lighting. Keep watching our site.