Used 2011 Scion xD

Talk with people accustomed to driving large vehicles and the one thing they claim to despise about small cars is, well, how small they feel; fear of being run over by larger traffic is probably a close second. To make its 2011 xD more appealing to anxious Americans, Scion has created a car that features an aggressive short, squat stance, but that also feels a bit taller than the average economy car. Thanks in part to its tall doors, large wheels and narrow side glass, the xD looks almost like a little SUV. First and foremost, however, the xD is a cool economy car, as popular with younger drivers who like to customize their rides as it is with urban commuters who require inexpensive, efficient and reliable transportation.

The 2011 Scion xD is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, engineered with Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) technology. Although it delivers only 128 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, the car’s light weight and efficient automatic transmission allow it to zip around in city traffic without complaint. Unfortunately, the xD is no different than most economy cars and will strain to tackle steep hills or overtake slower moving traffic. Those who want ample acceleration from stop lights and on freeway on- and off-ramps may be happier with the standard five-speed manual transmission than the optional four-speed automatic. With its short, squat stance the 2011 Scion xD is capable of handling curves and dips in the road with ease, although rough road surfaces will make the ride slightly less comfortable.

The mono-spec interior theme, clad mostly in black, seems a bit drab for such a hip car, but the design is efficient and functional. The xD’s front seats don’t offer much in the way of lower back or thigh support, but The 60/40 fold-flat rear seats are highly flexible and can be reclined, moved backward or forward and even folded into the floor to create more space. A circular radar screen-like speedometer with integrated tachometer is properly placed in front of the driver (as opposed to the center-mounted cluster in the xB), while large controls for the ventilation and audio are within easy reach. Storage space is plentiful aboard the xD, including twin upper and lower gloveboxes, door and console cup holders and even a coin box. Satellite radio, auxiliary MP3 jacks that will fit any player – including iPod – and a choice of Pioneer or Alpine audio systems round out the xD’s entertainment choices.

The 2011 Scion xD shares the same type of bold grille, multi-reflector halogen headlamps and integrated side-view mirror turn signals found on all Scion vehicles. But, unlike the boxy xB, the xD has a sleeker stance that relates it more to the sporty tC Coupe. The xD’s hatchback design incorporates a long but narrow rear window completed by a rear defroster and wiper/washer. The xD offers a choice of three 16-inch wheel covers, as well as 16- and 18-inch alloy wheels. The Release Series 3.0 features unique xPresso brown paint, body kit and carbon-fiber exterior trim pieces.

Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) Screen
This groovy screen built into the audio faceplate on the dash allows you to display personal "skins" to further customize the interior of the car. Skins can be created and downloaded on a special site created by Pioneer just for Scion owners.

Flexible Rear-Seat Configurations
The seats in the rear of the car can move independently of one another and fold in a 60/40 fashion, allowing you to arrange them to suit any travel or cargo need.

Like any Scion, the xD comes with a wide array of equipment. Noteworthy amenities include keyless entry, power locks/windows/mirrors with driver’s side one-touch auto-down, a tire-pressure monitoring system, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel with audio controls and four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA). To get its occupants safely to their destination, the xD is equipped with six airbags and active headrests in the front row that push the occupants back into their seats in the event of an accident. A Pioneer 160-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with iPod compatibility and six speakers provides the soundtrack for any road trip.

Since the 2011 Scion xD comes with numerous features as standard equipment, available options consist mostly of items that are geared toward customizing the car, like illuminated door-sill enhancements, sport pedals, a carbon-fiber engine cover and 18-inch alloy wheels. A few more everyday options exist, such as a cargo cover and mat, floor mats and an auto-dimming mirror. More significant options include an Alpine Premium audio system with navigation, subwoofer and XM Satellite Radio, Scion navigation radio with Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, hook-ups for a backup camera and Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control.

The xD’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with dual Variable Valve Timing offers 128 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy with both the manual and automatic transmissions is similar to the Nissan Versa and slightly poorer than that of the Honda Fit, which has significantly less horsepower.

1.8-liter in-line 4
128 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
125 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/33