Comparison review: Six subcompact hatchbacks (Third place)

June 12, 12:27 AMAutos ExaminerBrady Holt

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There isn't too much wrong with the 2009 Scion xD relative to its competitors, but it doesn't do much all that well either. 

In most ways, the Scion xD is simply acceptable by the class standards, nothing more. It’s rarely a standout for positive or for negative characteristics. It’s rather stiff-riding and noisy, like most of its competitors. It holds four passengers in acceptable but unexceptional comfort, like most of its competitors. It displays no cleverness in its design, but few “what were they thinking?” flaws. 

There are just three key aspects of the xD that are even moderately distinguished from the competition, for better and for worse: a top-notch reliability history, very good gas mileage, and very little cargo space. 

All three of those characteristics are important. But in none is the xD – from Toyota’s Scion brand – all that far from other subcompact hatchbacks. Others are also fuel-efficient and reliable, and some other are also lacking in cargo space. 

It’s a decent little car, overall, but you don’t get a sense of thoughtful design suggesting that its designers went out of their way to do something well. Nothing about it grabs you as a reason to buy it instead of another subcompact. 

Perhaps that’s why despite its decency, the xD is the slowest-selling car of these six (if you count the Pontiac G3 with the near-identical Chevrolet Aveo). You don’t buy the car that’s just okay. 

Perhaps you are grabbed, however, by some unusual styling cues on the interior. The instrument panel is shaped like an upright wave, cresting to stick out the HVAC controls then regressing again before bringing forward the stereo, and ending unattached to the upper dash. 

This layout is neither fetching nor useful, but at least it doesn’t interfere with ergonomics like some other parts of the dash.

Stymied by complaints about the xD's predecessor – called xA – having the gauge cluster mounted at the center of the dash rather than behind the steering wheel, designers moved back to a more conventional setup. On the surface, at least. Look closer and you’ll see that the speedometer and tachometer have been squeezed into a single circle and the fuel gauge has become a digital readout off to the left. Scion, which targets young buyers, seems to think that youth want more from their speedometers than to know how fast they are traveling, and have needlessly complicated this basic function in the name of style. 

The rest of the interior is more conventional: adequately spacious but somewhat squishy front seats that need a longer cushion and an adequately spacious but shapeless rear. There’s very little cargo space behind the rear seat, however – Scion lists just 10.5 cubic feet, the least of this comparison. There’s as much useful floor space as some competitors with stronger numbers, but even that isn’t too impressive. The rear seat can slide forward to increase cargo space, but adjusting it leaves a well between the cargo floor and seatback. It plops essentially flat easily, a plus, but opens up a low 35.7 cubic feet of total space. 

Driving the xD does little to add spice to its bland flavor. It’s certainly not chasing the driving dynamics of a Ford Explorer SUV like the Nissan Cube, but its ride is jittery and doesn’t absorb bumps very well, and handling is only sound, not sprightly. The 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, shared with the Toyota Corolla, offers decent pep and good gas mileage: 29 miles per gallon in mixed driving, tied for second-best of the cars in this comparison. It’s not quiet, though, under acceleration or at cruise. Road noise is also excessive. 

The xD’s claim to fame is its performance in the Consumer Reports reliability survey, in which the magazine named the little Scion the most reliable car on the market. The distinction is based on a few fractions of a percent, however, and the car won’t necessarily age well. Don’t buy a car based only on its past reliability performance, but it’s certainly an encouraging sign with the xD.

Less encouraging is a rating of Acceptable in the offset-frontal crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While that’s the second-highest rating, virtually all new cars earn the highest score of Good. 

The xD is priced in line with most of the rest of this comparison, with a sticker price of $15,320 nicely-equipped. Note that Scions sell no-haggle – you won’t get any discount from that MSRP. 

If you choose to buy one, that is. Though it outranks three of its competitors in this comparison, they at least have a standout characteristic. There’s the Pontiac G3’s gas mileage and smooth ride, the SX4’s smooth ride and all-wheel-drive, and the Nissan Cube’s distinctive appearance. 

The xD is indeed better overall than those three. But is there any single stand-out reason you should exchange over $15,000 to own one?

Not really.  

Overall grade: C+