I just want to start this post by clarifying that I don't think there's any question around here about how much I love my xB-1.
That said, on a whim I decided to cruise over to my friendly neighbourhood Scion dealer yesterday and take the new buggy for a ride. The shape has grown on me a bit from when I first saw it (hey, it took me YEARS to warm up to the xB-1's boxy shape!), and just plain ol' curiosity about how it would stack up against my beloved Toaster pushed me through the dealership door.
All I can say is...WOW.
What a difference from the 1st Gen. cars. Definitely more room (obviously), but MUCH better put together, more solid, and rides and drives WAY smoother and more comfortably - even in a car with the optional 19" wheels and TRD springs - than my car ever did. Even my wife, who thinks my car is "very cute", but finds it pretty uncomfortable to ride in, said, "This is a car we could actually take on a trip, instead of taking my car!" She was extremely impressed with it. That made two of us. Did I mention that new 2.4 engine? Holy-moly, what a difference. Even with the A/T version I drove, it'll actually snap your neck if you stand on it. It GOES.
The downside? Beside the considerably lower MPG ratings (28 Hwy vs. 33 on mine), and the mutant-mini-van-on-steroids looks, with just A/T, rear spoiler, 19" wheels, TRD springs and the Navi stereo, the sticker was over $22K!!!
Yikes. Not exactly what I'd call commuter car territory anymore...
Still, I'm impressed. I could really use more room, and I wouldn't feel like such a traitor by going to another Scion. Hmmmm.....

 

The 2.4 in the tC is a rocket in comparison. I can only imagine what it does for the new xB.

That being said, with the recent increase in popularity, I can't see myself buying one. They're monstrously huge in comparison, it's unbelievable that the two share the same name even though they're nothing alike.

The shape is gorgeous or hideous depending on the angle - I never felt that way about my current xB (maybe my tastes are lacking?).

Though, I suspect, with replacing the shocks, some bracing and a supercharger the xB1 and xB2 will be on par, feel wise. For me at least, it makes more sense to make that small investment instead of taking on a new 5 year car payment. That, and if I'm going to drive something that big, I'd rather take something with 4wd.

 

I've driven one to and the power was nice but not nice enough to ever consider buying one. I'd buy an xD first because it looks unique.

 

I got both, both have their differences pro and con. But you cannot compare both cars at all. As a owner of both, I cant make a decision of what I want although my xB1 can keep up with the xB2 until 75MPH (after 80 MPH, will not keep up, the xB2 will smoke it thanks to the power it has) IT really depends on how and what you want while driving. I prefer driving my xB1 just because its just damn fun to do, while the xB2 feels like a chore to do, such as the weight of the car and how much it leans(the engine still doesnt compensate for the heaviness the xB2 is) But it is quieter (Lots) and more relaxed, more like your in a lounge than a box. It really is in personal preference on what you want to drive with, I prefer the xB1 over the xB2, just for the fact that mine is modified to what I want and how I can throw my car anywhere while the xB2 just feels like it cant do as much as my xB and feels like its going to understeer lots more. (not considering power, but more handling)

 

You hit the nail on the head when you said it was a car you could take a long trip in, and the xB1 is less so.

American buyers tend to think of that as an indictment of the xB1, as if unsuitability for long trips is a bad thing. And it's understandable that many, if not most buyers need one car that does everything, because they're not two-car families.

But the very things that give the xB2 more "cruisability" are the things that make it less useful as a city car.

Much worse economy in city traffic. Larger parking footprint. Less traffic-weaving agility. Less "situational awareness" because it's so much more cocoon-like inside, with those tiny windows.

We need to stop comparing these two cars. They have nothing in common but a name.

 

I love my xB-1, too, but when I wanted something bigger for long trips, I couldn't stand the xB-2. Looked mashed down outside, and felt like a claustrophobic cave inside. So my xB-1 has been joined by a Subaru Forester ('08 LL Bean).

 

My xB shines during long trips. It's the first vehicle I've owned that can be driven 600 miles plus without feeling tired afterwards. Long trips in the xB FTW!!!

 

^ agreed.

another point - remember with the gen 1 boxes everyone used to compare them to the honda element?

now, for obvious reasons, i think NOW YOU CAN compare the honda element and the xb2. of course, not on all levels, but comparisons can be made.

if i were to spend north of 20k on a box, i'd get the element SC because it is absolutely beautiful and only a couple of thousand over the cost of an xb2...

fwiw,
- sh00k

 

^^^Agreed. It looks much nicer now that they lost all the black body panels.

 

YEAH! I totally forgot that! It used to drive people up the wall when you used xB1 and Element in the same sentence. "Don't compare the big heavy 2.4L Element to our beloved little city car"

Now people compare xB1 and xB2 ?? They're just way too different.

T H A N K Y O U.

-THE DON

 

I just wish the xB2 people would stop trying to call them toasters and boxes. It's like they have BOX envy or something. Drives me crazy.

 

hahaha, box envy. i think that's a freudian term. l0l

 

Yup... I'm sick of all the "Hip 2 be Square" stuff in gen 2 ads. It's not square at all.

The xB1 has square/rectangular shapes everywhere. The grill, headlights, foglights, tail lights, rear window/hatch, ect...

The new xB has been rounded-off at every curve. There is not one hard angle on that car. The square marketing campain totally confused me.

-THE DON

 

If I'm understanding correctly, I think some folks assumed I was comparing the two, which was not my intention.
The idea of driving one may have been inspired by previous -and let's face it, logical - comparisons, being that they both share the same name badge, but I, as others stated, don't think of them as being even close to the same class of car. I only posted the experience here because of the obvious Scion connection, but as far as I'm concerned, it could easily have been a Toyota FJ or something that I'd driven, as it was more of an "apples-to-oranges" thing as far as actual comparisons go.

 

I feel you.

Speaking of FJs, my dad recently bought one. That is one bad azz machine. Poor visibility, but a fun ride with lots of gizmos.

-THE DON

 

Thanks for sharing the adventure with the not so "xB" 2...I had looked at them for a bit and its been growing on me slightly....just not in the same ways that my box does Great write-up...thanks

-Chris

 

Thanks -

 

FauxB (or xb2, whatever your choice) isn't selling and probably will be put to death soon anyway. It is nothing more than a hyundai meets vw and the original poster sounds like a publicist from Toyota.

2.4L engine is not going to snap any necks.. you really need to get behind the wheel of a real car for that, say like a 1967 Shelby GT500 with a 428cid with 8 barrels, now we're talking neck breaking.

My xB is my first Toyota and my last...

 

Last year I did a 2500-mile trip in 7 days. My xB was a lot of fun.
But for covering ground fast and far, it is not the best car that we own.

 

I spent 56 hours in my toaster driving from Chicago to Daytona to pick up my boyfriend (and all his crap), and back.

Highway average: 37 mpg, with three times as much stuff in it as in his Lancer.

Having driven everything from SUV's to minivans.......in my opinion, for covering ground fast and far, the xB1 is the best car that exists. Perhaps you have a bullet train in your garage?