so i've been weighing my options and have considered looking into a new car but staying with the scion family...

i just wanted to know, stock for stock, how does the xa match up with the xb in terms of speed, handling, road noise and comfort?

by speed i am talking in terms of acceleration, handling is obvious, road noise - which is more quiet on the inside? and by comfort i'm asking how smooth the car drives through harsh roads...

does anybody have any experiences, stock for stock?

i was really thinking of going the tC route because i'm assuming it is better in all those aspects, but what about the xa vs xb head-on?

thanks in advance for any advice/info =)

 

I'm not 100% sure on how the xB drives compared to xA. I heard they are simlar in few ways but different in others. But when I drive on a bumpy road going 60-75; I can feel the struts and shocks working quite well. One my favorite loves about the xA; I can take sharp turns at 60 quite well and not freak out about it. Car will turn with no issues.

My driver's side window doesn't block off the wind quite well so sometimes I get a tiny breeze. Then my windshield likes to rattle a bit but I see it's common problem with the xA's. The only major problem with acceleration; When I try to speed up with traffic on a interstate on ramp I struggle even if I gun it...I feel my car seriously jerking when going up on RPM's.

Other than those problems, if you keep driving a certain way not "Lead Foot" 24/7; xA's are a perfect car. I never regret buying my xA and at the moment I'm thinking buying a second car...'06 Scion xB.

 

I test drove and planed on purchasing an xb.....then I saw this small sporty hatch back sitting there. I asked to test drive it and never looked back. There is no comparison.....sorry xb owners no offense intended.

 

with the longer wheel base on the xB the ride is gonna be some what softer ride too a degree compaired to the xA

 

Well, I've owned both. So I guess I'm qualified to comment.

Stock for stock, the xB has a slightly smoother ride, but more road noise than the xA. I would guess the xA is quieter due to it's smaller cabin. I would give the edge to the xA for handling and acceleratiion though...no doubt because of it's lower curb weight. I would add that modded vs. modded, my xA handles much better than my Box did.

 

I've driven them all, but own the xA if that says anything

 

I own an A and a B and as much as they have in common, they have totally different personalities.

The xA is quieter, less road noise and less wind noise.

The xA is quicker, both in a straight line and around corners.

Where the xB is better is in space usage and how well it recovers at the extremes of handling.

In the area of ride smoothness, the shorter wheelbase of the xA does give a bit more of a "hobby horse" ride, pitching fore and aft over bumps, but the xB has waaaayyy too stiff a set of rear shocks.

The short wheelbase cant be fixed, but a couple of $35 aftermarket shocks to replace those stiff ones from the factory corrects the harshness of the xB ride.

Both are good cars. Both are economical. Both are reliable. The xA is more civilized.

What it comes down to is which one tickles your fancy. My fancy is more tickled by the box than the egg, but both have their place and both have people who love 'em.



Tomas

 

i like them both. but the extra rooms in the xb is more useful.

 

I drive an xA (manual) and often drive my friends xB (manual). Don't know if that makes much of a difference in your choice, but I find my xA has better acceleration at a full stop. They are about the same with standard driving on the highway.

 

I love both cars but when i drove the xb i felt like i was driving a buss with the vertical windsheild. I think the xa is more fun to drive but i like the looks of the xb better. but i ended up getting the xa

 

A dead tie, IMO. . . but I just traded my xA for a tC.

Fact of the matter, the xB has a LOT more useful room. I drive insane amounts. What does that mean? It means that after about a year or so of ownership, I started getting claustrophobic. And taking a nap in the xA is quite difficult, as I can never find a comfortable position (seat will not move back far enough). The xB has the handy dandy "social" seating thing that the tC has. . .

But the xA does feel more alive in the corners, probably due to the short wheelbase. But as Tomas mentioned, the xB will recover better, due to more stability (and the long wheelbase). Both long wheelbases and short have their applications. IMO, the ride quality (and all that pitching and diving over bumps) is what drove me over the edge. But dang, is the xA FUN to drive.

 

funny because i traded my xB for a tC. same year, same color.

thanks all for the comments/advice.

 

My family just bought all three Scions. In the xB you hear a little more road
noise and crosswinds are a factor on the highway - actually the xA gets blown
around too just not as much. To me the diving position is better in the xA so you
feel more connected to the car. There seems to be more engine and exhaust noise
in the xA, but I find that to be a plus. As everyone else has already pointed out
the xA is a little quicker out of the gate and more responsive. If I had it to do all
over again I would still choose the xA over the xB - though I’m sure my sister (an
xB owner) would say the same thing about her choice.
My nephew got the tC. It is of course a sportier ride - way better acceleration
and handling. I have to say the passenger’s seat isn’t that comfortable
though. There isn’t enough leg room even with the seat all the way back - and
I’m only 5’7”.

LCL

 

That's funny because I personally (not any nephews) have owned both the xA and the tC, and with the passenger's seat moved fully back, I can stretch out in a tC. In the xA, I could not. This was one of the reasons why I traded it in, as I do office work on the road in the passenger's seat (no steering wheel in the way).

 

We have both here....I give dibbs to the xA for driving fun. I feel like I'm in a "sports" car in it....but then, I'm not sitting bolt upright either....

Also the K&N CIA did more for the xA than for the xB....way more it seems.....But I do drive the xB at least 100 miles every day, so I may be off base.....

 

this is an interesting topic! i had no idea the xA could feel like a sports car in terms of handling. ive had my car 10 months and have not had it at any of its limits (im kinda scared that i might break something, im used to driving kia rios and sportages). so a strut tower bar will really do that tight suspension justice on an xA, huh?

 

I should mention that the xA is lowered on the Tenzo R springs....I have those for the Box too....just haven't put them on