I've read comments that people think the new interior looks cheap, but this wasn't my impression. It's not quite up to the Fit, but much better than the Yaris. The use of textured plastic continues, and the doors include fabric trim.

The C-pillars are wide. Properly use your mirrors, and this won't be an issue. I must say this is the first car I've seen with storage areas in the pillars.

Biggest negatives probably that the instruments are still in the center, and the legroom feels at best the same despite a foot of additional exterior length. The first time I sat in an xB I was shocked by the cavernous interior. i didn't that this time, but maybe because I expected it too feel surprisingly roomy, and it didn't. Just roomy.

Biggest positive is the much larger engine.

My other impressions:

http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=34

Second impression after sitting in current xB and comparing specs:

http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=35

I still think the new xB will have a broader appeal, but many current xB owners may not care for it.

Thanks for posting---you were one of the lucky ones to see it first hand!

After posting this, I went back downstairs and sat in the current xB to refresh my memory of that car's interior. I also took another look at the new xB, but was not able to sit in it again.

HUGE difference. When sitting in just the new car, I'd forgotten how large the glass area is in the current xB. The new car's beltline and intrument panel are much higher, and the windows are much smaller. Which I suppose is "cool," as in a Hummer or Chrysler 300, but current owners might strongly dislike it.

Second big change: the front seats are no longer mounted way off the floor, which is one thing that makes the current xB feel so roomy in back. They're now a more conventional distance off the floor.

^^^ that was probably how they managed to get the ride height down an inch or so. IMO there was a lot of wasted space under the front seats. i know in mine i used them for amp storage and PS2 hook up.

I just posted a second entry to my blog, wondering if current xB owners would like the new car. I think it depends on why they bought an xB in the first place. Because its unique and interesting? Then they'll really like the new one.

But if they bought it for the roomy, open feel of the interior, they might not like the new one. Toyota has reduced the roofline by reducing headroom and positioning the seats closer to the floor, so the seating position is closer to that of a normal car (but certainly still not like that in other cars). The much smaller glass area and more massive instrument panel contribute the an interior atmosphere somewhat like you'll find in a Hummer.

The other thing I noticed when I finally checked out the specs is that the curb weight is up by over 600 pounds, to 3,085. Suddently it's clear why the 1.5 has been replaced by a 2.4.

Second blog entry (link also added to OP):
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=35

It's becoming abundantly clear that the people who bought the original for practical reasons -- and because the xB was the only car on the market that was practical in its particular unique ways -- will be disappointed with the new version.

And also that the xB2 is now competing directly with other small wagons on the basis of features and performance, because it's not unique any more. Just different to about the same degree all cars are different from each other.

RichC

The other thing I noticed when I finally checked out the specs is that the curb weight is up by over 600 pounds, to 3,085. Suddently it's clear why the 1.5 has been replaced by a 2.4.

That's lousy. They could have stuck the 1.8 Dual VVTi from the next Corolla in it and came out to around 2800 lbs like a Matrix.

It seems to me it suffers from the FJ Cruiser's bad traits. If you compare the FJ to a Prado, there are a lot of sensible qualities lost to the "cool" look.

Calty needs to find something else to rely on for style besides wide C-pillars and short windows.