Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study, which measures owner satisfaction with the quality of their vehicle after the first 90 days of ownership, the Scion xB received an Overall Initial Quality Power Circle Rating of 3 out of 5.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures owner satisfaction with the performance and design of their vehicle, the Scion xB received an Overall APEAL Power Circle Rating of 3 out of 5.

Predicted Reliability – The 2009 Scion xB was redesigned for the 2008 model year, and has not yet been included in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). Based on the historical performance of the previous generation xB in the Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability studies, the 2009 Scion xB receives a Predicted Reliability Power CircleRating of 3 out of 5.

Fuel Economy – The 2009 Scion xB is equipped with a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 162 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual shifting. According to the EPA, the Scion xB is rated to get 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway regardless of transmission choice.

Our review vehicle was equipped with an automatic transmission and averaged 22.9 mpg in mixed driving. Combined with the xB’s standard 14-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 320-mile range between fill-ups of regular unleaded.

Safety – The 2009 Scion xB had not been crash tested by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the time this review was originally published. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) calls the Scion xB a “Top Safety Pick” because it comes with standard stability control and received a “Good” rating in the frontal offset crash test, a “Good” rating in the side impact crash test, and “Good” rating for rear crash protection.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Scion xB consumes 14.3 barrels of petroleum annually, with a resulting carbon footprint rating of 7.7 tons of air pollution per year. The xB’s national air pollution score is a 6 out of 10, and its California/New England air pollution score is a 7 out of 10.