Rating: 2/5
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet subjected a Scion xB to its realistic offset-barrier frontal collision test. Regardless of how it performs, the Scion xB's small size is bound to be a concern, as its going to take the brunt of the damage in a collision with a larger car. That's not to say it won't protect its occupants well -- plenty of small cars are designed to survive wrecks involving much larger vehicles -- but the xB's performance is unknown. Standard antilock brakes are good to have, but the lack of side airbags, even as an option, isn't encouraging. (At least a first aid kit is on the standard equipment list…)
MANEUVERABILITY
Rating: 5/5
I've seen small dogs that couldn't turn as tightly as the xB. Not only that, but its small size, square lines, and excellent sightlines make it one of the easiest cars to park in small places. You can see the whole hood from the driver's seat and the rear window is essentially flush with the back of the car. Add on a couple inches front and rear for the bumpers, and you can shoehorn the Scion xB into virtually any spot.
FUN-TO-DRIVE FACTOR
Rating: 3/5
I like the nimble nature of most tiny cars, but I can’t say the Scion xB had me finding excuses to go out and run errands. Its aforementioned crosswind shenanigans plus the lack of cruise control (not even as an option) made highway driving a chore. That said, I had a ball squeezing the xB into the smallest parking spots I could find...
