The Scion xD is the replacement for the xA, which has been on sale since 2004. On sale? Yes. Selling? Not so much. The anonymously styled xA's biggest problem was that its butch brother, the xB, stole the spotlight with its unique good looks. With that problem out of the way (see our 2008 xB coverage), the xD might now stand a chance.
The xD's design is clearly an evolution on the xA's, and it will be immediately recognizable as a Scion when it goes on sale in the late summer of 2007. It rides on sixteen-inch wheels and shares its underpinnings with the Yaris platform. A 128-hp 1.8-liter four cylinder powers the front wheels - a welcome increase in power over the previous, 103-hp 1.5-liter. The only choice xD buyers need to make is between the five-speed manual and four-speed automatic, and the only option is stability control. Like the xB, it comes standard with a host of safety equipment (front and side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags), power everything, and a 160-watt Pioneer sound system with iPod capability. The xD's rear seats can slide fore and aft, recline ten degrees, or fold flat into the floor for increased cargo versatility.