Box Car Comparison: 2009 Scion xB, 2009 Kia Soul, 2009 Nissan Cube

2009 Scion xB To our chagrin, Toyota took a hot butter knife to the edges of its groundbreaking Scion xB, such that it is now almost conventional-looking compared with its competitors. It has also grown a few waist sizes. Today's xB is a foot longer and 2.8 inches wider than the original, and weighs in at 3020 pounds - a 600 pound increase that makes it the heaviest in our test. That extra, shall we say, maturity, does have its benefits. The xB's interior is spacious and functional, if somewhat drab. Cargo room behind the rear seat dwarfed that of the Kia and Nissan. The powertrain was likewise more grown up, its 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder putting out more grunt than the other vehicles. We found it commendably quiet on the highway - a huge improvement from the first generation car, which buzzed at 4000 rpm at cruising speeds. The xB is no longer the youthful eye catcher it once was, but like most Toyota products, it remains a strong choice for its practicality.