SCION XB: THE PERFECT FIRST CAR FOR UNDER $10,000

What do you want from your first car? Practicality? A comfortable cabin with a great sound system? A petite engine with commendable fuel economy? Do you want a quad turbocharged W16 engine that produces just over 1,000 horsepower? Or is it a billboard-sized infotainment screen?

Sure, a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 would definitely be an unbelievable pick for anybody's first car, but it would be far from practical. For anyone looking for their first car, the bare minimum requirements are: fuel economy, reliability, cabin comfort, cargo space, and price. That said, Scion's toaster-shaped econo-box from the late 2000s is the ideal choice for anyone's first car.

A Brief Recap Of One Of Scion's Most Popular Models

*Car And Driver testing

Scion was Toyota's attempt to attract a younger audience to its products and was exclusive to North America and Canada. From this automotive brand, the world saw the debut of badge-engineered models like the Scion FR-S, which is a carbon copy of Toyota's 86, which is a bargain on the used market today. However, aside from the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86, Scion's lineup included a handful of other models, with the Scion xB among the most popular.

Similar to the other models under the Scion umbrella, the Scion xB was a badge-engineered version of Toyota's bB subcompact hatchback, based on the Toyota Yaris platform. It was one of the first models offered by Scion when the company launched in 2003, and compared to the model that it was based on, the Scion xB was distinguished by its redesigned cabin and powertrain options, with the Toyota bB having the selection of two engines, whereas the Scion xB only had one.

Scion continued to produce the Scion xB until 2007, introducing a handful of editions throughout the first generation, all distinguished by design rather than performance. After the first generation, Scion introduced the significantly updated second-generation model.

When the second-generation Scion xB debuted, it was immediately distinguished from the first generation by its softer design, while retaining its toaster shape. Instead of the Toyota Yaris platform, this generation was based on Toyota's New MC platform, shared with other models such as the third-generation Toyota RAV4, Toyota Auris, and Toyota Prius. Compared to the first-generation Scion xB, this new platform was larger and featured a wider wheelbase, which improved ride quality.

As for its cabin, it received a notable revision that included a new sound system and a cabin nearly on par with contemporaries like the Honda Fit and Kia Soul, although the Scion xB had more cargo space than those models. The second-gen Scion xB also employed a new powertrain, consisting of a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline-four-cylinder engine that produced more power and only slightly diminished fuel economy compared to the first-gen Scion xB.

Although a significant improvement over the first generation, sales continued to decline after the second-generation Scion xB debuted, and production would ultimately end in 2016. Today, the Scion xB, from both generations, is the ideal choice for anyone looking for their first car.

Dirt Cheap

When it debuted, the starting price of the Scion xB was $13,680, and the second-generation Scion xB had a slightly higher MSRP of $15,650 for the manual-transmission variant and $16,600 for the automatic. However, today you can find a second-generation Scion xB for less than $3,000. Based on current listings, the Scion xB ranges in price from $1,999 to $15,400, with the majority of examples listed for sale falling between $4,000 and $10,000. However, according to Kelly Blue Book's estimates, the average value of a used second-generation Scion xB is between $5,045 and $7,679.

Unsurprisingly, the examples with the loftiest pricetags are from later model years, with many having high mileage exceeding 60,000 miles. At the highest end of the pricing spectrum are examples like a first-generation Scion xB with 42,173 miles – an impressive distance for a car nearly two decades old – and listed for an eye-watering, in this context, $25,800.

In contrast, the more affordable end of the pricing spectrum is populated by a medley of first-generation and second-generation models, with several examples listed for sale for less than $5,000. While the low price and six-figure mileage figures may be off-putting, it's worth noting that the Scion xB is a remarkably reliable sub-compact hatchback that is generally considered significantly reliable and won't be too much of a headache if you do decide to pull the trigger on an example with high mileage and a low sticker price.

A Stalwart

Not only is it affordable, it's also reliable, which is why we're harping on about it being the ideal first car. According to consumer reviews on the RepairPal website, the Scion xB has a 4/5 reliability rating, which translates to an excellent rating. However, it's not among the most reliable cars that will last a lifetime. There are exceptions to its reputation for reliability: the first-generation Scion xB is more prone to mechanical failures than the second generation. Still, the Scion xB is generally a reliable car, but there are model years with more issues and gremlins than others: 2006, 2008, and 2009.

From the repairs and issues reported by consumers, the Scion xB isn't prone to significant mechanical failures that require hefty sums to fix. Instead, many of the reported repairs from consumers are not as severe, with consumers stating that they needed to repair components such as:

• Serpentine belt replacement
• Cabin air filter replacement
• Crankshaft position sensor replacement
• Emergency brake cable replacement

According to RepairPal, the average cost of repairs is roughly $456 per year, with severe repairs accounting for a fraction of all reported repairs. Aside from having a good reputation for low repair costs, the Scion xB is also cheap to maintain, costing between $230 and $309 per year, with most of the costs associated with its air conditioning system. That said, the Scion xB – especially the second-generation incarnation – is the ideal choice for your first car, considering that it is affordable, practical, reliable, and easy to maintain.

Sources:Kelly Blue Book, J.D. Power, Classic.com, Cars.com, RepairPal.com, CarParts.com, CarAndDriver

2025-11-14T10:09:46Z