Personal Picks: Small, economical cars

While the "PeeWee Sports" sporty cars in the October 2007 may have elicited the most water-cooler conversation among the staff, the all-new and redesigned models in our "Small Wonders" test group warrant a closer look.

View video reviews of the small cars.

Here the staff shares their personal insights with picks, and sometimes pans:

Eric Evarts: I'll start with a confession: I'm not a big fan of small sedans (though we have one in the family that my wife loves). It seems to me if you want a small car to save gas or money, you'll benefit by maximizing the car's interior space. Uncool though it may be, that means buying a wagon or a hatchback.

But that's not the only reason my personal pick among this month's Small Wonders is the Scion xB. The main reason is that it feels more grown up than the other cars here, despite its youthful target audience. The xB strikes me as a car I could consider as a substitute for the much more expensive Toyota RAV4. It has a huge back seat, plenty of room for cargo, and lots of room up front. I especially love all the handy storage nooks and crannies for road trip gear and the iPod adapter that lets you control it through the xB's radio or steering wheel. There's plenty of power, and cornering is relatively lively.

Unlike the old xB, the engine remains subdued on the highway, and the doors don't feel like they'll bend every time you slam them shut.

Like the old xB, the new one looks hip and youthful. And your neighbors don't have to know you only spent $18,000.

Jeff Bartlett: Be careful what you wish for. The manufacturers do listen closely to owners and auto show goers, as well as monitor online forum banter. The original xB was funky, affordable, and frugal, giving Scion an instant hit to grow the fledgling, youth-targeted division.

The public, at least certain hipster and hip-replacement segments, loved the original, but there was a desire for a little more power, refinement, and safety. (However, the 2004-2006 models earned a Poor rating in the IIHS side-crash test.) With the new xB, Scion delivered what buyers wanted, but in this ever-changing world, the timing was a little off. The second-gen went on sale this year amid elevated gas prices, right when the country really needed another high-mileage choice. The new xB only gets 23 mpg overall in our tests, down from 30 mpg in the last one.

The latest xB feels much different than the original, which had great visibility and feather weight. Now, the xB feels solid, with small, Hummer H3-like side glass and perceived heft. The larger engine does give the car appropriate verve, and the Dr. Who Tardis effect of an impossibly roomy interior continues.

In a segment where the competition is a variety of typical c-a-r-s, albeit with more refinement and features than ever before, the xB stands out as a buck-the-mainstream choice. The basic package provides more rear-seat space than just about anything within a yard of its length, and it just feels fun to drive a vehicle that seems like the off-spring of an armored bank truck and an urban dance club mix CD.

Once again, the xB succeeds in being a distinct alternative, without exacting a price penalty. But, I sure would welcome a couple more miles per gallon, and I suspect Scion hears other voicing similar desires. Maybe with the next generation... And if the next model launches when gas prices go down, I won't complain.

Cliff Weathers: My wife coos at our Mini Cooper the way she would a tiny puppy. Yes, she may think it's so cute and adorable now, but wait until she tries to work the radio or the confounding switchgear while driving. And the Mini's torque steer would yank her around a bit too much. She'd end up denouncing this wide-eyed little buggy faster than you can say "high-strung Chihuahua."

Unfortunately, she's always found the Scion xB to be unlovable and ugly. But if she gave it a home, she'd find that it to be a loyal companion. First of all, it plays well with the kids. Our nine- and ten-year olds barely fit in the back of our Subaru Forester these days, yet they're plenty comfortable in the back of the xB.

Also, the xB from the "Small Wonders" test group does some pretty cool tricks, especially with an iPod. If she attached hers to the wagon's dedicated jack, she'd discover that the car's audio system integrates seamlessly with Apple's media player, letting her control it through the steering wheel and radio controls.

And last, nobody wants a vehicle that's difficult to control. My wife would find that the xB is obedient on the road and only emits the slightest growl from its 4-cylinder powerplant. And at 23 mpg overall, it doesn't have much of a gas problem.

I'm always lecturing my wife when it comes to dogs cars: Make sure that you can find one that you can live with; don't take home the first one that you find adorable. Maybe next time she'll listen.

Comments

[Sashazur]

If I didn't already have a Scion tC, I might have looked at the new xB - I'm happy to see more 3- and 5-door car models on the market. But I'm not too sure that a Scion is a good bet for the long haul - although it'll probably keep running just fine and be cheap to keep, the interior on my 1 year old car is not holding up too well - the seat fabric is starting to pill, new interior rattles show up every few weeks, and the plastic surfaces (painted or not) easily accumulate permanent scratches and scuffs.