Archive for category Scion xD
Scion XD – More Than Meets the Eye – Seriously
Posted by in Scion xD on August 1, 2011
The xD replaces the xA in the non-popular spot in the Scion line up. The xB and tC are both good selling cars with unique personalities, but the xA just never quite got it. The xD doesn’t quite get it either, but it has some positive features that might make it more successful than its ill-fated brother.
Scion gave the xD a decent 128 horsepower motor that puts it right above the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. The fit and finish of the xD is on par for the $14,000 range. Through some investigation, Tom’s AutoBlog found out that the invoice price of the xD is in the low $13,000s, so there is some room to negotiate.
xD comes with standard 163 wheels with your choice of 3 different hubcaps. The entire car is customizable at the dealership, but the prices are out of line with the current aftermarket for cars such as the Caliber, Cobalt, and Civic. The nice thing about dealer installed custom items is that they won’t void your warranty and they get added to the price of the car so that your loan covers them. The Scion does have a very nice stereo and really nice gauge cluster. As always, Scion hit the nail on the head with the electronic aspects of the car.
xD’s side curtain and seat mounted front airbags will protect you in a crash. It’s huge amounts of storage space with a ton of small cubby holes will hold your junk. The DOHC motor will get you on the interstate in a promt matter, and the cool electronics will impress your friends. The exterior is going to be the part that people will either love or hate.
The Scion xD is not bad, not bad at all.
By Thomas_Light
The Fuel-Efficient Scion xD 1.8-Liter Engine
Posted by in Scion xD on August 1, 2011
The 2010 Scion xD, the compact hatchback entry in Toyota’s youth-oriented Scion line, has no engine changes for 2010. The xD’s only engine is Toyota’s 1.8-liter 2ZR-FE engine, which produces 128 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque.
Toyota introduced the 2ZR-FE engine in 2007, shortly before the debut of the xD model. Like the older 1.8-liter 1ZZ-FE engine it replaced, it is a 16-valve, DOHC inline four with an aluminum block and head. Toyota says the newer engine has much lower internal friction, for better fuel economy. It is shared by the xD, the Toyota Corolla, the Toyota Matrix, and the Pontiac Vibe, although the xD version has slightly less horsepower than the others.
The 2ZR-FE engine is designed for low emissions and good mid-range response, rather than maximum horsepower. It is notably undersquare, with a bore of 80.5 mm and a stroke of 88.3 mm, improving low-end torque at the expense of high-speed power. It uses Toyota’s Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (Dual VVT-i) on both the intake and exhaust camshafts, varying the valve overlap (the amount of time the intake and exhaust valves are open simultaneously) for better drivability. The system also reduces catalytic converter warm-up time, improving cold-start emissions.
Toyota’s company website claims this engine has the highest fuel efficiency in its class. The 2010 xD’s EPA fuel economy rating is 27/33 with either transmission, which compares well with the 1.5-liter Honda Fit, rated at 27/33 with manual shift and 28/35 with automatic. Despite its high 10.0:1 compression ratio, the 2ZR-FE engine does not require premium fuel.
Toyota Racing Development (TRD) offers two performance-oriented accessories for this engine: a Performance Air Filter (MSRP $80) and a Sport Muffler (MSRP $469). The TRD catalog claims the Sport Muffler improves horsepower, but it does not indicate how much.
By Ronnie Tanner