Review and photos by
Jil McIntosh, Autos.ca

New models come to the Canadian market all the time, but it’s not all that often that we get an entirely new brand. One of the most recent to hang out a new shingle is Scion, the entry-level marque offered by Toyota.

2011 Scion xB

Scion was initially launched in the U.S. in 2002. The brand was developed specifically for the North American market, using rebadged Japanese models, and all built in Japan, as they still are. Introduced to Canada for the 2011 model year, the lineup consists of the xD hatchback (based on the Yaris platform), the tC coupe (the European Toyota Avensis) and my tester, the xB hatchback, which shares its underpinnings with the Canadian-built Matrix. The iQ, coming for 2012, is badged as a Toyota in most other markets – and will also be fancied-up to become the Aston Martin Cygnet, which is undoubtedly the strangest sentence I’ve ever had to write.

The xB is probably the best-known of the three models south of the border, where its boxy proportions have earned it the affectionate nickname of “Toaster,” and where its blank-canvas customization possibilities made it very popular with younger drivers. (more…)

Review and photos by
Greg Wilson, CanadianDriver.com

New to Canada for the 2011 model year, the Scion xB is one of three Scion vehicles now available in this country, those being the small xD hatchback, the compact xB hatchback, and the compact tC sporty coupe/hatchback. The two-seater Scion iQ micro-car will arrive this Spring.

2011 Scion xB

Scions have been available in the U.S. since 2003, but the cost of establishing a new automotive brand in Canada, a much smaller market than the U.S., deterred parent company Toyota from making that decision until last year. Still, given Canadian’s preference for smaller, more affordable cars, particularly hatchbacks, Scion seems like a natural fit for this country.

With their sub $30,000 pricing, unique styling and available sporty accessories like premium audio systems and sport mufflers, (more…)

Review and Photos by
Chris Chase, CanadianDriver.com

I’m a marketer’s worst nightmare: I appreciate a creative ad, but rarely pay much mind to what’s actually being advertised. Therefore, when it comes to my thoughts on the philosophy behind Toyota’s Scion line – that the brand is less about the cars themselves and more about having a part in shaping the future of the Generation Y demographic, largely marketing its vehicles specifically to these potential buyers – I don’t really get it.

2011 Scion xB

But though I may not understand Scion’s marketing tactics, it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the cars themselves, and the xB is a good example. In the current line-up, the xB slots in between the smaller xD hatchback (which began its life in a previous generation as the xA) and the tC coupe. The current xB is the second of its kind, having been redesigned for 2007 into a larger, more powerful, and slightly less nerdy-looking box on wheels. The basic spec includes a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, generating 158 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque and a five-speed manual transmission; a four-speed automatic is optional. (more…)