Should You Take the Scion xB Off Road?
The Scion xB is a uniquely styled compact car, but despite its vaguely SUV-like exterior, we do not suggest taking it off road.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Scion xB is a compact car that may look a little bit like an SUV with its boxy design and sharp edges. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the off-roading capabilities of an SUV. In fact, we suggest never taking your xB off-road at all.
If you’re looking for a vehicle that can power you through the dirt and mud, however, you’ll need to look elsewhere—the xB simply doesn’t have the ground clearance, torque, drivetrain, or tires for those kinds of adventures.
To help you better understand your Scion’s capabilities, the
car insurance
experts at Jerry
have created this handy guide. We’ll go over the xB’s specs, see how it stacks up against similar vehicles, and even show you how to save big on your Toyota Scion xB insurance costs.Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversCan the Scion xB go off road?
No—the Scion xB can’t handle rough terrain. While you might be able to park in a grass lot without any problems, we suggest avoiding mud and bumps entirely, and sticking to smooth, paved pathways.
With an incredibly affordable starting price of just $17,120, the xB is an attractive option for anyone looking for a compact car that still offers a spacious interior. However, it’s not the vehicle you want to purchase if you find yourself off the beaten path.
Here are the major specs which affect your xB’s lack of off-road abilities:
Ground clearance
Ground clearance refers to the space between the lowest point of your vehicle’s chassis and the ground, and it is the most important number to keep in mind before taking your car off road. The higher the ground clearance, the more confident you can be that rocky terrain won’t damage your vehicle’s undercarriage.
The Scion xB has very short ground clearance, of just 5.1 inches. This is far shorter than what experts recommend for off-roading—a minimum of 8.5 inches (and between 8.8 and 10.8 inches for seriously rough terrains).
Consider everyone’s favorite off-roader, the 2021
Jeep Wrangler
. It has a ground clearance of 9.7 inches—way higher than the xB!MORE: The ugly but loved Scion xB
Torque
The Scion xB offers 162 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Not only is this a small amount of power, but you need to reach a pretty high rpm to access it.
The best off-road vehicles will have low-end torque, meaning they’ll offer high amounts of torque at a low rpm. This provides your vehicle with more turning power, which is far more important than speed when you’re off-road.
Tires
The Scion xB comes standard with P205/55HR16 all-season tires which are less than ideal for off-roading adventures.
All-terrain tires
, or A/T tires, are essential for drivers who want to take their car off-road. They have a more aggressive, wide tread pattern, designed to increase your vehicle’s traction. Keep in mind that although you can drive your all-terrain tires on the highway, they will wear out faster than standard all-season tires—effectively increasing your overall cost of ownership. Plus, adding all-terrain tires to your xB will only increase its off-road chops slightly—it won’t make much of a difference in serious dirt and mud.
Drivetrain
All off-road vehicles should be equipped with all-wheel or four-wheel drive for maximum performance. The xB is front-wheel drive, which offers a little bit more traction than rear-wheel drive, but—often—not enough for serious off-roading.
Off-road rating: Don’t try it
We’ve rated the Scion xB using
Jerry’s
super-technical DIRT rating system, broken down in the table below:Rating | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
D | Don’t Try It | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
I | In a Pinch | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
R | Rough and Ready | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
T | Trail Boss | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversThe Scion xB earns a solid D rating—don’t try it! This is because of its low ground clearance, basic tires, front-wheel drivetrain, and lack of low-end torque.
Proceed with caution in grass lots and down unpaved streets, and avoid anything dirtier, bumpier, or muddier entirely.
MORE: Winter tires vs. all-season tires: Which is better?
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Alternatives to the Scion xB
Keep in mind that the Scion xB isn’t unique in its lack of off-road abilities. Most compact cars won’t be equipped for serious off-road adventures.
Let’s take a look at some of the Scion’s top competitors for reference:
Model | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
2013 Toyota Matrix | $19,275 | The Matrix offers slightly more ground clearance—5.8 inches to be exact—but, still, not nearly enough for seriously rough terrains. |
2004 Pontiac Vibe | $16,605 | You’ll have 8.1 inches of ground clearance in the Vibe—impressive for a compact car! Plus, higher trim levels were available with all-wheel drive. Still, it offers less than 130 lb-ft of torque, so proceed with extreme caution. |
2013 Scion xD | $15,745 | Even though the xD looks smaller than the xB, it offers a slightly higher ground clearance—6.5 inches. Still, its low torque and front-wheel drivetrain make it less-than-ideal for rough terrains. |
MORE: Cheap off-road trucks
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Reviewed on 5/28/2023
How to insure your vehicle on- and off-road
If you’ve learned anything from this article, it should be this: don’t take your Scion xB off road, and don’t try shopping for car insurance without using
Jerry
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