2012 Scion xB
- Price: $17,250
- Gas Mileage: 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway
We included the trendy 2012 Scion xB, targeting young, urban kids as a family compact car because it provides a remarkable 38 inches of rear-seat legroom -- the most among our five compacts and 2 inches more than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That qualifies xB as an ideal people mover.
Still, some of that rear-seat legroom comes at the expense of cargo capacity. At 11.6 cubic feet, the xB is at the bottom of this list of compact cars. With the rear seat folded flat, cargo space expands to 70 cubic feet.
Giving xB its giddyap is a 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine. We've included the optional four-speed, automatic transmission in the posted price.
Granted, the styling inside and out may be too quirky for some tastes, but we think xB's functionality overcomes the styling. It earns high marks for comfort and standard content, too.
Standard on every xB are full power accessories, trip computer, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, six air bags, and a six-speaker, Pioneer-infused audio system with CD player and iPod interface.