I'd guess that the xB is a little heavier than the Camry.  The EPA
estimates are supposedly more realistic now, but checking a current
Camry figures and the xB figures would show if there is a significant
difference.  

Dave

The xb uses the same engine as the camry, 2AZ-FE, is the xb heavier
than a camry? why does is get lower mpg? or are these the new epa
estimates?

I test-drove one today and liked it.  It's much quicker and the driver's
seat is a little friendlier to tall drivers (6'6" in my case).  the
Fit's higher mileage figures make it worth another look, though.  

Dave

In article
<14c6fa02c8128130bfb7653f9e6d1d9a@anon.mixmaster.mixmin.net>,

Or the Corolla.

While the larger Corolla blows that pitiful fuel mileage right out of
the water.

Scion has turned from hip-wannabe into mass confusion.  In other words,
corporate Toyota is just like every other Dilbert corporation in America
and the world.

Wall Street Journal - 24 May 2007

Scion http://www.scion.com is rolling out the second generation of its
signature car, the boxy xB mini-wagon http://snipurl.com/Scion_xB -
When the strategy for the new xB was mapped out some two years ago,
making the car bigger, putting more power under the hood, and
installing more safety technology were deemed more important than
shooting for a specific mileage target, such as 30 miles per gallon on
the highway.

The result: The new 2008 xB's mileage ratings are 22 miles per gallon
in the city, 28 highway -- not so impressive when compared with the
2007 Chevrolet HHR mini-wagon http://snipurl.com/Chevrolet_HHR at 23
city, 30 highway, the Honda Fit http://snipurl.com/Honda_Fit at 31 city
38 highway, or the old Scion xB at 30 city, 34 highway. (The new xB's
EPA mileage ratings also are calculated using a new more conservative
formula that will penalize most vehicles.)

The old xB had a tiny, 103 horsepower engine, compared with the 158
horsepower, 2.4 liter four cylinder in the redesigned model. (The new
xB sticks with a four-speed automatic, however, which looks dated
compared with the five-speed automatic offered in the Honda Fit.)

Steve Haag, Scion corporate manager, defended the new xB..., saying
that when various cost and performance trade-offs for the new xB were
weighed two years ago, the message from customers seemed clear: They
wanted more power. So the more potent 2.4 liter engine, also used by
the sporty Scion tC coupe http://snipurl.com/Scion_tC  seemed like the
right call.

Now, Mr. Haag says some Scion enthusiasts who liked the old xB for its
quirky Japan home market styling and high mileage ratings might not
like the new car. But he argues those numbers will be small. Scion, he
adds, doesn't promote mileage. It promotes a brand -- aiming its
marketing efforts at "urban trendsetters" who make up 10% of the 142
million Americans age 35 and under.

Fans of the original Scion dubbed it "The Toaster" for its smaller,
exaggerated box-car design. The new model, as one Scion executive put
it during a Los Angles press event last month, is more of a "microwave"
-- still a box-car, but played-down.

"I think in a lot of ways it's a risk," says Jack Nerad, editorial
director for Kelley Blue Book http://www.kbb.com/ - "Part of the charm
of that brand is that it's edgy, different and new." The new model
answers criticisms of the old xB, mainly that it was too small, Mr.
Nerad says, "but does it do it at the cost of making it not look as
bold and distinctive as before?"

For those trendsetters craving greener technology, Scion currently has
no gas-electric hybrid models, and Mr. Haag said that was in part a
matter of the high cost of hybrid technology.

"We'd love to have hybrids," he says. "Today the cost differential is
such that it doesn't make sense." But Toyota is working to reduce the
cost of gas-electric hybrid power plants to the same level as
conventional gasoline engine systems within the next two to three
years, he says. At that point, he says, Scion might get a hybrid model.

Even though Toyota has been something of an icon for more-efficient
vehicles, the Japanese auto maker is likely to face continued questions
on the subject amid the rollout of its biggest pickup truck yet, the
new Tundra, and intense climate-change debate on Capitol Hill.
President Bush and Congress are clamoring to increase federal mileage
rules and force all auto makers to improve fuel economy.

In the meantime, Mr. Haag says Scion and Toyota are looking at the
potential for adding a more fuel efficient Scion model below the
forthcoming xD model, which is a compact hatchback that is larger than
the outgoing -- and disappointing, sales-wise -- Scion xA
http://snipurl.com/Scion_xA - The xD is projected to average 26 mpg
city and 32 highway with an automatic transmission.

Toyota hasn't released pricing for the xD yet, but it's likely to be
less than the xB -- the new version of Scion's de facto core model goes
for $16,660, Scion says, about $1,700 more than the previous model.
Kelley Blue Book says consumers are really paying $17,180.

Though a modest price increase at first glance, nearly $2,000 could
alienate Scion's loyal hipster-base that's used to paying around
$15,000 and then deciding whether to shell out another $1,000 on
upgrades or other customizations...