2012 Scion xB Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
IIHS Crash Test
Good
Source   IIHS.org
MPG (up to)
22 City / 28 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
158
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Julie L
Scion xb is awe and champ.
This vehicle I love because I can pack big stuff 60" had TV in. Also desk can fit in This vehicle is amazed and comforted when we get in and out of it. I am tall and over 300 lbs. It was stunned to get in and out easily because of plenty rooms. It is reliable to drive and park in any sizes.
accountCircle Michele C
Scion xb best car I have ever had.
Easy to drive. Cheap on gas. I like the style and wish they didn't discontinue the model. Spacious but also feels compact. No big maintenance problems and I have over 120k on it. Trunk space fits a lot and back seat can fit a person over 6ft comfortably.
accountCircle Beverly T
It is basically a Camry with a different body.
Mainly size, compact but can carry large items such as dining tables and other household furniture. I made a tire change at purchase and got alloy rims with low profile tires and I dislike the ride and longevity and noise of the tires. Like the look but hate the tires, and they aren't compatible with the traction control on the car.
accountCircle Emily M
Scion: Driving a Toaster!
This is the second Scion I have owned, and most likely will not be the last. It is comfortable, spacious, quiet, and has not once ever broken down on me. It is a dependable vehicle, with great gas mileage.
accountCircle Janice D
The amount of space for the size is unbeatable.
I really love my scion xb. I have not encountered any issues with it other then sometimes if you are at a drive thru the ac does not work that well but that just started happening after 7 years of owning the vehicle. It drives really well has plenty of space it is a perfect for not feeling like you are in such a big car or small it is right there in the middle.
accountCircle Jennifer B
Comfortable, reliable vehicle.
My scion has been a reliable, comfortable vehicle for me. There is enough room for my camping equipment, and I can even fit my recumbent trike inside. I am sad that scion no longer makes this model, and will have to pick out something else when it comes time to replace this car.
accountCircle Lisa M
Great reliable car that is comfortable to drive.
Back brakes constantly need fixed. Great gas mileage. Very roomy inside for passenger. Not a lot of trunk space. Great a/c. Had the car for 6 years so far and no real problems. Very reliable. Cup holders on the doors plus in between driver and passenger seat. Only one car outlet.
accountCircle Jaime S
I have never had any problems.
I love my car and said they do not make scions anymore. The design is great... And feels spacious while also being small enough to fit in small spaces. The features that are standard are incredible. The radio is great. I also love where the speedometer are.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Gret M
While I am not pleased with my car, it has been reliable.
My Scion xB is a temporary vehicle for me until I can afford the car I want. While I haven't had many problems, it is very minimalistic in terms of upgrades, it shakes when you drive (probably because of the boxy shape since it catches wind easily), and it's not very pleasing to look at.
accountCircle Earl B
2012 scion xb, great roomy car.
Economic vehicle with more than ample legroom and cargo space. I have driven 142 k miles and only repaired the ac. Very reliable and excellent for buzzing around town, it has been maintained by the local Toyota dealer regularly. It is adequate on trips and has no issue staying up with traffic flow, could use more comfort features on long drives.
accountCircle Michael M
Scion is the worst vehicle ever
Handling is awful. Steering is hard. Suspension is bad. Tires blow out quick. Doesn't have enough pick up. Slow vehicle. Too close to ground. The a/c went out and it's always blown very slow air. Makes a lot of nose from hoses and vacuum and power steering
accountCircle Tiffany P
Scion xb better than most.
Rust on the roof. It's a small car with good interior room and trunk space. I really do like the family friendliness of the car. Interior isn't the best. I enjoy the performance of the vehicle. I wish the dash lights were brighter. Sometimes the car jerks out of nowhere when driving. Acceleration is pretty good.
accountCircle Jessica G
It is definitely trooper of a car, it will not break down easily.
It is very dependable and drives smooth for the most part. Also, it is quite comfortable and has a lot of storage space. The average miles per gallon is not the best, so a lot of money is spent on gas. Not recommended for long travels or road trips. The front windshield breaks very easily. The passenger air bag had a recall, and had to be taken in to replace, which took a long time, not convenient.
accountCircle Justin D
Scion xb works as my daily driver.
My vehicle is good on gas, works well as a daily driver. Haven't had any issues with the vehicle. Very little maintenance. It could use more space and have a little more leg room. I trust the scion brand as it is made by Toyota and they make very reliable vehicles.
accountCircle John A
Reliable compact daily driver.
No real problems, and the car itself is pretty reliable. My main complaint is that the leg room is a bit cramped for people that are over 6ft, but I do like the hatchback feature. I'd definitely recommend the xb for anyone in need of a compact SUV type car.
accountCircle Samantha G
Cosmetics and misalignment
The only problems are the cosmetics, outside of the car, the bumper is off and inside the bottom of the backseat is misaligned

Scion xB Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
158 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats
car
Release Series 9.0
158 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 Scion xB Owner Reviews

4.42
110 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 54%
4 stars 35%
3 stars 10%
2 stars 1%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Kelsey B on May 19, 2021
Great commuter car and comfy.
It is roomy for a little car. Clean lines. Leg room. Operates nicely. It is comfortable to sit in. Great gas mileage. Enough room for car seats. You can fit a large grocery haul in the back, but you cannot fit anything larger that grocery bags. Perfect commuter car.
accountCircle Alyse N on May 10, 2021
Blind spots in front, but great drive!
I love the amount of space there is in the car. It has a lot of trunk space and the backseat has a lot of legroom. It drives great and is easy to maintain. It is great on gas! I don't like that there is blind spots in the front. When driving and turning left or right at an intersection, the panel by the front window is thick and blocks view. I use a long Japanese rear view mirror to help gain more visibility for when I reverse. But other than that, I love my car!
View All Reviews (110) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Jacqueline B.

Lots of headroom and Bluetooth connectable. Durable enough for a team of toddlers. Great on traveling. There is also a space to place a pop socket holder. It is perfect for a beach trip or for commuting to work.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Jacqueline B.

Easily dented. It is like it is a target for accidental door hits by neighboring parked cars. Speed bumps are felt like you are in a sedan. I always wish there was a third row seat. Also, it did not come with place mats for the back seats. I also wish the back door gate opened automatically but it does not.

Ranks #6 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2012 Scion xB has an average owner rating of 4.42 out of 5 which ranks it #6 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2012 Land Rover LR4
4.67
2
car
2012 Honda CR-V
4.52
6
car
2012 Scion xB
4.42

Ranks #5 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Scion xB has a combined MPG of 30 which ranks it #5 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
2012 Dodge Caliber
32 MPG
1
Tie
car
2012 Toyota Matrix
32 MPG
5
Tie
car
2012 Scion xB
28 MPG

Is The 2012 Scion xB A Good Car?

Yes. Overall in NJ my scion has been great. I like my car a lot. However I will say I am having a lot of trouble with it in Pittsburgh. With hilly roads and light snow I lost traction and slipped out... Read More
Albert K.
Yes it is a good vehicle. It big enough for 5 people and not be squished. And it has a good amount of knee room and trunk space.
Shala T.
It is a great car, very comfortable ride, zippy and can haul a lot of stuff. Very reliable and comfortable for passengers as well as the driver.
Jean S.
Absolutely! Low cost to acquire. Low maintenance. Good on gas. Roomy and spacious with just enough ‘bells & whistles’
Ivana R.

How Reliable Is The 2012 Scion xB?

It is reliable. Not the best car to drive in the winter. I drive it a lot and had a bumpy commute to work for 3 years so I had to do a fair amount of upkeep on the car. Brakes were replaced &... Read More
Albert K.
Yes it is very reliable. We haven't had any major problems with it at all. We keep it maintained regularly and it has great pickup.
Shala T.
It is very reliable, have had virtually no problems. Needs a new battery but living in a hot climate is tough on batteries. Basic parts replacements like wiper blades and tires as needed have been it.
Jean S.
Very reliable. I've owned this one for about 4 years. Put around 70k miles and have only needed new tires, brakes, and rotors.
Alyssa C.

Is The 2012 Scion xB A Good Value?

I got it used for like $12,000 with 55 thousand miles on it close to 5 years ago. I am approaching 120,000 miles on it within the next month or two. I spent maybe $4,000 or so in repairs & upkeep... Read More
Albert K.
I believe it was a little over twenty thousand. It was a good value for the car at the time. Plus Toyotas are reliable and car that will last for years.
Shala T.
I purchased mine in 2017 and the list price from the dealer was 13950, we bargained down to 11500 - my brother is a good negotiator. Good value for money and will probably drive until it cannot be... Read More
Jean S.
I bought mine with 15k miles for 14k. Well worth it. As this car will last me for many years to come.
brittany F.

Related Articles for 2012 Scion xB

From the Vehicle History blog

car
2008 Scion xB Review: A Low-Maintenance Compact That Feels Like a Small SUV

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test
(Not Rated)
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety