2004 SCION XA NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 Scion xA?
Scion is a new brand launched by Toyota to capture young buyers. The 2004 Scion xA is the lowest priced model, a five-door hatchback that resembles a 7/8-scale version of the Toyota Matrix. Mechanicals are shared with the Toyota Echo, but are tuned to provide a livelier ride and more responsive handling. Under the hood is a 1.5-liter engine with variable valve timing that makes 108 horsepower, enough to tug the Scion xA around with verve especially when mated to a manual transmission. Standard equipment is generous, including air conditioning, power windows and locks, a nice CD player with six speakers, ABS and even a first-aid kit. Options are dealer installed, and the price of a Scion xA can rise quickly by adding just a few of the numerous accessories. Though small, the Scion xA provides a surprising amount of room, and the cabin materials are of a higher grade of quality than one might expect at this price. The Scion xA is expected to get 31 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Advantages of the 2004 Scion xA:

• Full load of standard equipment
• Low entry price
• Myriad ways to customize to the buyer's tastes
• Reliability is expected to mirror products by parent company Toyota

Objections to the 2004 Scion xA:

• Small cars like this typically don't fare well in crashes with big cars
• Adding dealer-installed accessories causes the price to rise dramatically
• Not available for sale in some regions of the country

Editor's Advice:
Generation Y Californians are the guinea pigs for an entire auto producing and marketing industry that is waiting to see if Toyota's new Scion brand will successfully convince them to visit Scion showrooms and buy Scion automobiles. Scion dealer environment? Enticing. Music played at Scion events? Thumping. Sneaky, underground subculture marketing campaign? Fascinating. But it is and always will be about the product. Scion cars? Pretty good to drive. Appropriately funky design. Impressive predicted reliability. It'll be fun to see if the kids like 'em.