2012 Scion xD Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Scion xD review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 xD, and includes Scion xD safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2012 Scion xD is one of this young brand’s oldest models, despite debuting only four years ago. Built to replace the xA, the xD is a front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, five-door hatchback, which the EPA classifies as a subcompact car. Scion is a division of Toyota Motor Corporation.

For 2012, the Scion xD does little to affect the status quo, with only a couple of updates to mention. Those include the addition of standard Bluetooth hands-free calling capability and a 160-watt Pioneer sound system with HD radio technology.

As is customary for Scion vehicles, the 2012 xD is available in one well-equipped level of specification. Standard features include 16-inch steel wheels, power windows and door locks, keyless entry, air conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power-operated exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, and cruise control. The list rolls on with items such as a rear spoiler and the 160-watt Pioneer sound system, which boasts a USB port, HD radio technology, a CD player, and an auxiliary jack.

With the basics covered, we’re left with the xD’s multitude of available accessories (Scion doesn’t label them as options). Nearly every area of the car can be upgraded or tricked out with add-ons ranging from floor mats and cargo covers to TRD (Toyota Racing Development) wheel locks and shift knobs. More noteworthy parts and components include TRD shocks and springs, a variety of 18-inch alloy wheels, a touch-screen navigation system, and a 200-watt audio upgrade that can host Pandora internet radio via an app on the driver’s iPhone.

Scion clearly provides impressive flexibility with regard to the 2012 xD’s optional features, but that bounty of choice ends as you enter powertrain territory. The only engine is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 128 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, all of it directed to the front wheels courtesy of a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. Regardless of which gearbox is selected, expect to average 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

Top Safety Pick. Those three simple words make automakers puff up with pride, and pique the interest of shoppers on the hunt for a new vehicle. They also happen to be linked to the 2012 Scion xD, which earned that lofty acclaim as a result of its performance in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests. The country’s other major provider of such information, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), had not released its findings at the time of this writing.

In preparation for accidents or collisions – on the streets or in the test lab – Scion has fitted its little people mover with standard stability control, antilock brakes (front discs, rear drums) with brake-force distribution and brake assist, and six airbags.

According to Consumer Reports, the xD can be proud of more than its safety rating. That publication predicts excellent reliability from the 2012 model, and has added the most staid of Scions to its list of Recommended vehicles. J.D. Power and Associates, however, is in disagreement with this finding, giving the xD a predicted reliability rating of slightly below average in its most recent assessment.

With 10.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, the 2012 Scion xD’s cargo area is roughly half that of the Honda Fit, though the two cars do deliver comparable fuel economy.

Buyers searching for a safe and reliable small car will find much to like about the 2012 Scion xD, provided they don’t expect the spaciousness of a Honda Fit or the style and efficiency of a Hyundai Accent.

By Thom Blackett