Scion xB Gen 1 vs Gen 2: Which One Should You Buy? — Scion xB Guide

What this guide covers:

How different the two xB generations actually are
Engine, size and fuel economy compared side by side
The known problems specific to each generation
Which one suits which kind of buyer

TL;DR: The first-generation xB (2004–2006) is a light, boxy, 1.5L economy car with cult status and excellent fuel economy — slow, but genuinely characterful and cheap to run. The second-generation xB (2008–2015) is a substantially larger and heavier 2.4L vehicle that’s far quicker and more practical, but gives up the fuel economy and the distinctive silhouette. They share a badge and very little else. Buy Gen 1 for character and running costs; buy Gen 2 for space and usable power.

Most “which generation” questions come down to trim levels and minor styling. The xB is not that. Toyota changed the platform, the engine, the dimensions and the entire concept between generations, and the two cars appeal to genuinely different buyers.

How Different Are the Two Scion xB Generations?

Almost entirely different. The second-generation xB is longer, wider, roughly 600 pounds heavier, and carries an engine 60% larger in displacement than the car it replaced.

	Gen 1 (2004–2006)	Gen 2 (2008–2015)
Chassis	XP30 (Toyota bB)	E150
Engine	1.5L 1NZ-FE	2.4L 2AZ-FE
Power	103 hp	158 hp
Transmission	5-speed manual / 4-speed auto	5-speed manual / 4-speed auto
Weight	~2,400 lb	~3,000 lb
Character	Light, boxy, economical	Larger, quicker, more conventional

There was no 2007 model year. The first generation ended after 2006 and the second didn’t arrive until 2008. If you see a listing for a “2007 Scion xB,” the year is wrong — check the VIN before going any further. Our free Scion VIN decoder will tell you the actual model year and generation in a few seconds.

Which Scion xB Generation Is More Reliable?

Both use durable Toyota engines, but they fail in different ways — and the Gen 2’s known issue is significantly more expensive.

Gen 2’s 2.4L 2AZ-FE has a documented oil consumption problem. The oil-control ring drain passages clog with carbon, and the engine starts burning oil rather than leaking it. The permanent fix is a piston replacement, which is an engine-out job. This is the single most important thing to check on any Gen 2 purchase — we cover the full diagnosis and options in the 2AZ-FE oil consumption guide.

How to check it on a test drive: pull the dipstick cold and look at the level against the service records. Ask the seller directly how often they add oil between changes. A seller who says “about a quart every couple thousand miles” is describing this problem, whether or not they know it.

Gen 1’s 1.5L 1NZ-FE has no equivalent systemic engine issue. It’s the same basic engine family Toyota used across millions of Echo, Yaris and Prius-adjacent applications, and it’s genuinely robust. The trade is that it makes 103 horsepower in a car with the aerodynamics of a filing cabinet — highway merging and hills require planning.

Both generations are timing-chain engines. Neither has a scheduled timing belt replacement, which removes a maintenance cost many buyers coming from belt-driven cars incorrectly budget for.

What Recalls Should I Check Before Buying an xB?

Two campaigns matter across the xB range, and both are free to repair regardless of the car’s age or how many owners it’s had.

Takata front passenger airbag inflators affected xB models across much of the lineup’s life. The propellant degrades over time and can rupture the inflator housing during deployment, sending metal fragments into the cabin. This is the highest-severity item on the list.
Power window master switch (NHTSA 12V-499) affected 2008–2009 cars. The driver’s door switch can overheat and melt, creating a fire risk inside the door panel.

Run the VIN of any car you’re seriously considering through our Scion recall checker and cross-check the result against Toyota’s official recall lookup, which reports the true open/closed status for that specific vehicle. Safety recalls never expire, so an uncompleted one is a free repair waiting for you — not a reason to walk away, but definitely a reason to schedule it immediately.

Which xB Is Better for Fuel Economy?

The first generation, comfortably. A 1.5L engine hauling 2,400 pounds is simply a different proposition from a 2.4L hauling 3,000, and the gap shows up on every tank.

If your use case is commuting, city driving, or anything where running cost dominates, Gen 1 wins clearly. If you regularly carry passengers or cargo, drive long highway stretches, or find the Gen 1 genuinely underpowered in traffic, the Gen 2’s extra 55 horsepower is worth the fuel penalty.

For current official figures on a specific model year, the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov database has the ratings by year and transmission.

Which One Should I Actually Buy?

Buy the Gen 1 if you want the car the xB is remembered for. The boxy silhouette, the enormous interior space relative to the footprint, the tiny running costs, and the aftermarket and community that grew around it. It’s a genuine modern cult classic, and clean unmodified examples are increasingly hard to find — its Japanese-market origin as the Toyota bB is a real part of that appeal, which we cover in the Toyota bB heritage article.

Buy the Gen 2 if you need the car to actually work as transportation for more than one person. It’s roomier, notably quicker, quieter at highway speed, and a much easier car to live with daily. Just budget for the oil consumption question, and price accordingly if the seller can’t demonstrate it’s been addressed.

Buy neither if you’re expecting either one to be quick. The Gen 2 is adequate; the Gen 1 is not. Neither is a sports car, and both are tall, boxy vehicles that behave like it in crosswinds and corners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was there no 2007 Scion xB?

The first generation ended production after the 2006 model year and the redesigned second generation launched for 2008, leaving a one-year gap in the US market. Any listing advertising a 2007 xB has the year wrong — verify against the VIN rather than the ad.

Is the Scion xB the same as the Toyota bB?

The first-generation xB is the export version of the Japanese-market Toyota bB (XP30). That shared origin is a big part of why the Gen 1 developed such a strong customization scene — a lot of JDM parts and styling cues transfer directly. The second-generation xB is a different platform and does not share this lineage.

Does the Gen 1 xB have the oil consumption problem?

No. The oil consumption issue is specific to the 2.4L 2AZ-FE used in the second-generation xB (2008–2015) and the first-generation tC. The Gen 1 xB’s 1.5L 1NZ-FE is a different engine and does not share that piston design.

Can a Toyota dealer still service a Scion xB?

Yes. Scion was a Toyota marque, and after the brand wound down in 2016 all Scion service, warranty work, recalls and genuine parts moved to the Toyota dealer network. Any authorized Toyota dealership can service an xB and look up its history by VIN.

Shopping for one? Decode the VIN to confirm the generation and engine before you drive out to see it, then check for open recalls on the same number. Full specs and community builds are on the Scion xB owner hub.