The Scion xA was a five-door subcompact hatchback marketed in the United States from 2004 to 2006 as an export version of the Japanese-market Toyota Ist. It was based on the first-generation Vitz and shared its platform with the Platz sedan, and it was one of the two models that launched Scion in 2003.
Scion xA at a glance
| Maker | Scion (Toyota) |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2006 |
| Base model | Toyota Ist (first generation) |
| Platform | NCP61, shared with the Toyota Vitz and Platz |
| Body | five-door subcompact hatchback |
| Engine | 1.5 L DOHC four-cylinder |
| Power | 108 hp (81 kW) at 6,000 rpm; 103 hp from 2006 |
| Torque | 105 lb·ft (142 N·m); 101 lb·ft from 2006 |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual or four-speed automatic |
| Cargo volume | 11.7 cu ft (331 L) |
| 0–60 mph | 8.8 seconds |
| Top speed | limited to 110 mph (177 km/h) |
Based on one source; the article is shorter than usual because the source is brief.
History of the Scion xA
Three years on the US market
The xA was the hatchback half of Scion’s 2003 launch line-up, next to the boxy xB, and it was essentially the Japanese Toyota Ist prepared for American buyers. It received a minor facelift for the 2006 model year, with modified bumpers and side skirts, turn signals in the side mirrors and audio controls on the steering wheel, while power and torque dropped marginally. Importation ended in December 2006, after only three model years, and the xA’s successor, the xD, reached US dealerships in August 2007 as a 2008 model.
Release Series
Scion built limited Release Series versions of the xA as it did for the rest of the range, each in a single colour with extra equipment and a numbered badge. The 2005 xA RS 1.0 came only in Absolutely Red with a sports grille, colour-keyed rear spoiler, a Webasto factory moonroof, six-spoke alloy wheels, colour-keyed ground effects and stability control; 1,550 were made. The RS 2.0 was Spectra Blue Mica with 1,700 units, and the 2006 RS 3.0 was Stingray Metallic light blue with 2,100 units. Because production runs were short and most dealers received only two or three of each, the cars sold out quickly and held their value.
Equipment and efficiency
The xA was the first production vehicle to offer an optional iPod input with a display on the head unit, and the 2006 revisions brought a more refined head unit and more exterior colours. The 1.5-litre engine and a drag coefficient of 0.31 gave EPA figures of 27 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, or 35 mpg on the highway with the automatic. The quarter-mile took 16.7 seconds at 81.3 mph.
Design and features
- Compact hatchback body: five doors and 331 litres of cargo space in a car based on the Vitz.
- Early iPod integration: the first production car with an optional iPod input shown on the head unit display.
- Economy: 27 mpg city and 34–35 mpg highway on the EPA cycle.
- Stability control: included on the RS 1.0 alongside the sporty trim.
Scion xA versions
- xA (2004–2005): the original car with 108 hp.
- xA (2006): facelifted model with 103 hp, revised bumpers and steering-wheel audio controls.
- xA RS 1.0 (2005): Absolutely Red, 1,550 units.
- xA RS 2.0 (2005): Spectra Blue Mica, 1,700 units.
- xA RS 3.0 (2006): Stingray Metallic, 2,100 units.
The xA was replaced by the Scion xD and shared its launch with the Scion xB. More models are in the Scion collection.
Sources
- Scion xA, English Wikipedia: history, Release Series, technical data
