After over a decade of being mistaken for the packing crate it came in, the Scion xB is being discontinued as the 2015 model year draws to a close. The xB’s unusual looks could only get it so far without regular updates, and Scion has some new models ready to replace it.
The Toyota “youth” brand is wrapping things off with a final special edition. Called the xB 686 Parklan Edition, it was designed in collaboration with snowboard company 686, and will be limited to (you guessed it) 686 units.
Scion and 686 previously collaborated on the snowboarder-themed Numeric xB show car, and the 686 Parklan Edition represents a similar attempt to add some ruggedness to the xB. On the outside, it’s distinguished by Cocoa Bean Metallic paint with red accents, gloss black 16-inch alloy wheels, and some blacked-out trim prices.
The interior features seats trimmed in a modern camouflage pattern, a hidden driver’s side zippered storage pocket, zippered seat-back pockets, and all-weather floor and cargo mats. An Inno cargo box and roof rack setup is also available.
There don’t appear to be any mechanical changes, so buyers will get the same 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine offered in every other xB. It sends 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, so snowboard-hauling drivers shouldn’t expect to get to the mountain in too much of a hurry. This engine is offered with five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions in the stock xB.
The first-generation xB helped launch Scion over a decade ago. Much smaller and even boxier than the current model, it had a distinctive look that played into Scion’s youth-baiting mission quite well. Redesigned and enlarged for its second generation, the xB became a bit more mainstream, and faced more competition from cars like the Kia Soul and (now defunct) Nissan Cube. An influx of subcompact crossovers may have also dented the xB’s appeal to buyers, who may have view the tall vehicle as an SUV alternative.
Pricing for the xB 686 Parklan Edition starts at $20,480 (including destination). Scion is essentially replacing the xB with the iM, a similarly-sized hatchback with more conventional styling. The Toyota Auris-based model recently arrived in showrooms alongside the Mazda 2-based iA sedan.
