The grass is always greener right? Well sometimes yes and sometimes no. We’re taking a good hard look at the Japan home market Scion xB to see how it stacks up to the one we get here in the States.
Of course in Japan, the xB is called the Toyota Corolla Rumion. While the vehicle is very much the same as the one we enjoy over here, there are some key differences that set it apart both from the standpoint of content and styling.
First, up front we notice the Rumion has an arguably more handsome face than the Scion xB. A trimmer and more defined grill area is book-ended by some highly detailed headlights with circular eyes.
The lower body also has a sharper defined body cladding package that gives more edge to the sometimes flabby look of the Scion xB. The hood also features crisper lines with a sculpted lower tier that helps give some sporting definition to the front end.
Inside the biggest difference is the mirror image right hand drive instrument panel. A few detail differences include a more elaborate climate control set up and in Japan, the Rumion comes with a completely different slate of audio and telematics options.
Under the hood and in the drive train the home market Rumion is completely different. In Japan the base Rumion comes with a 1.5 liter four with 106 similar to the one that came in the first generation Scion xB.
You can option a larger 1.8 liter four that has 144hp but you cannot get the relatively mammoth 2.5 liter engine that is our only choice for the Scion xB. And get this, both engines in the Rumion are only available with a fun sapping CVT transmission – yuck.
While we can be happy we get the larger engine mated to a 5-speed automatic or manual transmission, the Rumion does offer one more thing we cannot. The top model Rumion comes with all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive system is mated to the larger 1.8 liter four, but power output is rated lower at 136hp.
So is the grass greener? Some might like the sharper styling on the Rumion over the dulled out by comparison Scion xB. In America we definitely have the better power train options if you want power. If miles-per gallon were the main goal, the 1.8 liter engine is probably a nice option.
In closing the last big difference between the Scion xB and the Corolla Rumion is color selections. Though the Rumion is only available in some six colors, there are some bright cheery hues of blue and red not seen here.
