When a press release titled “Scion Announces Pricing for Restyled 2011 xB” hit our inbox, we thought to ourselves, what restyled xB? This one, we guess, although the tweaks to the body and interior are so subtle that we’d forgive you for not noticing.

Scion has revised the front and rear bumpers, headlights and taillights, and the grille. The front of the xB now sports a newly shrunken grille and larger mouth-like lower opening, as well as different—and better integrated–headlights. In the rear, the single reverse light on the bumper has been nixed in favor of integrated lamps in each new taillight. The 2011 xB will also be available in two new paint colors: Army Rock Metallic and Elusive Blue Metallic.




The cabin also receives a small amount of freshening, beginning with new front seats with larger bolsters. Those buckets, along with the rear seats, will be clothed in a new “geometric pattern” fabric that makes us think of waiting-room chairs at a doctor’s office. A new sliding armrest has been added to the center console for increased driver comfort, but is overshadowed in its awesomeness by the new and much-needed telescoping function for the steering column.

Look for the 2011 Scion xB to hit dealers later this month. Oh, right, pricing. The base price increases by $150 over last year’s, to $16,670.