In my humble opinion, the gen1 xB makes just about the perfect taxi, except for a somewhat cozy luggage space. We’ll look at it soon, as there’s several in town. But the gen2 version is also accounted for; there’s also a couple in the same fleet that has all those old Previas. Well, I have a bit of a bias against these, having foamed at the mouth in my review of it when it first came out (see related post). But I’ve mostly gotten over it, and can see how it makes a decent cab. Plenty of room, a bit quieter and better riding than the nervous gen1, and…well, I can’t think of any other redeeming qualities. Oh right: Toyota reliability. these xBs do rank way up there in CR’s stats. That’s a good thing when you’re a cabbie.
I was delighted to get a ride in an xB cab like this in Chicago a couple of years back – they look better in yellow. I think a Crown Victoria is more useful as a cab ( it has room for luggage ) but I love these xBs, they have such character.
I should think there would be many customers for rickshaws & the like instead of CO2-emitting vehicles.☺
And imagine what good physical condition cabbies would be in!
The Transit Connect passenger version seems to be catching on as a taxi as well. At least its name is appropriate.
We do have pedicabs around the campus and downtown area! And the cabbies do look to be in good shape, especially the girls 🙂
Ideal cab Paul roomy economical reliable if they made them in Hybrid-perfect.
Surprisingly there are exactly two gen one xb’s here and they are both run down and in poor condition, as are most of the cars used as cab around here. I really dont know how they stay in business as they look like a wreck waiting to happen.
Where is “here”?
If luggage space is of concern, rip out the front passenger seat. Put a partition in that lets you stack up lots of crap. In 1970 (when I wrote my senior thesis on the taxi) the average passenger load in large US cities was 1.6 passengers per trip. Maybe Eugene, being a college town, has higher average loadings, but I doubt it.
If that doesn’t do it, go Oregon with a Yakima roof coffin.
Only problem with that is, the 3-person capacity means you can’t haul two couples home from a night out. The roof box would make sense on heavy airport-run days (better yet, why not a combined roof-storage/ad holder?)
I always thought the 2nd Gen Xb mated with a Hybrid System would be the prefect taxi.
These are quite popular with the Cab Operators here in the Reno area.
Strange that two truck drivers thought of that, and Toyota hasn’t.
I never gave either generation of the X-box much thought, but your articles here make me see the benefit of something that has a decent amount of interior hauling capacity that can still return 30 MPG. I think I’m one of those who didn’t get these at first, as I tend to like long and low cruisers, but they do appear to my inner utilitarian that would love to have one vehicle that suits all of my needs.
How do the first gen and second gen Xb stack up against the Honda Element? Not sure if I could bring myself to buy one, but always wondered. I guess there is the soul and the Cube also, but they might be too funky for me.