^^^
My one surprise after owning it is the grip and general go-kart handling.
I did not expect it to handle like a Mini Cooper but darn if it doesn't try. It also has a decent amount of torque off idle which was probably programmed that way via VVT.
Great point, I can't believe I forgot to mention that the handling is good, and improved 2x after I put the Pirelli P7 tires on. I probably surprised a few motorists that tried tailgating me on twisty roads, and tight looping freeway on-ramps.
When I mentioned the huge turn radius issue to a service tech at the Scion dealership, he said that Toyota engineered it that way so it would have sportier handling. He said that they do that with the Yaris SE model, too. If you get a Yaris "L" or "LE" model it has a very small turn radius but the steering is vague and not very responsive. He said the "SE" model is tuned to have a firmer and very responsive steering feel, but adds about 6 feet to the turning circle.
Overall the XD was a very reliable car for me. I would not hesitate for a second to recommend the XD to someone who is looking for a reliable, economical car.