What we researched for this specific generation: where an enclosure actually fits, what the factory speakers are, how the factory audio is wired, and which real builds and commercial products exist for it. Confidence badges say how well each figure is sourced — this is research, not manufacturer spec.
Body styles covered: 4-Door Hatchback
These are researched envelopes, not a guarantee. Measure your own vehicle — the numbers here tell you what to expect, not what you have.
| Location | rear hatch cargo area, behind the rear seat |
|---|---|
| Outer bounding box | 37"W x 15"H x 15"(top) to 21"(bottom) D — the depth is EXPLICITLY LABELLED by the source as top-versus-bottom, and note it is deeper at the BOTTOM (21") than the top (15") |
| Known obstructions | The hatch tapers inward toward the top, which is why the top depth is six inches shorter than the floor depth. Design the box to 15" if it is a full-height build; a box that only occupies the lower portion can use the full 21". A spacesaver spare and a foam rear floor sit under the floor panels — the rear speakers are reached by removing both, so a floor-mounted box should account for still needing spare-tire access. |
| Usable volume estimate | 2.5 ft³ |
Suggested configurations for this vehicle, not prescriptions. Run the numbers in the Box Builder before you buy anything.
| Subwoofers | 1x10" or 1x12" sealed |
|---|---|
| Box type | sealed |
| Location | rear hatch area |
| Subwoofers | 2x10" sealed — the source names this exact configuration as fitting the published space |
|---|---|
| Box type | sealed |
| Location | rear hatch area |
| Subwoofers | 1x12" or 1x15" ported using the full 21" floor depth, accepting that the box then blocks the rear speakers and the spare |
|---|---|
| Box type | ported |
| Location | rear hatch area |
Sizes and depths below are what research turned up for this generation. Confirm against your own vehicle before cutting or ordering — trim levels vary.
| Factory speaker size | 6-1/2", 4 OHM, Pioneer. Replace with 6-1/2" or 5-1/4" — the source notes the 5-1/4" aftermarket selection is considerably larger, so downsizing is the better-supported option here. A mounting bracket is required for EITHER size. |
|---|---|
| Known obstructions | DRILLING IS REQUIRED, and this is the one real obstacle on the car: the factory speakers are held by RIVETS that must be drilled out, and then new screw holes must be drilled for the replacement. Standard drilling cautions apply — check for wiring, window mechanism, and depth before going in. Tools: Phillips screwdriver, panel tool, drill and 1/8" bit. |
| Adapter bracket needed | Yes, for both 6-1/2" and 5-1/4" — a bracket is needed regardless of which size you pick, because the factory mounting is riveted rather than screwed. |
| Tweeter | Dash, alongside the centre-mounted gauge cluster. The source calls these easy to get to and specifically recommends a front component set on this car because of it. |
| Factory speaker size | None — the xB has no rear-door speakers. Its rear pair sits at the back of the cargo area (see other_speaker_locations), which is unusual for a 4-door and is called out by the source as a deliberate break with convention. |
|---|---|
| Known obstructions | n/a |
| Adapter bracket needed | n/a |
| Factory amp / premium audio | No factory amplifier and no premium-audio tier. A 6-speaker Pioneer AM/FM/CD system was standard across the whole run, and the only real change came in 2006: a revised head-unit design, a new steering wheel with built-in audio controls, a remote AUX input, and iPod control/charging/song-display through the receiver. So the integration job is simple electrically — but read the impedance note below before buying speakers, because this car's factory impedances are unusual in all three locations. |
|---|---|
| Adding subs without a head-unit swap | Yes — no factory amp in the path, so a universal line-output converter at the front speaker wires is the standard route, and the hatch build never touches the dash. |
| Head unit | No replacement needed |
37"W x 15"H x 15"(top) to 21"(bottom) D. Crutchfield's own read on that space is that it holds a pair of 10" subs in a sealed enclosure — a genuinely useful anchor, since it converts the raw dimensions into a build most people can picture. The first-gen xB is a car-audio favourite precisely because a car this small has a cargo box this square.
Each link opens the tool with this vehicle already selected.
Measure your own vehicle. Trim levels, factory subwoofer options, and mid-generation changes all move these numbers, and a box cut to a researched figure that does not match your truck is wasted wood. Where a badge reads Unconfirmed, treat the value as a starting point for your own measurement, not as an answer.