DriverVIBE VERDICT
Subaru XV 2.0 SE
Reviewed by Rob McSorley (DriverVIBE.com)
Subaru XV 2.0 SE Reviewed by Rob McSorley (DriverVIBE.com)
After a few shaky looking Impreza models
heated front seats, CD player with
over the past few years in our eyes the XV
bluetooth and USB input,cruise control,
finally hits the right spot. Although its
powerfold door mirror and a useful
dimensions are relatively compact it has
reversing camera. Interestingly our car also
plenty of presence on the road. At the front
came with Auto Start Stop which although
Subaru’s prominent grill looks suitably
ambient temperatures were too low for it to
aggressive with the chiseled headlights and
operate is nice to see on a petrol car of this
butch body mouldings. The rest of the
type. SE models also come with Subaru’s
design is fairly inoffensive thanks to its
excellent Multi-Function Display which
simple shape but still managed to turn
gives drivers an idea of how efficiently they
heads whilst with us.
are driving as well as vital information about the cars four-wheel-drive system.
The XVs interior is equally unlikely to raise
Little known to many Subaru have actually been making
any pulses but it also fails to disappoint.
Under the bonnet of our car is Subaru’s
Cabin space is good for four adults with
proven 1,998cc, 4 cylinder, Boxer petrol
plenty of head, leg and shoulder room. The
engine which produces around 150 bhp with
boot is a competitive size and cabin storage
maximum torque of 196 Nm available from
crossovers for a very long time. Actually before they were even
is good with lots of neat little placed to
4,200 rpm. It’s a very easy engine to get on
cool. It all started in the early 90s with their Legacy estate
store odd and ends. The design itself is
with enough pull for most situations. It's
which came with AWD and jacked up suspension for those
simple, everything falls nicely to hand and
impressively hushed except under hard
feels built to last although there is a
acceleration when the tasty, roarty engine
living in more rural locations.
decided lack of soft touch plastics on most
note pitches in but is never intrusive.
Here we are testing the brand's latest offering the rugged XV.
surfaces. That said the seats offer plenty of
Unfortunately performance fell short of our
Essentially a fourth generation Impreza hatchback with
adjustment and are supremely comfortable,
expectations as a result of the XVs heavy
we also love the red glow of the racy
all-wheel-drive system resulting in
looking dials which are a welcome addition.
overtaking manoeuvres often requiring one
increased ground clearance and body cladding this compact Subaru is aimed squarely at Kia’s Sportage, Peugeot’s 3008 and Mitsubishi's ASX. With Subaru’s symmetrical permanent four wheel drive system and a five year warranty up it’s sleeve is the XV a better car to drive and own? Read on to find out
or two down changes to make decent Equipment levels on our mid-level SE are
progress. We did however find the economy
fairly generous with standard fit digital
on offer over mixed driving deeply
climate control, 17 inch alloy wheels, HID
impressive returning 35 - 40 mpg.
headlamps with daytime running lights,
If it’s driving pleasure you are looking
that it was pretty much unstoppable
for then this could be the crossover for
where others got stuck.
you. The gearbox is wonderfully direct with a well-oiled precise action and
As an ownership proposition the XV we
perfectly spaced ratios. The steering
tested seems a little pricey at a shade
also feels meaty with plenty of weight
over £24,000. For similar money buyers
during cornering and just enough feel
can park an Audi Q3 or BMW X1 on their
for most drivers. The ride too is well-
driveway but neither is likely to be able
judged considering the tall ride height
to cope half as well as the XV in the
and cleverly avoids the wallowy nature
rough stuff. Elsewhere in the range
of some crossovers. Push the XV hard
better value-for-money can be found. A
into a corner and although the body
base spec 1.6i S will set you back just
does roll it never gets out of control and
over £21,000, also comes well
always feels neutral giving the driver
equipment and has the same well
lots of confidence. Grip levels are
sorted 4WD system. If it was our money
another strongpoint thanks to the
however, we would probably trump for
TECH DATA
excellent four-wheel-drive system,
the diesel version which for the same
Price as tested: £24,295
decent choice of tyres, and electronic
outlay offers much stronger
Engine: 2.0 litre 16v 150bhp - 0-62 mph: 10.5 secs - Maximum Speed: 116 mph -
trickery. We were lucky enough to test
performance, even better economy and
Economy: 32.1 mpg (urban) –47.9 mpg (extra-urban), 40.9mpg (combined) - Emissions:
the XV in the recent snow and found
neatly falls into a lower VED Band
160 g/km (Band G) - VED (12 months): £195 Dimensions: Length: 4450 mm - Width: 1780 mm - Height: 1570 mm - Wheelbase: 2635 mm *data from Subaru UK
DRIVERVIBE VERDICT The Subaru XV may not be exciting to look at or sit in but it is well designed, inoffensive and spacious enough for most. On the road it drives very well with a good mix of ride, handling and refinement. Although we found the petrol engine in our car to be economical and characterful it does lack performance and requires too many down changes when overtaking. In the rough the XV is seriously talented compared to anything else in its class and for that reason it may be the only choice for more rural road-users. The list price of the XV is a little higher than we would have liked and we are sure that the boxer diesel engine is the pick of the bunch but for now Subaru can be proud that they have created a car that does a lot very well and very little badly. The XV is probably Subaru’s most complete crossover ever.
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