A cheap and completely new crossover from Subaru—think of a smaller Forester, with Citroën DS3 styling thrown in.
· Design & Engineering:
Instantly, one can see that the XV appeals to the slightly younger generation, with bold accents (so as to say), bright Japanese colours, and custom designed rims. From the front, the XV bears the classic Subaru chrome grill, as well as a rising bonnet—designed so as to house Subaru’s signature boxer engine. From the side, the XV has a bug shaped design, with the rear sweeping just as the previous Impreza hatchback had. At nearly 4.5 meters long, 1.8 meters wide, and 1.6 meters tall, compared to many of its competitors, the XV has better road presence than many of its competitors. What is more noticeable is the 220mm of ground clearance, truly giving off hints of the XV’s off-road abilities. In addition, the uniquely styled two-tone 17-inch rims give the Subaru an individual touch. From the rear, the XV has rugged features, and sharp edges—nothing too spectacular. Note to reader—below the Subaru badge, the well-respected AWD badge bears itself proudly. Unfortunately, the XV, though uniquely styled seems to be stuck in time, with no hints to any signs of modern touches. For instance, the lack of LED lamps.
· Interior
On the inside, though versatile and practical, the interior, clad in low-grade, black leather, seems rather drab. Being the premium model as tested; the XV features a start/stop button, as well as a leather steering wheel with multiple functions, such as a Bluetooth telephony system, and cruise control. The speedometer features chrome dials, as well as a good looking and modern, odometer. I must admit, that despite the rugged and rather drab interior, the premium XV model features a rather useful center console, outlined in evergreen, brushed aluminium. For instance, dual-climate control is available, with a boring, but practical CD/tuner/AUX-IN/USB/wireless audio streaming for smart phones. In addition, the system allows one to pair a telephone via Bluetooth. Directly above it, a 2-dimensional full colour screen features climate for both inside and outside, fuel range, as well as a rather smart system monitoring tire pressure and energy distribution to all four wheels. Being the premium model, the XV also features a sunroof, as well as a built-in reverse camera. In addition, a rather ‘grippy’ transmission shifter, clad in leather, and with a +/- manual shifter comes as standard. At the rear, a bench-styled seating sits three rather snugly—though larger passengers may find leg space to be a slight issue. Nevertheless, the XV provides an airy and rather spacious cabin as compared to competitors. As the rear comes hatchback style, boot space fits the average grocery run, but with the rear seats down, fitting in golf bags and skis becomes a rather easy task.
· Ride & Handlings
Made of lightweight material, the 2.0-liter boxer engine delivers 150HP, which tugs the crossover along with ease. However, despite the AWD system, overtaking becomes a rather harsh task, with sluggish performance at times. As the XV is mated to a rather noisy CVT transmission, cabin noise is apparent, even when compared to other models in the lineup, such as the Impreza. Keep in mind though, that despite bearing an AWD system and a rather tall stance, the XV is not one to bring along on rough terrain and harsh condition, but more for going up the mountainous roads of Japan and Europe.
· Verdict
Not bad for a first shot in this segment, though with much room for improvement. With a rather drab but practical interior, as well as the rather ‘young-looking’ exterior the XV might not appeal to all. Though, the low price tag might.
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