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Subaru XV

We've driven Subaru's answer to the Nissan Qashqai - can it cut it in the already congested compact SUV market?

Subaru XV front cornering

By Jack Rix

December 2011

  • Rating:

There are some big changes going on at Subaru. First the BRZ coupe, introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show, added some much needed sparkle to the line-up and now the XV crossover has arrived to boost flagging sales figures in Europe. Subaru’s answer to the Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX and Hyundai ix35 should open up the brand to a whole new type of customer, but is it a genuine contender in this lucrative segment?

With its established models like the Forester and Outback, Subaru has always had a reputation for building robust and reliable cars. But the XV has been tasked with breaking that mould and bringing some more style and finesse to the table. Cast your eye over the exterior though and it’s clear the XV hasn’t forgotten its roots.

The hexagonal front grille and ‘hawk eye’ headlights make it unmistakeably a Subaru, while the jutting rear bumper and carefully placed plastic cladding give it a sturdy appearance. It’s a well-balanced profile and the newly designed 17-inch aluminium wheels add some unexpected flair.

On the inside Subaru has made a concerted effort to up the quality, and it shows. Soft-touch padding on the dashboard and upper door trims is a welcome addition, while the layout, consisting of three large dials for the air-con and a pair of colour displays for the sat-nav and other vehicle information, is logical and easy to use. Unfortunately there’s still cheap scratchy plastics on the centre console, glovebox and door trim that drag the premium feel down.

A thin and steeply-raked A-pillar means visibility is excellent, while there’s loads of legroom for rear passengers. Boot space is impressive too – 380 litres with the rear seats up and 1,270 litres with them folded flat, which is a full 410 litres more than the Qashqai.

There are three engines on offer - new 1.6 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol units, both available with a manual or CVT gearbox,  and the familiar 2.0-litre boxer diesel which is only offered with a six-speed manual. We drove the latter as, despite being the most expensive, it’s predicted to be the biggest seller in the UK.

It’s an impressive engine – smooth, punchy and eager to rev, although there’s little benefit to letting it spin past 3,500rpm. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 50.4mpg and 146g/km respectively won’t win any environmental awards, but are virtually identical to the equivalent Mitsubishi ASX, so at least it’s on a par with its peers. The gearshift has a fairly long-throw action, but it’s smoother to use than the manual ‘box on the current Impreza.

With its rallying heritage, you’s expect a Subaru to handle well, and the XV doesn’t disappoint. The steering could do with some more feedback, but there’s nothing wrong with the way the XV corners – resisting body roll and gripping the tarmac tightly as Subaru’s standard-fit AWD system constantly shuffles torque to the wheel that needs it the most.

After you’ve finished throwing it around in the bends, refinement on the motorway is also a plus with barely a whisper from under the bonnet and only a faint rustle from the wing mirrors. It’s a shame then that the ride is a touch too firm, especially at low speeds on bad surfaces around town – precisely where Subaru sees the XV spending most of its time.

 

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12 Comments

Design poor.

Nice effort from Subaru BUT like all Subis it fails to catch the eye. Why is it so hard for some designers to move forward and give us designs that trigger our desire to own them? Hyundai has managed that at a decent level.

By PAAdam on 8 December, 2011, 6:02am

Boxy boxer

I agree. A very lumpy looking thing.

By SprightlyBob on 8 December, 2011, 7:09am

Yeti Overlooked Again

Just buy an Elegance specced Yeti and put on Winter Tyres and you have something even more unusal than an Evoque et al, and will go anywhere at half the price too!!

By ferrari137 on 8 December, 2011, 7:43am

Bit of a mixed bag

If this is a competitor for Nissan's QashQow, it's too expensive. I like the front & profile views, but it looks like the designers gave up when they got to the rear of the car. And the interior looks like it uses the familiar elephant's-arse plastic that is as much a Subaru trademark as the boxer engine.
@ferrari137 - I agree to some extent about the Yeti, though you don't need to splash out on Elegance spec. for a practical soft-roader, but from a style point of view, you look like you're driving Postman Pat's van. I'm no fan of the Evoque, but it is uncompromisingly stylish.

By snappyuk on 8 December, 2011, 8:22am

Another horrible front from Japan

The Japanese (with the exception of the FX86) seem currently to be unable to make a nice looking front/grille on a car. I was looking at the various new and concept cars at the Tokyo show. The majority of them seemed to my eye, to have a hideous gurning "happy face" at the front. This Subaru is quite neat in the middle and back but a gargoyle at the front. The Koreans seem to have cracked it, maybe because a lot of them have employed European designers.

Wilson

By wilsonlaidlaw on 8 December, 2011, 8:22am

We are more than happy with our KIA Sportage CRDI

We have just bought the new KIA Sportage CRDI Diesel and are more than happy with it! It is better in some aspects to our Quashgai 1.5 Diesel which we loved though!

Great attractions of the new Sportage are it looks great and challenging, its marvelous 7 Year / 150,000 km Guaranty, its modern common rail diesel engine and its thoughtful accessories!

Great work carried out by their design studio but?

Peter Scheyer @ KIA in Rüsselsheim - your major mistake is the car should have had a different new name such as Sportesse or Vitessamo or similar and not the dreary old name of its uninspiring predecessor! Not good!

This is a serious marketing slip up which should be rectified ASAP!

By vandenplas4litre on 8 December, 2011, 9:27am

New XV

I think the XV is a very distinctive left - field choice. It's exactly the sort of vehicle Subaru do well - a jacked up rugged AWD vehicle with car like driving characteristics, and speaking from experience of the brand - it will be mechanically unbreakable. It may not be beautiful (although I think its smart for a crossover) but name a cometitor that is, cause I can't think of one...

By cousins11 on 8 December, 2011, 11:23am

Yeti is Better / Front Styling Off

I have to agree with Ferrari137. I have the 2.0TDI 4x4 Yeti Elegance and it's a great machine for the money. I walked away from a Volvo XC60 and Evoque because the space in the rear was too compromised by the sloping roofs. I looked at a VW Tiguan but it was easily another 9K on top of the Yeti with a lower spec despite being on the same platform. I wanted to add that I like 3/4s of the XV design but I hate that extended front apron. It looks all wrong when the car is viewed from the side!

By johnericl on 8 December, 2011, 11:50am

It's better than .......

The hideously ugly Tribeca, one of the worst eyesores ever to blight the roads . Not an area of the marketplace I'm particularly interested in, but at least it doesn't frighten dogs and small children - unlike its predecessor .

By commendatore on 8 December, 2011, 3:42pm

Coming From Canada I've rented Subaru every time we go to Vancouver Island and they are Forester type models 'which is a nice lightweight AWD vehicle ; but talking to all my friends that have bought Subarus of any ilk they are high reving type autos and seem light metal ,plasticky type.Yes we drive 120-130K on our HWYs and are not used to engines doing 3500+RPM with appropriate noise .I drive a Ford Edge Limited 3.5 AWD and at 120K turn 1700RPM . I would never own one but they are acceptable AWD vehicles but gas mileage is not that good my 3.5 can match if driven properly.

By blinkster on 9 December, 2011, 6:03am

you think the tribeca is bad. Look the the fiat multipla.

By NeilR on 25 January, 2012, 5:16pm

LOL, Yeti!

I've been looking at a number of these softroaders for the wife and the Suburu seems the best compromise, the Sportage was nice but too big, the Mit ASX had a horrible interior and the Hyundai a little boring. Ruled out the Nissan due to reliability issues as well. As for the Yeti, I'd rather buy French! Why do so many people have the idea VAG cars are reliable, ask anybody in the breakdown industry would they have one, I doubt it, bought by people sucked into marketing hype!

By mperks1 on 23 May, 2012, 8:46am

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Pictures

Subaru XV front cornering
Subaru XV rear cornering
Subaru XV driving
Subaru XV badge
Subaru XV dash
Subaru XV front three-quarters
Subaru XV front seats
Subaru XV rear seats
Subaru XV profile
Subaru XV boot

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FIRST OPINION

    The small SUV market has continued to boom over the last five years, despite the new car market shrinking overall, so the XV is a smart move from Subaru. For adventurous families its rugged styling and spacious interior will appeal, and it’s fun to drive fast too. We’d trade some body control for a more comfortable ride though, and the cabin quality is still lacking. The XV is very nearly a very good car, but difficult to recommend.

 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £25,000 (est)
    Engine: 2.0-litre flat-four turbodiesel
    Transmission: Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
    Power: 145bhp
    Torque: 350Nm
    0-62mph: 9.3 seconds
    Top speed: 123mph
    Economy: 50.4mpg
    CO2: 146g/km
    Equipment: Sat-nav, climate control, USB connection, Bluetooth, multi-function steering wheel, split-fold rear seats, sunroof.
    On sale: March 2012
     
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