Subaru XV (2012 – 2018) Review

September 2011

Subaru XV announced

Equipped with a hexagonal grille and hawk eye headlights, these design features emphasise the unique identity of the newest Subaru cars, while the striking and innovatively designed alloy wheels and cut-away cladding give the XV its sporting appearance.

The corners of the front and rear bumpers were designed with special edges that enhance the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle and also contribute to better fuel efficiency. Compact size: 4,450mm long x 1,780mm wide x 1,570mm high.

Subaru’s designers worked hard on the XV’s interior to bring out the best qualities of the chosen materials and to give passengers a feeling of quality as well as spaciousness. Specifically an upmarket interior was created by balancing and combining the different tactile and emotional qualities of leather, metal, and cloth. The Multi-Function Display is highly visible in the upper middle section of the instrument panel and provides the driver and passengers with all the necessary information necessary in a highly intuitive format. Higher specification models will get a large 4.3 inch full-colour screen equipped with advanced infotainment such as eco-driving display and vehicle information display

The new, third generation Subaru Boxer engine is installed in 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol models. Along with the usual merits that horizontally-opposed engines inherently possess, this engine has improved fuel efficiency and exhaust performance. Together with the adoption of the new Lineartronic (CVT), a newly developed “Auto Start System”, the fuel efficiency was further improved.

A heavily revised version of Subaru’s Boxer Diesel, which was specially developed for the European market, is also featured in the XV line-up. Making use of the inherent advantages of Chain-driven CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) such as lightness, compactness, superior fuel efficiency and wide ratio coverage, Subaru successfully developed a new CVT for the XV for improved environmental friendliness and drivability.

January 2012

Subaru announced pricing for the XV

Priced from £21,295 for entry level 1.6i S models, the latest addition to the Japanese brand’s stable is set to firmly establish itself as one of the most capable and best-value-for-money compact crossovers currently available.

The five-star Euro NCAP-rated Subaru XV – officially certified as the safest vehicle in its class and which scores particularly highly for child occupant safety – combines style and functionality with generous levels of standard-fit equipment, making it more than a match for many of its established compact crossover rivals.

Every XV is equipped with two core Subaru technologies – Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Boxer engine – ensuring that this new vehicle feels both engaging and incredibly safe to drive, in all conditions. Subaru is confident that the XV will thoroughly satisfy the needs of existing customers, while also attracting new consumers to the brand.

Three Euro V-compliant Boxer engines are offered with the new XV: 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol, and 2.0-litre diesel. The 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines develop 114ps and 150ps respectively, while the 2.0-litre diesel produces 147ps and 350Nm. The go-anywhere XV is available with a choice of either a five and six-speed manual or a six-speed CVT automatic (petrol only).

Reaching 60mph in 9.3 seconds, the 2.0 diesel XV – likely to be the best-selling variant in the UK – offers class-leading fuel economy of 50.4mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting 146g/km of CO 2 . Subaru’s XV also features the highest ground clearance and lowest centre of gravity in class, making it a highly capable performer both on and off road.

Even entry-level S models feature a standard kit list to make many models from premium compact SUV manufacturers blush. Buyers can expect to find ABS, traction control, Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (SVDC), front, side, curtain and knee airbags, 17-inch alloy wheels, daytime LED running lights and automatic air conditioning as standard.

SE models add cruise control, rear-view camera, Bluetooth functionality and USB/iPod connectivity. Meanwhile, top-of-the-range SE Lux Premium models also come with a sunroof, Keyless Smart Entry, push-button start, leather seats and satellite navigation. All 2.0-litre models are fitted with roof rails.

Petrol-powered XV models benefit from Subaru’s new fuel-saving Auto Start Stop System as standard, boosting fuel savings in congested traffic. It was the aim of Subaru engineers to make the engine cut-out virtually unnoticeable to the driver, and they achieved this with a time lapse between stop and start of approximately 0.2 seconds, one of the fastest currently available.

February 2014

XV improved for 2014

The Subaru XV receives a number of upgrades for 2014 that bring improvements to refinement, ride, handling, safety and cabin quality.

The most significant improvements to the XV are found in petrol-engine models, with 2.0 litre models receiving suspension modifications to improve ride quality and a range of new valve-train components that reduce engine noise. Noise and vibration levels are also improved across the XV range – including 2.0-litre diesel models – with additional sound-proofing in the bulkhead to further insulate the cabin from engine noise.

The electronic power steering system has been revised to improve stability and feel. A new inflating dynamic damper system reduces steering wheel and column vibration, while engineers have fine-tuned the system to provide more weight, greater straight-line steering feel and a more linear steering response.

Safety has been improved with the addition of a thicker, reshaped front suspension lower-arm and reinforcements around the base of the A-pillar, which yield further improvements in the XV’s five-star Euro NCAP crash safety performance. With a score of 90%, the XV already has one of the highest Euro NCAP scores in the industry for child protection.

Inside, the cabin has received a number of changes to improve the overall look and feel, with the addition of the traditional blue Subaru logo on the steering wheel, higher-quality silver surrounds housing the steering wheel buttons and heater controls, and new gloss-black switches to control the car’s air-conditioning system.

Two new features have been added to enhance safety and driver convenience – a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and instrument cluster Gear Shift Indicator, both now fitted as standard to every model in the range.

As part of the range rationalisation, the 1.6i petrol engine will no longer be offered. Two Boxer engines are now available, a 2.0i petrol and 2.0 diesel, in either SE or SE Premium trim. Customers buying petrol models can choose between a six-speed manual or Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT transmission, while diesel versions are available only with a manual transmission. The XV is among the best in class for fuel efficiency, with the 2.0-litre diesel recording 50.4mpg andemissions of 146g/km. Two new colours will be available on the 2014 model range, Venetian Red Pearl and Quartz Blue Pearl, alongside the existing range of five exterior paint finishes.

July 2015

Subaru XV gets improved interior

The interior changes result in further significant improvements to cabin refinement and ambience, and include an all new factory-fit infotainment system first seen on the new Outback earlier this year.

Among the most important changes to the upgraded XV is a revised interior, which now features improved materials and an all-new touchscreen infotainment and navigation system.

The interior design now has a higher-quality look and feel thanks to the adoption of an all new instrument binnacle and new metallic and piano black accents throughout the cabin for the central console, dashboard and steering wheel switchgear and arm rests; Lineartronic models get a new shift lever and new housing with metal and piano black accents.

The driver’s LCD instrument binnacle has been completely redesigned and features more upmarket, contemporary blue dials with new graphics. The overall result of these changes is a more contemporary and cosseting ambience.

An enhanced infotainment, navigation and audio system is now fitted as standard to all XV models in the UK. The all-new 7.0-inch touchscreen display allows smartphone-style control over the advanced navigation and infotainment features, with a swipe and pinch control function for map displays. The infotainment display echoes the new blue glow of the driver’s instrument binnacle.

For both front and rear suspension, the dampers have had their pitch rate lowered, resulting in a smoother and more comfortable ride than earlier models, while reducing roll slightly. The damping power of the struts and new coil-spring settings now better suppress the transfer of vibrations into the cabin, while further reducing roll for greater cornering stability.

The rear suspension features new spring rate settings to further improve stability under cornering by ensuring greater tyre contact with the road, while allowing for greater flexibility in ride over broken road surfaces.