The XV was launched back in 2012 and is Subaru’s first crack at making a crossover, but as
with any first from any manufacturer, getting it right from the off is always going to be
difficult – especially when you are releasing a car into a market that is bursting at the
seams with competition. Now, as the XV comes fitted with four-wheel
drive as standard, it attracts a much wider spectrum of crossover competition. So, as
well as usual suspects like the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Yeti, it may also attract those
after a BMW X1 and Audi Q3. Firstly, stepping in is very easy to do and
as soon as you sit down your eyes will no doubt be attracted to this infotainment screen
which looks very plush and modern. And this system really is one of the best I have ever
used in terms of responsiveness. But unfortunately, as you venture away from the touchscreen,
it all becomes a little bland from a design point of view.
One other slight niggle I have is the off-centre gearstick, which takes some getting used to
as I have shifted from fourth to fifth, but felt like I was going back into third.
But back to equipment, standard kit across the range includes the likes of automatic
air-con, a CD player and, quite surprisingly, heated seats. Go for the SE Premium model
we have and you get some luxury features like a sat-nav, electrically-adjustable driver’s
seat and leather upholstery. On a comfort front there are some reasonably-sized
door bins, two cup holders and some large cubby holes.
Just like in the front, climbing in the back is very easy thanks to wide opening doors.
And once you are in, there is tons of leg room but, as with many other stylish crossovers,
headroom is so-so due to the sloping roof. You do get some handy cup holders mounted
in the arm rest though. Fold this up and fold the seats down and you
do get a bit of a lip, but a smooth ramp reduces the severity of this. Size wise, the boot
offers 380 litres, which actually makes it the smallest out of the Qashqai, Yeti, X1
and Q3. If you set out for the first time in the XV
in the city, like we did, then you will probably find the steering, suspension and insulation
really impressive. The slight motorbike-like grumble from the engine you get in first gear
will probably make you smile as well. But pick up speed on a country road and, well,
that’s where the XV is less impressive. The steering lacks feel in the corners and
leaves you a bit unsure of where the front-wheels are pointing, and if you push it enough, you’ll
find understeer and body roll. The suspension is comfortable and composed most of the time,
but it can feel a little unsettled when hitting several lumps and bumps in succession.
There’s just one petrol and one diesel to choose from – both of which are 2.0-litre
units, with the petrol offering 148bhp and the diesel offering 146bhp. We’ve got the
boxer diesel which sounds a bit throaty when you rev it out, but you do get some solid
low down pull. Both manual and automatic gearboxes are available
and although, like I mentioned earlier, the six-speed manual stick is slightly off-centre,
it is still slick up and down the gears. When it comes to all-wheel drive capabilities,
you can be confident that the XV will get you out of the majority of situations, and
we have had it up and down some rocky and muddy terrain. But like other crossovers,
don’t expect it to match a Land Rover for ultimate ability.
When it comes to starting prices for 4WD models, the XV’s £22,000 price tag means that it
is far cheaper than the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 - and even the Qashqai in fact, but the Yeti
Outdoor model does undercut it by almost £2,000. But even though it is rather competitively
priced, for some, the XV might struggle to stand out against such talented competition.
It’s not amazing to drive and some of its design features are a little odd, but that
can be said for a lot of other crossovers – however, the fact that Subaru are a rather
niche brand may just urge some to go for a more popular manufacturer like Nissan or Skoda.
But what do you think of the Subaru XV? Let us know in the comments section and don’t
forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel. To research your next car and find great deals,
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