You might've forgotten about it already, but last year, Subaru presented a whole new XV.
It's a car you don't see very often, and even though it looks like its predecessor,
but it's an entirely new car. It's on the new Subaru-platform as well.
The so-called SGP, but it has nothing to do with the Dutch political party of the same name.
SGP means Subaru Global Platform, which it shares with the Impreza.
Anyway. Subaru positions it as an SUV, so that's what we're dealing with here. It's not a crossover.
A few things are standard on Subaru's menu, except for the BRZ and WRX.
They always have flat engines, and this is no exception, they always have permanent four-wheel drive,
and they always have an automatic transmission. A CVT, which I'll tell you more about in a minute.
That's what you always get in a Subaru, connected to the EyeSight-safety system.
It's more spacious than its predecessor, which you'll notice very well if you're in the back.
I'm 1,91 m myself and I'm perfectly fine back here. My knees don't touch the seats,
I've got enough headroom despite the sunroof, but that goes in here, so it won't bother you back here.
The luggage space is 385 litres, which is very acceptable for this segment. So yeah, it's a spacious car.
The XV has actually grown in every aspect. It's bigger than its predecessor.
You can also get it with two engines. A 1.6-litre and a 2.0-litre.
This 2.0-litre has been updated relative to its predecessor. It's got direct injection, 156 horsepower and more torques.
It's a heavy car actually. It weighs more 1.400 kg, which is the weight it's allowed to tow as well.
That's quite a lot for this segment. So, a 2.0-litre flat-engine.
It doesn't have a turbocharged engine, something we're used to these days,
which produce lots of torque at lower RPM. This needs a little more revs,
and the CVT will make the revs go down eventually, but you'll notice that when you accelerate,
the revs will climb quickly. That's inherent to an atmospheric engine.
Today we're driving the 2.0i Premium, which is the most luxurious trim level available.
And as we can see more often in Japanese brands, you can't really get any more options.
Everything you could wish for is on here. We already mentioned the automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive,
which are standard on all Subaru's, but this comes with 18-inch wheels,
a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated seats, a rear view camera, and a comprehensive multimedia system.
It's all on here. You don't get parking sensors however,
because they're an optional extra to order on the side. Also, they won't install it in the factory,
they'll be fitted in the Netherlands. Then, the handling.
I already mentioned the CVT, which has seven preset gears,
and it will start making noise if you put your foot down. If you're just driving along however,
the CVT will react like a regular automatic gearbox. You can actually feel it change gear.
If you want, you can use the flappy paddles. If you do that when the gear lever is in Drive,
the car will take the reigns again after a while, but if you keep it in Manual and you start using the flappy paddles,
it will remain in Manual. So, if you're in seventh gear and you put your foot down,
nothing will happen automatically. You'll have to change back yourself.
If you want, you can take the reigns and change gear yourself, and it will be pretty good as well.
I don't get why other manufacturers are being so ignorant with all kinds of crazy transmissions.
Because of its simplicity, a CVT, and especially this one, is pretty genius.
It works and it's very durable.
So, we've got permanent four-wheel drive. That's nice, especially when it's winter,
but you don't really need it in the Netherlands. Anyway, this car has it. A downside to that is the fuel consumption,
so the emissions are pretty high. I think we'll be doing 12 kilometres per litre on average.
If we're doing more long straights, it might be able to do 14 km per litre.
Anyway, it uses a tad more fuel, for which you get more grip or more traction for when there's snow,
or when you're taking a winter holiday, and that's pretty nice.
Compared to its predecessor, the interior looks pretty good.
The upholstery is very nice as well. I like the orange stitching on the dashboard,
the material looks a little leathery. It's too bad you can't adjust the height of the passenger seat.
You can't even adjust it electronically, whilst the driver seat is electronically adjustable. Also in height.
So if there's a very long person who wants to lower his seat, that isn't possible.
The steering then. It feels nice and solid, just like we're used to from recent Subaru's.
Sure, they're building the WRX which steers phenomenally, but this car has some of those genes as well.
Also, the body is very rigid. That's all because of the safety. In the lower rear door there are some hooks,
which fit in a little compartment in the body, so that if you're hit in an accident from the side,
the door won't fold inwards.
In 2020, Subaru wants to be amongst the safest manufacturers in the world.
They're already doing well. Subaru has developed their own safety system called EyeSight,
and what is the big difference with the systems that other manufacturers use?
Subaru doesn't work with a radar system, but with camera's. If we look here, we can spot two of them.
The camera's keep track of everything that happens in front of the car.
We're going to conduct a little test on a private terrain. Next to me is Siem Kaandorp of Subaru Benelux,
who is going to demonstrate that this car stops automatically at speeds of 50 km/h.
There's an object over there, so Siem; show us. - Sure!
We've stopped in time. You could just see how much space was left,
but even if there was a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or another object on the road: the car will stop by itself.
Because of all the safety systems, there are a lot of beeps when you're driving around.
You can turn them off, but when you go near the stripes it will beep, if you go near a car it will beep,
they've thought of beeps for everything. If you don't like that, you can turn them off.
It's all easy to use however. Even the display in the middle is usable with a button on...
on the steering wheel and it's got a lot of functions. It all feels very natural and intuitive.
You'll immediately know how to use everything. It's the same story for the multimedia system.
If you don't like the existing satnav, you can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
You can easily use all of the functions, you don't need anything else.
Even the ventilation system with three turning knobs... Why would you do something else, this works perfectly fine.
It's easy to operate, even for your passenger. It's clear and it's been thought through.
Not extremely modern, but it's durable technology built by engineers.
People who spend more time actually building cars than having meetings for three weeks about a door handle,
like you sometimes here. This car has been thought through and it's incredibly decent.
Rationally speaking, this is about the best car this money can buy. Qualitatively speaking that is. The drive good as well,
it's got lots of options, a very good safety trim...
It's not a cheap car though. As it stands here, it'll set you back more than €39.000
Of course, that's because it's got a lot of additional taxes. The entry model with a 1.6-litre is €10.000 cheaper,
but this engine is the nicer engine for this car.
Well then, if you're shopping for this kind of car and this kind of money...
I'm not making this a commercial, but I'd say that you should take the XV for a test drive.
I think it'll surprise you.