New Subaru XV Hybrid 2020 pricing and specs detailed: Electric boost incoming for small SUV

Subaru Australia has announced its first petrol-electric XV small SUV will arrive in March next year, with the aptly named Hybrid to command a hefty $6340 premium over the petrol variant it is based upon, although buyers will be compensated with a longer list of standard equipment.

Available as a single variant priced from $35,580 plus on-road costs, the Hybrid features an e-Boxer powertrain that partners a 110kW/196Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a 12.3kW/66Nm electric motor.

Located under the boot floor alongside a drive motor inverter and a DC/DC converter, the Hybrid’s lithium-ion battery is self-charged via kinetic energy captured by regenerative braking and coasting.

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Three drive modes are switched between while on the move: electric only (low speed), petrol and electric (mid-speed), and petrol only (high speed). The former is engaged at a standstill and when travelling at speeds up to 40km/h, depending on vehicle and battery condition.

While Subaru Australia hasn’t officially issued its fuel-consumption claims yet, it says the Hybrid performs more than seven and 14 per cent better on the combined and urban cycles respectively when compared to the XV’s 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre atmo four-cylinder engine.

Based on the XV’s entry-level 2.0i petrol version, the Hybrid adds a pedestrian alert system (operation when vehicle speed is 24km/h or less), dusk-sensing headlights, front LED foglights, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding side mirrors with indicators, black roof rails, an energy flow display, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear selector and premium charcoal cloth upholstery.

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It also gains Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assist systems, including front and rear autonomous emergency braking, lane keep-assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and high-beam assist.

The Toyota C-HR-rivalling Hybrid also comes with an exclusive new paintwork option: Lagoon Blue Pearl.

As with other Subaru Australia models, the Hybrid comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, but it also scores an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty.