Subaru Reviews

The 2.0i is the entry-point in the four-variant Subaru XV small SUV range, wearing an MSRP of $29,690.While it has some major ommissions it still has some decent spec items when lined up against competitors like the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Toyota C-HR and Mitsubishi ASX. Notably impressive is the all-wheel drive system, but the base XV also scores a 6.5-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a 4.2-inch supervision screen, and 6.3-inch information screen, 17-inch alloy wheels with an updated design for 2021, as well as keyless entry and push-start ignition.The 2.0i is the only XV with the smaller screen and more basic interior trims. Also omitted from the base XV is the excellent EyeSight safety suite, which includes key active safety items, but even the base XV has seven airbags and is covered by a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating to the 2017 standards.The base XV is powered by a 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder boxer engine producing 115kW/196Nm and has a combined fuel consumption figure of 7.0L/100km. The XV can drink base 91RON unleaded and has a 63-litre fuel tank.All XV variants have relatively large cabins and seats with decent storage areas, while all variants also share a small boot capacity of 310-litres (VDA) for the non-hybrid or 345L for hybrids.Subaru covers the XV range with a five year and unlimited kilometre warranty and five years of capped price servicing.

The XV 2.0i-L is the second rung up in Subaru’s four-tier small SUV range. It wears an MSRP of $31,990.Competing with mid-tier variants of the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Toyota C-HR, and Mitsubishi ASX, the 2.0i-L has as standard Subaru’s signature all-wheel-drive system. It is also one of only two XV variants available as a hybrid, wearing an MSRP of $35,490.The 2.0i-L adds to the base 2.0i by adding a larger 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen, a leather-appointed wheel and shifter, and premium cloth-trimmed seats, but continues with the standard 17-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, standard air conditioning, as well as keyless entry and push-start ignition.Importantly, the 2.0i-L is the first grade to get the forward-facing components of Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite, which includes freeway-speed auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and lead vehicle start alert.The 2.0i-L is powered by the same 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder boxer engine as the rest of the petrol range, with power outputs of 115kW/196Nm. It is CVT automatic only and drives all four wheels.Meanwhile the Hybrid L has a 2.0-litre engine with 110kW/196Nm paired to an electric motor housed in the transmission, which can assist with 12.3kW/66Nm.Petrol XVs have a relatively small boot capacity of 310 litres (VDA), while the L and S Hybrid have a 345-litre boot capacity, with these hybrid options losing the space-saver spare under the floor in favour of a puncture-repair kit.The 2.0i-L shares the range’s maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating awarded in 2017, and is covered by the brand’s five-year and unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Competing with mid-level variants of the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, and Toyota C-HR, the 2.0i-Premium offers a higher level of specification to go with its signature all-wheel-drive system. Interestingly, the 2.0i-Premium is not available as a hybrid.The 2.0i-Premium adds to the equipment on the 2.0i-L with a sliding sunroof, satellite navigation, heated wing mirrors, and as of 2021 now has the full EyeSight active safety suite.Included on the 2.0i-Premium is freeway-speed auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and lead vehicle start alert, but also blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and rear emergency braking.Elsewhere, the 2.0i-Premium shares the 2.0i-L’s 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android auto, 4.2-inch supervision screen, and 6.3-inch information screen. It also has a leather-appointed wheel and shift lever with premium cloth interior trim, halogen headlights, and 17-inch alloy wheels.The 2.0i-Premium continues to be powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder non-turbo boxer engine producing 115kW/196Nm driving all four wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. It has an official/combined fuel consumption of 7.0L/100km.The 2.0i-Premium has a small boot capacity of 310-litres VDA and has a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor.All Subaru XVs are covered by the brand’s five-year warranty and capped-price-servicing programs.

The XV 2.0i-S sits atop the four-variant Subaru XV range, wearing an MSRP of $37,290.It does battle in its segment against high-spec versions of the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Mitsubishi ASX, and Toyota C-HR. The S grade is also available as a hybrid, at a price of $40,790.Standard fit includes LED headlights with auto high beams, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-appointed interior trim with upgraded gloss and silver highlights, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with heating for the front two passengers, additional all-wheel-drive system functionality, and auto folding wing mirrors with memory and auto dipping function.While this is good kit for its class, the XV is notably missing out on a digital dash, head-up display, and the wireless charging becoming more common on top-spec small SUVs. The 2.0i-S has a small boot capacity for the class at 310-litres and has a space-saver spare in petrol versions or tyr- repair kit if chosen as a hybrid.It also has a fully featured “EyeSight” active safety suite consisting of  freeway-speed auto emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, lead vehicle start alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and rear emergency braking. All XVs have a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating as of 2017.The 2.0i is powered by a 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder boxer engine producing 115kW/196Nm, and if chosen as a hybrid has a similar engine producing 110kW/196Nm paired to an electric motor, which can make use of 12.3kW/66Nm and is housed in the continuously variable automatic transmission.The XV has an official/combined fuel-consumption figure of 7.0L/100km for the petrol or 6.5L/100km for the hybrid.All Subaru XVs are covered by the brand’s five-year warranty and capped price servicing programs.

Subaru has always been a good fit for Australia, but can the XV keep up in a rapidly changing small SUV field?

The new generation Subaru Outback has a tweaked exterior with some interior upgrades. How does it perform in this category with its semi-wagon, semi-SUV presence?

The Subaru Outback has always made an excellent choice for families that don't mind sticking out from the crowd, not only by buying something that's not typically SUV shaped, but choosing a car that's a little... quirky. The new Outback, however, seems a little more attractive at first glance than before. So is it as good as it looks?

Say the words "Subaru Outback" and people know what you're talking about - that station wagon that has some off-road pretensions because of its higher ride height. So is this new-generation 2021 Subaru Outback more SUV than ever before?

The Subaru Outback 2021 range consists of three variants at launch, and the top-spec one is the AWD Touring.Priced at $47,790 MSRP, the range-topping Outback 2021 model is equipped extensively, offering customers plenty of goodies for their money.Standard equipment includes: an electric sunroof, Nappa leather interior trim, a heated steering wheel in addition to heated front seats and heated outboard rear seats, dual zone climate control with rear vents, auto dipping passenger side door mirror, memory settings for the driver’s seat (and a driver monitor camera that can recognise your face and adjust the side mirrors and seat to your profile!), as well as satin finish door mirrors, silver highlight roof rails (with stowable crossbars), and gloss-finish 18-inch alloy wheels with a full size spare.The Outback AWD Touring also has a nine-speaker harman/kardon setup with subwoofer and single CD player, teamed to the standard 11.6-inch touchscreen media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio, satellite navigation, and DAB+ digital radio. There are also LED headlights and daytime running lights, LED foglights, push-button start, keyless entry, electric park brake, rain-sensing wipers, heated and power-folding side mirrors, and electric front seat adjustment for driver and passenger.And if you’re curious about safety specs, the Outback has plenty of stuff. The brand’s revised EyeSight camera system comprises front AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping assistance, speed sign recognition and plenty more. There is blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert on all grades, plus a reversing camera and front/side cameras for this model. There’s also rear AEB with rear parking sensors.But as good as all that tech is, the Outback only comes with one engine option – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine which has 138kW of power and 245Nm of torque. It is teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, and it has all-wheel drive as standard. Claimed fuel consumption for the Outback AWD (and all models) is 7.3L/100km. Towing capacity is 750kg unbraked / 2000kg braked.

The entry-level version of the new-generation Subaru Outback 2021 range is known simply as “AWD”. Or, maybe more correctly, the 2021 Subaru Outback AWD.This base model variant is affordable, with a list price / MSRP of $39,990 before on-road costs, which makes it a bit dearer than the existing model, but competitive with mid-size family SUVs with similar equipment levels.Speaking of equipment, the standard features include: 18-inch alloy wheels and a full size alloy spare, roof rails with stowable roof rack cross bars, LED headlights, LED foglights, push-button start, keyless entry, electric park brake, rain-sensing wipers, heated and power-folding side mirrors, fabric seat trim, leather steering wheel, paddle-shifters, electric adjustment for the front seats, rear seats with manual recline, and a 60:40 split-fold rear seat with boot release levers.It has a new 11.6-inch touchscreen media screen in portrait layout, which incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring tech. There are six speakers standard, as well as four USB ports (2x front, 2x rear). There is extensive safety tech, too, including front AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and rear auto braking. There’s lane keeping technology, speed sign recognition, driver monitor, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and more.As with the models above, the Outback is powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, which has 138kW of power and 245Nm of torque. It is teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, and it has all-wheel drive as standard. Claimed fuel consumption for the Outback AWD (and all models) is 7.3L/100km. Towing capacity is 750kg unbraked / 2000kg braked.