Subaru Vortex Reviews

There anyone left in Australia who is not in love with some sort of SUV?Macho looking wagons are the family cars of the 21st century and nothing proves it more than the continuing boom in compact SUV sales. Every month the numbers go up, not just deliveries from dealerships but also the selection of showroom starters. When we decided to rate the runners, as we did last month with small cars, there were far more hopefuls than heroes.The Hyundai ix35 is under-done on styling and suspension, the Mitsubishi ASX is too much like a truck, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is best for the bush, and theToyota RAV4 is flat-out too old. They might be nice, but nice is not enough.So we came down to a four finalists as usual and they tick all the boxes. The Mazda CX-5 and Subaru XV are new and funky, the Kia Sportage still rules for value and local tweaking, and the Volkswagen Tiguan has the right badge for brand snobs.I have driven them all before so the comparison run is more like revision than starting from scratch, although there are still some surprises and lots to consider before final judgement.VALUEThis time we left the final four to you. We want to consider what customers are choosing,, not a set of dream machines, even if that means a disparate group that is something of a mis-match on price and equipment.Surprisingly, the Mazda is the cheapest in our field at $33,540 for the front-drive Maxx Sport, then comes the Subaru at $34,490 for the  2.0i-L, followed by the Tiguan 132 TSI Pacific at $35,990 and then Sportage Titanium at $39,720.But it's not just about price, as the Kia ticks all the equipment boxes and also gets a diesel engine, while the Volkswagen runs up short on some stuff - including a rear-view camera - that should be standard in 2012. As always - at least until the BRZ sports car - the Subaru only comes with all-wheel drive and the CX-5 choices reflect its place as Mazda's new SUV hero and the replacement for the larger CX-7.To put things into sharper focus, the CX-5 range runs from $27,800 right up to $48,190, you can buy an XV priced from $28,490 to $34,490, Tiguan stickers span from $24,490 to $42,990 and the cheapest Sportage is the front-drive petrol car at $26,730.Of course, the Kia scores with its five-year warranty , but running costs also favour the CX-5 with Skyactiv technology that gives it fuel economy of 6.4 litres/100km.TECHNOLOGYThe latest Sportage Platinum finally picks up the satnav promised from day one in Australia, complete with traffic warnings. But there are now two clocks and no temperature display, while the Bluetooth audio streaming as not as good as it was. Hmmm.It's diesel engine means top torque, but surprisingly - perhaps it's down to size and weight - it trails the leaders on fuel efficiency. Dig deeper than the trinkets and it's all about the Skyactiv stuff in the CX-5, which brings a very efficient 2-litre petrol engine and six-speed auto complete with stop-start. That's good because the Mazda is a little drab compared with the Hyundai, and some of the costlier cars in the range.The Subaru looks newest and is well equipped, but its engine - despite stop-start - is lacklustre. It is missing any real verve and the manual gearbox can be a little difficult. It's a good thing it has cushy, lovely suspension.The Volkswagen has a great reputation but there is no reversing camera and no satnav, not even a big display screen in the dash. People who expect to be impressed when they first slide into a Tiguan will be disappointed. They will also be disappointed by the worst economy in the group, although this is partly offset by maximum power.DESIGNThe Tiguan looks old and boxy. There is not getting away from it. And, inside, it's black and drab and proof that the substance-over-style approach of the original Beetle still lurks in Germany. The Volkswagen might do the job, and the boot is easy to load, but efficiency comes well ahead of kerb appeal. The CX-5 is a modern update of the Tiguan look, still built around a basic box but with some nice tweaking and trimming. It's the car the women in the Carsguide crew rated tops, although they could have been influenced by the badge and a classy cabin that is nicely styled and well finished.The Kia has a different shape and that's both good and bad. It steps it away from its Hyundai clone and helps it make an impact in traffic. The cabin reflects some smart thinking but the finishing is not as good as the Mazda, despite all the nice bells and baubles.Which brings us to the Subaru. It's a genuinely youthful shape, looks great in the XV's Subaru orange, and turns more heads than the other three combines. But the XV is a bit plain inside and the design work leaves it short of back-seat room and luggage space, especially compared with the Kia and Mazda. The boot is more like a Mini and nowhere good enough for pram people.SAFETYFive-star safety is what you expect and what you get here. Ok, we're still waiting for the official ANCAP rating on the CX-5 but the Mazda has been chosen as a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the USA. There are three child seat anchors in all four, they each have ABS brakes and stability control, with six airbags on three and the Subaru going to seven with knee protection in the XV.Mazda adds a tyre-pressure warning for the CX-5, and has lane departure warning available on some models, while Kia shows an off-road bias with downhill brake control in addition to hill-start assist. The VW has a rollover protection system but the lack of a rear camera is a glaring shortcoming in this field. The Subaru and Kia also score with full-sized spares, not space savers, although this decision really hurts boot space in the XV.DRIVINGIt's hard to make direct comparisons, but here I go. The Kia has the biggest cabin and the most equipment, which makes driving nice. It also rides well, is relatively quiet, and has a really punchy engine.The Volkswagen is nothing special, and that's a surprise with some many impressive models in the family. It just feels old, from the drab cabin to the response from the DSG gearbox, although it does everything I ask without complaining.The Subaru wins me with its looks and supportive seats, but the cabin is too small against these rivals and the engine and gearbox are less than impressive. Fair but not good. Then again, I love the suspension, with the plush ride and quietness it brings.The Mazda? Very nice, but. It gets along pretty well, the driving position is good, and I just know that it's making the most of every litre in the tank. But I remember the arrival of the CX-7, and how it felt as more like a sports car than an SUV. And this time the CX-5 has not moved forward enough when everything new is expected to bounce out ahead of the pack.When we head out for some gravel road and dirt-track kilometres, just to check if the SUVs will survive out of the city, we quickly discover a lack of front-end clearance in the Mazda. The torque of the Sportage is great for hills and the Subaru has wonderful suspension that reflects quality engineering.But then we get to loading, and the boot is the XV is a fail. The Tiguan is good, the Mazda is really good, and the Sportage does all we ask despite a full-sized spare beneath the floor. When it comes to parking, the Tiguan suffers without a camera and the rear corners of the Sportage create nasty blind spots.The Mazda is noisier than I expect on coarse bitumen roads, I worry about the economy in the Kia, and the Volkswagen leaves me cold.But driving is not everything, and I also have to consider the badge appeal of the Tiguan, the rock-solid quality and dealer support of the CX-5, the all-wheel drive security and long-term Subaru reputation of the XV, and the equipment and warranty of the Sportage.VERDICTThe winner? It has to be the Kia. The Sportage is still as impressive as when it finished runner-up in our 2010 Car of the Year contest and comes fully loaded, just the way Aussies like it. It has a huge cabin, drives nicely, gets lots of kilometres between stops with that diesel engine, and has that five-year warranty to provide security for shoppers.The cabin quality trails the newer Japanese SUVs, and the steering still feels a bit wonky for the first 10 minutes, but it is truly the one you would be happiest driving home to the family. The CX-5 is a very close second and would probably have been first with more equipment and an engine swap. I drove an all-wheel drive CX-5 diesel auto straight after the comparison closed and it got me thinking.But you cannot judge what you do not have and, just as a CX-5 with the lot would have been punchier and more appealing, the Sportage would still finish on top if we slapped the badge on a Porsche Cayenne for the same money.I like the quietness and comfort of the CX-5, as well as the cabin quality, but it's not the great leap forward I expected from Mazda. It's doing a lot with Skyactiv but, just like BMW with its overdone emphasis on EfficientDynamics, the mechanical stuff only counts at the pumps and for dinner party bragging.The XV is a coulda, woulda, shoulda sort of car. And third. It's more youthful and has a lovely ride, but it falls short on space and performance. Some people also find the cabin is too drab and underdone, particularly compared with the Sportage.And the Tiguan? I expected more, but wasn't really surprised.Fourth place is a reflection of its ageing design, and the focus on SUVs that has made Japanese and Korean cars so popular, and on reflection perhaps we would have done better with a RAV4 in the field. But you cannot judge what you don't have. So the Sportage gets across the line by a short-half-head in what is really only a three-SUV contest, proving that the Korean carmaker is more than just a dollar dealer in 2012.

The Impreza range has been a success story for Subaru over its 19-year life. But while the hot WRX and STI variants won plenty of young fans, that crowd has never really warmed to the more suburban end of the range.Those mainstream models have now been separated from the performance strand, given some updated restyling and a new focus on performance and fuel economy. The automatic sedan tested here is still on the conservative side of design, but has enough street appeal to give it a better chance among the hard-fought field of close to 20 rivals in the small car showroom.VALUEThe Subaru Impreza 2.0i is $23,990 with the six-speed manual and $26,490 as tested here with the Lineartronic CVT. At this entry spec level you still get six speaker iPod/USB audio, Bluetooth, cruise, climate-control airconditiong, and a 4.3-in multifunction display trip computer. That's a good equipment list, but the steel wheels with covers still say 'base model'.But still, the Impreza stacks up well against a lot of the competition. The Mazda3 -- Australia's 2011 best-selling car -- in Neo spec at $22,330 is the main rival, although you would have to go to the new Skyactiv drivetrains to match the Impreza's fuel economy.The class leader -- and 2010 Carsguide Car of the Year -- is the Volkswagen Polo, and for $21,490 you can get a 77TSI five-door hatch in Comfortline spec with a 1.2-litre turbo engine and seven-speed dual clutch transmission.Toyota's enduring Corolla Ascent at $22,990 also matches close on equipment but with a weaker engine, an aged four-speed auto and style so sleep-inducing it's a danger to surrounding traffic. Mitsubishi's Lancer is a dependable alternative, at $24,190 for Activ spec. But it's getting on a bit and desperately in need of a makeover.The Holden Cruze CD will set you back $25,040 with similar spec, and with a smaller but slightly more powerful turbo engine and six-speed sports automatic, but with a dreary interior.DESIGNAfter a few years in the doldrums, the Impreza has finally returned to some individuality. Nothing extreme to startle the horses, mind you, and more of an evolution than a revolution. It borrows a lot from the Subaru Liberty around the nose -- but that's not a bad thing.And together with pronounced character creases along the sides and over the wheel arches, and a fresh take on light clusters and accents, the Impreza looks notably more interesting than the previous model.The sedan gets a big 460-litre boot, and the only disappointment in that area is the space-saver spare in a space that could easily take a full-size one. That decision's been made on cost and fuel economy weight-trimming, but there'll be few Aussie drivers who wouldn't prefer a proper spare if asked.TECHNOLOGYThe Impreza sedan tested gets a new 2.0 litre four-cylinder flat -- or 'boxer' -- engine, developing 110kW at 6200rpm and 196Nm of torque at 4200rpm, with a little more low-speed torque on tap than in the previous model.The four-speed auto has been binned, and the engine outputs now get to all four wheels via a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) -- basically a box without gears, relying on bands to change through a continuous range of gear ratios. You can force changes with the manual mode, flicking the paddle-shifters on the steering wheel.The CVT and the addition of stop-start technology are behind the official fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km, which Subaru says is an improvement of 22 per cent.SAFETYThe Impreza gets a five-star crash rating, with a safety list that includes seven airbags, stability and traction controls and anti-lock brakes with helpers for panic stops and to distribute varying force to each wheel to counter uneven loads.DRIVINGRide quality is excllent and the sedan cabin is roomy and comfortable, with more space particularly for rear passenger legs. Moving the A-pillar forward and adding a quarter panel to the door improves visibility -- although we couldn't help wishing this base model also had the next level's reversing camera.You can feel a tad of the extra low-rev torque on take-off, but it's not huge and this is not set up to be a performance leader. The drivetrain is angled more at laid-back than laying rubber, and the aim is to keep the fuel figure low. Impatience with the CVT undermines that if you fall into the habit of using the paddles for changes -- which had us finish a mixed run at 8.9L/100km, destroying Subaru's hard work on improving economy.The CVT can be hesitant, but otherwise is much more refined than you'd expect -- and its low drone not as noticeable as in rivals. But coupled with the larger body, it doesn't really wring any sparkle out of the engine.The steering wheel sends accurate instructions and returns decent feedback, and the Impreza gets through corners happily with little body roll until it's pushed beyond normal behaviour. And with Subaru's signature all-wheel drive system taking care of business, the Impreza never feels anything but confidently stable on the road.VERDICTIt looks better, feels solid and gives the impression of good quality -- a bit more than a base model would suggest. A comfortable and calm little sedan that won't wreck your wallet at the checkout or the servo.

Separating the Impreza from the WRX might turn out to be the smartest move yet by Subaru. Rather than being a stripper version of the high-performance WRX, the Impreza deserves to stand on its own merits.In its fourth incarnation, the Impreza finally has the style, refinement and value to attract the middle ground away from the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla.VALUEWe tested the new Impreza 2.0iL hatch with CVT ($29,490) which sits toward the upper end of the Impreza model range. The outgoing Impreza range was priced from $21,490 to $28,490, while the new range goes from $23,990 to $31,490 with a new drivetrain, improved features and better fuel economy to justify the price rise.Standard features in this model include 16-inch steel wheels, dual-zone climate control aircon, Bluetooth phone and audio link to the USB-compatible six-speaker sound system, trip computer, front fog lights, leather trim steering wheel and gear knob, and rearview camera. You can add a satnav and sunroof in a pack for $3000, which seems a bit excessive. But Subaru gets ticks for value by not charging for pearl or metallic paint and for its good resale.TECHNOLOGYA new 2.0-litre version of Subaru's trademark boxer engine, new transmissions, improved aerodynamics and electric power steering drop fuel economy to below 7.0L/100km, a claimed 20 per cent improvement. The engine has the same power and torque as before but now has a longer stroke for more torque at lower revs, which translates to better acceleration.All Imprezas now get stop-start fuel-saving system, which the company claims will reduce fuel consumption by up to 5 per cent. Most of the savings are in stop-start city traffic where this car can expect to do most of its driving, anyway.The improved CVT also increases economy by 22 per cent over the outdated four-speed auto. The cabin seems to exude technology with a screen in the centre of the instruments, one in the centre stack and a third on the dashboard. The larger multi-function display has up to eight displays, which can be personalised to show a range of useful information and even send you a happy birthday message.The upgraded audio also has USB, MP3 and iPhone connectivity while the optional satnav system has voice control and predictive text when entering an address. It will even offer you a more economical route to save on fuel and CO2 emissions. All-wheel-drive is, of course, standard.DESIGNThe designers have listened to the critics and smartened up the styling both inside and out and used better quality plastics in the cabin for an overall smarter look. Outside, the windscreen is steeper, the bodywork more sculpted, the headlights sharper and more defined and the hatch just looks spunkier than before.Inside, legroom has increased with higher front seats that have scalloped-out seat backs. Access to the rear is also improved by wider-opening doors with more foot room. Storage bins abound with door pockets that fit a water bottle and an A4 folder or laptop.The centre console has a handy clip-holder for a notebook and a pen.The cargo areas is flat with a low-loading lip and flat-folding rear seats.SAFETYAll Subarus get five stars for safety with seven airbags, stability control and ABS and this model adds a rearview camera which overcomes the compromising rear hatch visibility problem. Visibility up front is good with thinner front pillars, higher front seats and door mirrors that are 20 per cent bigger.DRIVINGIt looks solid and feels solid when you open and shut the doors, but it drives like a much lighter car. That's probably because the body and chassis are 20kg lighter. It also has to do with the typically light steering feel, snappy throttle response, a 10 per cent stiffer chassis and its low centre of gravity, which is 504mm from the ground, comparing favourably with the Porsche Cayman S at 485mm. Around town it flicks neatly through corners, parks without fuss and sprints smartly off the line in the traffic light derby. Out on the open road, we appreciate its stability and its quiet cabin which is approaching Camry levels of hush, although those bigger door mirrors do add some wind noise. The soft interior plastic surfaces and firmer controls, such as the new door handles, give the hatch a feeling of quality. This is one of the best CVTs around, being smooth, responsive and seamless.VERDICTThe Impreza is a step forward in quality, economy and safety that will appeal to a wider market than just Subaru loyalists.

Rural owners and those who find comfort in a higher hip-point are the targets of the new Subaru Liberty model. The high-riding Liberty sedan was revealed at the Beijing Motor Show this month and has been confirmed for Australia as part of the 2013 Liberty range due in the third quarter this year. The as-yet unnamed variant has 18-inch rims and a rides 60mm higher at 210mm to help navigate dirt roads. Inside the seats are raised 70mm to improve ease of entry and exit a major issue for older drivers and parents of kids in car seats. The 2013 range will include a revised grille, repositioned park brake and SI-Drive switches, a black "metal-type" centre panel and console and chrome-look sill highlights. Subaru Australia says the variant will only be sold here and in China, reflecting the unique road conditions in the two countries. Managing director Nick Senior points out 60 per cent of Australias roads are still unsealed and says the new variant will make it an obvious contender in rural markets. "This new Liberty variant will be ideal for Australian roads, where we have a huge percentage of unsealed surfaces and the extra ride height adds to its capability in regional and rural areas," he notes. "We see its main market to be in rural areas, but it will also be ideal for those with tricky driveways, those who travel with trailers and caravans, or just those who want a sedan where you can sit a bit higher." Subaru has yet to announce prices but says the new variant will be sold with 2.5-litre four-cylinder and 3.6-litre six-cylinder engines, mated to Subarus symmetrical all-wheel drive system.  

Subaru’s fourth generation Impreza, in sedan or hatchback form, presents well.The front, with its hexagonal grille and hawk-eye headlights, sets the tone for a modern sporty small sedan/hatch, The flanks of the car are more functional than fashionable, but the styling is rescued at the rear, especially in the hatch, with a neat looking array of lights and neat spoiler.DESIGNSubaru’s designers have managed to come up with an aerodynamic shape, with a 0.31 (sedan), 0.33 (hatch) co-efficient of drag. Helping this slippery shape are foglights that aid air flow along the car’s flanks, a large aero enhancing undertray and mudguards and flaps that trim the air ahead of the rear wheels.Cabin soft furnishings are upmarket, including soft-touch dashboard surrounds and seat covers. Homely, yet with the formality of a maiden aunt’s sitting room.Comfy seating for five is achieved by there being more shoulder width and rear seat leg room than in the previous model. As is the case with almost all cars it’s better if three of the five are of the child variety, but there good space for a pair of adults back there.Storage areas include a glovebox that can take the equivalent of 16 compact discs and a centre tray big enough for nine CDs, while the sliding console box between the front seats in the 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S has capacity for 13 CDs, USB and AUX terminals, and 12-volt power.The golfer is under no handicap with the Impreza’s 340-litre hatch cargo area capable of carrying three golf bags, while the sedan’s 460-litre boot can fit four. The hatch security blind can be stored neatly out of the way under the cargo area floor.In front of the console is a dual drink holder, while the front door pockets also have space for a bottle. In the back, the centre armrest has dual drink holders.TECHNOLOGYA new generation four-cylinder boxer engine weighs in with its own fuel efficiencies. Putting out 110 kW of power at 6200 rpm and 196 Nm of torque at 4200 rpm, the long-stroke design delivers a 10 per cent improvement in grunt. The new Dual Active Valve Control System boosts performance and efficiency. Euro 5 compliance makes this the cleanest petrol engine in the Subaru stable.The result is fuel consumption claims of 7.1 litres per hundred kilometres (manual) and 6.8 litres (CVT) on the combined urban / highway cycle. We used 7.4 litres per hundred kilometres on mixed town and motorway driving in the CVT hatch. So the claims are pretty close to reality, which isn’t always the case.A multi-function display in the Impreza 2.0i includes a fuel efficiency indicator that includes current and average efficiency and distance travelled. Linked to Auto Start-Stop, it shows length of time the engine is stopped and cumulative time stopped. If the driver prefers, he or she can blank it out.The premium MFD in Impreza 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S is straight off the computer game shelf, displaying screens to monitor the fuel efficiency of the driver’s style. At journey’s end, there’s an on-screen evaluation of their day’s driving, comparing it with a previous drive.The MFD is linked to Auto Start-Stop to show engine stop time and the amount of fuel conserved while stopped. Of course, the less fuel is used the fewer emissions are emitted by the Subaru.The premium MFD also shows reverse camera images.It is inevitable that somebody has to pay the piper for these lessons in responsible ‘drinking’ and that is the driver who likes responsive power delivery in a car. The Impreza manual can be coaxed to do better, the CVT gives the driver good control over by way of preset ratios. Our choice would be the manual, then again we do fall into the keen-driver category.DRIVINGA major contributor to the new Subaru Impreza’s frugality is an Auto Start-Stop system that stops the engine when the vehicle is stationary, such as at traffic lights. In CVT vehicles the engine stops 0.5 seconds after the car halts. When the brake is released, the engine starts after 0.35 seconds. In the six-speed manual Imprecate restarts after the clutch pedal is pressed.Studies have shown that cars may be stopped up to 30 per cent of travel time, particularly in rush hour, so savings can be considerable. It takes a while to get used to the fact that the engine has appeared to have stalled, but drivers who stick with the system rather than switching if off, report they do get used to the feeling.VERDICTSubaru has long prided itself on occupant safety so it comes as no surprise that the latest generation has won a five-star rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP). It has an Acceptable rating for pedestrian safety from the same organisation. Every Impreza model has seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, while Impreza 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S run to a reversing camera.

Skoda Yeti 112TSI and Subaru XV go head-to-head in this comparative review.

The ROTY program incorporates a zonal system, with the top dealership in each zone qualifying to compete for the national award. The Gosford retailer joins Eblen Subaru (Glenelg), Melville Subaru (Perth), Hunter Subaru (Maitland), Subaru Glen Waverley (Melbourne) and Subaru Narellan (Sydney) as past winners of the ROTY award. Central Coast Subaru was the top dealer in the Sydney region and, as the top scorer across the country, was the national winner. Subaru National Sales Manager, Gary Johnston, said: "It is a fantastic effort by Central Coast Subaru and Dealer Principal, Terry Bond, and his team are to be congratulated on taking the number one position.''  

The Exiga, the quietest Subaru with sales of about 150 this year - by comparison, 462 Tribecas have been sold - gets seven seats from July, up from the current model's six. Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says the extra seat was added in response to demand from Australian customers. "Ever since we launched Exiga we've had feedback that people loved the size and flexibility of the cabin, but some felt a seventh seat would be the icing on the cake," he says. "So that's exactly what Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent company) have now delivered." The Exiga, part of the Liberty model line-up, was first announced at the 2007 Japan motor show with its seating arranged as two rows of two individual seats plus a third-row bench seat. The wagon's unusual seating was partially in response to the six-seat, three-row concept cars from companies including Mercedes-Benz that aimed to find a market niche away from the people-mover category. At its launch in 2009, Subaru Australia expected 50 to 75 sales a month. Subaru says it's now selling about 50 a month but sales accuracy is difficult because the Exiga is combined with Liberty sales. Subaru will also add a new 17-inch alloy wheel design and door mirrors for the Premium edition of the seven-seater. "It was only in January that we announced that entry-level Liberty Exiga  2.5i was adding a reversing camera plus dusk sensing headlights and steering wheel Bluetooth controls, voice command, audio streaming, USB connectivity and an auxiliary jack," Senior says. The 2.5i has a 110mm LCD screen display for the audio and the reverse-camera image. Subaru also upgraded the Premium model in January with dusk-sensing headlights. "So it's fair to say that the Liberty Exiga range is undergoing considerable change that makes it an even better value proposition for families. ''Subaru has yet to announce prices for the seven-seat model. The 2.5i now sells for $37,990 and the Premium for $42,490, up $500 each on their November 2009 launch pricing despite the subsequent lift in features. Pricing is expected to remain similar to current levels.  

Subaru has really kicked a goal with its new Impreza-based XV soft roader with sales going through the roof. It's like Outback/Liberty  a wagon (hatch) on stilts with semi off road add-ons and buyers are loving it.That could be as much to do with value pricing as much as with the car itself though it looks tough out in the street and is certainly the best looking model in Sooby's current line-up. You wouldn't know it but there was an XV in the previous model but nothing like this one.ENGINEThe new car ushers in a new generation 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated petrol boxer engine code named FB20. It is designed primarily for low emissions and fuel economy and passes the stringent Euro5 regulations.It's good for 110kW/196Nm output and a claimed 7.3-litres/100km on regular unleaded. Adding to fuel efficiency is model-wide adoption of auto stop/start for gains in the city.VALUEWe got hold of the base model XV2.0i manual and were impressed by the standard kit that includes a premium audio system, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, auto aircon', cruise, a multi-function display, those funky black 17-inch alloys, rear view camera and hill start assist to name a few goodies.The XV rides higher than Impreza hatch on which it's based and has a more purposeful look around the edges and inside.INSIDELike the exterior, the interior is new and is a quantum leap forward for Subaru which favoured cheap, hard, plastic interiors until this car arrived. It looks almost European, is highly functional and practical as well as providing a higher level of comfort with plenty of soft contact points and storage compartments.SAFETYSafety is well addressed with the XV scoring a strong five star ANCAP rating that looks after pedestrians as well as occupants.THE DRIVEIt's quiet on the road due to extra sound deadening and better design in key areas and the suspension is compliant but controlled just what you want for a knock about, semi-off roader in this demanding environment.But the engine is so overgeared in the top three cogs it can be an embarrassment. It falls into a dead-duck torque hole that sees the 1390kg XV drop right off the pace often at precisely the wrong moment. You'll push the accelerator and sometimes not a lot happens. Flick back a gear same, flick back another gear and it's a little better but still not great.In its quest to optimise fuel economy, Subaru has over-geared the XV manual and pitched the torque peak too high at 4200rpm. Where XV manual drives you nuts the CVT "auto" is the opposite good.VERDICTWe want to like this car, no, we do like it but only the CVT model. Drive both, especially on the highway, and see for yourself.

But not in the disastrous manner of 2011, when the  brand's production was stalled by natural disasters. The Australian arm of the Japanese car maker may struggle to get enough of its two new models, the Impreza and the XV, until production capacity is improved later this year. Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior says sales targets are around 700 per month. "Last year was 11,000 with 2000 WRX - our biggest problem will be supply for Impreza and XV - adding the XV we have another model without increasing production capacity, that's later this year," he says. The introduction of the rear-wheel drive BRZ (a shared development with Toyota) has given Subaru a boost as it continues to overcome its 2011 performance that was marred  by natural disasters. "It has already started doing things for us, there's a focus on Subaru since the announcement, with all the coverage and the unveiling - we've never seen so much coverage for the brand. "When it goes on sale there will be a potentially new audience for us," he says. While the rear-wheel drive model has been seen by some in the industry as a dilution of the Subaru All Wheel Drive mantra, Mr Senior says there were no plans to go front-wheel drive with its new Impreza to provide a cut-price contender in the small car market."The short answer is no - we've been able to demonstrate that the changes we've made to the Impreza, in terms of weight reduction and transmission technology, has put us towards the top of the pack."In terms of fuel efficient and low emissions, a competitive price, the strategy we have adopted is the correct strategy and there's not a lot of benefit to gain from trying to compete at the bottom end with a front wheel drive car in that category," he says. Sales targets for 2011 were set above the brand's 2010 record of around 40,000, numbers. Mr Senior is aiming to see in the year-to-date total column at the end of December, but without resorting to a front-wheel drive model. "We at the moment have a point of difference in the small car class, we've demonstrated it doesn't have to add weight and in fuel consumption we are ahead, we've addressed a whole lot of issues - there's not going to be a huge saving going FWD any way, our system is simple and we do it efficiently," he says. Four new Subarus will grace local showrooms over the next 12 months - XV, Impreza, BRZ and Forester - but the wait for new WRX and STI models (now a line-up divorced from the Impreza) will be a little longer. "WRX and STI is now it's own model in its own right, the business model is being done at the moment, it will not be here this year - we've seen the strongest WRX sales we've seen in the last 5 years on the changes made, that will continue for a couple of years," Mr Senior says.