Subaru XV Reviews

Subaru will rattle some cages with the new XV compact Sports Utility Vehicle.Why? Because it has priced the angular, all wheel drive, dirt demon at roughly the same point as most of its competitors front wheel drive models.Faux-wheel-drives are all the rage in this class because people are buying basically a people mover with more attitude than a "mum bus." And simply, many buyers don't need or want all wheel drive capability. But they'd have it if it was "free."All three versions of the Sooby XV are all wheel drive, all have engine stop/start technology and all have some light weight components to aid fuel economy, particularly the CVT auto. The manual is a six speeder.HOW MUCH?Pricing starts at $28,490 for the XV 2.0i manual with Lineartronic CVT auto adding $2500. The L model adds dual zone climate control, satnav, electric sunroof sliding centre console and rear privacy glass for a $3500 premium while the leather equipped S model is another $2500 up the scale.UNDER THE BONNETThere's a new 2.0-litre, petrol, boxer, four cylinder engine in XV with 110kW/193Nm output. It features dual active valve control and is a long stroke design to optimise fuel economy and minimise emissions. It passes Euro 5 exhaust regulations. Engine internals are lightened and there's a timing chain instead of belt for longevity. Internal friction is reduced and the engine runs on regular 91 RON petrol.It does not have direct fuel injection nor auto decoupling ancillaries. That will come with the BRZ sports car later this year and presumably other Soobies later on.No diesel is available.WHAT YOU GETIt's broadly based on the new gen' Impreza but is actually a different car with a slightly shorter wheelbase and other detail differences. XV has an impressive 220mm ground clearance which leads the class and the all wheel drive system is constant 50/50 unlike the on-demand systems in its competitors.The auto stop/start system on all models both manual and CVT helps reduce fuel consumption in city driving. There's a new multi-function display in the middle of the dash which itself is a quantum leap in terms of materials, look and function compared to other Soobies. XV is a five seater with folding rear pews for more load space. The body and chassis structure is strengthened for rough roads and heavier than normal use.SAFETYLike all Soobies, XV has a five star crash rating thanks in part to its seven air bags and stability control system. All variants have reversing cameras and rugged new 17-inch alloys with robust tyres, wide field of vision and retractor pedals.FEATURESThere's plenty of kit inside with Bluetooth phone and audio, multi media connection box, comfortable seats, multiple storage areas, 12-volt plugs, a security blind, hill start assist, cargo hooks, remote central locking, cruise and plenty more.UNDERNEATHThe suspension is strut front and double wishbone rear. It has some STi technology and the dynamics have been locally calibrated to offer the best compromise between sporty on road and safe, comfortable rough road driving.THE DRIVEWe'd go for the CVT model every time because the manual falls readily into a torque hole delivering dull engine response. The CVT (with wheel paddles) flicks between "ratios" and masks any lack of response while also aiding fuel economy rated as low as 7.0-litres.100km.We were really impressed by theXV's dirt road ability and its level of comfort on a searching drive through Tassie's back blocks. It's smooth and quiet and can eat distance with minimal fatigue.But the manual is too slow, particularly when overtaking. The interior is a revelation compared with earlier Soobies. There's plenty of room inside and generous level of standard equipment. We even like the look of it better than the Impreza.VERDICTShould sell its socks off given the all wheel drive, stop/start, genuine soft road capabilities oh and super sharp pricing. We prefer the CVT.SUBARU XVPrice: from about $28,490Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited kmService: 6 months/12,500kmEngine: 2.0-litre, 4-cyl petrol boxer, 110kW/196NmTransmissions: 6-speed manual, CVT; AWDEconomy: 7L/100km (man) 7.3L/100km (CVT) CO2 168g/km (man) 168g/km (CVT)Safety: 7 airbags, stability control, ABSDimensions: 4450mm (L), 1780mm (W), 1615mm (H), 2635mm (W)Fuel: 60L tank, 90RONTurning Circle: 10.6mSuspension: independent McPherson struts (front), independent double wishbone (rear)Tyres: 225/55 R17 97V Yokohama GeolanderTowing: 1400kg (brakes), 750kg (unbraked)

SUBARU'S Impreza XV (remember that one?) is no more. Instead, and as early as from January, a revamped version of the compact crossover will be sold in Australia simply as the Subaru XV. Despite the dropping of the Impreza prefix, the new stand-alone XV retains very much of the small car's DNA, using the same platform and drivetrain, which includes stop-start technology.It's a cleaner design than the existing Impreza XV, itself still a `new' vehicle, and has new generation touches such as `hawk-eye' headlights and a wide hexagonal grille. In the family pecking order it will sit just below the Forester and set its sights on rivals such as Mitsubishi ASX, Hyundai ix35, Kia Sportage and Nissan Dualis.But unlike the opposition it will not offer a 2WD version. All models will run on Subaru's all-wheel-drive system.THE LINEUPXVs will come in three spec levels: 2.0i, 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S  all with soft-touch finishes, uprated instrumentation, new interiors and seven airbags. The 2.0i has a reversing camera, comprehensive multi-function display, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the CVT variants, Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming, auto air-con and black roof rails.The 2.0-L adds an electric sunroof, dual-zone air-con, SatNav with SMS voice text and voice control, and rear privacy glass and the premium S model has the luxury of leather trim, eight-way adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, alloy pedals, silver roof rails and HID Xenon headlightsPRACTICALITIESThe XV, at 220mm, has more ground clearance than most, which makes it easy to get in and out of and allows it adventurous owners to clamber over rough terrain. It's also quite sleek, with its roofline just 1615mm from the ground, making it more aerodynamic.It seats four, five at a squeeze, and there's generous head and legroom. But cargo room is a bit tight  even smaller than in the Impreza hatch. There's just 310litres of space if all seats are occupied. If the back ones are folded flat, cargo room increases more than three-fold.Outside, there's neat, thin plastic wheel-arch cladding, which one engineer described as `comparing sports shoe trim with a wet weather boot' in reference to the chunky cladding of some other brands. The XV also has a set of funky wheels: 17-inch machined black alloys. And the body colours include an in-your-face tangerine, which would probably make Dutch drivers delirious.TECHNOLOGYThe motor is the same 110kW/196Nm 2.0-litre as used in the new Impreza, which will arrive in Oz about two months after the XV, and transmission is a choice of six-speed manual or stepless CVT. The hi-tech' all-new boxer engine uses lots of light materials, variable valve timing and peripherals like electric power steering and a stop-start system to cut fuel use by around 20 per cent. Subaru says the XV will average 7.0 litres/100km, (7.3 for the manual) which will give it a cruising range of about 850km.DRIVINGWe drove an XV on Subaru's tight varied-surface track and also on its long, banked circuit at its secure proving grounds two hours from Tokyo. The stylish SUV runs on a MacStrut front and double-wishbone rear set-up, which, with the constant all-wheel-drive, gave it impressive handling.The body stayed flat at 150km/h on the banked circuit and on the tight course it easily absorbed the lumps and bumps, steered around the twisty bits sans dramatics and felt very much like an Impreza hatch with a better view. It's not the world's fastest machine, but gets along at a brisk-enough pace and we think most owners will agree with the maker's `fun to drive' claim.We like CVT and the Lineartronic version that Subaru uses has paddle shifts for folk who like to play at being Dean Herridges. In that mode it becomes a six-speed shifter. Bottom line is that CVT is super-smooth and super efficient. Trannie of the future, so get used to it.XV pricing has not been finalised, but Subaru expects the current Impreza XV's sales of about 80 a month to leap to about 500 a month when it becomes just XV in January.

You can be forgiven for confusion about the Subaru Impreza XV.The Impreza RX used to be a wagonesque variant of the Impreza that sold only about 100 a month until supply ran out in June because of production issues caused by the March 11 tsunami in Japan. But the new Subaru XV -- Subaru's seventh model -- has dropped the Impreza tag and has morphed into a small SUV. It is still based on the new-generation Impreza, but as Subaru Australia marketing boss Andrew Caie says, the two cars are "like chalk and cheese"."They are two separate categories, two totally separate cars and separate customers," he says. While the Impreza RX was considered a small car, this new model is described as a sub-compact SUV, smaller than a Forester, but bigger than a small hatch. The RX will arrive in Australia in January and will be followed in late February by the new Impreza four-door sedan and five-door hatch."The timing is everything to do with the tsunami," Caie says. "Our timings have been moved around about four times." The Impreza and XV will be the first Subarus with stop-start technology that switches off the engine when the vehicle is stationary. They also feature new transmissions and a new engine.VALUECaie isn't talking pricing at the moment, except to say that both the Impreza and XV will be competitive. "Prices will be as low as they possibly can be," he says. "We're trying to put as much value into them as possible. It's not about being the first one to the bottom in pricing."The current Impreza range starts at $21,490 and goes to $28,490, excluding WRX and WRX STI which are now separate sportier models with their own build program. The previous Impreza RX sold for $25,990. The closest competitors for the XV are the Mitsubishi ASX (from $25,990) and Nissan Dualis (from $24,990). Both new Subaru models come in three models: 2.0i, L and S.Even the base models come with Bluetooth while the L adds satnav and the S adds leather seats, heated in the front. Rear view camera, fog lights and a sunroof are optional on the L and S Impreza but are standard on all XVs.SAFETYSubaru Australia boss Nick Senior reminds us that they were the first company in Australia to have five-star safety across its range. "You can't be reactive in safety. You have to be proactive and we traditionally have been," he says. The new Impreza and XV come with seven airbags, including full-length curtain airbags and a knee bag for the driver.Neither has been crash tested yet, but Subaru product GM Akihide Takeuchi expects that they will retain their five-star ratings. Other improvements in safety concentrate on improving visibility: The front seats have been raised, the A pillar has been narrowed and the door mirrors are 20 per cent larger. The body and chassis are 20kg lighter but are also 10 per cent stiffer and therefore safer, Takeuchi says.TECHNOLOGYThe Impreza will be the first small car in Australia to have auto stop-start across the range (except for the two hybrid models) while the XV will be the first compact SUV with the fuel-saving technology. Subaru quotes fuel savings of 5 per cent from the technology, but those are in-house figures and not Australian standards. "It will debunk the theory that all-wheel-drive cars aren't fuel efficient," says Takeuchi.Stop-start technology automatically switches off the engine in 0.5 seconds when the car is stopped and restarts in 0.35 seconds when the brake pedal is released. Together with the new two-litre boxer engine, new transmissions, improved aerodynamics and electric power steering, fuel economy has been increased 20 per cent to less than seven litres per 100km, Takeuchi says.The engine has the same power and torque as before but now has longer pistons for more torque at lower revs which translates to increased acceleration. The five-speed manual has been upgraded to six speeds with a taller top gear that reduces engine revs from 3000rpm at 100km/h to less than 2500rpm, which is not only more economical, but also quieter. Subaru customers will be pleased to see the inadequate and outdated four-speed auto replaced by a continuously variable transmission with paddle shifters for six steps with wider ratios.Inside, the Impreza and XV abound with screens: one 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 and fun information and can even send you a happy birthday message.The upgraded audio also has USB, MP3 and iPhone connectivity and there is a new satnav system with 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. Like all Subarus, they both come with symmetrical all-wheel drive.DESIGNTakeuchi says the cars have been designed from customer feedback wanting a sleeker exterior and more luxurious interior with more soft-touch surfaces and quality controls. The windscreen is raked, the bodywork more sculptured and muscular, and the headlights are sharper and more defined. The XV has high ground clearance of 220mm (same as the Forester), but has a lower body height than most compact SUVs for a rakish, sporty crossover look.Impreza is now 25mm longer in the wheelbase but the overall length remains the same which means interior legroom is improved. The higher front seats in the Impreza also allow rear passengers more legroom while both models have scalloped out the backs of the front seats for better knee room.Subaru has lowered the roof of the Impreza by 10mm, but the door sills have been dropped 30mm to allow easier access. The front door hinges have been slanted three degrees forward so the top of the door is further away from the car which allows more room to get in and out in tight carpark situations. The rear doorway also has a deeper access area.The interior feels more airy with the thinner A pillars and the horizontal lines across the dashboard. Door thickness has also been reduced for more shoulder and elbow room. Storage bins abound in both models with door pockets that fit a water bottle and an A4 folder or laptop.The centre console has a clever clip holder for a notebook and a pen so they don't rattle around. The cargo area is flat with a low loading lip and flat-folding rear seats. Underneath is a space-saver tyre, wide enough in the XV to still permit towing for a short distance. There are 10 exterior colours for both models, but the XV gets the special Tangerine Orange Pearl. Subaru is one of the few companies that doesn't charge extra for metallic or pearlescent paint.DRIVINGThe new cars were launched last weekend at the Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru research and development centre and proving ground at Kuzu in central Japan. It's a hilly area surrounded by forests inhabited by black bears, so Subaru is not concerned about spies taking photos of their cars in testing.We were only allowed two laps in each car on the high-speed bowl and three laps of a shorter twisty and bumpy circuit. About 12km in all. Not a thorough workout by any means, but enough to draw initial impressions.The soft interior plastic surfaces and firmer controls, such as the new door handles, give the cars a feeling of quality. However, the thinner dors feel a little flimsy when closing. Cargo space in the XV is disappointing, but similar to its sub-compact SUV competitors.On the road, they run quiet and smooth thanks to the new transmissions, but the wind noise from the larger door mirrors is increased. The frisky Impreza feels light and more flickable while the XV lumbers into corners, changes direction too slowly and over mid-corner bumps it hit the bumps stops several times and the tyre scrubbed the inside of the wheel arches.Takeuchi says the secret to the Impreza's deft handling is its low centre of gravity which is 504mm from the ground, comparing favourably with the Porsche Cayman S at 485mm. The CVT is smooth, responsive and seamless, but works best when used in manual mode with the paddle shifters, while the six-speed manual is a little notchy and it can be difficult to quickly engage third or fifth gears.VERDICTImpreza is another small step forward in quality, economy and safety that will appeal to the Subaru loyalists. Price may determine whether it wins new fans. Meanwhile Subaru taps into one of the fastest-growing sectors of the showroom with the handsome new XV. It is a modern design with sound technologies. Takeuchi says it is an urban adventurer whose owners are "living in the suburbs and are looking for new adventures".SUBARU IMPREZA and XVOn sale: January (RX), February (Impreza)Prices: from about $22,000Warranty: 3yrs/iunlimited kmService: 12,500km, biannualEngine: 2.0L, 4-cylinder boxer, 110kW/196NmTransmissions: 6-speed manual, CVTEcomomy: 6.9L/100km to 7.3L/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, stability control, ABS.