2018 Subaru XV vs 2019
What's the difference?

Subaru XV

$11,499 - $28,880

2018 price

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Subaru XV

$12,990 - $31,490

2019 price

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Summary

2018 Subaru XV

2019 Subaru XV

By Tim Robson

By Tom White

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

7.0L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Solid road feel
Excellent cabin
Full safety

Dislikes

Could use a bit more power
Outdated warranty
Tyre noise at freeway speed

2018 Subaru XV Summary

Subaru has a long history in Australia, and it can trace its adventurous origins all the way back to the early 1980s with the advent of cars like the Sportswagon and the ubiquitous Brumby ute. In fact, Subaru still typifies the affordable adventure car, with cars like the Forester and the Outback on its books.

The XV, meanwhile, sits somewhere in the middle of the two Subaru extremes, offering quirky inner city style with a genuinely useful adventure bent.

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2019 Subaru XV Summary

Subaru landed on a winning format when it turned an Impreza variant into a small SUV.

A simple and elegant solution to its small-SUV problem, the XV slots so naturally into the Japanese brand’s chunky SUV line-up, you’d be forgiven for thinking it has existed since the ’90s.

Now in its second iteration in Australia, the XV has its own fleshed-out four-variant family. But does it have enough of that unique Subaru charm to set it apart from a crowded field of competitors? I spent a week in the top-spec 2.0i-S to investigate.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Subaru XV 2019 Subaru XV

Verdict

Subaru has always been the little brand that could and it’s always fit well into the Australian motoring landscape thanks to slightly unusual designs and particularly practical features.

The company has moved more into the mainstream by eliminating things like manual transmissions but the quirk is still strong, and the XV is a great example of a small, practical, compact SUV that has just a little bit more, particularly when it comes to off-road ability. It's no LandCruiser, sure, but it will certainly get you further than many of its contemporaries and it'll have a great time doing it.

Is the Subaru XV the standout small SUV, or is it too quirky for its own good? Tell us in the comments below.

Verdict

The XV is an interesting alternative in a busy small-SUV market. Our top-spec car has one of the best cabins in the segment, luxurious features, all the safety and multimedia features you could possibly ask for, as well as Subaru’s inherently good AWD system to justify its cost of entry.

If only Subaru would give it a tad more power and a better warranty…

2018 Subaru XV vs 2019 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

2018 Subaru XV vs 2019
What's the difference?