Subaru XV 2021 review

Subaru has always been a good fit for Australia.

Since the 90s, when the brand made a splash with its Impreza and Liberty rally models, Subaru's enduring appeal has matched tough Australian conditions and outdoor enthusiasts.

Cars like the Forester and Outback solidified the brand's position among SUVs before SUVs were anything special, and the XV is a logical extension of the Impreza line, fitting in nicely with the brand's lift-and-wheel drive station wagon offerings.

However, it's been a few years since the XV's launch, so can its latest 2021 update keep it battling in a booming and notoriously competitive segment against many new rivals? We looked through the entire range to find out.

2021 Subaru XV: 2.0I all-wheel drive
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0L
fuel type	Regular unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	7l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$23,700

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

The key to the XV's fun and adventurous appeal is perhaps the fact that it's not really an SUV at all. Most likely, this is a raised version of the Impreza hatchback, and this is her merit.

It's simple yet rugged, cute yet functional, and really everything many consumers are looking for when it comes to a small XNUMXxXNUMX SUV. Not only does this design philosophy (lifting vans and hatches rather than building "SUVs") fit Subaru's product family, but the ride height, plastic claddings and tough-looking alloys hint at the all-wheel-drive capabilities that lie underneath.

Little has changed for the 2021 model, with the XV most recently getting a redesigned grille, updated front bumper and a new set of alloy wheels. The XV line is also available in a fun color scheme that Subaru hopes will help it win more votes from the youth. As an added bonus, there is no additional charge for any of the color options.

Solid-looking alloy wheels hint at hidden all-wheel drive capabilities (image: 2.0i-Premium).

The interior of the XV continues the fun and adventurous theme, with Subaru's signature chunky design language distinctly different from its competitors. My favorite element has always been the bumper steering wheel, which feels great in the hands thanks to its leather trim, but there are also nice soft padding on all doors and large seats with nice support and design.

While we love how big and clear the main 8.0-inch screen is, if Subaru gets one thing wrong, it's how busy the entire cabin is. The visual assault of three screens feels unnecessary, and as much as I love the wheel, it's also completely adorned with buttons and switches with somewhat confusing labeling.

The leather steering wheel feels good in the hands (image: 2.0i-Premium).

However, it is an attractive, fun and unique design among small SUVs. At the very least, Subaru fans will definitely appreciate it.

How practical is the interior space? 7/10

In some ways the XV is very impressive when it comes to its interior practicality, but in other ways it's disappointing.

The front seats offer plenty of adult-adjustable room, and while the default seat height is very high, there is still plenty of head room and adjustment, with the added benefit of very impressive road visibility for such a small SUV.

The front seats offer plenty of room for adults with good adjustment (image: 2.0i-Premium).

As mentioned, the doors, dash and transmission tunnel are all finished in soft materials, and front passengers also get no less than four USB ports in every class other than the base 2.0i version, a huge drawer on the center console, handy large bottle holders in the center with a removable baffle, a small compartment under the climate unit that also houses a 12V socket and an auxiliary input, and one large bottle holder in the door with a small adjoining container.

The surprise comes in the rear seats, which offer ample head and knee room for a particularly tall friend of mine. The small SUV segment rarely offers that kind of space, but behind my own (182cm tall) seat, I had ample knee room and decent headroom, even though the Premium and S classes had a sunroof.

The rear seats offer plenty of head and knee room even for very tall passengers (image: 2.0i-Premium).

Rear passengers get a fold-down armrest with bottle holders, a small bottle holder in the doors, and seat back pockets. The seat upholstery is just as good as it is in the front, and the width of the rear seats is noticeable, however the center seat suffers from having a tall transmission tunnel to ease the AWD system, and there are no adjustable air vents or outlets for rear passengers.

Finally, one of the weak points of the XV is the amount of boot space offered. Trunk volume is 310 liters (VDA) for non-hybrid versions or 345 liters for hybrid variants. That's not bad compared to smaller light SUVs, but definitely leaves room for improvement when it comes to the XV's main compact SUV rivals.

Trunk volume 310 liters (VDA) (pictured: 2.0i-Premium).

Space can be boosted to 765L non-hybrid or 919L hybrid with the seats down (again, not great), and the hybrid model forfeits the under-floor spare tire, leaving you with a very compact puncture repair kit instead.

One of the weak points of the XV is the amount of luggage offered (image: 2.0i-Premium).

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

Subaru's pricing strategy is interesting. As a rule, entry-level models cost above competitors, but significantly below them. For 2021, the XV range will have four variants, two of which are available with a hybrid powertrain option.

The entry-level XV 2.0i ($29,690) ranks above the entry-level Hyundai Kona ($26,600), Kia Sportage ($27,790), and Honda HR-V ($25,990). Keep in mind that the XV range is all-wheel drive by default, which is a cost increase, but the bad news is that we recommend that you ignore the base XV altogether.

The XV is equipped with halogen headlights (image: 2.0i-Premium).

The base 2.0i comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, 6.5-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4.2-inch control box and 6.3-inch function screen, basic air conditioning, one USB port, basic cloth seats, halogen headlights, standard cruise control, and some other basic trim items. Not only is this car the only one with a simpler multimedia screen, but, crucially, it misses out on any of Subaru's excellent EyeSight safety suites.

So the starting point for your XV journey should be 2.0iL priced from $31,990. The 2.0iL enhances the interior, including a dazzling 8.0-inch multimedia screen, improved interior trim with premium cloth seats and a leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, additional USB ports, and adaptive cruise control as part of the EyeSight security system. lux.

The XV includes a dazzling 8.0-inch multimedia screen (image: 2.0i-Premium).

Next up is the $2.0 34,590i-Premium, which adds a sliding sunroof, heated side mirrors, built-in navigation, a front-view camera, and a full safety package with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear wheels. automatic emergency braking. This variant is now the best value for money, as it offers a full range of safety features that were previously only available on high-end cars at a lower price.

This brings us to the top-of-the-line 2.0iS with an MSRP of $37,290 that adds LED headlights with auto high beams, a side view camera, leather interior trim with extended premium upholstery and chrome trim, side mirrors with automatic folding. , leather-trimmed seats with heated front seats and an eight-way adjustable power driver's seat, 18-inch alloy wheels and enhanced functionality of the all-wheel drive system.

Finally, the 2.0iL and 2.0iS can be selected with an "eBoxer" hybrid powertrain option at MSRPs of $35,490 and $40,790 respectively. They mirror the specs of their 2.0i siblings by adding silver exterior accents and a pedestrian warning system. They also replaced the compact spare tire with a puncture repair kit due to the presence of a lithium-ion battery system under the trunk floor.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 6/10

The XV now has two drivetrain options in Australia. One is a carried over 2.0-litre petrol engine, now with slightly more power, and a hybrid version of the same layout with an electric motor housed in a continuously variable transmission. There is no manual option in the XV range.

The XV now has two powertrain options in Australia (image: 2.0i-Premium).

The 2.0i models deliver 115kW/196Nm, while the hybrid version delivers 110kW/196Nm from the engine and 12.3kW/66Nm from the electric motor. All options are all-wheel drive.

The hybrid system is powered by a lithium-ion battery under the boot floor, and in practice works a little differently than the popular Toyota system.

The hybrid system is powered by a lithium-ion battery under the boot floor (image: Hybrid S).

We're sure Subaru fans will be dismayed to know that the larger 2.5-litre Forester petrol engine (136kW/239Nm) version of the XV won't be available in Australia for the foreseeable future.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The hybrid option is not so good here, as even according to official data it saves only a negligible amount of fuel.

The official/combined figure for the 2.0i variants is 7.0 l/100 km, while the hybrid variants cut it down to 6.5 l/100 km.

In practice, it only got worse on my test. Under similar driving conditions of several hundred kilometers over the course of a week, the non-hybrid 2.0i-Premium produced 7.2 l/100 km, while the hybrid actually consumed more fuel at 7.7 l/100 km.

It is worth noting that we will use the hybrid for another three months as part of long-term urban testing. Check again to see if we can narrow that number down to something closer to what we've been told in the coming months.

All XV variants can run on base 91 octane unleaded petrol, while the 2.0i variants have 63-litre fuel tanks, while the hybrids use a 48-litre tank.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Whichever XV you choose, you'll get a very comfortable and easy-to-drive small SUV, and the driving experience has only gotten better with this year's updates.

The XV's newly redesigned front suspension and high ground clearance make this package more than capable of handling whatever the suburbs can throw at it. This is the kind of car that mocks speed bumps and potholes.

The steering is light enough to be comfortable yet provides just enough feedback to keep it under pressure, and the always-on all-wheel drive system ensures a constant feeling of safety through corners and even on loosely closed or wet surfaces.

Whichever XV you choose, you'll get a very comfortable and easy-to-drive small SUV (image: 2.0i-Premium).

The XV has more SUV credibility than almost any other car in its class, with at least enough capability to make it a worthy companion for finding those unsealed campsites or viewpoints.

Where it's not as good is in engine options. We'll be moving on to a hybrid soon, but the standard 2.0-liter engine isn't powerful enough for a relatively heavy small SUV with the added burden of all-wheel drive, and it shows. This engine doesn't have as much power as its turbocharged rivals, and it's very snappy when it's under pressure.

The experience isn't really helped by the rubber-feeling CVT, which works best in stop-and-go traffic. It takes the fun out of trying to drive this car with more energy.

The Hybrid XV is not much different from driving (image: Hybrid S).

Unlike Toyota's hybrid alternatives, the XV hybrid isn't much different from driving. Its electric motor doesn't have enough power to get it up to speed, but it does help when it comes to acceleration and coasting to take some of the load off the engine. The XV also doesn't have a hybrid indicator like the Toyota, so it's much harder to see how the engine is affected by pressing the accelerator pedal.

However, the center screen displays the power flow, so it's good to have some feedback that the hybrid system sometimes helps.

The hybrid variants also add something called "e-Active Shift Control," which uses data from the vehicle's sensors and all-wheel drive system to better tune hybrid CVT assistance. In general driving terms, this allows the electric motor to take up the gasoline engine's slack when it's most needed in cornering and low-torque situations.

And finally, all these moments of electric assistance make the hybrid versions noticeably quieter than non-hybrid ones. I would still not recommend picking a hybrid based on driving experience alone, but it will be interesting to see how Subaru can take advantage of this technology in the future.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

The XV has an excellent set of safety features if you avoid the base 2.0i model. Every other variant gets at least a front and unique stereo camera security system that Subaru calls "EyeSight".

This system provides automatic emergency braking at speeds up to 85 km/h, capable of detecting pedestrians and brake lights, it also includes lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and vehicle start warning. ahead. All XVs are equipped with an excellent wide-angle reversing camera.

Once you get to the mid-range 2.0i Premium, the safety package will be updated to include rear-facing technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear-facing automatic braking. The premium gets a front parking camera, while the top-end S trim also gets a side-view camera.

All XVs come with the expected stability, brake and traction control, and a set of seven airbags to achieve the highest five-star ANCAP safety rating by 2017 standards.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

Subaru stays on par with other Japanese automakers by promising a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. The price includes roadside assistance for 12 months, and the XV is also covered by a limited-price service program for the entire warranty period.

Subaru is promising a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty (Image: 2.0i-Premium).

Services are required every 12 months or 12,500 km, and while it's a welcome improvement over the six-month intervals this car used to have, these visits are far from the cheapest we've seen, with an average cost of almost $500 a year. .

Verdict

Even years after its initial launch, and with only a few tweaks to its core range, it's true that the Subaru XV seems to be just as capable and up-to-date as any of its rivals.

This doesn't mean it's perfect. We can't recommend the base model, the math doesn't work on hybrids, the only engine available is breathless and has a small trunk.

But the XV's superb safety suite, driving dynamics, all-wheel-drive capability, quality trim and comfortable interior mean this little raised hatch can't fail to captivate.

Our choice of range? While the 2.0iL is great value for money, we recommend you splurge on the 2.0i-Premium to get the full safety package and extra beautification.