2018 Subaru XV First Drive Review | A Safer, Sleeker Crossover For Your Weekend Getaway
Despite arriving as something of a pioneer in the small SUV segment, the Subaru XV now faces plenty of opposition from strong-sellers like the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Toyota C-HR.
To counter those rivals, the 2018 XV has arrived in Australia sharing its new Subaru Global Platform with the Impreza hatch it’s based on, bringing a lower centre of gravity and claims the new model is more fun to drive while still maintaining its moderate off-road ability.
Subaru has also upped the ante on safety adding its stereo camera Eyesight safety system with lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and more to all but the entry-level model.
Vehicle Style: Small SUV
Price: $27,990-$35,240 plus on-road costs
Engine/trans: 115kW/196Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol | CVT automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 7.0 l/100km
OVERVIEW
The 2018 Subaru XV arrives in Australia with a four-variant range that aligns with the Impreza family.
All four are powered by the same engine and transmission, in this case a rather conservative 115kW 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol four-cylinder and CVT automatic which spells an end to the availability of a manual transmission for the XV.
Pricing for the entry-level 2.0i starts at a comfortable $27,990 plus on-road costs making it cheaper than before, but loaded with 17-inch alloys, smart key entry, touchscreen infotainment and a reversing camera.