What is it?
Subaru’s rugged XV crossover returns for 2018 with plenty of promise. Built on all-new Subaru Global Platform underpinnings, it comes packed with safety technology and a five-star Euro NCAP rating that ranks it, in terms of passenger protection, top of the compact family car class.
It also retains core USPs of its predecessor including proper permanent all-wheel drive and 220mm ground clearance, ensuring it remains a hardier option than segment alternatives like the Seat Ateca and Nissan Qashqai.
But the new car has lost a diesel option and so comes available exclusively with petrol power and a CVT gearbox – which is quite the contrast to the class norm for vast powertrain line-ups and something that you might expect to hamper its chances of making a mark in such a congested segment.
The thing is, Subaru’s not concerned with taking on mainstream models such as the Ateca, but rather, more interested in growing its faithful customer base so that it achieves a targeted 3500 sales overall in 2018. It expects the XV to account for about a third of that, so the real question is, will it be able to draw in new buyers, or is it destined to remain a car for Subaru’s loyal but small customer base?
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Lack of manual gearbox
Quite sure I read somewhere that the auto only configuration for the UK/EU is to do with the eyesight safety system not being fully compatible with a manual gearbox and with Subaru targeting a high EuroNCAP rating the three pedal option lost out.
Unfortunate that they also seem to be taking their time in bringing out the hybrid-it was available in the old model in a number of markets-so wouldn't have thought it was that big an engineering task. Probably more disappointing,what with their turbo expertise,is that they didn't do a low pressure turbo version of the 2 litre engine-bit like SAAB/Volvo used to-which would surely have plugged the gap for those who had the diesel (and therefore torque) in the old car and were looking for a similar driving experience in the new one.
How much?
your “from £18k” quote is nonsense. According to Subaru website cheapest 1.6 is 25k!
I actually think this is one
I actually think this is one of the better Subarus in terms of styling in a long time. Shame about the CVT, but you have to think about the economics. It will mostly be sold in markets where autos are king (ie America and Asia), so putting a manual in it wouldn't make financial sense. I do wish it was a standard auto rather than CVT, but I suspect for most buyers it will be fine.