Insurance Group: 21
MPG: 42.8
CO2: 153
0-62 Mph: 10.7 secs
BHP: N/A BHP
Range: 565 miles
PROS: The XV is a vehicle that offers decent handling and a diesel engine that has plenty of power, while the cabin is also very practical and comes with an excellent safety setup.
CONS: The cabin can get a bit noisy and the ride isn’t particularly great, while the price puts the vehicle in competition with some very impressive vehicles that are difficult to match.
The 4x4 traction and grip that is to be found in the XV is very good, with plenty of body control while cornering and steering that is reasonable with a decent amount of feedback. However, the ride in the car is certainly on the firm side, and with the standard of British roads many people will find that the XV never really settles down into a comfortable ride. The higher driving position gives excellent forward visibility along with a driving seat and steering wheel that are easily adjusted to suit the individual driver, but rear visibility is not as good as it could be because of thick window pillars.
The performance that is offered by the 2.0 litre petrol engine is fairly good, with acceleration from 0-62mph achieved in a steady 10.7 seconds. The top speed of 116mph is also reasonable enough for driving on the motorway. Unfortunately, the cabin is generally a fairly noisy place to be, with the engine being joined by plenty of road noise and suspension noise too.
One aspect where the XV does do quite well is in the looks department, as this is a crossover that has taken some design tips from the Nissan Qashqai, where bold is definitely better. The large headlight clusters and black plastic trim have been used to good effect, with a giant rear bumper which really does give the XV an aggressive look. Inside the cabin the trim is efficient rather than remarkable, and the dashboard is straightforward and easy to read.
The level of equipment included with this mid-range model of the XV is excellent, with features such as heated seats and climate control helping to keep the cabin at a comfortable temperature whatever the weather. Alloy wheels give the car a really interesting look, and you also have satellite navigation and a reversing camera included in the package.
There is no doubt that the XV is a very practical car that offers plenty of space for four adults in comfort in the cabin, with slightly restricted legroom for a fifth passenger. The boot is of a reasonable size, but the rear seats do fold flat to offer a large load space if needed. Subaru do have a good reputation for making reliable cars, and the XV should continue in this vein.
The Subaru XV scored very well achieving five stars in the Euro NCAP safety test, with particularly high scores for child protection in the car. Seven airbags are included in the vehicle to look after those in the front and the rear, while it also has driver aids like stability control to help keep the car on the road.
The list price for this version of the Subaru XV is £25,795 which does seem quite a lot for this car at first, although when considering the high level of practicality and excellent range of equipment it starts to seem fairly attractive.
The running costs that come with the 2.0 litre petrol engine are reasonable rather than remarkable, with the fuel efficiency figures showing the car can achieve an average 42.8mpg. The insurance group is not too high meaning that premiums should be quite competitive, and the practicality should mean that depreciation shouldn’t see to sharp a drop in value. The XV is supplied with a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty and has roadside breakdown assistance throughout this period.
The performance offered by the petrol engine under the bonnet of the XV isn’t bad at all, and the car does handle fairly well when you’re behind the wheel. However, the cabin isn’t up to the stand...
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