The Subaru XV is the crossover car for people who are against crossovers. In a world where the vehicles in the small SUV class look suspiciously alike, the XV is a breath of fresh air; what with its rugged, adventurous design and cool features. It brings the elevated outlook that is so popular among small SUV enthusiasts while providing a performance worth the hatchback that inspired it.

AT A GLANCE

Upsides:

• Stable steering
• Spacious interior
• Smooth ride
• Impressive safety features

Downsides:

• Performance off-road is wanting
• Sluggish acceleration

DESIGN:   3.5/ 5.0

The XV has a rugged, capable look that helps set it apart from the rest of the cute looking competition. All trims look similar for the outside, with the wagon-ish body, 17-inch alloys, and a pop-out styling. All in all; the exterior looks aggressive with the twin fog lights and a bulging badge for everyone to see. The interior is more hardy and adventurous than sporty.

ENGINE, DRIVETRAIN, PERFORMANCE:   3.0 / 5.0

All Subaru XV is powered by a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter engine which is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission which is standard on all trim levels. On this arrangement, the combined gas usage is at 7.0 litre/100km. The engine produces 115kW of power and 196Nm of torque and incorporates a stop-start feature. This drivetrain has been termed as sluggish, and blame has been laid on the continuously variable automatic transmission. See, the transmission, in a bid to save gas, disables the rev and takes some time to get some torque going.

A six-speed manual transmission is included as a paid option, and although it drives up the fuel consumption a little bit, it brings out more power from the engine.

The configuration of the engine works in the engine’s favor. It is placed flat as opposed to the conventional vertical placement, and this gives the car steer more responsively.

TRIM LEVELS:  3.5 / 5.0

The Subaru XV comes in three trim levels- 2.0i, 2.0i-L, and 2.0i-S- all of which are driven by the same engine type

The 2.0i offers great value for money considering the number of features included. 17-inch alloys, a 6.2-inch touchscreen, and climate control are some of those exciting features. The sole most relevant feature you will miss in this trim is satellite navigation.

The mid-spec 2.0i-L offers a bigger control screen at 7.0 inches while the infotainment system boasts a six-speaker sound system. The climate control is also upgraded to dual-zone. Other features that appear in this trim level include an electric sunroof and cruise control.

The top tier of the trims, the 2.0i-S, adds leather seats with front heating capabilities, rain-sensing wipers, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Proximity unlocking and sporty pedals also feature in an impressive list.

SAFETY:  4.0/ 5.0

Safety was clearly a major factor when designing this car, just look at the numerous safety features included. Seven airbags, seatbelt reminders for all seats, stability control, a reversing camera and voice recognition are some of the features making up the core safety package.

Subaru says that they forwardly designed the A-pillars to offer a better vision in tight corners and roundabouts. Curiously though, no emergency braking system is included in any of the trims levels.

CONCLUSION:  3.5 / 5.0

There is no denying that the XV is different and offers many impressive features to give many of its opponents a run for their money. The design is good, both interior and exterior, with the only notable let down coming in the engine and transmission. Many drivers will not, however, notice the sluggish transmission.