He says its a car you drive gracefully. He is so correct. It doesn't need tons of power because its not designed for that. Its a solid, dependable car that even keeps up with traffic under normal acceleration with the smaller 1.6 engine. The key is driving both cars as they WANT to be driven. Don't force them to be faster than they are. Ive seen a video of the XV with the 1.6 engine begin driven normally, and the driver has no difficulty making good progress and is not even reaching half the revs in doing so. He mentions other brands with turbo engines and this is the problem these days. Drivers expect a car to do everything at the slightest press of the pedal, they have no patience. Nobody needs to be overtaking anything 99% of the time. It simply doesn't knock anything off your journey time. I wish drivers would learn this.
I had both the 2014 and 2019 models. I can tell you this car is awesome when it comes to the all wheel drive specially in winter (snow). The engine is weak on the other hand; if u have 4 adults in car summer time, I would say the vehicle would suffer on the highway with AC on. City drive is fine and easy on gas too. Mechanically the car is stable. The car is light so watch up if you got windy climates on highway.
Just recently test-drove the 2021 model, and with two adults in the car I found the acceleration to be on-par with the 2020 Hyundai Tuscon 1.6 litre turbo. Yes, it's not the *fastest* car, but I still found the pulling power to be better than expected, and it has more than enough power to jump into a short-gap intersection as required. Curiously, we didn't see much difference between Sports and Intelligent mode in the XV's SI-Drive, while in the Gen6 Outback 2.5 there is a noticeable difference between the two modes (granted it's a bigger engine).
very happy with mine and wouldn't`t swap it for anything You can read and hear reviews but owning one is the best way of finding out about it. Mine is the best car i`ve driven
I have the 2018 U.K. version of this car and it has proved a reliable capable vehicle. It is able to overtake on country roads I did that today and does not feel under powered. I think this view stems from the fact that most drivers do not seem aware that they can knock the auto gearbox down a gear with the paddle gear change without going into manual.
You make a sensible comment there. Im in the UK and sick of seeing impatient drivers every day who have no idea how to drive. Its becoming a sickness whereby every driver thinks they need a car with masses of torque or they will be late !
Just traded my 2018 Crosstrek for the 2021 with the 2.5 liter. The 2.5 makes the car Alive! Our version here in Canada is called the Outdoor. Heated steering wheel, front Camera etc. XV/Crosstrek is amazing for winter especially with winter tires. It’s a nice and good small crossover.
I’ve had an XV (previous gen) since new in 2016 and I’ve never found it slow at traffic lights. In fact I’m frequently the first car across an intersection when the lights change because it takes off eagerly. And, no, I do not have a heavy foot. The trick to getting good fuel consumption with Subaru boxer and the CVT is to pull away quickly at first with moderate throttle, and then, as soon as the car has some momentum, to LIFT OFF the throttle and let the CVT change to a higher ratio. Try it - it’s amazing because when the car is moving over 40km/h it has plenty of torque to pull higher ratios and the road speed rises surprisingly fast as the revs DROP quickly away. It’s a fun technique to perfect and it gets very much better consumption - especially if you use the auto sop start all the time. I’ve had my XV 70 000Km and it has averaged between 6.9 l/100km and 7.1 l/100km overall, which is very good seeing as I live in a city and commute across the city each day in traffic. But, most Australians and Americans drive with a heavy foot - they plant it firmly at the sop lights in hope that it will make the car perform better. It doesn’t - it simply makes the revs go very high and stay there longer - hence the heavy consumption so many people complain about. Try my method and feel the difference and let your wallet enjoy the fuel savings. Oh - and USE the auto stop start…
Good review. I have a 2021 XV L and like it a lot. I regularly get less than 7 L/100 km with mixed driving, so I'm a bit puzzled why you did so badly. The worst I've had is 8.2 in really bad city driving. Power is quite adequate IMHO and more than enough for any twisty road I've been on and really pushed it hard. The road grip is outstanding on tarmac and dirt. Especially good on corrugations. Driver seat comfort took a little while to get set right, but now is very good - higher is better as otherwise the squab tends to angle down and put pressure on the base of your spine. The audio system is very good. It's my first Subaru. I previously had a diesel twin cab 4x4 traytop ute and don't miss it one bit. It all comes down to what you want from a vehicle and for my mixed city and dirt road/farm driving the little Subbie is perfect. Cheers Rob
@Chasing Cars - for viewers not familiar with the Subaru brand, you guys should make mention that all Subaru's with pushbutton-start (pretty much default on all models now) also have the ability to set a tailgate/boot access PIN code that allows you to unlock the car without the fob, eg: in the event of a child or pet somehow locking themselves inside with the fob (saves breaking a window), or if you deliberately wanted to lock the fob inside the car when you go to the beach for fear of losing the fob or service key.
It's funny to hear how it doesn't have gobs of power, because my first performance car was a Porsche 924S, with a 2.5 liter engine kicking the same 150 hp, and that didn't have AWD so would wheelspin like crazy on damp roads. The XV is as quick and handles better than that Porsche. Now we sneer at that and say "It doesn't even pretend to be a sportscar" lol
Good review, and maybe because its a refresh, but you hardly touched on its off-road ability which is surprising. I took one to an off-road excursion in Jordan, and it was surprisingly capable, climbing sand dunes with ease, and going places it had no business going. Other than that I think you were spot on. A shame Subaru doesn’t offer this with 2.4 turbo, or even the smaller turbo found in the Levorg.
My current drive is a 2018 Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S. At the time of my purchase , I considered the XV equivalent. The almost $6k price premium for the XV, as far as I could perceive, gave me some additional ground clearance and X-MODE (whatever that is). For me, the XV did not meet the value proposition for the additional cost. In the 2 1/2 years I have owned the Impreza I have concluded that, while it has some flaws, it well satisfies my needs.
It's directly comparable to the Hyundai Tuscon's 1.6 litre turbo. On paper the Tuscon has slightly better power and torque, but the XV is also that much lighter, so when you drive both, they both feel the same.
i have the new my21 xv sports and i think for around 42 thousand drive away there isn't a better value car yea the engine not powerful but for me its just a great all round car and the ride quality and handling is superb
We need the 2.5 engine in Australia. I have driven a few XVs and they are under-powered. Remove the manual and there goes the last tiny bit of fun you can have.
@@psi4262 Each to their own. We all have our desires when it comes to cars. Just because you don't like auto boxes, doesn't make them shit, as you so intelligently put it.
Subaru can program CVT for optimum fuel efficiency. Furthermore, it's lighter and cheaper than a geared automatic transmission. Led foots clearly wont like CVT transmissions but they're the future due to fuel / power efficiency. Traditional manual transmissions will be used for specialist vehicles.
The CVT's flappy paddle manual option is perfectly adequate in my opinion. I thought I would not like transitioning from my last manual Subaru to a CVT, but I've actually really loved it. Use the flappy paddles for awhile, but now I don't - you really don't need them. About the only time I've used the flappy paddles are for engine braking in spirited mountain drives downhill, but that's about it now.
Recently purchased this vehicle in South Africa and i'm loving it. The eyesight system works really well. Fuel consumption given our high altitude is excellent between 7.2- 8L and seems to improve on the open road even at 180km/h :) Great handling and good brakes too. Overall a good package and I trust she will be reliable moving forward.
Just recently I got the crosstrek sport which I don't know about where you live but here in the US comes with a 2.5l boxer that does 180 horse power over the 150 of the 2.0l so it's much better
@@LoftyVisions dang that sucks, yeah for the same priced car they screwed yall do yall also not get the option for a stick? cause get the option at least
The problem is the ride quality would suffer if it had a very powerful engine in it. Fun yes maybe, but you would feel every bump in the road and as a long term car, I would much rather have good ride quality.
For 40+k they should include a more powerful engine. At least the 2.5l. The engine is so lethargic you would be crying for power. Other than that it’s rock solid and that awd is still the best!
Its obviously not the car for you then. Doesn't make it a bad car. You wouldn't buy it and then moan it needs more power. You would buy a car with more power.
I’m sorry, but you can’t have a 2021 SUV without a turbo or at LEAST a 2.5 litre engine. Not to mention the CVT which just robs the car of power, coming from a 2007 Subaru Liberty 2.5, if I had to buy an SUV for $40 k I’d buy a Kia seltos GT line, a way more punchier engine.
Goes up against Karoq in size and price. The Skoda is quite a lot more practical (particularly in terms of boot space) but I think the Subaru rides better.
No mention of the CVT, Tom? I drove a CVT WRX back in 2016 and h-a-t-e-d that transmission. Ruined the car IMO. Have they improved the CVT since then? I'm wondering if it better suits the character of the XV?
I recently bought this model, here in the USA, with the bigger 2.5 liter engine. Is that an American (which includes Canada, of course) only optional motor? As they say, "no replacement for displacement". With the bigger engine it is very peppy. I can't wait for winter driving challenges...for the first time in my life.
Hi Tom, thanks for the review. I already ordered a Rav4 hybrid but it's expected to be delivered early next year maybe Feb, do you think it's worth to get XV and cancel the rav4 order, Btw Im ok with the xv size?
Good review. I agreed with what you said here I bought a 2.0i -s and as you say it's a good ride if you're not in a hurry though I chose the white because the plasma puce colour made me car sick before I even got in the vehicle :( otherwise it's a good little car
I like that Subaru cookie cuts the interior into every model of their range, but I dislike them removing small (and probably cheap) features that are necessary in other models. E.g. This top spec XV comes with an auto dimming rear view mirror, but the top spec Forester comes with a manual one. What is the point of removing that from their most expensive vehicle in the range?????
Excellent review! Here in Europe, XV and Impreza are available only with 1.6l or 2.0e-boxer, the 2.0l is no more sold (Forester with only 2.0e-boxer, and this is the trend for all other models when the new ones will be released; WRX-STI and BRZ are no more imported here). Here in Europe e-boxer system is considered as a mild-hybrid. Even if the scheme is similar to a full hybrid system, the battery and the electric motor sizes are little if compared to a full hybrid system (only Toyota/Lexus and Kia/Hyundai offer full hybrid systems). Here in Europe every single car maker offers hybrid vehicles; most of them are mild-hybrid cars. But with this name, very different system are offered: for example VW/Audi/Skoda/Seat or FIAT or Ford have a 12-48V system that can be considered as a more powerful start/stop function than cannot push the can independently from the combustion engine. Subaru system can drive the car only for a few hundreds meters. However, I think Subaru and Toyota hybrids are not comparable. Here in Europe a full spec XV 2.0 e-boxer costs 37500 euros=58000 AUD😱. You’re lucky
Why no turbo version? It's not like they dont have the engine or the turbos or the tek. Power to Weight of 80.2 kW/t and 0-100km/h in 10.4s it pretty lame even for the shopping trolley sector. Why does it have a lift kit? Is that to make it harder for little kids to get in?
Even in the base trim it is $8K more than the Impreza it is based on. Seems a little pricey to me for what amounts to a lifted suspension and a body kit.
Don't complain guys. In Europe the range starts with a 1.6 normally aspirated boxer with 114 hp. With the 2.0l engine the subaru gets quite expensive. I like the car very much but the engine is kind of a weak spot. With the 1.6l the acceleration is 13.9 seconds which can be a bit frustrating.
@@simoncouch1523 Well, actually, we are used to those small sized engines. But still...Subaru could have given the 1.6 some more power. Otherwise, the car is great.
thanks for review. I have ordered same car except hybrid. Subaru is having major stock/build problems with this car. I was told 2 month build/wait, then build got canceled, then told 4 months if I wanted lagoon blue colour, or I could have plasma yellow in a couple of weeks. so i accepted the yellow and 'should' have it in a week or so....
Super super review. Thanks guys. Down to earth. The one common thread though with many reviewers these days is the constant bemoaning of the lack of a turbo. Granted your fuel consumption is going to be a bit greater without one but you do win back a bit of that in terms of the turbo services (granted less of a thing these days) The other win is reliability. If like me you drive your cars until the wheels fall off, nothing in the drive train is going to be overly stressed and I would expect much better drive train reliability. Granted with a boot that size you're going to be towing a trailer if you're going anywhere where the AWD is actually needed, so yeah a bit more torque in the low end would probably be a good thing, But can you ever have enough low end torque..?
Trust me, the XV rides in such a superior way to the Impreza's oddly crashy and underdamped suspension, it's worth the difference. Or, put simply, I just wouldn't consider the Impreza instead of an XV.
To spend 1m 42s on the colour of a car in a car review is about as useful as staying up all night worrying about washing the windows in your underground cave.
I agree with many other commenters in that I can't understand why Australia won't get the 2.5 XV or why Subaru won't put a 1.6 turbo in the XV. We loved the XV , size, style and practicability, but it's just lacks power for safe overtaking in the country.
Overtaking what ? I live in the UK and 99% of the time you DONT need to overtake anyone. Impatient drivers are a bloody menace over here. Tailgating because they think it makes you go faster, overtaking and just ending up two places further up the line of traffic. It knocks eff all off the journey time, the morons haven't got a clue. So what if a car is doing 10mph under the limit for a few miles ? It won't make you late will it ? Ive had 67bhp cars that kept up and got me where I was going in good time. Too many immature aggressive drivers today.
Pretty solid, but overall is lacking that sparkle Subaru used to have, plenty of competition so relying on the boxer/AWD combo isn't cutting it for my next choice.
Super popular in the regions as a small SUV. With every second being orange 🍊 to match the stitching. Oh no! What will they do ??? If orange paint isn’t offered, then the orange stitching looks a little naff
It would have been nice if they released the 2.5l here in Australia. In other markets the XV/crosstrek facelift also received the 2.5l alongside the 2.0l.
Great review ! Here in Singapore, the XV cost the same as the Yaris Cross Hybrid (aud100k). The XV is old, but larger and far better quality. The Yaris cross hybrid is new, funky, decent ride quality, saves petrol but quite trashy interior. If its your money, which would you go for ? A good solid 4yr old tech car, or new tech poor quality ? Fuel cost aud2/liter here :) .
The XV is around about the same price as the Yaris Cross here as well (about AUD$500 difference between base models, AUD$6000 difference between the base and top-trim models).
@chasing cars Have had this car for a month, still haven't run the engine in so haven't pushed it yet. I did notice that compared to previous models it now has sport driving mode unlike all previous models that have just intelligent mode. Dissapointed not to hear your thoughts on that, not even a mention. It was the reason why I finally got an XV.
I was a front seat passenger for a country drive and I was really impressed with the interior quality and practicality. All the controls are solid and chunky and seem built to last. The downside and total deal-breaker is the lack of oompf. The model we were driving was the previous manual version and the driver had to do so much gear shifting to keep it humming along. The other thing that I noticed was a lack of comfort in the leather seats. Initially they felt fine, but the back support seemed very flat so I was quite sore after two hours. Test drive for a longer trip, especially if you have back problems. I'd prefer the VW Golf Alltrack for proper 4WD, more power and a massive cargo space. Another ace review from CC.
"A Space Saver - really good to see"?????? - There is no way I will buy a vehicle with a SpaceSaver - I will look at the Outback - and if that vehicle has a spacesaver by the time I am ready to buy I will walk away. There is no way I will risk being thousands of kilometers away from a town in the Australian wilderness with a bloody spacesaver. If the Outback comes out with a space saver then I will end up buying a BT50 or Navara - at least I will have a full size spare
I have a 3.6R Outback and I have managed to get down to 7.2l/100km on the highway despite driving an extra two cylinders. One of the key ways to save fuel in a modern Subaru is to make use of Adaptive Cruise Control and stay in Intelligent Mode with the SI-Drive. It is far more fuel efficient than you can ever hope to be with your right foot, no matter how conservative you try to be. I have no doubt that the XV would beat this figure.
The US got the Subaru Forester sport 2 years earlier too and just released in AU. So people are buying 2 year old cars for the same price. What a rip off
Sorry but I don't get this infatuation with frigging space saver wheels especially on an off road capable car. It's ludicrous. The chances of having a tyre failure on tar vs off road is remote, and then what are you going to drive 400km in the outback on a space saver with a fully laden vehicle? How far is that going to work. It's total crap. Lose 10kg of your arse then if you're so worried about fuel consumption.
Subaru is excellent and best car but unfortunately, in Indonesia, Subaru is not good in selling. Please Chasing Cars give subtitle in Indonesia language. Thank you.
No rear vent/usb for $40K particularly with grandchildren = no buy. Also get a new gimbal camera for your cameraman - feel sea sick watching the though the passenger door shots! Ta
Should have kept the signiture orange colour it was eye catching that gold mica met reminds me of the gold used by Ford in the mid 80s eg lasers Telstar Fairmount .on the eng so the 2.0 sounds lethargic or lacks omph remedy should have used the 2.5 eng from the forester then it would have been a spirited drive like Mitsubishi ASX GSR with a 2.4 they go like rockets 0 100 =8.8 sec
Always been bulletproof but that underpowered, old engine Subaru persists with, has stopped me from buying one for God knows how many years. My brother has the last model XV & a good mate too. Their only complaint is the engine.
The Impreza has an underdamped ride. Harsh in the sense that the car rebounds uncomfortably after hitting a bump in the road. The XV doesn't suffer from this effect.
@@chasingcars Standard like my Liberty 3.0R Spec B. Subaru has been a hit and miss in this for a long time. My Forester XT with stock GD WRX suspension has no such issues.
Hybrid ? If you intend keeping it many years, the cost of replacing the batteries will be high. If you intend trading it in after three years, why bother getting it as you're just wasting money.
No, that’s incorrect. The regular Impreza suffers from underdamped suspension, meaning it fails to recover from big hits in the road in a compliant manner. The XV, which has an entirely different suspension, at least in Australia, doesn’t have this problem - so it’s actually the Impreza that rides worse, not the XV.
Car to drive gracefully: yes; I like that: you could say its purpose built: Really disappointing that the orange colour: is not in the range: sad: I have always liked this car: it would be nice: if Subaru: could develop a new drive train in a future business plan: The plasma yellow:! Hmm; actually I like it: as I want something different: that suits my: non- conformist: personality: Thanks Tom: great reviews: ;!!
If Subaru want to retain market share they will have to improve Vehicle performance as the engine needs more power. Lots of new ALL WHEEL DRIVES coming to oz soon. I am in the market but wont buy this sluggish old engine. Come on Subaru, get realistic.
Well, thank you for telling me I'm wrong. I can't whinge that my wife super wants one and I've always had the uneducated mindset that it's a shitty Impreza with plastic trim over the wheels. Mate, the Subaru dealer agreed with me. He needs a new job.
Yea cause remember it is just a raised Impreza. For around the same price you could get a base model forester and although you would not get as many toys it would be far more practical.
![[UA] Team Vitality проти NAVI | IEM Cologne 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wttO1zVRTC0/mqdefault.jpg)
He says its a car you drive gracefully. He is so correct. It doesn't need tons of power because its not designed for that. Its a solid, dependable car that even keeps up with traffic under normal acceleration with the smaller 1.6 engine. The key is driving both cars as they WANT to be driven. Don't force them to be faster than they are. Ive seen a video of the XV with the 1.6 engine begin driven normally, and the driver has no difficulty making good progress and is not even reaching half the revs in doing so. He mentions other brands with turbo engines and this is the problem these days. Drivers expect a car to do everything at the slightest press of the pedal, they have no patience. Nobody needs to be overtaking anything 99% of the time. It simply doesn't knock anything off your journey time. I wish drivers would learn this.
Completely agree 👍🏻
I had both the 2014 and 2019 models. I can tell you this car is awesome when it comes to the all wheel drive specially in winter (snow). The engine is weak on the other hand; if u have 4 adults in car summer time, I would say the vehicle would suffer on the highway with AC on. City drive is fine and easy on gas too. Mechanically the car is stable. The car is light so watch up if you got windy climates on highway.
Just recently test-drove the 2021 model, and with two adults in the car I found the acceleration to be on-par with the 2020 Hyundai Tuscon 1.6 litre turbo. Yes, it's not the *fastest* car, but I still found the pulling power to be better than expected, and it has more than enough power to jump into a short-gap intersection as required.
Curiously, we didn't see much difference between Sports and Intelligent mode in the XV's SI-Drive, while in the Gen6 Outback 2.5 there is a noticeable difference between the two modes (granted it's a bigger engine).
very happy with mine and wouldn't`t swap it for anything You can read and hear reviews but owning one is the best way of finding out about it. Mine is the best car i`ve driven
jesus in india
I have the 2018 U.K. version of this car and it has proved a reliable capable vehicle. It is able to overtake on country roads I did that today and does not feel under powered. I think this view stems from the fact that most drivers do not seem aware that they can knock the auto gearbox down a gear with the paddle gear change without going into manual.
You make a sensible comment there. Im in the UK and sick of seeing impatient drivers every day who have no idea how to drive. Its becoming a sickness whereby every driver thinks they need a car with masses of torque or they will be late !
Just traded my 2018 Crosstrek for the 2021 with the 2.5 liter. The 2.5 makes the car Alive! Our version here in Canada is called the Outdoor. Heated steering wheel, front Camera etc. XV/Crosstrek is amazing for winter especially with winter tires.
It’s a nice and good small crossover.
Unfortunately the 2.5L isn't available in Australia :(
I’ve had an XV (previous gen) since new in 2016 and I’ve never found it slow at traffic lights. In fact I’m frequently the first car across an intersection when the lights change because it takes off eagerly. And, no, I do not have a heavy foot.
The trick to getting good fuel consumption with Subaru boxer and the CVT is to pull away quickly at first with moderate throttle, and then, as soon as the car has some momentum, to LIFT OFF the throttle and let the CVT change to a higher ratio. Try it - it’s amazing because when the car is moving over 40km/h it has plenty of torque to pull higher ratios and the road speed rises surprisingly fast as the revs DROP quickly away. It’s a fun technique to perfect and it gets very much better consumption - especially if you use the auto sop start all the time.
I’ve had my XV 70 000Km and it has averaged between 6.9 l/100km and 7.1 l/100km overall, which is very good seeing as I live in a city and commute across the city each day in traffic. But, most Australians and Americans drive with a heavy foot - they plant it firmly at the sop lights in hope that it will make the car perform better. It doesn’t - it simply makes the revs go very high and stay there longer - hence the heavy consumption so many people complain about. Try my method and feel the difference and let your wallet enjoy the fuel savings. Oh - and USE the auto stop start…
Good review. I have a 2021 XV L and like it a lot. I regularly get less than 7 L/100 km with mixed driving, so I'm a bit puzzled why you did so badly. The worst I've had is 8.2 in really bad city driving. Power is quite adequate IMHO and more than enough for any twisty road I've been on and really pushed it hard. The road grip is outstanding on tarmac and dirt. Especially good on corrugations. Driver seat comfort took a little while to get set right, but now is very good - higher is better as otherwise the squab tends to angle down and put pressure on the base of your spine. The audio system is very good. It's my first Subaru. I previously had a diesel twin cab 4x4 traytop ute and don't miss it one bit. It all comes down to what you want from a vehicle and for my mixed city and dirt road/farm driving the little Subbie is perfect. Cheers Rob
@Chasing Cars - for viewers not familiar with the Subaru brand, you guys should make mention that all Subaru's with pushbutton-start (pretty much default on all models now) also have the ability to set a tailgate/boot access PIN code that allows you to unlock the car without the fob, eg: in the event of a child or pet somehow locking themselves inside with the fob (saves breaking a window), or if you deliberately wanted to lock the fob inside the car when you go to the beach for fear of losing the fob or service key.
It's funny to hear how it doesn't have gobs of power, because my first performance car was a Porsche 924S, with a 2.5 liter engine kicking the same 150 hp, and that didn't have AWD so would wheelspin like crazy on damp roads. The XV is as quick and handles better than that Porsche. Now we sneer at that and say "It doesn't even pretend to be a sportscar" lol
Good review, and maybe because its a refresh, but you hardly touched on its off-road ability which is surprising.
I took one to an off-road excursion in Jordan, and it was surprisingly capable, climbing sand dunes with ease, and going places it had no business going.
Other than that I think you were spot on. A shame Subaru doesn’t offer this with 2.4 turbo, or even the smaller turbo found in the Levorg.
My current drive is a 2018 Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S. At the time of my purchase , I considered the XV equivalent. The almost $6k price premium for the XV, as far as I could perceive, gave me some additional ground clearance and X-MODE (whatever that is). For me, the XV did not meet the value proposition for the additional cost. In the 2 1/2 years I have owned the Impreza I have concluded that, while it has some flaws, it well satisfies my needs.
How's the reliability of yours mate
Very happy with our 2021 XV. Test drove a few of the small turbo rivals and actually prefered the 2.0 L non turbo.
Good to hear, and I myself prefer the way power is delivered with the 2 litre NA engine. Even the 1.6 in the lighter Impreza is fine.
It's directly comparable to the Hyundai Tuscon's 1.6 litre turbo. On paper the Tuscon has slightly better power and torque, but the XV is also that much lighter, so when you drive both, they both feel the same.
I have just brought one, exactly the same, I luv it
HELLO, again!!!
( all the Best )
i have the new my21 xv sports and i think for around 42 thousand drive away there isn't a better value car yea the engine not powerful but for me its just a great all round car and the ride quality and handling is superb
We need the 2.5 engine in Australia. I have driven a few XVs and they are under-powered. Remove the manual and there goes the last tiny bit of fun you can have.
Automatic is shit in my opinion.. Manual is what real driving i call.
@@psi4262 Each to their own. We all have our desires when it comes to cars. Just because you don't like auto boxes, doesn't make them shit, as you so intelligently put it.
Subaru can program CVT for optimum fuel efficiency. Furthermore, it's lighter and cheaper than a geared automatic transmission. Led foots clearly wont like CVT transmissions but they're the future due to fuel / power efficiency. Traditional manual transmissions will be used for specialist vehicles.
The CVT's flappy paddle manual option is perfectly adequate in my opinion. I thought I would not like transitioning from my last manual Subaru to a CVT, but I've actually really loved it. Use the flappy paddles for awhile, but now I don't - you really don't need them. About the only time I've used the flappy paddles are for engine braking in spirited mountain drives downhill, but that's about it now.
Recently purchased this vehicle in South Africa and i'm loving it. The eyesight system works really well. Fuel consumption given our high altitude is excellent between 7.2- 8L and seems to improve on the open road even at 180km/h :) Great handling and good brakes too. Overall a good package and I trust she will be reliable moving forward.
@cenyddbotbijl902 Do you still have your XV, how are you finding it two years later?
I just got this car. I feel as though this car prefers to stay stationary all the time. Slow pick up but quick brakes.
Stick a turbo and a manual in it for the love of God, Subaru!
Preach!
Just recently I got the crosstrek sport which I don't know about where you live but here in the US comes with a 2.5l boxer that does 180 horse power over the 150 of the 2.0l so it's much better
@@kimmyyimmel2010 Unfortunately we don't get the 2.5 here in Australia nor the 2.4 turbo in the Outback 🙁
@@LoftyVisions dang that sucks, yeah for the same priced car they screwed yall do yall also not get the option for a stick? cause get the option at least
@@kimmyyimmel2010 No.manual, just a CVT. Hence why I still own a H6 3.0 😄
Sure looks good this one. Would love to own one with a truly powerful engine. ...and with a manual transmission. Imagine what a fun car that would be.
You and me both.
The problem is the ride quality would suffer if it had a very powerful engine in it. Fun yes maybe, but you would feel every bump in the road and as a long term car, I would much rather have good ride quality.
For 40+k they should include a more powerful engine. At least the 2.5l. The engine is so lethargic you would be crying for power. Other than that it’s rock solid and that awd is still the best!
Agreed - needs much more engine! The chassis could easily cope.
gets the 2.5 in the US
Its obviously not the car for you then. Doesn't make it a bad car. You wouldn't buy it and then moan it needs more power. You would buy a car with more power.
For some reason Subaru Australia just don't seem to care or be interested in cars, odd
Love it. It is quick, nimble and accelerates very well..
I hope you can still get the nardo grey/bluish colour - such a practical dynamic car just wish a turbo model or the 2.5 was available here
Yep, "Cool Grey" as it's called is still on the XV palette.
Always love your work Tom!
Much appreciated!
I’m sorry, but you can’t have a 2021 SUV without a turbo or at LEAST a 2.5 litre engine. Not to mention the CVT which just robs the car of power, coming from a 2007 Subaru Liberty 2.5, if I had to buy an SUV for $40 k I’d buy a Kia seltos GT line, a way more punchier engine.
Would you compare the XV to the Skoda Kamiq or maybe Karoq, whichever seems most like the XV in intended customers?
I'd like to see such a comparison.
Goes up against Karoq in size and price. The Skoda is quite a lot more practical (particularly in terms of boot space) but I think the Subaru rides better.
No mention of the CVT, Tom? I drove a CVT WRX back in 2016 and h-a-t-e-d that transmission. Ruined the car IMO. Have they improved the CVT since then? I'm wondering if it better suits the character of the XV?
The USA has the 2.5 Why can't we get it???
I recently bought this model, here in the USA, with the bigger 2.5 liter engine. Is that an American (which includes Canada, of course) only optional motor? As they say, "no replacement for displacement". With the bigger engine it is very peppy. I can't wait for winter driving challenges...for the first time in my life.
Hi Tom, thanks for the review. I already ordered a Rav4 hybrid but it's expected to be delivered early next year maybe Feb, do you think it's worth to get XV and cancel the rav4 order, Btw Im ok with the xv size?
Good review. I agreed with what you said here I bought a 2.0i -s and as you say it's a good ride if you're not in a hurry though I chose the white because the plasma puce colour made me car sick before I even got in the vehicle :( otherwise it's a good little car
lol "plasma puce" - I think it looks a lot better in person. For some reason photos and video make it look less attractive!
Swipes finger on touch screen. Touch screen responds with lag. Says, it works well! 👍😂
I like that Subaru cookie cuts the interior into every model of their range, but I dislike them removing small (and probably cheap) features that are necessary in other models. E.g. This top spec XV comes with an auto dimming rear view mirror, but the top spec Forester comes with a manual one.
What is the point of removing that from their most expensive vehicle in the range?????
Bit more consistency would be nice.
Excellent review! Here in Europe, XV and Impreza are available only with 1.6l or 2.0e-boxer, the 2.0l is no more sold (Forester with only 2.0e-boxer, and this is the trend for all other models when the new ones will be released; WRX-STI and BRZ are no more imported here). Here in Europe e-boxer system is considered as a mild-hybrid. Even if the scheme is similar to a full hybrid system, the battery and the electric motor sizes are little if compared to a full hybrid system (only Toyota/Lexus and Kia/Hyundai offer full hybrid systems). Here in Europe every single car maker offers hybrid vehicles; most of them are mild-hybrid cars. But with this name, very different system are offered: for example VW/Audi/Skoda/Seat or FIAT or Ford have a 12-48V system that can be considered as a more powerful start/stop function than cannot push the can independently from the combustion engine. Subaru system can drive the car only for a few hundreds meters. However, I think Subaru and Toyota hybrids are not comparable.
Here in Europe a full spec XV 2.0 e-boxer costs 37500 euros=58000 AUD😱. You’re lucky
Mazda cx5 has a 2.5L TURBO PETROL ENGINE, 140kW/252Nm | 170kW/420Nm, 7.4L/100km combined fuel comsumption (Auto, AWD) for @$40k
That 140kW/252Nm 2.5 engine is non-turbo. There is an optional turbo but it’s more than $40k
Great episode!!!!
Thanks!
Would you choose this over the Renault Duster?
Why no turbo version? It's not like they dont have the engine or the turbos or the tek.
Power to Weight of 80.2 kW/t and 0-100km/h in 10.4s it pretty lame even for the shopping trolley sector.
Why does it have a lift kit? Is that to make it harder for little kids to get in?
Exactly. Cars were faster than this 20 years ago.
Does Australia get the 2.5Lt. option like America does?
Sadly, no. It would help a lot!
I have the 2017/18 on the new platform top of the line and my god the engine is soooo frustrating
Good word for the performance.
Keep it at 2k-3k rpm. It actually has better acceleration when not flooring it.
Why buy it then ? Didn't you test drive it ? Laughable.
..... so you would NOT recommend it Simon?
Test driving one tomorrow.
Thanks.
@@tpv59 if you don’t mind driving a gutless car it’s a great car!
Even in the base trim it is $8K more than the Impreza it is based on.
Seems a little pricey to me for what amounts to a lifted suspension and a body kit.
The main difference is in ride and handling, not lift or aesthetics.
Too expensive. I have a 2019 Forrester Premium that was just $2000 more drive away. Some ones taking the piss ...
Some extras over a Forester Premium here, though. And for those that don't want a tall SUV-profile vehicle, the XV is a good answer.
Don't complain guys. In Europe the range starts with a 1.6 normally aspirated boxer with 114 hp. With the 2.0l engine the subaru gets quite expensive. I like the car very much but the engine is kind of a weak spot. With the 1.6l the acceleration is 13.9 seconds which can be a bit frustrating.
@@nikolaidiqnov6801 it’s a death trap being so slow
@@simoncouch1523 Well, actually, we are used to those small sized engines. But still...Subaru could have given the 1.6 some more power. Otherwise, the car is great.
@@nikolaidiqnov6801 I agree I own one myself the ride is fine the engine is terrible
thanks for review. I have ordered same car except hybrid. Subaru is having major stock/build problems with this car. I was told 2 month build/wait, then build got canceled, then told 4 months if I wanted lagoon blue colour, or I could have plasma yellow in a couple of weeks. so i accepted the yellow and 'should' have it in a week or so....
Hey Subaru, those rims are still ugly.
Super super review. Thanks guys. Down to earth.
The one common thread though with many reviewers these days is the constant bemoaning of the lack of a turbo.
Granted your fuel consumption is going to be a bit greater without one but you do win back a bit of that in terms of the turbo services (granted less of a thing these days)
The other win is reliability. If like me you drive your cars until the wheels fall off, nothing in the drive train is going to be overly stressed and I would expect much better drive train reliability. Granted with a boot that size you're going to be towing a trailer if you're going anywhere where the AWD is actually needed, so yeah a bit more torque in the low end would probably be a good thing, But can you ever have enough low end torque..?
Spec to spec the XV is ~$6k more than the Impreza. I just can't see the value... XV Premium cost more than the top spec Impreza S.
Trust me, the XV rides in such a superior way to the Impreza's oddly crashy and underdamped suspension, it's worth the difference. Or, put simply, I just wouldn't consider the Impreza instead of an XV.
To spend 1m 42s on the colour of a car in a car review is about as useful as staying up all night worrying about washing the windows in your underground cave.
I agree with many other commenters in that I can't understand why Australia won't get the 2.5 XV or why Subaru won't put a 1.6 turbo in the XV. We loved the XV , size, style and practicability, but it's just lacks power for safe overtaking in the country.
Overtaking what ? I live in the UK and 99% of the time you DONT need to overtake anyone. Impatient drivers are a bloody menace over here. Tailgating because they think it makes you go faster, overtaking and just ending up two places further up the line of traffic. It knocks eff all off the journey time, the morons haven't got a clue. So what if a car is doing 10mph under the limit for a few miles ? It won't make you late will it ? Ive had 67bhp cars that kept up and got me where I was going in good time. Too many immature aggressive drivers today.
Pretty solid, but overall is lacking that sparkle Subaru used to have, plenty of competition so relying on the boxer/AWD combo isn't cutting it for my next choice.
You mean thirsty turbo engines with high emissions ? Yes, I miss those days. Not
Do you like the plasma yellow color?(just for survey)
When did Subaru start doing 5 year warranty?
its pretty much a raised impreza but with much smaller boot size.
how's the CVT of this XV, is it reliable?
Super popular in the regions as a small SUV. With every second being orange 🍊 to match the stitching.
Oh no! What will they do ???
If orange paint isn’t offered, then the orange stitching looks a little naff
Agreed - the orange stitching clashes with this new colour, though it’s alright paired with just about any other exterior hue I reckon.
It would have been nice if they released the 2.5l here in Australia.
In other markets the XV/crosstrek facelift also received the 2.5l alongside the 2.0l.
Agreed. The bigger engine would help, but a bigger rethink would help more.
Great review ! Here in Singapore, the XV cost the same as the Yaris Cross Hybrid (aud100k). The XV is old, but larger and far better quality. The Yaris cross hybrid is new, funky, decent ride quality, saves petrol but quite trashy interior. If its your money, which would you go for ? A good solid 4yr old tech car, or new tech poor quality ? Fuel cost aud2/liter here :) .
The XV is around about the same price as the Yaris Cross here as well (about AUD$500 difference between base models, AUD$6000 difference between the base and top-trim models).
@chasing cars
Have had this car for a month, still haven't run the engine in so haven't pushed it yet.
I did notice that compared to previous models it now has sport driving mode unlike all previous models that have just intelligent mode. Dissapointed not to hear your thoughts on that, not even a mention. It was the reason why I finally got an XV.
Can you permanently turn off the auto-stop at idle ? .. I hate it.
@@justicemoody No.
@@neilgoodwin1153 deal breaker
@@justicemoody
Me too.
NOW I know.
Thank You Very Much.
@@justicemoody no 😳
Best colour orange?
Nah. Cool Grey Khaki.
But I am a little biased.
Not sure why a powered tailgate is not on the top spec model
Interesting. I had a 2013 'S' spec, last year bought a 2020 Premium, had all the toys of a Aus 'S' (I'm in NZ)
I was a front seat passenger for a country drive and I was really impressed with the interior quality and practicality. All the controls are solid and chunky and seem built to last. The downside and total deal-breaker is the lack of oompf. The model we were driving was the previous manual version and the driver had to do so much gear shifting to keep it humming along. The other thing that I noticed was a lack of comfort in the leather seats. Initially they felt fine, but the back support seemed very flat so I was quite sore after two hours. Test drive for a longer trip, especially if you have back problems. I'd prefer the VW Golf Alltrack for proper 4WD, more power and a massive cargo space.
Another ace review from CC.
Thanks Mark! It's almost like … if only THIS model came in manual, because at least you could keep it on the boil. It ain't fast.
"A Space Saver - really good to see"?????? - There is no way I will buy a vehicle with a SpaceSaver - I will look at the Outback - and if that vehicle has a spacesaver by the time I am ready to buy I will walk away. There is no way I will risk being thousands of kilometers away from a town in the Australian wilderness with a bloody spacesaver. If the Outback comes out with a space saver then I will end up buying a BT50 or Navara - at least I will have a full size spare
Would be so cool if they could do a boxer electric engine
That’s what they’re going to brand their EV powertrain that is being co-developed with Toyota.
Might be a fresh engine. Have seen 7.5L/100km frequently in mixed driving.
I have a 3.6R Outback and I have managed to get down to 7.2l/100km on the highway despite driving an extra two cylinders. One of the key ways to save fuel in a modern Subaru is to make use of Adaptive Cruise Control and stay in Intelligent Mode with the SI-Drive. It is far more fuel efficient than you can ever hope to be with your right foot, no matter how conservative you try to be. I have no doubt that the XV would beat this figure.
Would be good if Subaru did a battery EV version of the XV
Hi Tom, saw your video, really good, so subbed and went looking for Outback review. Can’t find it .... why?
Hasn’t been officially released yet, even though there are some in dealerships...
@@chasingcars thanks for explaining
Subaru seems have screwed you guys down under... The US and Canadian offerings for the "XV" or Crosstrek here are way better.
The US got the Subaru Forester sport 2 years earlier too and just released in AU. So people are buying 2 year old cars for the same price. What a rip off
Subaru have picked up Toyota's discarded cardigan in terms of performance.
Perfectly put.
Its not meant to be a performance car. Some people have no idea
Sorry but I don't get this infatuation with frigging space saver wheels especially on an off road capable car. It's ludicrous. The chances of having a tyre failure on tar vs off road is remote, and then what are you going to drive 400km in the outback on a space saver with a fully laden vehicle? How far is that going to work. It's total crap. Lose 10kg of your arse then if you're so worried about fuel consumption.
Impreca vs Crosstrek... surely it’s better to save the money?
Would be interesting to see how a Impreza hatch looks like lifted LOL.
Suspension tune is completely different, and superior in the XV
Subaru is excellent and best car but unfortunately, in Indonesia, Subaru is not good in selling.
Please Chasing Cars give subtitle in Indonesia language. Thank you.
great car
This car wouldn't pull a needle through butter
Immature comment.
No rear vent/usb for $40K particularly with grandchildren = no buy. Also get a new gimbal camera for your cameraman - feel sea sick watching the though the passenger door shots! Ta
Should have kept the signiture orange colour it was eye catching that gold mica met reminds me of the gold used by Ford in the mid 80s eg lasers Telstar Fairmount .on the eng so the 2.0 sounds lethargic or lacks omph remedy should have used the 2.5 eng from the forester then it would have been a spirited drive like Mitsubishi ASX GSR with a 2.4 they go like rockets 0 100 =8.8 sec
Agreed, it's poorer for not having the orange.
Always been bulletproof but that underpowered, old engine Subaru persists with, has stopped me from buying one for God knows how many years. My brother has the last model XV & a good mate too. Their only complaint is the engine.
It's not a desirable engine for car people, but yes, for most it gets the job done.
But if its the car someone wants, they wouldn't complain about the engine. My goodness, what's wrong with people on here ?
So compared to the Impreza, Impreza has a harsh ride?
The Impreza has an underdamped ride. Harsh in the sense that the car rebounds uncomfortably after hitting a bump in the road. The XV doesn't suffer from this effect.
@@chasingcars Standard like my Liberty 3.0R Spec B. Subaru has been a hit and miss in this for a long time. My Forester XT with stock GD WRX suspension has no such issues.
@@chasingcars Handy to know actually
if you have a small family XV is fine but if you have more than one kid, get forester
Put a 2.5 L Engine in one in Australia & i will buy one - otherwise off to buy a Rav 4 Hybrid by the end of year.
Hybrid ? If you intend keeping it many years, the cost of replacing the batteries will be high. If you intend trading it in after three years, why bother getting it as you're just wasting money.
You mean Australia doesnt have the Crosstrek Sport with the 2.5 liter engine?
Correct, sadly
@@chasingcars and what's the cost of the car in American dollars?
Its called the XV Sports and it has all the bells and whistles better than a Forester's spec
@@rottweilertom
I believe about $30,000 USD ($41,000 AUD) for this particular model Tom.
The XV is a raised Impreza despite your desire that they are different cars.
Yes, I said *not merely* a raised Impreza. An entirely different suspension means they’re not identical to drive...
@@chasingcars being a raised imprezza, the crosstrek rides like a boat comparedly
No, that’s incorrect. The regular Impreza suffers from underdamped suspension, meaning it fails to recover from big hits in the road in a compliant manner. The XV, which has an entirely different suspension, at least in Australia, doesn’t have this problem - so it’s actually the Impreza that rides worse, not the XV.
Pretty sure it cant beat the new perodua myvi.
Suprised that the Outback isn’t the most popular
It may well be once the new generation arrives and boosts Outback sales.
Looks good, but gutless engine. Sorry Suby fanboys.
Yea but an XV is not being bought by someone that wants performance.
If you want more performance Subaru has the WRX and Lavorg.
@@ryant2568 Agree, fair point.
Car to drive gracefully: yes; I like that: you could say its purpose built: Really disappointing that the orange colour: is not in the range: sad:
I have always liked this car: it would be nice: if Subaru: could develop a new drive train in a future business plan: The plasma yellow:!
Hmm; actually I like it: as I want something different: that suits my: non- conformist: personality: Thanks Tom: great reviews: ;!!
Subarus have been gas-guzzlers for 20 years. But people keep buying them. No excuse in a 2021 model.
I love the car but not that color
Grossly over priced
Agreed given even in base trim it is $8K more than the Impreza it is based on.
If Subaru want to retain market share they will have to improve Vehicle performance as the engine needs more power. Lots of new ALL WHEEL DRIVES coming to oz soon. I am in the market but wont buy this sluggish old engine.
Come on Subaru, get realistic.
Model Y is a better investment
My mum bought one of these recently and my god it’s bad. Plastic interior, raucous and weak engine sums it up
Don't think the interior is too bad, but the engine doesn't have huge go.
its a boxer engine, that's why it makes more noise DUH
Well, thank you for telling me I'm wrong. I can't whinge that my wife super wants one and I've always had the uneducated mindset that it's a shitty Impreza with plastic trim over the wheels. Mate, the Subaru dealer agreed with me. He needs a new job.
A back to back drive over a few bumps will confirm my view.
Small car? That’s a small suv if anything.
Asthmatic non turbo 2.0 and CVT no thanks
Needs more oomph
Good to know, I can sleep better now. Not your car choice then, so what ? Who cares
Is it just me or this car is as ugly af? I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder but some things are just undeniably ugly...
In this colour, I don't love it, but I actually quite like the shape in most of the other colours available
I love the color. The car? Eh
subaru offer a lackluster car with this xv. It just doesn't grab me at all. That colour makes me sick also.
Your comment has been noted. Im sure Subaru won't miss you as a customer.
40k for this ..........yeah nah
A Small boot is this cars Achilles heel.
Yea cause remember it is just a raised Impreza.
For around the same price you could get a base model forester and although you would not get as many toys it would be far more practical.
Only if you need to carry a lot of stuff, so otherwise, its not a small boot. DUH
Personally find Subaru so so dull to drive, so lacking in power..
CVT forget it
Ok, thanks for letting us know. I will forget your comment as well.