Subaru Trezia, presentation and road test in Madrid

Subaru expands its range with a new member, entering the urban MPV segment with the new Subaru Trezia. The Trezia is quite unique, as it does not offer all-wheel drive (unlike the rest of the range) and it was developed in collaboration with Toyota.

More specifically, we are talking about the Toyota Verso-S, a model that Toyota has no plans to sell in Spain and that Subaru has adapted as the Trezia. That said, more than 100 engineers from Subaru have taken part in the development of the Trezia.

The Trezia will come with two engine options: one 1.33 VVT-i petrol with 99 CV and a 1.4 D diesel with 90 CV, both engines are developed by Toyota. The starting price of the Trezia is 17,100 euros with the petrol engine and a fairly complete equipment level (ESP, air conditioning, multiple airbags, fog lights, leather steering wheel…).

During the presentation in Madrid we had the chance to test the model and learn first-hand about the new features of this Subaru Trezia, so let’s start with the design and interior aspects.

Exterior design, interior, quality and space

On the outside, one of the few details that sets it apart from the Verso-S is the grille, with a design typical of Subaru. But otherwise we find a design similar to the Verso-S; we’re talking about an MPV derived from a city car, measuring just 3.99 metres in length.

The height of the car stands out, something appreciated inside, where there is generous headroom, as well as the exterior mirrors, which feature integrated indicators.

Moving on to the interior, we find a driver’s position with plenty of plastics, but some of them offer decent quality and are in line with the segment. That is, there are quite a few hard plastics in the cabin, but the fittings are fairly well done and some of them are not unpleasant to the touch.

The gear lever position stands out, raised and very comfortable to drive. Overall we liked the steering wheel, the gear lever and the driving position, which is very comfortable with all controls within easy reach.

It only has an armrest for the driver’s seat; the higher-spec version could fit one for the passenger too, which would be appreciated on long journeys.

On the other hand, the rear seats stand out for their headroom. And for a car just 4 metres long, there is quite a lot of legroom. In the rear seats two adults travel without space problems, with sufficient width, while three would be a bit tighter.

We finish the interior review with the storage and boot section, since, like any good MPV, it has storage spaces spread throughout the cabin, plus a double glovebox. That said, the door pockets in the rear are small and the main glovebox is also quite small.

The boot capacity is 336 litres, but it has a false floor which allows us to increase the capacity to 393 litres, and even a bit more, up to 430 litres, if we use the space where the spare wheel would go (it has no spare, just a repair kit). A few tie-down anchors for a net would not go amiss in the boot, as there are only two near the tailgate.

First drive: Trezia 1.4D 90 CV

During the presentation we were able to try a 90 CV diesel Trezia, in our case with a manual gearbox, although a six-speed sequential gearbox is available as an option.

This diesel engine is an old acquaintance of the Toyota range, typically turbocharged with responsive power from around 2,000 rpm, yet with quite good fuel consumption. The test was carried out on somewhat winding roads, and we could appreciate the good feel of the steering and, above all, the precise gear shift of the Trezia.

We liked the suspension because it is firm, keeping the Trezia clear of the typical body roll of an MPV, yet as we confirmed on a poorly surfaced road, it is never harsh over bumps and filters them quite well.

The engine has enough strength to overtake with confidence, especially between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. And best of all has been the fuel consumption, since in relaxed driving on the open road we achieved around 4.9 litres per 100 km (including traffic jams, motorway, hills and mountain roads).

Equipment and prices

The 1.3 VVT-i with 99 CV comes with the Advance trim level from 17,100 euros, with complete equipment including front and side airbags, curtain airbags and a knee airbag for the driver, fog lights, air conditioning, front electric windows, CD/MP3 radio or a leather-wrapped steering wheel, among other items.

The diesel 1.4D with 90 CV is available with the Limited trim and Limited Plus. The former adds: light and rain sensors, tinted glass, Bluetooth, USB port, a 6.1-inch touchscreen sound system, rear-view camera or climate control, among other items. All of this for a starting price of 19,500 euros.

Finally, the 1.4D 90 CV Limited Plus adds: sunroof, keyless entry and start, automatic gearbox, from 21,490 euros.

The prices are somewhat high, but it is also true that the standard equipment is quite complete with elements that other similar models do not offer as standard.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira