Test drive Subaru XV 2.0 Boxer 156 CV Lineartronic: It's not an SUV, it's something more

At the end of last year the new Subaru XV 2018 was launched, a model that, in addition to significant design changes, also brought the novelty of the removal of the diesel engine from the range, with only two engine options available: the 1.6 Boxer with 114 CV and the 2.0 Boxer with 156 CV (although the first of these will be available with LPG). We have taken the wheel of this genuine 4×4 — thanks to its permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive — in its petrol version with the 2.0 Boxer engine of 156 CV and the Lineartronic automatic gearbox.

Exterior design

The renewal of the Subaru XV is noticeable in every aspect. On the outside, the new front end is sportier and more pronounced, highlighted by the newly created grille and the headlights, with LED lighting for all lighting functions, adaptive (SRH) and with automatic high-beam control, which offer outstanding illumination in any circumstance. The front bumper is also new, sharper and contrasting with the body colour, reminding us that this is an off-roader.

From the side the changes are smaller, with the wheel arches in black and new 18-inch wheels. Meanwhile, at the rear the change of generation compared with the previous model is clearly visible (launched in 2012), since the lights have been redesigned in a horizontal position to give a greater sense of width, also using LED technology.

Interior design

Without a doubt the biggest change in the new XV is in its interior. The main lines remain — with the twin central screen or the driving position slightly lower than in other models — but with new, high-quality materials. The dashboard stands out, being almost entirely finished in soft-touch materials or leather with orange stitching that gives it a sporty touch. The plastics fit well, with the quality of the door finish standing out, for example.

At the top of the dashboard is the vehicle information screen (in colour), which displays data on traction, oil and water temperature, on-board computer, multimedia information or about the EyeSight safety system. Directly below is an enormous touchscreen (8 inches) from which the entire multimedia system can be controlled. The instrumentation, although simple, is also in colour and provides all kinds of on-board computer information.

Although from the outside it may look like a compact car, the interior feels spacious. The new platform has also gained more room in the rear seats, and the sense of space is noticeable inside. The driving position is quite high, with the dashboard sitting in a slightly low position; the seats are comfortable but need better lateral support (the driver’s seat has electric adjustment).

At the back it surprises with legroom and headroom, more typical of a saloon than of an off-roader. The seats are comfortable but lack a bit more support; they are too flat and this shows in corners. The middle seat is a little less comfortable because of the raised central tunnel, but even so, three adults can travel in the rear without much difficulty, while two will do so in complete comfort.

In the storage section, it again stands out for the many different places throughout the car to leave personal items or water bottles. Each door can hold a 0.5-litre water bottle, with the door pockets being especially large. The central tunnel has several cup holders and another compartment in the central area where you can leave a phone, for example. Completing all of the above is the large central bin and the glovebox; there are even several USB or 12V sockets to charge our smartphones.

The boot has a capacity of 385 litres; it is slightly raised but very practical, with a good loading lip, and if necessary the rear seats can be folded down, leaving a flat surface level with the boot.

Engine and performance

The engine range of the Subaru XV consists of two petrol engines (there will be no diesel): the 1.6 Boxer 114 CV and the 2.0 Boxer 156 CV, both with the Lineartronic automatic gearbox. It is a real pleasure to open the bonnet of this Subaru XV and find a two-litre, four-cylinder Boxer engine, without a turbo, without reduced displacement, without components cut to the minimum — in short, an engine in the old-school style with a timing chain, which complies with the Euro 6c emissions standard.

This 2.0 is very progressive and smooth; it is a naturally aspirated engine that delivers its power at the top of the rev counter. It is lazy at low revs but delivers great smoothness, although the CVT gearbox takes away some of the smoothness of the whole, not because it is uncomfortable when changing gears but because the moment we press the accelerator the gearbox raises the engine revs to unlock its full potential. If we drive calmly, the smoothness is evident and the response is more than sufficient in any circumstance; however, on motorways, if we face prolonged gradients, the revs have to climb above 3,000 rpm or the engine runs out of strength, delivering its maximum torque of 196 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

Otherwise it is more than sufficient for everyday use, with a certain character especially when pulling away, and a good response once we pass 3,000 rpm. The Lineartronic gearbox has no physical gears, and precisely for this reason it is extremely smooth in shifting; it even has a sequential mode with paddles and seven ratios that imitate a conventional gearbox.

Handling

The first thing that stands out in the handling of the Subaru XV is its traction system, it is not an SUV with switchable traction: in the case of the XV, all-wheel drive is permanent, all four wheels are always pushing and the torque sent to the wheels varies according to grip conditions. This not only gives a good response off the tarmac, but it is also noticeable day to day on the road, standing out for example in the noble and agile way it takes corners.

On motorways or main roads it is a very comfortable car, with a smooth ride (only slightly marred by the improvable aerodynamic noise) and outstanding stability, since on top of the symmetrical all-wheel drive is the Boxer engine layout with a lower centre of gravity than in other models.

And off the tarmac? During our tests we analysed the behaviour of the Subaru XV on difficult terrain, both in mud and in snow (although our test unit did not have M+S tyres, which would have been an ideal complement), and we were very surprised by its traction capability, since many 4x4s with a conventional traction system are slower to respond to a loss of grip, and that makes all the difference when driving over difficult ground.

In snow, for example, this XV makes its way through without complications, since all four wheels are pushing at all times, redistributing the force to the others if one loses grip, all managed automatically (although a graphic can be shown of how traction is being distributed at any moment). In mud or difficult off-road areas, on top of the traction comes a generous ground clearance (similar to that offered by many pick-ups), resulting in off-road abilities typical of a true off-roader.

Consumption

The consumption of the Subaru XV offers normal figures for a naturally aspirated petrol vehicle: on motorways, on our usual route, the average consumption was 7 litres per 100 km. This figure drops slightly on main roads if we are careful with the accelerator, reaching consumption figures of 6.5 litres per 100 km, or up to 7 litres per 100 km depending on traffic and driving conditions. In the city the figure rises to 9.5 litres per 100 km on our usual route around Vigo.

Equipment

Among the standard equipment, the safety section stands out. From the base trim Subaru comes at no cost with the EyeSight system, which brings together all kinds of safety features such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, among others. All of this is possible thanks to two stereoscopic colour cameras with CMOS image sensors that constantly monitor what is happening outside the vehicle. Moreover, this safety system has been developed by the Japanese brand itself.

In addition to EyeSight, the car also comes as standard with seven airbags (including a knee airbag), active head restraints and stability control, among others. For all these reasons, the Subaru XV has earned five stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests with a score of 94% for adult occupant protection and 89% for child occupant protection. The rest of the standard equipment consists of 17-inch alloy wheels, a sound system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen and four speakers, air conditioning, among other elements.

However, our unit in the Executive Plus trim had the most complete equipment, standing out with the sunroof, orange-stitched leather seats, a multimedia system with an 8-inch touchscreen and speakers, and LED front and rear lights, […]

The multimedia system works very intuitively, although to use it as a navigator we have to rely on our smartphone thanks to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto technology. The sound is correct, although a greater number of speakers is missing, since six are insufficient for a vehicle with this type of finish.

On the other hand, the LED front lights for all lighting functions were a pleasant surprise; they also adapt to the steering angle, offering outstanding illumination.

Prices and personal opinion of the Subaru XV

The starting price of the XV is 21,900 euros (with promotional discount) for the Sport trim with the 1.6 petrol engine of 114 CV and automatic gearbox, in addition to permanent all-wheel drive. The 2.0 engine of 156 CV starts at 26,200 euros, rising to 28,200 euros for our unit with the top-of-the-range trim. Without a doubt, the price is a point in its favour, combined with the level of equipment and all-wheel drive.

Who do I recommend a Subaru XV to? For those who want a true 4×4 that does not stop at the exterior look but actually responds off the tarmac, the XV is an alternative worth considering, and it is also a unique model on the market, since it has no comparable rivals in terms of permanent all-wheel drive and segment. In snow it moves with no difficulty whatsoever, and if it is also fitted with winter or M+S tyres the response is convincing in any situation.

Despite its modest dimensions, it is a roomy car with more than enough space for four adults and a decent boot, with a notable leap in quality in the interior finishes. Perhaps what may put some people off is that it is only available with petrol engines, although for those who really drive a lot of kilometres the LPG option will be more than sufficient with the advantages of a petrol engine, while for the rest of drivers, the 2.0 Boxer engine of 156 CV is a good unit for everyday use thanks to its smoothness; however, a more powerful version of this same engine would be welcome.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira