Heralded by the concept of the same name presented at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Subaru XV confirms the sturdiness, rationalism and reliability that have always characterised this Japanese brand’s cars. Compared to the previous version, the new crossover has more sculpted lines that interpret the styling philosophy of the “Dynamic x Solid” Pleiades.
When you first see it the hexagonal grille and sporty cut of the self-levelling Led headlights, which in Subaru they call “hawkeye”, strike the eye. Along the side of the car runs a protective strip that gives character to the car and a better road presence by also incorporating the wheel arches, which are wider than the previous XV. The contrasting rear spoiler and the horizontally developed headlights with some Led elements are attractive.
We drove the XV on the hills of Emilia Romagna, where outstanding off-road qualities emerged. The new Subaru Global Platform, on which the brand’s next models will be built, and the Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system enable it to adapt to any terrain. The suspension absorbs the roughness very well and driving it the sensations it transmits can be summed up in sturdiness and great comfort. The concreteness of the exterior is also a guideline for the interior, where the materials used are of higher quality.
The plastics are soft to the touch, while the stiffer types are confined down below, away from the eyes of the driver and passengers. In the middle of the dashboard the 8-inch, intuitive and easy-to-use display, from which you can control all infotainment functions, stands out. Thanks to the EyeSight, the car is equipped with all the latest preventive safety technologies, from Pre-collision Braking to Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Sway Warning.
The two 1.6 114 bhp and 2.0 156 bhp petrol engines are combined with all-wheel drive and the Lineartronic automatic transmission. Two LPG versions of both engines will arrive in a few months’ time.
