Subaru XV information: everything you need to know if you own it, are thinking of buying one or just want to find out more about the smallish SUV. Click on the links below for all of CAR magazine’s news, reviews, videos, scoops and spy photos of the XV car range. We list the top 10 stories for each model – and where appropriate you can click on ‘More’ to browse even more of our archive.
Background
The XV is Subaru’s punt at a C-segment SUV. It looks a bit like an Impreza that’s been force-fed and, unfortunately, isn’t a particularly wonderful car. For more information on the Subaru XV, click on our further stories on the links below.
60sec road test
There’s plenty of space inside the XV and slim A pillars make it admirably easy to see out of. Unfortunately all the bits you touch are composed of hard, scratchy plastics while, curiously, the bits you don’t are soft-touch. Four-wheel drive and a low-ratio transfer box mean it can off-road better than many of its rivals and it handles keenly on tarmac, but ride quality is punishingly harsh. Ultimately it’s too pricey to recommend.
The one we’d buy
2.0 diesel is the best-seller
The one we’d avoid like the plague
1.6 petrol is sorely lacking in grunt
Rivals to consider
Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Yeti
For
Roomy, adept handling
Against
Tough ride, tough plastics, tough rivals