TEST DRIVE: THE Facelifted 2016 SUBARU XV 2.0i-Premium - Very nice, but I dream about turbocharged Scoobies a lot...

The Subaru XV is something that has been a relative sales success for Subaru in Malaysia. This was the first Subaru that has been locally assembled in Malaysia in recent years. Well, I cannot remember any Subaru being locally assembled over the past twenty five years or so actually. What has happened is that for the first time ever this quirky Japanese car maker has actually sold more than a handful of units per year in this country. It shows, as here in the Klang Valley you see the XV everywhere. At least one a day at the minimum. This is partly due to the new found affordability (due to CKD status), word of mouth and more mainstream looks (for a Subaru). This is a good thing as Subaru make cars slightly different from the normal Japanese stuff.

This Subaru XV 2.0i-Premium variant tested here is the recently launched facelifted model. You get subtle upgrades to the specification (slightly better equipment inside) and also to the exterior. Subtle as you have to notice the slightly different rear lights and a slightly different front bumper and grille assembly. Oh, the wheels are also slightly different too. The same black and polished lip squared off spoke design is there, but the wheel spokes are now ever so slightly angled. You won't know a difference if the XV is on the move.So everywhere else you essentially get the same crossover vehicle as before. Other Malaysian only detail is that the XV is marketed with one engine type and two variants - the 2.0i and the 2.0I-Premium.

I suppose you do not need much change if it works and looks fine. Unlike the time when Subaru had to rework the front end of the second generation GD series Impreza twice after it was launched – that first revision was due to a customer outcry and turned the Impreza from a bug-eyed monster into a better looking blob-eyed version. This required a new bonnet, fenders, lights, grille and bumper. Quite a lot for a facelift. Then just to keep things fresh as Subaru wanted to keep the car in production for a little while longer the second generation Impreza had another front end facelift and people started calling that final variant the Hawk-eyed Impreza. No need for all of that since the XV, which essentially is a current generation crossover variant Impreza hatchback looks pretty good from the start. 

The proportion, styling and exterior shape of the Subaru XV is attractive and sporty enough to look at. Subarus of old were a little opinion dividing in terms of styling. Not any more. This one looks pretty mainstream if you ask me. Good in terms of attracting new customers to the brand. And it actually still looks like a Subaru. So anyone used to Scoobies wouldn't mind having one too.

The interior of the XV is actually similar to the interior of the Subaru Impreza, which we don't get here and similar in layout to the one in the WRX / WRX STI (which these days aren't considered as Imprezas anymore). This means a nice soft touch dashboard on top and the usual hard plastics below. Slightly textured and grained so that it still is nice to touch. But I find it a little too monotonous. It may need a little bit more aluminium to brighten up the cabin a little.

The layout of the instruments, stalks, switches and buttons are typically Subaru in which they feel sturdy and should last decades. It does look a little cluttered but once you get the hang of it everything is where you want it to be. The new interior feel and quality is actually better than the previous third generation Subaru Impreza (the first Impreza Hatchback – which wasn't so nice) in that the materials used are up by at least two levels. The finish is still slightly behind some of the class leading European interiors but for something this sturdy looking and Japanese, it is still one of the better ones that have come out of Japan (locally assembled or not).

There is a raft of equipment inside and I do like the small information screen that tells you details on the car's fuel consumption and drive details (whether the AWD system needs to channel power individually or not is shown). The screen could be bigger though. There is a double DIN touchscreen entertainment system. If sounds decent enough. In fact it actually sounds light years better than the earlier Subaru based systems used. The only qualms I have about it is that it needs more back lighting as there is some glare reflected if you drive it during a sunny afternoon when the sun is directly above your head. It's either that it needs a bright back light or you have ro redesign the whole dashboard to reduce glare. But I think a change of a headunit is easier yes? The other problem with this system is that I think the LED animated fonts or controls on the touchscreen is a little bit on the small side. If it were bigger it would suit my fingers better.

Anyway, on to the drive.

This CKD Subaru XV comes with a normally aspirated 2.0liter flat-four cylinder engine. It makes an average amount of horsepower (150PS) but quite a high torque figure for a normally aspirated lump (196Nm) and when coupled to the Continuously Variable Transmission does a good job in transmitting the power to all of the wheels. Yes. The two Subaru specialty items are here – a flat-four or boxer engine and All-Wheel Drive. Over the years I have come to enjoy ths combination a fair bit. The only difference these days is that it comes with the CVT gearbox. Those days, Subarus used to come with either a manual or a torque convertor automatic. These days they've started pairing their cars with a CVT.

Most of you know that I am not a fan of CVTs. They tend to be droney, love holding on to peak engine revs (I.e a bit noisy under acceleration) and feel a little rubber band like in power delivery. However, the one in this car does not feel bad at all. It mimics a hydraulic based system well and does not hold revs like crazy. Everything is done in nice progression and gradually. Even when you shift it manually it works quite well. It could be a tad bit more responsive on the downshifts but overall, with the power it has it works fine. But when mated to the XV's 2.0liter non-turbo engine the whole car feels torquey and smooth. Not rubber band effect even when you're wringing it out. 

There is a slight boxer warble when you cross 3,500rpm at more than half throttle input. This adds to the urgency and sportiness but is very mechanically refined. Which brings back some nice boxer engine noise memories of old. No, it isn't as thumping as in the earlier Subarus, but you get a sense that you aren't driving a conventional four cylinder engine. The mechanical refinement in one of these flat-four vehicles is high. Much better than a conventional four cylinder actually. It does 0-100kmh in about 10.8 seconds by the way. Adequate, but not rapid. High speed cruising is good as the car is stable and not susceptible to crosswinds. Take it to over 160kmh and it still tracks well. Take it up to GohTong Jaya with passengers and it is still competent, climbing with ease and without struggle. The CVT works well going uphill, keeping the engine right where the powerband is. Very well tuned CVT here. This is one CVT I do not mind.

As a crossover, the XV is not that tall like a proper SUV but it isn't low like a car either. There is a nice handling balance here. The multi-link rear suspension works well and grip feels neutral. It may be all wheel driven, but even in the dry it feels nimble and easy to maneuver.

When it comes to the handling part I do wish it had a turbocharged lump underneath the bonnet. At least 240hp with about 300Nm of torque. Close to a WRX actually. However performance levels are as stated above – good low end torque and adequate if you need to travel and cruise at speeds slightly higher than the national speed limit. The thing is that the chassis is hardly tested even when you're on the twisty bits of road. The steering feels nicely weighted and the XV turns well. As a crossover, it also grips well in nearly every condition I could throw at it – in the wet and dry. It holds the cornering line. In extremis, the XV will let go its front end telling you to slow down. When yo do just that, everything is easily reeled back in. Not much tail wagging here with the All-wheel drive system coming in play if things get a little tricky. You can tell from the dashboard information screen mentioned above. The potential for tail wagging, four wheel drifting fun is there.....so this is why I'd love to have about 240hp in one actually.

I do wonder if Subaru can give me a XV STi Spec C Type RA-R. A mouthful, but I do long for a turbocharged XV as the car can handle more power easily. It has a very competent chassis. I would love to go really wild in one, like the old turbocharged Foresters from days gone by. But for what the XV stands for, a second car for the wife to drive, a SUV for a small family with an outdoorsy lifestyle or for the urban dweller who likes the extra height to wade flash flood waters and to curb park, the XV does all of that pretty well and also adds a level of on road refinement that most would be pleased to have. I even used it on some dirt tracks. No issues if it were at a construction site or if it were in a palm oil estate. As an urban lifestyle runabout vehicle, it ticks most boxes quite well. Even fuel economy was pretty good for an all-wheel drive crossover – 9.4liters/100km.

Conclusion

Well, with the exception of bootspace, the Subaru XV is a nice car to have. The only other weak spot in the XV's armour is boot space if you have all the rear seats up. It is shallow due to the complex and well proven to work multi-link rear suspension. If you really need oodles of boot space, you may need to take a look at it first before making a decision on the XV. 

But if you want a crossover which has high quality levels and is super competent on B-roads, the lack of boot space must be overlooked. This car feels better than the usual Japanese stuff in terms of build quality and also the way it drives. But then again, it is a Subaru. They do good things slightly differently and it is this little fact that makes the XV ever so different and slightly special against others in its class.

2016 Subaru XV 2.0i-Premium

Pros: competent handling (quite fun on a B-road), smooth drivetrain, exceptionally good CVT (and from me that's is a big compliment), very good ride and refinement, build quality, equipment levels, driving position, all round visibility, economical

Cons: dashboard design a little bit cluttered, could do with a bit more aluminium trim to lift up the cabin's all black interior, entertainment system controls a bit small and needs more backlighting, shallow bootspace, a bit more power would be nice if you want to upgrade from competent handling to entertaining with a cast of thousands type of handling

Note - the Subaru XV is also marketed as the Subaru Impreza XV in Japan and the Subaru XV CrossTrek in the United States of America

SPECIFICATIONS (and more pics below):

Price as tested: RM125,000 (before GST, insurance, roadtax & registration fee)

Engine:

2.0liter horizontally opposed / flat / boxer four cylinder DOHC 16 valve petrol

power: 150ps

torque: 196Nm

Transmission:

Lineartronic CVT with virtual gears for manual shifting mode

Performance figures:

0-100kmh: 10.8seconds

Max speed: tested to 190kmh

Fuel consumption:

extra urban combined

Claimed: 7.9liters/100km

Tested: 9.4liters/100km

Tyre size: 225/55R17

Kerb Weight: 1,460kg

Ground clearance: 220mm

Equipment:

Exterior

Halogen headlights, front fog lights, roof spoiler, rear for lights, roof rail, LED Daytime running lights, electric folding side mirrors with built in LED Signal (below), LED Wing mirror (last three items only in this Premium variant).

Safety

SRS Front AIRBAGS, safety pedal system, brake override, brake assist, vehicle dynamics control system (VDC), ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat points, side door reinforced beams

Interior Equipment

Paddle shifters, rear armrest, 60/40 folding rear seats, tilt/telescopic steering adjustments, automatic airconditioning, bluetooth, multi function steering wheel with cruise control,

2.0i-Premium only Equipment - retractable cargo cover, high grade info display meter, touchscreen multi function display entertainment unit, USB/ Aux input jacks, premium audio speakers, rear view camera, smart entry and push start, electric adjustable driver's seat.