Review Subaru XV SUV

"The Subaru XV is a safe, well made crossover that is fun to drive." The XV is a compact SUV and an entirely new type of car for Subaru. It's aimed at the hugely successful Nissan Qashqai, although top-spec models overlap on price with more premium rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. There's a choice of three engines – 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrols and a 2.0-litre diesel – as well as manual and CVT gearboxes. All engines have horizontally-opposed cylinders, also known as ‘Boxer’ engines, for which Subaru has become famous. Although designed mainly for urban use, all XVs come with permanent four-wheel drive offering extra grip in bad conditions and moderate off-road ability. Drive 4.0 /5 Impressive handling Subaru is renowned for building cars that handle well, and the XV is no exception. Although the steering is light it feels sharp and body control, despite this being quite a tall car, is excellent. The new CVT gearbox maximises efficiency but is noisy and unresponsive to inputs from the accelerator, the manual shifts smoothly and is more satisfying to use. Both the 112bhp 1.6 and 148bhp 2.0-litre petrol engines deliver decent pace, but are quite noisy and not as smooth as some rivals. The 145bhp diesel engine is the one to go for, because it's responsive and accelerates strongly from low revs – you’ll have to change gear fairly often though to keep within the narrow power band. Comfort 2.7 /5 Very spacious interior Rear legroom for passengers is excellent, helped by the concave shape of the front seats and there's plenty of space in the front, too. The front seats could offer more support though to stop the driver sliding around during cornering. To achieve the XV's impressive handling and lack of body roll, the suspension is firm, something which is accentuated on bad surfaces around town. It's a shame because that's where most XVs will end up being used. Subaru could have traded some dynamic ability for added comfort. Reliability 3.8 /5 Rugged and well built Subaru is know for building reliable and rugged SUVs like the Forester and Outback, so the XV should stand up well to daily driving and the wear and tear of everyday life. The interior plastics, although cheap to look at and to the touch, are well put together. The XV comes with a good selection of safety kit too, including ABS, traction control, seven airbags, retractable pedals and a collapsible steering column. It has already scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, including an impressive 90 per cent for child occupant protection. Practicality 3.5 /5 Four wheel drive is handy in winter With the rear seats in place the XV has a 380-litre boot, which is smaller than the Nissan Qashqai, but fold the seats flat and that climbs to 1,270-litres which is 410-litres more than the Nissan. The leading edge of the boot floor can be lifted up and hooked to the lip of the tailgate, providing a smooth ramp for sliding bags into the boot. Wide door openings offer easy access to the interior, while the permanent four-wheel drive means the XV will be able to tackle adverse weather conditions better than traditional front-wheel drive family hatchbacks. Value for money 2.4 /5 Main rivals are cheaper With prices starting from around £21,000 for a 1.6-litre petrol model the XV is a little expensive next to the Nissan Qashqai and Mitsubishi ASX, which is its biggest problem. In fact, opt for the diesel model, which starts from around £24,000 and you could have a base-spec Audi Q3 2.0TDI for similar money – a more desirable car with a top-quality interior and a more comfortable ride. However, high-spec models get plenty of kit including an iPod connection, Bluetooth, leather seats, dual air-conditioning and a six-speaker stereo. Running costs 3.0 /5 We'd choose the petrol model In terms of fuel economy and CO2 emissions, the XV 2.0D is on a par with rival models with similar power outputs. It returns 50.4mpg and emits 146g/km, which means a theoretical range of 670-miles between fill ups. The 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol models emit 151g/km and 160g/km respectively with a manual gearbox, and 146g/km and 153g/km respectively if you choose the CVT automatic gearbox. If you plan on covering big miles the diesel model will prove cheaper in the long run, otherwise the cheaper purchase price and fact that unleaded is cheaper per litre means that either petrol is a better option.