Subaru XV long-term test review
The XV spearheads Subaru’s counter-attack on the raft of mainstream, medium-sized SUVs. We’re running one for six months to find out how it stacks up...
The car Subaru XV 2.0i SE Premium Lineartronic
Run by Claire Evans, consumer editor
Why it’s here To see if improvements introduced for the 2018 version have made the XV a worthy adversary to its many rivals
Needs to Get to work whatever the weather and provide comfortable transport for the family at weekends
Price £28,510 Price as tested £29,060 Miles 4424 Official economy 55.4mpg Test economy 35.4mpg Options fitted Quartz Blue pearl paint (£550)
6 June 2018 – getting on with the parents
Think SUV and you may assume these cars are best suited to families with young children, but there’s another key customer group they’re good for. My parents are in their seventies, and while they still enjoy getting out and about, they struggle to get into the low-slung seats of many modern hatchbacks. The XV’s tall, wide opening doors and high rear seats are far easier for them to negotiate.
The XV proved a good choice for a recent afternoon out at a local stately home. Thanks to its permanent four-wheel drive, I didn’t have to worry about parking on the grass during a break between thundery showers – unlike front-wheel drive faux off-roader rivals, which would have floundered if the field got sodden, I could be sure the I’d be able to drive back onto the Tarmac with ease.
On a different note, I’ve been impressed by the quality of the XV’s rear-view camera – the image it shows on the infotainment screen is bright and clear, even in bad weather conditions.
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