Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
The good news in this regard is that all XVs get plenty of equipment as standard, including luxuries like heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights and, of course, four-wheel drive.
There are just two trim levels, and we recommend sticking with entry-level SE to keep the costs down. SE Premium doesn’t really add enough to make its higher price worth paying; yes, it gives you electrically adjustable leather seats and sat-nav, but with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard across the range, you’re better off using a navigation app on your phone anyway.
One area where the XV does excel, however, is in safety. Thanks to the bundles of safety kit fitted as standard (in particular, Subaru’s EyeSight collision avoidance system), the XV scored a full five stars in its Euro NCAP safety tests; it performed very well in the adult and pedestrian safety sections, scoring 94% and 84% respectively.
Another particularly praiseworthy piece of safety tech is the XV’s clever front occupant detection system. It is able to detect if a rearward-facing child seat is being used and, if so, will automatically turn off the front passenger airbag. Little wonder the XV excelled in the child occupant protection in its Euro NCAP test, gaining a respectable 89% rating in this category. Meanwhile, an alarm and engine immobiliser are fitted to boost security.
Subaru’s five-year or 100,000-mile warranty is impressive by class standards; most rivals offer only three years of cover. The extra battery of hybrid models is covered by an separate eight year, 100,000 mile warranty.
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