Motoring
Car review : Subaru XV
Japanese car giant Subaru has recently invested the equivalent of our national debt in marketing the brand and selling its cars into Europe - particularly the UK .
Its compact crossover , the XV – which we were invited to test drive by Central Garage in Newport - is basically an Impreza hatch with a body makeover that ’ s much higher and beefier , and that ’ s no bad thing . Underneath , the new 2017 model adopts a much stiffer chassis and amazing ground clearance , which you can feel when you ’ re driving either dayto-day or in more challenging situations . The body has had some welcome makeovers , including chunkier wheel arches , new 18-inch wheels , a more aggressive-looking front grille and new front and rear bumpers . The overall look of the XV is what I ’ d call pleasing : it ’ s not head turning but then it ’ s certainly not ugly . It also comes in some eye-catching paint colours .
However , climb inside and boy , you notice the difference . I was pleasantly surprised : the cabin was way above what I expected for a vehicle in this price range . I could go on forever about the extras and gadgets they have crammed in the new 2017 model , but the ones that really stand out are the 7-inch LCD screen , the user-friendly instrument layout , and the masses of storage space and decent size cup holders . The well-built cabin comes with fully-adjustable electric leather seats which are a great touch , and the sort of extra you ’ d normally expect to see in cars like the Range Rover Evoke , and which you ’ d pay dearly for . Leg room for front and rear passengers is also generous . Driving the XV on the Island ’ s roads was enjoyable enough , with hardly any road noise at low speeds , and very smooth and fuel-efficient for a vehicle of this type . I was driving the 2.0i Premium Lineartronic Petrol ( priced £ 26,995 OTR ), although after having done a bit of research back at the office , it seems to be common knowledge that people prefer the Diesel version , which delivers a bit more power ! Subaru have fitted stabiliser bars to reduce body roll , which is a slight problem on most Crossovers , but not on the XV . Every level is equipped with rudimentary under-body protection , hill descent control , and X-Mode , a system intended to make traversing slippery tracks over steep hills so much easier at the touch of a button . Also , standard across the XV range are up-to-the minute hands-free connectivity , music streaming and information technologies including Bluetooth , Apple CarPlay and Android Auto , steering-wheel controls and voice recognition . Young owners need not fret about being out of touch . There ’ s even a CD player for the Luddites ! There are many positives with the XV – in fact , too many to list here . My suggestion would be to take one out for a test drive and see for yourself . There are five 2.0i-lt petrol models in the range starting from £ 22,495 to £ 26,995 OTR , and two diesel models , the 2.0D SE at £ 24,495 OTR and the 2.0D SE Premium at £ 27,495 OTR .
For more details visit Central Garage at Riverway , Newport , PO30 5UX or call 01983 526541 .
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