Owners of first XV
Subaru is a unique brand with unique models and still special technology. In 2012, the XV took over from the world-famous Impreza, with which a resounding name disappeared from the scene. Just like every other Subaru, the Rightly so, or is this XV an unsung talent? Owners provide the answer.
The name Impreza may have disappeared in the Netherlands, but the model still exists. The XV is actually nothing more than a slightly updated variant, the ‘bare’ version is still available in the United States. As of this year, the name XV is also a thing of the past. The new XV is known as Subaru Crosstrek, just like in the States. To be clear: in this review we look at the first generation XV, which was on the market from 2012 to 2017.
Space, seating comfort and operation
Although the Subaru XV looks like a fairly large crossover, it is of course primarily an Impreza. What consequences does this have for ease of use? “The only potential downside is the space,” writes the owner of a 2012 XV 2.0. “The passenger compartment is large enough for adults in the back, but the luggage compartment is actually too small on paper for a family. However, a test drive showed that two large airplane suitcases and a cot could be placed in it without blocking the view to the rear. So well, big or small, it’s big enough for me.” Even in real practice, this driver does not appear to encounter any space problems. This also applies to another 2.0i driver. “The luggage space is modest. Sufficient for us, but smaller than the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4.” Logically, those cars are actually bigger.
Owners spend few words on the comfort of the seats, but isolated phrases such as ‘good seats’ show that this is probably fine. There is less enthusiasm about the armrests. “If you sit properly, the center armrest and the backrest in the door are actually not useful. People have been complaining about it for years, but apparently they have a different opinion about it in the US,” writes the driver of an XV from 2014. It seems that it is not so much the opinion, but the implementation that differs. “The original center armrest cannot be moved forward and is therefore not comfortable,” writes the owner of an XV that is one year younger. “However, in the US the XV comes with a sliding mount, and I ordered and installed that. Top!”
Just like the seats, the infotainment system and controls also require little attention. A driver who briefly touches on it says: “The multimedia system looks and works a bit dated, although the functionality is decent. Fortunately, Bluetooth works perfectly for telephony and audio streaming.”
Tires under fire
For most drivers, the main reason for choosing a Subaru XV appears to be its technology. After all, every XV is permanently four-wheel drive. The result? “Goes perfectly through sand and even a ‘steep’ slope is no problem at all,” says an inveterate Subaru driver. “Wheel slip is strange to him, even better than with my previous Impreza, the X-Mode/AWD system works smoother and less jerky.” The raised base also has its advantages. “With the 22 cm ground clearance, no more scraping over soil and stones.”
The driver of a diesel XV still sees traces of Subaru’s rally past. “Wonderful driving on the D-roads in Burgundy, at highly illegal speeds, but what a pleasure. Fantastic suspension comfort, the AWD makes the car stick to the road and, above all, the grin on your face when you get out.”
This driving experience did not come straight out of the box, it was preceded by a tire change. “I replaced the Yokohama Geolandars with Hankooks K415 and that is a big improvement. The Geolandars broke up quickly on wet surfaces, had very weak cheeks and made a lot of noise. The Hankooks are doing a lot better in that regard.” The tires supplied as standard are damaged more than once. “The XV drives well and is quite stable on course and corners,” writes the owner of a 2013
In terms of driving characteristics, these all-season tires with M+S marking may not be popular, but according to another driver they do have a good side. “This car actually drives better, even in fresh snow, than my previous car on winter tires! The four-wheel drive undoubtedly contributes significantly to this.” Still a boost for the tire manufacturer.
Stiff character
In addition to many comments on the tires, the chassis is also regularly abused. “The suspension is sufficiently flexible, but the damping is on the ‘short’ side,” says a rider. “This means that if you drive in a residential area with an uneven road surface and some bumps, the carriage will bounce along nicely with all the passengers. This is of course not comfortable.” The fact that this rider is not getting used to the chassis becomes clear in an update to his review. “What I find downright disappointing is the rear axle on transverse ridges. There is a nasty ledge in the bend at Prins Clausplein towards the center. Here the rear axle makes a mean hop.”
Anyone who can live well with his XV is a Boxer Diesel driver. “In the beginning I had to get used to the stiffer character of the XV, but that is now over. Wonderfully stable, tight where necessary, but at the same time the famous Subaru slide. Cloverleaves are a joy and if you brake well before the bend, you can go full throttle, which is great. By the way, the car drives even better when loaded,” he adds.
The first generation Subaru XV comes standard with a manual transmission, a CVT automatic transmission is optional. Subaru XV drivers are quite enthusiastic about this continuously variable transmission, although this gearbox has a striking phenomenon. “The CVT does its job well, although there is some getting used to the built-in steps that apparently some people require with such a continuously variable transmission,” notes the driver of an XV 2.0i Luxury from 2013. Indeed, Subaru chose to equip the variable transmission with fake gears. Another special feature is mentioned by another rider. “If the car has stood still for a while and it is started, the engine always idles high, even if it is not really cold.”
Maintenance and breakdowns
Based on these user reviews, the Subaru XV appears to be quite reliable. At least ‘our’ drivers are not stranded with their cars, but that does not mean that every XV is completely problem-free. The Subaru enthusiast mentioned earlier encountered a number of problems. “132,000 km: EGR valve stuck/broken and replaced, but that is a known problem with diesels. But it also issues a fault code on the air conditioning unit (134,000 km), even though it works perfectly. The mechanic also fully examined it three times and cannot find the cause.” It doesn’t end there. “The window controls on the driver’s side also malfunctioned. (134,000 km) and a rear light unit suddenly developed a leak! (136,000 km).”
About 10,000 kilometers earlier, this owner suffered from defective rear wheel bearings, which does not appear to be a unique problem. Another driver also reported a defective wheel bearing around a mileage of 120,000. “I didn’t like the bill, I lost over 300 euros,” he writes. And the regular maintenance? “In any case, a Subaru service is expensive.” It has an impact on the rating of his Subaru. “Therefore, without rose-colored glasses, a star deduction for the costs.”
Whether maintenance is expensive also seems to be a matter of expectation. “The car has only been to the garage for regular maintenance (annual service). This was in December 2020 for a minor service with new oil, for €200. Furthermore nothing special. In December 2021 for a major service with new oil, MOT, filters, etc., for €390. No further details. Very realistic prices,” concludes the driver of an XV 2.0i Luxury Plus from 2014.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl