BUYER’S GUIDE: 2018 Subaru XV

The Subaru XV is pretty much a ‘love it or hate it’ affair. That said, devotees of the compact crossover will find plenty to gush about in the new 2018 version, way more than the distinct Sunshine Orange paint job that practically has its own fan club. Whether as an off-roader or daily driver, the 2018 Subaru XV is a very able vehicle. Get to know more about it in this buyer’s guide.

Specification

Subaru is a bit of a standout among its peers, continuing to manufacture all-wheel drive passenger vehicles even when it was the only one doing so, and sticking to engines with a ‘flat’ or ‘boxer’ configurations like it was nobody’s business. These Subaru signatures can be found in the XV, beginning with the ‘Horizontally-Opposed’ (a fancy word for ‘boxer’) Direct Fuel Injection gas engine that provides its owners with 154 hp and 194 Nm of torque. The Lineartronic CVT makes these numbers easy to achieve. Symmetrical all-wheel drive is standard in the XV, which is useful here than any other Subaru vehicle, since the XV is designed for off-roading.

Exterior

The XV’s overall dimensions stand at 4,465mm long, 1,800mm wide, and 1,615mm tall. Noteworthy exterior features include front and rear fog lamps, steering-responsive headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and power-folding side mirrors with LED turn signal. Since the XV is built for off-roading, ground clearance is naturally high at 220mm. This ensures the undercarriage is free and clear from damage that could possibly be caused by an extremely rough road or trail. The XV is available in nine color choices, including Ice Silver Metallic, Quartz Blue Pearl, and the signature Sunshine Orange.

Interior

With the previous version, the XV cabin was a less-exciting place to be, filled with low-quality trimmings and accoutrements. Subaru has definitely done its homework with the crossover’s latest, as the interior is definitely luxurious-looking, adorned with plenty of high-quality materials this time around. For comfort and convenience, there’s the power adjustable driver’s seat, 60/40 folding rear seats, Smart Entry, Push Start Button, Dual-Zone Automatic Air Conditioning, and Tilt-Adjustable/Telescopic Steering Wheel, to name a few. There’s also a highly user-friendly eight-inch touchscreen display complete with USB, Bluetooth and auxiliary jack connectivity to satisfy all your infotainment needs.

Space

Although the cargo space is a tad small, the hatchback styling makes loading and unloading large and bulky items easy. But if you must load sizeable items, fear not, because the 60/40 folding rear seats allow for a whole lot wider cargo hold.

Safety

The 2018 Subaru XV’s safety features are as modern as a crossover can get-there’s a four-sensor/four-channel ABS with EBD, Active Torque Vectoring, Brake Assist, Brake Override, Engine Immobilizer, and the ultra-useful Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system. In the event of a crash, SRS front, side, curtain and knee airbags, as well as side door reinforcement beams, are present to protect you.

Verdict

The 2018 Subaru XV is a good buy if you’re looking for a subcompact SUV with efficient AWD capabilities. Subarus are not known to be fuel efficient though, and if you’re looking for something fast, you might find 154 hp disappointing. That said, if you’re looking for a spacious off-roader with upscale features inside and out, the XV is worthy of your attention.