THE CAR IN FACTS

The 2020 Subaru XV e-boxer slots into a range full of carspackedwithhigh-tech safety features, sensible styling, off-road capability and reputations for bullet-proof reliability.

With looks so bland they are almost distinctive (considering the rest of the segment are a bunch of try-hards), a fivestar Euro NCAP rating, a boxer engine and symmetrical allwheel drive, the XV fits right in with the wider Suarbu line-up.

The 2020 XV adds the new e-boxer hybrid powertrain, a 2.0-litremildhybridenginethat can also be found in the new Forestersuv,whichsharesthe Subaruglobalplatformunderpinnings with the XV. It’s a big improvement on the 1.6-litre petrol in many ways and a betterpairingwiththelineartronic CVT gearbox than the smaller unit.

The hybrid set-up means there’s a battery pack underneath the boot, where the spare wheel used to be, which reduces luggage capacity by 45 litres to 340 litres in total.

For that trade-off you get improved fuel consumption, lower emissions and the ability to drive at up to 25mph on battery only.

I picked up our freshly disinfected demonstrator from a colleague just before the UK wentintolockdownand,consequently, my planned one-week test became somewhat openaremorefamiliarwithconventional

● Subaru XV e-boxer, SE Premium

● Price: £33,665

● Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, engine with electric motor

● Power: 148bhp

● Torque: 143 lb/ft

● Transmission: CVT auto

● Top speed: 120mph

● Emissions: 180g/km c02

● Fuel consumption: 35.7mpg (combined)

ended, Subaru’s logistics team unable to collect the car without breaching lockdown rules.

I’ve had ample opportunity then,totesttheev-onlyfeature during my once-weekly supermarket run through the suburbs. The transition between the two drive modes is fully automatic and pretty smooth, the sound of the petrol engine engagingtheonlysignanything has changed.

Performance at low-speed is smooth and refined overall. At higher speeds though, the old problem with CVT gearboxes rears its head and the noise from the engine caused when you hit the accelerator is disproportionatetoanyactualforwardmomentum.thevolume itself isn’t actually an issue, but the out-of-kilter sound takes a bit of getting used to when you transmissions.

Theextrapowerfromthetwolitreenginedoesgosomewayto improving this compared with the older 1.6-litre, however.

Range in EV mode is pretty limited and, even if you keep below the 25mph trigger point for the petrol engine you’ll only get a minute or so of pure-ev driving before you exhaust the batteryanditneedstorecharge. The chief benefit from the lithium-ion battery then, will be in lowering CO2 emissions (180g/km) and fuel consumption. The combined fuel consumption figure is 35.7mpg. Pre-lockdown, I was managing between 32 and 36mpg. Post-lockdown, however, I have been diligently following thefive-mileruleandhaverarely strayed above 40mph. During this period my average fuel consumption has been fairly consistent at around 38mpg.

Another advantage of the electric motor is the ability of the X-mode system to channel extrapowerthroughtheengine and boost low-down grunt to handle difficult conditions and increase off-road capability.

It’s an oft-repeated cliche that Japanese manufacturers aren’t renowned for their interiors, but the chunky, solid-feeling interior of the XV is a real highlightforme.it’snotthepinnacle of elegant luxury, but it’s clear and uncluttered, the seats are comfortable with a high range of adjustment and visibility from the driver’s seat is excellent.

Information is displayed via either the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment console or the smaller split information screen above it. Having two screens allows you to have yournavigationoraudiochoice on display and still keep track of your battery activity and other essential information at the same time.

Dual zone air-conditioning, reversing camera and heated seats come as standard on SE models and SE Premium cars add leather seats with contrast stitching, eight-way power adjustable driver seat, satellite navigation and a sunroof.

Subaru has garnered a lot of praise in recent years for advanced safety technology. In April it was voted best manufacturer for safety features in the 2020 Driver Power survey, for the second year running, and won a technology award at the 2020 What Car? awards, with judges calling the Subaru Forester’s driver monitoring system “the most advanced of its kind”.

Like other models in the Subarurange,the2020xvispacked fullofsafetytech,fromeyesight driver assist (which uses two cameras mounted either side oftherear-viewmirrortomonitor the road in front of you), to adaptive cruise control, precollision braking, pre-collision throttle management, lane departure warning, lane keep assistandleadvehiclestartalert (whichalertsyouwhenstationary traffic in front of you starts to move).

There is also a rear vehicle detection system that identifies vehicles approaching from the rear and runs the blind spot monitoring, lane change assistandrearcrosstrafficalert functions.

Looks-wise the XV is fairly nondescript and, despite the high-tech hybrid system, the car’s economy figures are fairly unremarkable too. It is well built and very well equipped, both in terms of comfort and safety and it’s that advanced safety tech that Subaru wants potential buyers to pay attention to.

There are a number of cosmetic upgrades distinguishing the e-boxer from the standard model, including a new front grille design, low-profile roof rails, new fog lamp bezels, LED fog lights and a gloss black rear spoiler.

Priced from £31,665 for the SE trim, the XV e-boxer is a steep option in a competitive class. The equipment list alone – long as it is – won’t win out in a value for money competition when you can buy a similarly specified Nissan for four grand less. Furthermore the benefits of that expensive, high-tech engine aren’t the kind that are likely to give you a payback in thelongrunwithlowerfuelbills – as you might enjoy with, say, a plug-in hybrid.

What you can’t put a price on though, is the safety of your family.