2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
The tangerine-coloured crossover vehicle was in its off-road glory during the writer’s test drive this past autumn
It’s been a year of renewal for Subaru, with models redesigned, new technology introduced and a pair of new vehicles added to the lineup. First came the BR-Z sports car and, a few months ago, the Japanese automaker’s latest crossover: the XV Crosstrek.
I had a few short turns behind the wheel when the XV was launched, but had to wait until the fall for a full week with this vehicle. Turns out, the wait was fortuitous.
The XV doesn’t need much help standing out since Subaru decided to put out a Tangerine Orange test car on the fleet. With a late autumn drive of the XV, the vehicle blended in well with the fall colouring, especially with the trees in a wooded area near my house.
And, quite frankly, the woods are a place where the XV feels right at home, as I found out during the launch event near Ayer’s Cliff — about 140 kilometres southeast of Montreal.
In the Subaru lineup, the XV sits between the Impreza sedan and the Forester Crossover, giving it a sedan-like feel with off-road capabilities. After all, it does have a 220-millimetre ground clearance, the highest in its segment.
The XV is powered by a 2.0litre four-cylinder Boxer engine that generates 148 horsepower and 145 foot-pounds of torque. These are not overwhelming numbers, but they are adequate for the vehicle.
The standard transmission is a five-speed manual, while the test model came with the optional Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) with paddle shifters.
This is Subaru’s secondgeneration CVT and it is a vast improvement over the previous version. The paddle shifters came in handy at times as you can force the CVT i nto higher or l ower “gears.” When downshifting, this allows you to benefit from engine braking, just like you would in a manual transmission.
And, of course, the XV comes with Subaru’s symmetrical fulltime all-wheel-drive system — one of the best, if not the best, AWD systems in this price range.
The XV’s fuel efficiency is rated at 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 6.0L/100 km on the highway. During my time with the XV, which was spent mostly on Montreal highways and with notraffic, I averaged10.1L/100km.
The crossover is offered in three trims, starting with the Touring model at $24,495 with the standard manual transmission; the CVT is a $1,300 extra. The base model comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, Bluetooth and halogen fog lights.
My Tangerine Orange ride — which got more than a few compliments and plenty of stares — was the Sport model, which goes for $27,795 with the CVT.
The Sport Package adds a power tilting and sliding glass sunroof, iPod/USB audio integration with Bluetooth stream- ing audio, HID headlights, a large roofline rear spoiler with integrated brake light, and leatherwrapped gear selector and steering wheel.
The top-of-the-line model is the Limited package, which has a base MSRP of $28,995 but adds leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation, and power-adjustable, foldable, heated door mirrors with integrated LED turn signals.
Prices listed do not include the $1,695 delivery and preparation charge.
The XV’s passenger compartment is pretty comfortable. Furthermore, there are good sightlines thanks to the large windows and extra piece of glass near the A pillars that eliminate a blind spot usually caused by the side mirrors.
There is some noise intrusion into the cabin, mostly from the engine under hard acceleration. At speed, wind noise is not a problem.
The five-seater has large dials for the climate-control system and steering-wheel-mounted buttons for the radio, cruise control and telephone.
The placement of buttons for the heated seats is a bit awkward, but that is a minor issue.
With 60/40 folding rear seats, the XV has a maximum cargo capacity of 51.9 cubic feet, which is augmented by standard roof rails and a towing capacity of 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds).
While this Subaru isn’t what the brand typically offers, it still has all the hallmarks for which the Japanese automaker is known — like off-road capability, a solid build and, of course, all-wheel drive.