Features

Subaru launches XV crossover to tempt towcar buyers

The XV will be available from March for under £22,000

by Chris Jefferies
Japanese carmakers Subaru have launched a new compact four-by-four called the XV, and with prices starting at under £22,000 and 56mpg possible, this makes for a very appealing towcar.
The name Subaru is more commonly associated with motorsport rallies than caravan rallies, as legendary Scottish racer Colin McRae dominated the World Rally Championship in the 1990s in his Subaru Impreza.
Some of this rallying pedigree has rubbed off on the XV, with the sporty bodyshell offering a very low centre of gravity, which should improve stability when towing, while the all-wheel drive system promises excellent traction on smaller, more remote caravan sites.
In terms of styling, Subaru has gone for a sporty yet restrained look, which should give this model wide appeal for towcar drivers of all ages and tastes.

Marketed as a ‘compact crossover’, this model will face direct competition from the Ford Kuga, the recently launched SsangYong Korando and the highly popular Nissan Qashqai.
With kerbweights ranging from 1,350kg to 1,415kg for the XV this crossover is fairly light on its feet, but nonetheless Subaru claims that it can tow up to a maximum of 1,600kg.
Even if you prefer to use the Caravan Club’s 85 per cent rule, then a Swift Challenger Sport 382 would make a suitable match.
Price-wise the XV is a fair bit more expensive that the equivalent Ford or Nissan, but Subaru claims that the standard specification is much higher.

For £21,295 you get a wide array of gadgets and gizmos as standard, including automatic air conditioning, daytime running LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels and an abundance of airbags.
Indeed the safety aspects of the XV should make it particularly popular with families, as it comes with a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating, making it the safest vehicle in its class, particularly with regards to child safety.
Plenty of power
Subaru haven’t skimped on the power either. There is a choice of a 1.6 or a 2.0-litre petrol engine or a 2.0-litre diesel engine, which they predict will prove the most popular.
The diesel option kicks out 149bhp and generates 350Nm of torque. The result is 0-60 in a rather respectable 9.3 seconds.
What’s more, Subaru has managed to deliver class-leading fuel efficiency – this thing will do more than 56mpg solo, they claim.
If you want to go for all-out luxury, you can spend the best part of £30,000 on the XV, but if you opt for the diesel version with the standard-level of kit, then it won’t cost much more than £24,000.
The Subaru XV compact crossover is due to reach showrooms across the UK next month.
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