When crossovers and SUVs got their second wind on the market, automakers jumped on the opportunity to open the gates and flood each and every segment of the market with as many models as possible. But, some automakers have taken an interesting approach where they take a car body and throw it on a jacked-up body – a quick way to create new models without spending heaps of cash on research and design. The upcoming and next-gen Subaru XV is one of these models and, like the 2016 Subaru XV Concept, this production model will sport the body of the 2017 Subaru Impreza five-door with a raised suspension; just enough to make it appealing to the masses who, predominantly, love these high-riding people haulers a lot more than they probably should. So far, little is actually known about the XV, but given the silhouette shown in the first teaser image, it’s safe to assume that it won’t differ from the Impreza five-door outside of ride height and a few mechanical bits.
With that said, the new XV is set to make its official debut in Switzerland on March 7, 2017 at the Geneva Motor Show. So, let’s dive on in and take a closer look at the official teaser image and talk about what the production model will offer when it goes on sale later this year as a 2018 model.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2018 Subaru XV.
Exterior
The teaser image only shows about 40 percent of the entire vehicle, with the rest of it covered in shadows or blocked off by the angle of the shot. But, as you can see from the two images below, the body of the new XV (left) is nearly identical to that of the five-door Impreza (right:)
Right away, you can spot that the XV sports the same angular windshield, sloping roof, and waistline, to go with what appears to be identical taillights and the same distinct body lines on the side profile. The latter of which is unique and stylish, with the middle line sloping downward before gently angling upward again and traveling over the rear door handle before terminating the outermost point of the taillight. The sharper line runs almost parallel with the waistline itself, while the lower and less-pronounced body line bridges the gap between the wheels. Based on what we see here, it’s safe to assume that it will use the same headlights and side mirrors, as well.
So, what will the main differences be?
The XV look a little more rugged than the Impreza five-door, it will sport thick pieces of body cladding along the bottom edge of the front and rear fascias, as well as along the contour of the wheel arches.
Well, to start off, to make the XV look a little more rugged than the Impreza five-door, it will sport thick pieces of body cladding along the bottom edge of the front and rear fascias, as well as along the contour of the wheel arches. The side skirts will be a little different than those on the Impreza, as they will also sport a thick cladding that links ties the whole exterior package together. We can see that the hood will feature the same distinct lines, but it’s quite possible that Subaru will provide a restyled front fascia that’s a bit less aggressive to help give the XV its own presence in the lineup and reinforce the whole rugged crossover look. The rear fascia, on the other hand, will likely carry over but – like the front – could see a skid plate of sorts that will also emphasize its more rugged nature.
The only other differences on the outside will be limited to a different overhang on the rear hatch that is thinner and a bit longer, while the side panels below the overhang will also be thinner to give it more of an SUV look. The mechanical bits required to give the car such a high stance should include taller springs, struts, and shocks, which appear to raise the body off of the ground by at least six inches compared to the five-door it is based on. You can also expect it to come with different wheel options that are more in line with the crossover/SUV look as well as tires with thicker sidewalls. It’s weird how the little differences can make a wagon-like body look more SUVish when integrated correctly, huh?
Interior
As usual, Subaru has said and shown nothing regarding the interior of the new XV, but that’s okay because all you have to do is take a look at the interior of the new five-door and you’ll know exactly what to expect. Technology will include a semi-digital instrument cluster with a small but tall TFT display between the tach and speedo. The standard infotainment display will be a 6.5-inch unit, but upper trim levels should get the same eight-inch, Starlink multimedia system as that higher-trimmed five-door models. The latter will bring the option for a Harman/Kardon audio system. Other features will include push-button start, keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift boot, leather upholstery, six-way powered front seats, and a navigation system with map and traffic data from TomTom.
Note: Subaru Impreza interior shown here.
Because of it’s based on the five-door rear seat passengers will get the benefit of a little extra headroom over that afforded by the Impreza sedan while the second row of seats should fold flat for extra cargo room if needed.
Models that have the eight-inch infotainment system should benefit from Bluetooth phone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android auto, as well as USB connectivity and iPod control. Because of it’s based on the five-door rear seat passengers will get the benefit of a little extra headroom over that afforded by the Impreza sedan while the second row of seats should fold flat for extra cargo room if needed. The aforementioned features will be limited to the higher trim levels, so don’t expect that eight-inch display or leather upholstery in the entry-level model.
Outside of the features mentioned here, the interior should be identical in form and function to its lower-riding sibling. So, you’ll see that redesigned dash, dual display screens, wide center console, and even the supportive seats. Most trims will be available with a two-tone color scheme that will make the inserts on the door trim panels match that of the seats, the pillars, and the roof liner while most of the other trim panels, including the dash and the carpet, will be in a darker color.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, the new XV should sport the same powertrain as the Impreza, which means you’ll find a 2.0-liter, DOHC, boxer engine that delivers 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. That’s an improvement of four horsepower over that of the XV Crosstrek from yesteryear. Nothing to write home about, obviously, but an improvement nonetheless. On the flip side, the XV Crosstrek was offered with a five-speed manual as standard equipment or the Lineartronic CVT as an option. So we expect the same thing to happen with the new-gen model as well, with the entry model getting the five-speed as standard while the higher-trimmed models will be stuck with the CVT.
Note: Subaru Impreza engine shown here.
The new XV should sport the same powertrain as the Impreza, which means you’ll find a 2.0-liter, DOHC, boxer engine that delivers 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque.
The new XV should also come standard with Subaru’s awesome Symmetrical all-wheel drive that includes features like vehicle dynamics control and traction control. The Impreza that the XV is based on manages to achieve 31mpg on the highway and 24 mpg in the city, but expect the official numbers for the XV to be a bit lower thanks to its higher stance and the few hundred extra pounds it has to haul around. All told, fuel economy figures will probably be more like 22 mpg in the city and 30 mph on the highway, but we’ll know more about that closer to its official launch. Active torque vectoring should be standard on upper trim levels, as will 18-inch wheels. The sprint to 60 mph should take somewhere in the neighborhood of 9.3 seconds with top speed coming in around 120 mph – if you’re brave enough to get up to that speed, anyway.
Prices
With the last XV Crosstrek starting out around just north of $21,500 at least check, expect this new model to start out around $22,700 or so, which takes into consideration all of the updated technology, the new body design, and the stronger body structure. Of course, the Impreza five-door only jumped up by $100 in entry-level form or $1,000 in range-topping form, so the XV could see a similar pricing structure. For now, we’ll just have to wait it out and see what happens later on this year.
Competition
There are more than enough compact crossovers on the market, so we could list give you enough reading material in this section for days. However, I’ve decided to pick out a couple of decent contenders that will make good alternatives to the Impreza-based XV.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V entered its fifth generation for the 2017 model year, so it will be sporting a fresh design when the new XV hits the market. As far as dimensions go, the CR-V is quite similar to the expected dimensions of the XV, starting out with a 102.8-inch wheelbase, to go with an overall length of 169.1 inches, height of 63.2 inches, and a width of 69.8 inches. Under the hood, you’ll find that the entry-level LX gets a 2.4-liter with 184 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque on tap, while other trim levels get a 1.5-liter turbo mill that pumps out 190 ponies and 179 pound-feet – both of which mate to a CVT transmission. All can be optioned with all-wheel drive, but it comes at a $1,300 premium. But, Subaru’s have always been known to have exceptional value, so it should come as no surprise that you’ll have to pay more for the CR-V, with prices starting out at $24,045 ($25,345 with AWD) and increasing to as much as $32,395 ($33,695 with AWD) for the range-topping Touring trim.
Read more about the Honda CR-V here.
Mazda CX-5
The CX-5 is another one of those crossovers based entirely on a hatchback car, albeit it with raised suspension. It has actually performed pretty poorly for Mazda thus far, but for 2017 Mazda is ushering in a new generation. That model, however, isn’t on sale as of the time of this writing, so official details at this point are rather thin. It should compete well, though, as it will be offered with the choice of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet or a larger 2.5-liter with 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. It’s possible that the engines could see a mild increase in output, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. It can be had with a manual or automatic transmission, and all models should be offered with the option of all-wheel drive. Pricing is expected to start out around $22,500 for the entry-level model and could increase to as much as $29,300 for the range-topping model.
Find out more about the Mazda CX-5 here.
Conclusion
It almost seems pointless for a brand like Subaru to release a teaser image of a crossover that will be heavily based on a previously released concept and previously announced car that it will be almost identical to. But, there should be a few minor things here and there that will set it apart outside of the extra ride height and body cladding. For now, we don’t know what all of that is, but I’ve covered the possibilities pretty well for what we currently know about the upcoming model. It will be making its debut in March, so be sure to check back then for full details on it and how it compares to the competition.
Subaru are pleased to announce that the all-new Subaru XV will make its global debut at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show to be held in Switzerland 7th-19th March 2017.
Fitted with Subaru’s renowned Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, XV is a compact SUV with a personality packed exterior.
The all-new Subaru XV will be unveiled at the press conference scheduled for 11:00 AM (Central European Time) on 7th March at Subaru booth following a speech by FHI President CEO, Yasuyuki Yoshinaga.