Combed and sleek, the Subaru XV retained a bit of originality in both construction and design.

So, friends, we are waiting for another meeting with a small but proud Japanese engineering company. We send our regards to this handful of daredevils defending the last bastion of automotive authenticity. There are few of you and much has been irretrievably lost, part of the fortress collapsed, and the gunpowder in the cellars is damp, but you, clutching your swords in strong hands, bravely meet the enemy buckshot and tear your kimono on your chest. We believe in you! Don't give up on anything!

BECOME LIKE EVERYONE

At the beginning of the XXI century in life Subaru many sad things happened. And surprisingly, it suffered the most damage from its own marketers and designers. These demons whispered to the creators of the famous boxer engines: “Give in! You have to give in to the market. The tastes of the crowd will not spoil us in the least. They were echoed by Frau Martha with her famous remark: “Be like everyone else, Karl! Not for long. Pretend." Do you remember what Baron Munchausen answered? “To become like everyone else? Not to fly to the moon, not to pull yourself out of the swamp by the hair? .. ”Poor Carl and poor Subaru, they were still deceived. The Japanese pretended to want to meet the demands of the modern market, as a result of which the Subaru became just a “scary and unreasonably expensive” model, and the baron got a job as a salesman in a flower shop.

imposing ground clearance at 220 mm it does not always save. The front overhang is long.

DEAD END ROAD?

There is an opinion that legendary brands, such as Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and other brands standing on a par with Subaru, have retained their individuality only thanks to the support of international alliances. They did not have the opportunity to survive on their own in today's market conditions. So, maybe the Japanese are clinging to their independence in vain? Maybe it's a dead end? Paradoxically, those who sold out to giant monsters like Volkswagen, GM, Renault and Fiat kept their name and face. And over those who desperately fought for independence and originality, on the contrary, there is a threat to turn into a collection of dull consumer soap dishes. Isn't that the direction Subaru is headed today?

LOOK BACK

But back to XV. Combed and smoothed, he nevertheless retained a piece of originality in both construction and design. Emphasized ignorance of elegant artistic trends still makes itself felt. In fact, the appearance of the XV is only partly fashionable, namely when viewed from the rear and side of the car. The front part, traditionally carefully passed down from generation to generation, is more like something living in a pond - frighteningly ridiculous and strange. Under the hood is the same uncontested two-liter aspirated engine with a capacity of 150 hp. With. The motor is still boxer and is paired with a CVT, known for its high reliability when used off-road.

Solid, radiating confidence interior. It's nice to be here.

Laconic circles of devices without pretentiousness and "colorfulness".

The touchscreen does not respond well to a gloved hand.

CAUTION IN THE SAND

So, during the last restyling, the Japanese slightly corrected the exterior and interior. Cosmetic changes. Naturally, modernized optics. In particular, the taillights received LED brake lights. However, on the mechanical side, too, something has been done. For example, the logic of the electric power steering has changed. Now the amplifier works all the time while the car is in motion, even if the engine has stalled due to an emergency situation. Fortunately, all the advantages that the crossover had off-road are preserved. There was also an impressive ground clearance, which is a record for its class of 220 mm. Although you still need to move carefully along the off-road - despite the impressive ground clearance, the front overhang is quite massive and a small angle of entry will not allow you to frolic properly. Still happy with the all-wheel drive system. The electronically controlled multi-plate clutch is located in the same housing as the variator and is therefore absolutely protected from overheating. Electronic assistants make it possible to effectively deal with diagonal hanging. However, do not rely on them when driving on shaky ground.

FAILURE TO THE WORLD MARKET

I have to admit japanese crossover, as before, gives the driver a feeling of reliability, security and stability. However, the obvious question for the consumer is: “Why pay that kind of money for a regular car with a small trunk?” Recall that the volume cargo compartment XV is only 310 liters. Very modest! For comparison, in every sense cheaper Renault Captur suggests 387. I understand that there is no simple answer to such questions. Perhaps the Subaru patriots will support the brand by continuing to buy restyled models in large quantities. Or ... or proud Japanese company will unite with another, also independent and bold, for example, with the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant. Not for the joint production of cars, but simply to show a huge figure to the soulless and cynical market. Personally, I would support such a flash mob.

Will Subaru emerge from an existential crisis? We are rooting for you, a small but proud company!

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Subaru XV has load-bearing body. Front suspension MacPherson strut, rear - independent, spring, double wishbones, with stabilizer roll stability. The engine is four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, two-liter gasoline with multiport fuel injection, designed for AI-95 gasoline. Box - variator. Paired with a CVT is an active torque distribution system that, under normal conditions, transfers 60% of the power to the front wheels and 40% to the rear. The power steering is electric. The volume of the tank is 60 liters.

Text: Magazine 4x4.

If you put them side by side, the differences will be noticeable immediately, but individually, the current generation of the Subaru XV crossover and its predecessor can be confused with habit. But this is only until you get to know the car inside, and even more so in motion. We met. And we have something to say about the difference.

Among classmates, for several reasons, it stands apart at once: a lighter appearance, permanent all-wheel drive, a minimum of unification with other brands and models (the company is still independent), a complex of systems active safety EyeSight…

At first, it is even difficult for Subaru to find direct competitors. But we traveled and realized that he was not an exotic fruit, but a comrade well prepared for Ukrainian roads. But does he have to have at least one weakness?

Engineered

The appearance of the Subaru XV can be described in one word - complex. Irregularly shaped headlights, protruding elements on the bumpers and wheel arches that go into the sidewalls of the body rear lights. There is definitely something to look at. But in comparison with its predecessor, the general style has not changed much - which means that the target audience approves of this appearance. and does not expect radical changes. The headlights received built-in daytime running lights, and the top modifications received an adaptive LED light that can look into turns. All lights, except for brake lights, are classic, with incandescent lamps.

The dimensions of the car have changed, and all the increase should be assessed by passengers. Wheelbase added 30 mm, length increased by 15 mm, and the width increased by 20 mm. WITH geometric passability Subaru is also doing well - a clearance of 220 mm is perhaps the largest figure in the class. Yes, and we did not notice large overhangs.

Interestingly, in the versions with the EyeSight security system, the engineers were very attentive to the field of view of the two cameras under the windshield. Right wiper even supplied with an additional washer nozzle- so that no dirt! Indeed, for a week of salty-snowy winter operation the system never gave errors about poor visibility of the road.

With internal factory index GX is completely new. According to the designers, the torsional rigidity has increased by 70%. Such a significant increase in this parameter became possible due to a larger proportion of high-strength steels and advanced power elements. At the same time, the total weight of the car was not reduced. Apparently, in such a difficult way, the saved kilograms fell on new electronics.

We look and do not wash

The orange line will be visible anywhere in the cabin - it is on the steering wheel, on the dashboard, on all seats. It really enlivens the interior, diluting gray colors salon. The chairs themselves are upholstered with combined materials - leather, perforated fabric.
The orange line is found everywhere. Between the front seats - a deep armrest.

According to the automaker, they are easy to clean and are not afraid of dirt or water. Everything, as in a real SUV, so to speak.

Salon is not afraid of dirt and washes well. Yes, it looks very fresh.

By the way, the seats themselves are very soft, while with excellent lateral support. An uncommon combination, really. They keep your back in place even in corners and help you move through bumps. On the back row more space overhead (+9 mm), and in the legs (+26 mm). The only thing that can cause discomfort is the transmission tunnel rising above the floor. Compared to the previous generation, the sound insulation has improved, the cabin has become quieter.
Enough space on the second row. A high transmission tunnel in the center hinders the movements of the person sitting in the center.
The set of electric drives is not the widest, but the range of adjustments is large.

It is felt that the car is more designed for the transport of people - passengers than for inanimate objects. Default luggage compartment ready to take on board 310 liters luggage. To load heavy objects, they will have to be lifted high. But I admit that it is more convenient to load large items, the width of the opening at the bottom has increased by 100 mm, at the top - by 9 mm. If you fold the backs of the second row, we already get 1220 liters. Temporary hid under the floor spare wheel and foam insert-organizer.
The trunk is high, and not very big.
Having folded the backs, we already get a large flat space.
Under the floor is a spare wheel and a basic set of tools.

The chubby steering wheel is heated and has a host of keys, from adaptive cruise control settings to voice assistant activation. The instrument panel received a large color screen, which displays information from the onboard computer and the status of active safety systems. The caliber of the two main instruments is small, but psychologists say that a strict font makes it easier to perceive information.
The climate unit is familiar to us from other models of the brand.
Before starting the engine, the instrument arrows fly around the entire dial. Which, by the way, reads well.

An 8-inch touchscreen monitor with excellent responsiveness controls the connected smartphone ( Apple CarPlay protocols and Android Auto work great), navigation, audio. A voice assistant with a low female voice, strongly reminiscent of a teacher, it is easy to find a common language, she understands commands well. If passengers want to access the Internet, one of the smartphones can be connected to the system as a modem.
The menu icons are large and clear, the voice control system understands Russian.

There is another one in the cabin digital display, designed to display service information - fuel consumption, climate control settings, etc. It is located above, under the windshield. Its place is familiar to all Subaru fans, it used to house three analog devices.
All systems are normal - the car tells us. We are working...

Boxing without turbo

The Japanese are interesting people. Usually in the automotive industry, they try to pass off even the slightest change as an innovation. Subaru did the opposite. 2.0 liter gasoline engine , installed on the hero of our test, received the same FB20 index as its predecessor. But this power unit has more than 80% of the parts are new, even the engine block is its own.

Fastener modification attachments, design optimization and new alloys allowed reduce engine weight by as much as 12 kg. direct injection fuel, increased compression ratio, eliminated the problem of increased oil appetite - these are just some of the steps to improve the engine. What about his performance? Thumbs up: 156 Horse power and 196 Nm of maximum torque is the average in the class.

This car is no longer designed for drive and “ignition”, but for confident and calm movement in any conditions. That's right: in any. A high-torque motor combined with a stepless variator is perfect for traffic jams, for the track, and even for off-road. Proprietary all-wheel drive system with active torque distribution under normal conditions transfers 60% of the torque to the front axle and 40% to the rear. Depending on the situation, the thrust can be transferred along the axes in free mode.

McPherson struts at the front and a “double-lever” at the rear, along with the power unit, are assembled on the new SGP platform, which all new crossovers will try on Japanese brand. According to our feelings, Subaru XV, thanks to a perfectly tuned chassis, can claim the title of the most comfortable crossover in the class on the Ukrainian market. The car is not afraid of pits or potholes.

Now a few words about the EyeSight system. It includes pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision accelerator control, forward vehicle start warning, lane departure warning and lane yaw warning. Of course, we were most interested in the system automatic braking. Two spaced cameras are responsible for estimating the distance to the vehicle in front, which are installed on two sides of the rear-view mirror. The system is able to distinguish between cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and reacts separately to brake lights.

Of course, there are some limitations as well. So, EyeSight may not work correctly in heavy snow, fog, contrasting light and very polluted windshield. It was very scary and unusual in active traffic to trust our health and peace of mind to electronics, and we did not dare to experiment on a country road. But on a closed range, the system showed itself perfectly. EyeSight is not an autopilot, but only an intelligent assistant-assistant designed to protect the driver. And he does it very well. The most frequently triggered function in a metropolis is a reminder that the car in front of you in a traffic jam has already left.

For evolution

The evolutionary path of development has always been close to the sentimental and vulnerable Japanese. The same situation is with cars. In Subaru with new generation XV crossover had to present a whole . Otherwise, this is a well-known, obedient and flexible car. Of course, learned a lot of new things. All of us in the modern world are learning non-stop...

Whole photoshoot

In my more than a decade career as a motoring journalist, this was the first and hopefully the last time that they wanted to ... take away my test car. It happened at the presentation of the crossover Subaru XV new generation

A test drive of the new crossover took place in Karachay-Cherkessia. When there were fifty kilometers to Cherkessk, I was overtaken by a black "seven" BMW without numbers and with a broken front bumper. For the next few minutes, the car moved ahead at some distance, then stopped on the side of the road, and after I drove past, the boomer started moving again, hung “on its tail” for a while, then went into the oncoming lane and caught up with me. Further, the individuals sitting in the "seven" gestured to the side of the road - they say, we need to talk. I nodded and began to slow down. The German sedan walked around me and took to the right. I pretended to stop too, and after bmw slowed down, sharply took to the left and gave on the "gases" ...

On a new platform

I don’t know what attracted those sitting in the Bavarian so new Subaru XV, because appearance it hasn't changed much. Moreover, in fact, the body of the crossover is completely new. And the platform too. Actually, XV became the first model of the brand, built on the basis of new platform Subaru Global, thanks to which body rigidity has increased by more than 70%. In addition, the car received a modified suspension and sharper steering. All this combined with a lower center of gravity (compared to the previous generation) promises improved handling and increased vibroacoustic comfort. Also, representatives of the company claim to improve the smoothness of the ride.

When the old and new Subaru XV are side by side, the fresh model seems restyled, but if you look closely, you can see the changed proportions of the car. So, wheelbase increased by 30 mm, while the length increased by only 15 mm, which means shorter body overhangs. The width has become 20 mm larger, but the height has remained the same. As well as ground clearance, which is still an impressive 220 mm for a small crossover.

Of the features, I note the ATV traction vector control system, which slows down the internal ones relative to the turn of the wheels, as well as the EyeSight driver assistance function, which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, a lane warning system and active lane control. When driving in reverse the crossover will stop itself if suddenly the driver does not notice an obstacle. In addition, the new Subaru XV follows dead zones, automatically switches from high beam to the near and turns the headlights in corners.

In Russia, this crossover is offered with two power units. Both engines are naturally aspirated petrol and, of course, boxer. The first has a volume of 1.6 liters and develops 114 hp. The second unit is a 2-liter 150-horsepower. Compared to the previous generation model, the engines have been upgraded. Both are paired exclusively with the Lineartronic CVT, which has an extended powerband for improved acceleration performance and reduced fuel consumption.

And, of course, all modifications are equipped with permanent all-wheel drive, which is supplemented by the X-Mode system, which allows you to change the parameters of the engine, transmission, drive operation algorithm and stabilization systems to improve driving performance off-road and slippery surfaces. The system also includes Hill Descent Assist, which maintains a constant speed while driving down steep slopes. In a word, the crossover is prepared quite well for driving outside the asphalt.

Quality is a priority

It must be said that before Subaru models traditionally distinguished by spartan interiors. This was also the case with the previous generation XV model. The salon of the new crossover looks much more expensive and more prestigious due to the finishing materials more High Quality. And the design has become more interesting - the eye has something to catch on. Analog gauges read great, and the two center displays have good graphics.

The front seats have fairly firm padding and a good profile. They completely satisfied me even after several hours of travel, as did the geometry of the driving position, although some colleagues complained about the lack of lumbar support. Wheel has a smaller diameter than its predecessor, and fits comfortably in the hands, while expensive trim levels heating is available.

There are no complaints about visibility, as well as to ergonomics in general, except for grammatical errors in the Russian menu. The interface allows you to connect smartphones and supports Subaru Starlink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems. All this works flawlessly, including with the help of voice commands, the recognition quality of which has been improved compared to the previous generation model. The climate system also functions perfectly, the noise of the air flows of which is noticeably reduced.

Thanks to the increase in the wheelbase by 30 mm, the rear of the cabin has become more spacious. So, with my 180 cm height, I settled here comfortably: there was a decent gap in front of my knees, there was space for my feet under the pillow front seat, overhead space was also in abundance. In addition, the sofa is well profiled, there is also a convenient folding central armrest.

Volume luggage compartment with a 5-seater saloon, it has not changed and is 310 liters, but with the rear sofa folded down, it increases to quite decent 1220 liters. When folding the sofa, by the way, you get a flat area. In the underground there is an organizer with compartments for small items and a “stowaway”.

Created by engineers

Subaru's new slogan for Russia: "Created by engineers." Thus, representatives of the Japanese brand want to emphasize that it was the engineers who were the main ones when designing the car, and not marketers, who have recently been accused by all and sundry of deteriorating the resource and reducing the cost of products. Judging by the quality of the interior trim, the way it is. It remains to see how the car drives.

On the test there were modifications with a more powerful 150-horsepower engine. The union of the engine and continuously variable transmission is very good, so much so that the accelerator pedal is practically devoid of CVT "rubbery". You increase the supply of fuel, and the engine reacts instantly, causing a feeling of direct connection with the wheels. In addition, the transmission successfully simulates gear changes. But all of the above is only true for quiet ride. But when trying sharp acceleration, for example, when overtaking, for some reason the variator is in no hurry to output power unit to the revolutions of maximum torque, which is why the acceleration is rather lazy. In a word, from 150 hp. you expect more.

But the chassis is set up right! If the predecessor was distinguished by a rigid but energy-intensive suspension, then new model goes through bumps much softer, while holding the blow no worse than before. You can move along the broken country road without slowing down, and even the rear passengers do not complain about shaking, because the ride is almost as good in the second row as in the front. And on the pavement, the "Japanese" demonstrates accurate and reliable reactions to control actions, confidently prescribing turns in the mountain serpentines of Arkhyz and Elbrus. The chassis capabilities are truly impressive. It would have had an even more powerful motor, “horses” for a hundred commercials ... You look, and they would have come off that Bavarian “seven”.

However, the story of the attempted weaning vehicle, oddly enough, ended happily. I, as I have already said, did not stop, while the "seven" parked. Then I caught up with our colleagues in the same Subaru XV and drove along with them. After a couple of minutes, the people in the BMW reappeared in my rear-view mirrors, but when they saw that there were already three of us, apparently, they decided not to get involved and, having overtaken in the oncoming lane, drove away. I think we were very lucky that everything worked out that way.

Car on a test drive "Autodel": Subaru XV
Engine: horizontally opposed petrol 2.0 l with a capacity of 150 hp
Transmission: CVT with 6 fixed virtual gears
Car cost: from 914,600 rubles for vehicles manufactured in 2012, from 984,600 rubles for vehicles manufactured in 2013.
The cost of the test car, taking into account additional equipment: 1,336,000 rubles.
Vehicle Warranty: 3 years or 100,000 km, whichever comes first.

In recent Subaru years diligently tries to formally increase its the lineup just as it was done with Legacy and Outback at one time. After all, now few people remember that earlier these models were as related as the Impreza and XV are now. Moreover, a few years earlier there was even a trial model of the Impreza XV, which after the experiment successfully dropped the first part of the name, changed its appearance, changed a little internally and became an independent model just like the WRX and WRX STI.

However, the differences from the Impreza this time are much more serious than the changed appearance and raised body. The Subaru XV has two new engines and two new transmissions. The first engine is a 1.6 liter petrol engine, as usual, boxer, with a power of 114 hp. and a torque of 150 Nm. With this engine, you can order either a mechanical five-speed mechanics, which, by the way, will have higher and lower gear modes, or a continuously variable Lineartronic transmission, which, in simple terms, is a variator that, hovering at certain speeds, makes the acceleration character linear and smooth. For all my dislike for such boxes because of the monotonous noise and slowness, I have to admit that I really liked this variator more than all that I had to ride before. After all, I had to use the paddle shifters, which provide switching between virtual fixed gears, only once, and then for the sake of pure interest. By the way, this is not the continuously variable transmission that is put on the Legacy and Outback. This is its smaller and lighter version, designed specifically for XV and designed for low-power motors.

Thanks to permanent all-wheel drive, with mud treatmentsSubaruThe XV does a much better job than its competitors with a plug-in rear axle.

Though SubaruThe XV is not a sports car, but the orange color definitely suits it. If you choose gray or black, then the car will receive much less attention on the road.

The second engine is a boxer two-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 150 hp. and a torque of 196 Nm. With this engine, there was a test car. Together with him, the same continuously variable Lineartronic gearbox, which I described above, worked. But one of Subaru's surprises is the six-speed manual, available only with the 2.0 engine. The point is that up to this point, Subaru had the only “six-speed” with an incredible margin of safety, a huge mass and an equally impressive price, and it was put exclusively on STI cars. Subaru XV, although it has something in common with these cars, is still, first of all, a civilian car, so its transmission was developed by Japanese engineers based on five-speed gearbox, which, of course, was significantly improved and finalized to introduce another stage.

It was not possible to make the loading height of the trunk lower due to the fact that there is a spare wheel under the floor, and also because the car has a large ground clearance of 22 cm. So the level of the raised floor is flush with the loading height. Trunk volume, by the way, is a modest 310 liters.

Finishing the conversation about the main technical components of the machine, it should be said that both motors belong new series FB, which replaced the old EJ. They still remained horizontally opposed, as if smeared along the bottom of the engine compartment, providing a lower landing in the chassis. Compared to other structures, this results in an optimal weight distribution of the structure and a lower center of gravity. The pistons in such motors are located at an angle of 180 degrees. This increases the stability of the vehicle in the transverse direction and reduces the level of vibrations, since such an arrangement of cylinders mutually compensates for the vibrations of a running engine. In the new generation of engines, the ratio of the piston stroke to its diameter has increased, in other words, the new engine has become longer-stroke. This provided better engine traction in the low and medium speed zone. And thanks to other changes, including the lightening of pistons and connecting rods, the engines have become more economical and environmentally friendly, while maintaining the same dimensions. Probably supercharged versions should appear soon.

The dynamics of the Subaru XV is acceptable, but not impressive. The fastest car will be two-liter engine and mechanics - 10.5 seconds to hundreds, with a variator, the acceleration time increases by 0.2 seconds, and with a 1.6 engine, this exercise will take XV more than 13 seconds. The fuel consumption declared in the passport is quite a bit different from the real one. In the city, I got about 11 liters, and on the highway in the region of seven (according to my passport, 10.5 and 6.5, respectively).

AtSubaruXV there is no concept of "options", there are only many fixed configurations, so, for example, xenon headlights cannot be obtained in the base.

As we know, Subaru has never been as massive as, for example, Toyota or VW. And it's not about bad quality. Cars of this brand have always been, as it were, “on their own wave”, for fanatics. Subaru's design has never been stunning and sophisticated. And the interior was not distinguished by sophistication, and sometimes there were even budget solutions in it. And since the price tags for cars with a galaxy of stars on the radiator grill have never pleased, you can’t turn a blind eye to all these little things.

Subaru XV in terms of design has changed somewhat, younger, but definitely not more solid, especially if you choose it in orange (Tangerine Orange Pearl). Plastic body kit around the perimeter suits him - without him, the car would not look so interesting. Special attention two-tone wheels R17 draw on themselves. but impressive size a little hidden by their internal black color and a decent profile height (225 / 55R17). By the way, you won't be able to choose a different disk design; moreover, they are installed as standard equipment.

From the front, the car looks aggressive thanks to the harsh squinting of the headlights and the shape of the air intake with a black “lip”, but from behind the car is unremarkable. Even the Impreza's LED lights have degraded into conventional ones with light bulbs. From the side, the Subaru XV looks slightly stretched, but that's good, because thanks to this, the door openings have become simply huge, and the doors themselves open wide. Now climbing into the car has become much easier. For me personally, the car has the appearance of a telegraph pole painted orange. If it was gray or black, I wouldn't even pay attention to it. If orange impressed me, then my wife's opinion is "a car is like a car." But this is the opinion of young sophisticated people, but older people liked the appearance of the car. Moreover, many became interested in him, so the flaws in the design refinements of the Subaru XV can be fully compensated for by catchy visual solutions.

The plastic body kit does not just go around the whole car, as is usually the case with the same Audi, but thins to the bottom wheel arches. I'm not sure that this carries some kind of functionality, but it looks clearly more interesting.

Be that as it may, although far from creative heights, the design is clearly not repulsive, and this is good. But what Subaru does well is the chassis. And XV fully confirms this fact. You can trust the handling of the car. Trust not as a crossover, but as a hatchback. And this is despite the fact that the car has a gigantic, by the standards of crossovers, ground clearance - 22 cm, the same as that of the Subaru Forester. And it's not the stiffness of the suspension, but all the same boxer engine, thanks to which the center of gravity of the XV is lower than that of competitors. With little body roll in corners, the XV is surprisingly comfortable. No matter where. On asphalt and dirt. The "omnivorousness" of the Subaru XV is to some extent due to rally genes. Indeed, it seems that the pits, bumps, potholes and speed bumps only provoke the newly made crossover. It's funny to see bumps, but not to feel. Grandiose.

Just as you can't buy a Toyota RAV4 without a steering wheel, a VW Tiguan without wheels, you can't buy a Subaru XV without all-wheel drive. True, depending on the type of transmission, the scheme of its operation also changes. In the case of mechanical Subaru boxes XV will have a traditional four-wheel drive with a self-locking center differential on a viscous coupling, and paired with a CVT - an all-wheel drive system with active torque distribution. The whole system is electronically controlled, and if necessary, can change the distribution of torque. By default, 60 percent of the traction goes to the front axle, and the remaining forty percent goes to the rear wheels. The Volkswagen 4Motion works very similarly.

Hard wear-resistant plastic is now found only in the lower part of the cabin SubaruXV. It is correct: it struck there, it touched it - you don’t have to worry.

Back in a SubaruXV is full of space. But from the blessings of civilization - only an armrest with cup holders, and even then not in all trim levels.

With the seats folded down in a SubaruXV, a perfectly flat surface is formed without steps and inclinations. And the volume of the trunk immediately increases almost 4 times to 1200 liters. It's a pity that there is no hatch for long lengths.

The interior of the Subaru XV is also expected to change for the better. But not cardinal. The plastic is soft in places, but is still found to be hard. During a long journey, several times the plastic began to unexpectedly creak and rumble dully, and then, just as unexpectedly as it had arisen, the “cricket” disappeared. It does not bring discomfort, especially if you turn on the music. But in a million dollar car, you don't want to put up with it.

Even more noteworthy is the light leather of the interior, more like a high-quality leather substitute. She is kind, rude, but even Koreans have already learned to do better.

The touchscreen monitor with navigation in Russian and high-quality graphics is responsible for the novelty in the Subaru XV cabin. There is also Bluetooth and music. On top of the torpedo, under the visor, there is another 4.3-inch color LCD screen that displays an econometer, clock, fuel efficiency diagram, outside temperature, self-diagnostic system and display mode for four-wheel drive and ABS with ESP. The latter, by the way, is very interesting: after all, the system shows how many seconds the stabilization system worked. But not functional. After all, in emergency there is simply no time to look anywhere but the road. Another interesting feature of the Subaru XV is the need to read information from right to left. It is completely illogical, strange, because in the vast majority of sales countries Subaru is read from left to right. Not immediately, but you can get used to it.

On the Subaru XV on-board computer screen, you can display in turn the clock, basic information during the movement, the scheme of fuel consumption efficiency relative to average consumption, the scheme of the systems passive safety and four-wheel drive, a table of fuel consumption for the last 30 minutes, an econometer paired with a distance indicator to the next refueling.

The list of Subaru XV equipment is striking in its richness compared to the same Impreza XV. There are xenon headlights, and power seats and mirrors, and dual-zone climate control, cruise control, USB, decent music with six speakers, a keyless entry system and engine start using a button, a multi-position sunroof, light and rain sensors, an assistance system for start from a place on a slope, a rear-view camera, navigation, two color screens and one monochrome. In expensive trim levels with a variator, there are also paddle shifters. Already in the Subaru XV base there is a complete set of active safety systems: ABS with brake force distribution system, dynamic stabilization system and assistance with emergency braking. And already the second complete set of CC is equipped with six airbags, and the car itself is rated “5 stars” by Euro NCAP.

SubaruXV - a car that is misleading: looks more like a "hatch" on stilts, but off-road will leave many classmates behind. Or, at the very least, get away from them.

In muddy clay and mudSubaruXV feels in his element.

Of course, all-wheel drive, capacity and high ground clearance are weighty arguments in the fight for a buyer. And if a perfectly tuned omnivorous driver's chassis is added to all this instead of a dull and "cardboard" one, then the soul becomes even warmer ... unless they ask for a lot of money for it. The most expensive version of the Subaru XV will cost 1,336,000 rubles, which is 50 thousand rubles cheaper than the recently tested Ford Kuga with the same engine power and automatic transmission. True, he was better equipped. It is worth saying that prices for Kuga (949,000 rubles) start at about the same mark as for XV (984,600 rubles), but Subaru XV will already have four-wheel drive and a 114 hp engine, while Kuga 36 horses more powerful and with a drive on one axle. However, prices for Nissan Qashqai 1.6 at this level are already ending, but starting -per version Qashqai 2.0.

While I was shooting these shots, the men stopped several times in UAZs and old Japanese SUVs, thinking that they needed help. And they were impressed by how this city "orange" climbed out onto the asphalt over and over again.

The lower black "lip" of the bumper not only gives aggressiveness Subaru XV, but also very practical. If something happens, it will be much cheaper to change only it than the entire bumper.

In the end, I must say that this car reminds me of an Olivier salad on the first morning of the new year - a little windy and unpresentable in appearance, but still delicious and will fully satisfy the appetite that has been played out overnight. And if there were only Subaru cars in the world, I would gladly call the XV one of the leaders, combining decent performance, permanent all-wheel drive, excellent chassis, comfort, advanced electronics, not too modern interior, tolerable finishing materials and adequate, although not small, the cost. But there is one problem - the market is full of other machines. Besides, the Subaru XV, with its permanent all-wheel drive, which is almost impossible to overheat, I would place somewhere between classic crossovers like the ASX and still off-road Grand Vitara. Meanwhile, in management, the feeling that you are driving a passenger car, and not a crossover, does not leave. And this is despite the huge ground clearance and promising, by the standards of the class, of course, off-road capabilities. Sure, Subaru will have new customers, but it's still a car for fans who care more about design.

Text and photos: Alexander Dolgikh

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