Is Subaru’s XV Hybrid Worth the Money?

David and I took a perfectly matched pair of Subaru XV Hybrids for a turn in the country, in separate directions.

Subaru is behind the ball when it comes to sticking batteries and an electric motor in a car, and the current XV and Forester mild hybrid range is a toe, dipped into the muddy waters of charge-n-drive.

First, a bit of housekeeping:

• XV is a high-riding version of the Impreza hatch
• All Subarus have AWD (except for BRZ)
• All Subarus have a boxer engine

The latter is where this Subaru wanders off the well-trodden track. Subaru hybrids have a small battery bank, and tiny electric motor under the rear floor, to assist the flat-four up front. It takes the place of the spare tyre, sadly.

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David and I had a pair of Laguna Blue XV’s an S and an L, and after collecting the cars from our secret bunker, we headed off. David did the family thing, and me? Well, I took the boys away to the farm.

XV hybrid comes in 2 models, a base model with hard-wearing fabric seats, and a posh model with real cow, and bendy LED headlights. By comparison, the base model’s headlights feel like four-candles (see Below if you don’t quite get the gag)

Adding other luxury touches like a classy glass roof, and fancy power washers for the front lights, the 2 model range is topped by a car that as pleasantly packed, at a price. Hybrid L AWD is $35,490 and Hybrid S AWD costs $40,790 ($45,606 drive away), according to Subaru’s website.  That is around 3 grand more than their non-hybrid sisters with the 2.0i-L AWD for $31,990 and the petrol range topping 2.0i-S AWD at $37,290.

Above: This Week 2021 Subaru XV Hybrid Review

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ABOVE: 2021 Subaru XV Hybrid

The outside: got a a spot of light surgery for its mid-life update, but the nips-n-tucks are so minor as to be almost imperceivable. Hybrid S has bending LED lights with washers, and different wheels, but that’s about it.

XV feels and looks like a small family hatchback, because that’s what it is. XV is in the middle-aged part of life, so is neither new nor old.

The Inside: didn’t need much tweaking, but if you’re thinking of buying an XV, do not look inside the new Outback or much envy will come. The main feature is information split between 3 screens: a small driver’s display, a small high-set centre display, and a large centre display.

The top model scores leather, dual zone air, and a sunroof.

The cabin is comfortable, with rear legroom adequate for taller people. Headroom is limited by the sunroof with cuts in to the forward section of the rear cabin, making the space seem smaller than it actually is.

The drive: David took the S, so that meant I was consigned to the entry “L” level jalopy.

It’s been ages since I rounded up the usual suspects for a weekend outing, and I was really looking forward to a weekend out.

Ethan, Casper and Max loaded their plentiful belongings into the back. All three had Akubras up top, and RM Williams down low. I simply had no words.

Buoyed by a reasonably priced booze-free lunch, we headed up the M1 for The Hunter. I had to listen princess Casper bitch about the lack of opening glass overhead for almost an hour. To cover the unwarranted taunts, we streamed music from the CarPlay system, taking turns to select the themes.

Max peddled for the last hour. A washout near his mum’s country pile required a work around I didn’t care to tackle, but Max handled it with aplomb. Parts of the temporary drive looked rather like a segment of the WRC, so max slipped the Scoob into X Drive. We slowed to walking pace for the worst bits.

The bucolic beauty is enhanced by vines that have started to turn, with russets, and browns, punctuated by green johnny-turn-latelys. The clocks have gone forward so evenings feel that much darker and that much cooler, that much earlier.

As befitting a scene from a postcard, we parked the XV up in the rusted corrugated iron barn. Once she was trucked up for the night, much champers flowed. The blazing fire pit created a contemplative mood, with chat finally turning to the XV, and how well it had handled the farm’s foibles.

The AWD-ness of the little wagon gave it ability beyond its remit. It climbed every mountain, forded every stream, and absolutely followed every byway, but storms of the past few months have left the farm more of a nightmare than a dream. Sound of Music references notwithstanding, the XV did what we asked of it.

Get the Full Specifications Sheet HERE:MY20 Subaru XV Specifications

Max:

I’m not absolutely convinced I’d spend the bucks on the hybrid. The fuel savings were little, and the cost over the petrol car, was big. Apart from that, it was fun, and cute. We had it loaded with gear and people, and it was comfy and quiet. Four big lads might be happier with more space in the back. After a few hours, it feels a bit cramped.

XV needs a turbo, and a proper automatic gearbox. They have a hot wagon with Levorg (soon to be

‘WRX wagon” instead) so why not an XV?

Casper:

I like the looks, and the AWD does what it says on the box. The XV range is reasonably priced, but I’d probably save the money and go for the petrol-only model. I love the eyesight, but the cameras take up a lot of windscreen real estate.

I don’t like CVT automatics, not in any car. But what I did like was the quiet, smooth ride. It handled the rougher stuff too, which really surprised me. The private road is graded but the storm made parts of it quite challenging. Max’s mum has a Landie, so she’s immune from such things.

Ethan:

Yeah, I’d buy this. I like power-cars, but I also like what a hybrid says about society. I’d rather a full electric for sure, but I do a fair bit of interstate driving and I couldn’t be bothered stopping to recharge for 20 minutes every few hours. A hybrid charges its own batteries, so until the charging is sorted, this will do me. I don’t care that it is only a mild hybrid.

The engine:

110kw gets an electric boost of 12.3kw, but the total output is a little less than the petro-only car. The promised 6.7L/100k didn’t eventuate. Our trip, combined with city duty, was good for 9.1L/100k. Considering the engine cut out at every stop, with even more time spent in EV mode, we thought the fuel figures were disappointing.

The CVT got a universal panning. It has 7 simulated ratios for spirited driving, and without a manual gearbox, is the closest we get to being able to select gears ourselves. No matter what car makers tell us, CVT automatics are tolerated, but never loved. There is no sense of power under foot. The belt and cones continually adjusts, so unlike automatics with lockup torque converters, the engine isn’t locked to the wheels.

OK, Subaru’s CVT is probably the best in the business, but I don’t have to like it.

AWD is symmetrical with torque vectoring. If that means nothing to you, you’re not alone. Put simply, it means you get better grip from all four wheels on most surfaces, whether paved or not. It’s great on rainy days on the road, but in the dirt, XV laughs off all but the very toughest challenges.

Eyesight is Subaru’s safety suite. A couple of cameras sit at the top of the windscreen, looking forward. They help with the lane control and autonomous braking. Outback’s version 4 Eyesight has slimmer cameras which give the system a more integrated look.

Other cameras monitor the sides of the car when turning or parking, and reverse cross traffic alert will warn then brake to prevent those annoying marks across the rear bumper..

Uses: A small family, young couple, or active single should find the space ample. There are top tethers and isofix for baby seats, and bag hooks in the cargo area for shopping bags. The is no spare tyre, as that space is used to batteries and electric motors.

S/I drive changes the way the CVT works, and there is downhill assist and hill start assist, both of which are more likely to be used on tarmac rather than dirt.

Verdict:

XV Hybrid feels solid, is reliable and good first effort towards an electric future. No matter how hard some try to resist, the world is moving inextricably to a low carbon future that doesn’t involve bits of old dinosaur.

Pricing:

XV MY21             

• 0i AWD – $29,690
• 0i-L AWD – $31,990
• 0i Premium AWD – $34,590
• 0i-S AWD  – $37,290
• Hybrid L AWD – $35,490
• Hybrid S AWD – $40,790

Get the Full Specifications Sheet HERE:MY20 Subaru XV Specifications

Engine: 2.0L boxer 4cyl

Power: Petrol – 110kw/196Nm, Electric – 12.3kw/66Nm

Trans: CVT with 7 stepped ratios (paddles shifters in top model)

Econ: 6.7L/100k

CO2: 152g/k

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