Topic: 2013 Subaru XV

[Snowman]

The Impreza family expands:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/2013-subaru-xv-crosstrek-first-drive-review/

[quadzilla]

I think it looks good in the pictures (except that colour) but sadly just another CUV with not so great mileage.

...the 2.0 liter turbo-diesel with the manual transmission. We drove her through the winding back roads north of Florence amidst the Chianti vineyards, villages and Fiat fix-it shops, but she refuses to come to the States. You see, she will only date Europeans.

Not surprisingly, there's no diesel option for North America. But before we get back to the gasoline-powered XV, let's just say that the 145-horsepower turbo-diesel mated to the six-speed manual is the version everyone should aspire to drive. Its 258 pound-feet of torque and the olive-oil smooth shifter is what you want. We smelled a little clutch at the coffee-stop, but we chalk that up to a few hundred miles on the odometer and the desire to keep it on boil in third gear when the second driver in the car thought 4th was in order. Torquey and responsive, the Boxer engine and its low center of gravity, combined with Subaru's all-wheel-drive system, gives you everything you would need except maybe superior fuel economy. Throughout almost all Italian back-road driving, we got a shabby 29 mpg after we did conversions from European metrics, but that was five mpg better than the petrol version. Ah, but she can cook.

Too bad we couldn't get the diesel version. It would actually get my thinking about selling me car. I'd bet Subaru could easily take some sales away from the diesel VW crowd.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I think it looks good in the pictures (except that colour) but sadly just another CUV with not so great mileage.

...the 2.0 liter turbo-diesel with the manual transmission. We drove her through the winding back roads north of Florence amidst the Chianti vineyards, villages and Fiat fix-it shops, but she refuses to come to the States. You see, she will only date Europeans.

Not surprisingly, there's no diesel option for North America. But before we get back to the gasoline-powered XV, let's just say that the 145-horsepower turbo-diesel mated to the six-speed manual is the version everyone should aspire to drive. Its 258 pound-feet of torque and the olive-oil smooth shifter is what you want. We smelled a little clutch at the coffee-stop, but we chalk that up to a few hundred miles on the odometer and the desire to keep it on boil in third gear when the second driver in the car thought 4th was in order. Torquey and responsive, the Boxer engine and its low center of gravity, combined with Subaru's all-wheel-drive system, gives you everything you would need except maybe superior fuel economy. Throughout almost all Italian back-road driving, we got a shabby 29 mpg after we did conversions from European metrics, but that was five mpg better than the petrol version. Ah, but she can cook.

Too bad we couldn't get the diesel version. It would actually get my thinking about selling me car. I'd bet Subaru could easily take some sales away from the diesel VW crowd.

That diesel doesn't seem to get that much better mileage.

[quadzilla]

I was reading it as they drove it hard all the time and got 29mpg. For a Subaru I'd consider that really good. If you could get a real world 35mpg (US) with normal driving I'd be interested.

[Juke1]

I much prefer the Mazda CX5 over this, don't know about the rear end looks on this XV, it's got some styling cues from the eastern block, too chiseled.

[5 Wheel Drive]

I like it, looks great!  Impeza Outback?  For me, I find the Forester a little underpowered sometimes.  I'd probably find this even more underpowered.  

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I was reading it as they drove it hard all the time and got 29mpg. For a Subaru I'd consider that really good. If you could get a real world 35mpg (US) with normal driving I'd be interested.

35mpg is about 6.7L/100km. I think the best tank I got with the previous Outback with the manual transmission was 7.0L/100km.

The current best tank for the 3.6R is 13.6L/100km.

[richink]

Subaru should do a sanity check and bring us the diesel engine. 258 lb/ft of torque???  WHAT ?!?!?!?!

[1TSX]

I much prefer the Mazda CX5 over this, don't know about the rear end looks on this XV, it's got some styling cues from the eastern block, too chiseled.

Rear end is VERY Dodge Caliber like...and no, thats not a good thing.

[EV Dan]

I much prefer the Mazda CX5 over this, don't know about the rear end looks on this XV, it's got some styling cues from the eastern block, too chiseled.

Rear end is VERY Dodge Caliber like...and no, thats not a good thing.

^^^ agree 100%. Acceleration times are in the best Eastern block tradition too 

[life in the slow lane]

I much prefer the Mazda CX5 over this, don't know about the rear end looks on this XV, it's got some styling cues from the eastern block, too chiseled.

Rear end is VERY Dodge Caliber like...and no, thats not a good thing.

You are so right when it comes to you not liking the rear end of the Caliber. Gawd its ugly, the XV rear although close wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

[Snowman]

being an ass man I am having difficulty but I would get over it.

[1TSX]

I'd like to see it in more colors, as that orange definitely doesn't help...

[normancw]

being an ass man I am having difficulty but I would get over it.

The rear doesn't look so bad when the hatch is open