   2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek. Click image to enlarge |
Review and photos by Jonathan Yarkony
It’s been quite some time since we tested the Subaru XV Crosstrek (in non-hybrid form), and the last time we had it around this office it swept away the competition in our Mini-Crossover Comparison Test shortly before wrapping up a long-term test. At the risk of completely ruining the suspense, we still love it.
In the past year, I must have recommended this thing to at least a dozen people, my dad the latest victim to fall prey to my preaching. There is a particular charm to it, especially in its vivid tangerine orange, against which the signature Subaru plastic body cladding stands out and cheekily advertises its ‘rugged’ personality. The other mini-utes seem like such city slickers, between the bug-eyed Juke, sleek RVR and somewhat dull Trax, the XV banks on Subaru’s already adventure-oriented customer base and manages to really stand out from the crowd. Okay, maybe not in this bLack on black tester.
Now, that’s not to say it is not without fault, but it has a unique combination of character, efficiency, capability and affordability that I think will be in the sweet spot for many shoppers looking at compact hatchbacks or small SUVs. I’m not alone. In its first full year of sales, Subaru sold more than 6,000 in Canada and over 50K in the USA. They’re on pace to sell even more of ‘em this year.
The XV Crosstrek is smaller than the familiar trucklets in the compact SUV category, like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Subaru’s own Forester. There are only a few competitors similarly sized, the Chevrolet Trax (and its semi-premium twin Buick Encore), Nissan Juke and Mitsubishi RVR. But there are more to come, including a Fit-based crossover from Honda and the Jeep Renegade, and even luxury makers are getting in on the act, BMW already on board with its X1, and Mercedes and Audi answering with the GLA and Q3, respectively.
But enough about other vehicles, let’s get into this one. The XV Crosstrek, at 4450 mm long with a 2635 mm wheelbase, is a bit longer than the Trax or RVR, which yields better cargo space and legroom, with respectable headroom, even with the sunroof optioned. Cargo space is listed at 632 L and 1,470 L with the seats folded down. Even with the seats up, the cargo bay is wide and tall despite a fairly dramatic slope to the rear hatch and a standard retractable cargo cover. The seats are easy to fold and raise, split 60/40 for varying cargo and passenger needs.
Although legroom in the rear is sufficient, the seats are flat. We only used them for our kids, both of whom are in car seats, which proved a cinch to install. The driver’s seat was nicely contoured and comfortable, and all seats were covered in breathable fabric, so my backside was quite happy. Heated seats are also standard.
   2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek dashboard, centre stack, steering wheel controls. Click image to enlarge |
The steering wheel is covered in decent leather (Sport trim and above), with audio and cruise control switchgear on the spokes (standard), and controls for the nifty multi-information display on the dash. The info display features fuel consumption, trip info, all-wheel-drive power distribution, or date and time. The gauges are simple and conventional with a low-res info screen between the gauges, so not quite as legible as some of the leaders in this dark art.
The materials are a mix of soft plastics on the dash with harder more durable materials below the silver accent spar, and switchgear is basic but functional. However, the interface screen is a small dot-matrix affair, though basic functions of volume, mode and tuning are easily deciphered. Bluetooth, in this setup, is connected via the steering wheel voice command controls. Climate control is a conventional three-knob system with inset buttons for specific functions, and a generous storage cubby is ideal for phones and ‘phablets’ of any size, with 12V and USB ports. Another ‘pocket’ aft of the leather-wrapped shifter can hold your phone upright until you hit the first bump or turn, then cupholders and under-armrest storage. The seat-heater controls are oddly placed next to the cupholders behind the hand brake.
   2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek seating & cargo area. Click image to enlarge |
Out on the road, the XV Crosstrek is an easy car to drive. Slightly higher than the Impreza on which it based, the chunky styling interferes very little with outward visibility, so you can see the road ahead and to the sides very well, and it’s no trouble at all backing into tight parking spots even with no back-up camera.
Driving it is similarly effortless. Pop the shifter into D, and the CVT transmission (a $1,300 upgrade in any trim except hybrid) will take care of all the work. However, if you find the tendency for RPMs to surge irritating, you can pop it over into Manual mode, with six simulated gears and paddles shifters (in every trim!). I found this relieving as the auto mode tended to drone and whine, but in manual mode I could keep the RPMs lower for a quieter drive in traffic.
   2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek. Click image to enlarge |
The engine is a simple affair: Subaru’s signature Boxer layout, meaning horizontally opposed, four-cylinder making 148 hp at 6,200 rpm and 145 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. This is entirely sufficient, but Subaru has programmed it with a fairly aggressive throttle reaction, so it really jumps off the line. While this is typical in subcompacts that are tuned for city driving, I’ve often wondered whether it is appropriate in this rugged little crossover. And it may be quick off the line, but it runs out of steam a bit at higher speeds.
Also helping with the initial response is the standard Symmetrical AWD. Subaru doesn’t just use symmetrical because the power distribution is equal, rather it is because the components are all evenly balanced on the left and right sides of the car, which makes that car handle with greater balance.
Anyhow, the AWD wasn’t put through much of a test with only mild rain in our test week, though I did find a steep gravel hill and found it was quick to find purchase even with some aggressive uphill launches, with barely a pebble spit out the back. The XV has decent ground clearance at 220 mm and with its small dimensions, could squeeze into a lot of places big trucks would struggle to reach. Then again, it doesn’t have the carrying capacity of a pickup or large SUV.
The other oddity I find with the XV Crosstrek is the ride compromise. It is a decent handling little vehicle, but to achieve that the suspension is a tad stiff, and results in a jittery ride, especially on highways that are not smoothly surfaced. If you do a lot of long-distance driving, I could see this being tedious after a while. I would point to the Honda CR-V, with a more cushy suspension, but still reasonable handling for rough city roads or country cottage trails as the way to go in this segment.
Finally, my compliments to Subaru on the fuel consumption. As you may recall, we have dealt our share of criticisms of the XV Crosstrek Hybrid – neither James (8.0) nor Jacob (10.4) achieved very impressive fuel consumption numbers in their usual routines for a vehicle as small and light (1,575 kg for the hybrid and 1425 for this CVT model) as this with a hybrid powertrain. I achieved 8.6 L/100 km, which is, for me, a good result comparable to some other FWD compact cars I’ve driven in similar warm weather weeks (2014 Kia Forte: 8.2; 2014 Honda Civic: 8.9).
   2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek fuel economy. Click image to enlarge |
Now, the price is a bit higher for the Subaru XV Crosstrek when you look advertised starting price of its chief competitors, but with an automatic and AWD, the Trax and RVR start at similar almost-$26K price points. We drove the $26,495 Sport trim, with power sunroof, USB audio integration with Bluetooth streaming audio, HID headlights, rooftop spoiler and the leather-wrapped gear selector and steering wheel. Add $1,300 for the CVT and Subaru’s $1,650 Destination charge and you’re already at almost $30K before accounting for taxes. Stick with a base Touring model and the five-speed manual transmission, and you still get 17-inch alloy wheels heated front seats, auto climate control, cruise control, steering wheel controls for cruise and audio, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power windows and mirror, six-way manual adjustable seat, roof rails, Bluetooth phone connectivity and halogen fog lights for closer to $26K before taxes.
There’s plenty more stuff, but this vehicle will likely speak to those who want a solid, dependable vehicle for year-round use even in slightly rugged terrain. It’s the kind of car you see a canoe strapped to the roof (in fact, I did just today), parked at the head of a hiking trail or a mall downtown. It can do everything, and do it affordably. It doesn’t have sexy styling or big horsepower numbers, and you can skip the hybrid and still take home an efficient, practical all-season all-purpose car.
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Pricing: 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Sport
Base Price (Touring): $24,495
Base Price (Sport): $26,495 ($27,795)
Options: $1,300 (CVT automatic transmission)
A/C Tax: $100
Freight & PDI: $1,650
Price as tested: $29,445
Competitors:
Buick Encore
Chevrolet Trax
Hyundai Tucson
Mitsubishi RVR
Nissan Juke
Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
