I have a XV and I absolutely love it. The way I look at it is: it's a great little family car, safe, reliable, good quality and good looking (imho). We go camping and fishing a lot and I love the fact that I don't have to worry if the trail gets a bit bumpy or rough. No issues with taking it up to the snow as well. Deals with city traffic same as any other car, great on country roads as well. We did a 6000km road trip with two kids and there were no issues whatsoever. I think the engine suits the character of the car, it's like throw anything at me and I'll be fine. Yeah, it's not a sports car in terms of acceleration, but I don't think it needs to be. You get great fuel consumption because of that. And all that for mid $30k. I'm a fan 🙂
@@michaels999 I bought it in Sydney - it was a 2.0 L, with added roof-racks, paint protection and a front dashcam. Final price was around $36k drive away. I test drove the Kona and the CX30, those 3 were then what I was choosing from.
I looked at a 2013 model and decided not to buy it because of the horror stories about the CVT failure. Still not sure I made the right call on this one
I agree, it's a unique touch to this channel. And honestly I wouldn't have thought so many manufacturers charge so much extra for different non-metallic colours
@@CarExpertAus Agreed. It's also interesting to hear which options are free/ how much the other colours are. Looking at your Kia Seltos with "Starbright Yellow" (vomit) the default, but every other colour an additional $520!!!
To me the XV is almost the perfect car, just lacking grunt for country driving. Such a shame Subaru won’t bring the XV 2.5 to Australia. Would be even better with a 1.6 turbo
Hi Paul, I'm a proud owner of a 2020 WRX STI Spec-R & probably the best part of owning a Subaru - the build quality. The car feels so well built & you can see that Japanese pride in the overall finish. This is my first Subaru (was a lifelong Nissan owner) & the Nissan quality has plummeted over the last few years. So far, so good. Loving the Subaru ownership!
Bought my Subaru XV back in 2016. Have done 185,000kms in that time. Serviced every time at the dealership. Couldn't be happier with the service and treatment over the time. Very much looking forward to updating to a 2022 edition
I’m on my second Outback, a 2005 3L model. I love it. The AWD is very good in snow, ice, gravel and sand. The traction control is basic but effective at controlling wheel spin. It’s comfortable, spacious and does everything I want with ease. I love it!
Love that you've also shown the car key! I also love that you've placed time stamps on parts of the video so that we'd know which parts to skip if ever we decide to skip!
Have a 2013 XV from new, (now at 140,000kms) love it, solid, reliable and I love the planted feel of Subarus when driving on any surface. It’s been a great city runabout that can handle some pretty rough dirt tracks without any anxiety. Probably replace it with a new XV in the next 12 months or so. The 2.5 engine would make it even better package though! Still holding out hope they bring it to Aus.
XV Wish List: 1. 2.5L Engine 2. More comfortable seats 3. Larger Integrated touchscreen (like the outback) And most importantly: 4. The ability to PERMANENTLY disable engine auto-off at idle. Give us those 4 things and I will buy one.
I’ve had an outback for 15 years. Definitely the best car I’ve ever owned. Not the best car ever but so universal. Really underestimated I reckon. Nice one Paul! Cheers mate
My first Subaru was a 2012 XV (diesel, 6MT). After a long and passionate relation I changed to a 2018 XV. I use it for work, sport, leasure, quite a lot off road - just because that is the kind of place I live. Snow, mud, dust, sand, gravel, motorway - same good. All my other cars used to be like tools for me, Subaru was the first that I actually started to develop feelings to.
I can't fault them, I have a secondhand 17 Forester and it's been a real pleasure to drive. I get a lot of beeps that I don't know what for thought when I am driving, the voice assistant is unreliable but I love my car. really happy with the purchase. The only thing I wish they did was to increase the available power for the car.
I am driving my third Subaru in a row. In 2006, I bought a MY05 Subaru WRX base model with a 4 speed automatic transmission and owned it for 6 years. In 2012, I bought a new Subaru XV 2.0i base model with CVT which I took to an aftermarket tuner and had it turbocharged. I owned it for 7 years. In 2019, I bought a new WRX Premium with CVT and I am very happy with it. I intend to keep it for 10 years.
Yes, colour info is useful. And all colours are free, I don’t understand the extra cost for other colours given it’s just a different pigment! Metallic maybe.. but just colour? And those wheel arch cladding looks wonky...
I own a 2016 Forester, a 2.0 Boxer diesel. This car is without doubt the most reliable and incredible car I have ever owned. I regularly get 50+mpg and frequently get 55mpg. On a few occasions I have seen 60mpg on a run. Furthermore it has only needed the following in 93,000 miles: One new set of glow plugs One new set of brake discs and pads Two rear wheel bearings. I have maintained it at my local Subaru dealer (Daventry, UK) and the customer service is excellent. I have no intention of changing it, but if I was to get another vehicle to replace it I would not look beyond another Subaru.
I am a Subaruer. Ownership experience has been good after 20 months. The car was three years old and had done 37k when purchased. Servicing has been good but the cost is higher than average.
Thank you Paul for a fair and detailed review of the Subaru XV for 2021. To me, it was a mustard yellow colour. Where has the bright orange gone? In future reviews, I am happy for you to mention the colour options. As the owner of a Subaru Outback 2020, I am quite excited to see the review for 2021.
Subaru forester driver for 5 years now. Absolutely love it. It will drive virtually anywhere in any weather, and costs way less than Range Rovers and Land Rovers. 🔥👊
Had original 2014 and now have 2018 XV’s as second car, power is adequate for regular driving (it improves noticeably after 30k km) very comfy, very reliable. But if they had a WRXV I’d be first in line.
great little car, ive built mine up for overlanding and its been perfect for city 9 to 5 and the odd camping trip!. spent 30 days living out of the car offgrid and loved it! goes offroad better than i thought aswell!
I'm with everyone else who has said keep the colours on the videos - the colour of the XV in this test is Plasma Yellow Pearl (yes, I cheated and went onto the XV subsection on the Subaru website!)
Another great review Paul! Just found your channel not too long ago and love your videos! Always professionally made, easy to understand, time stamps included and you live up to your name “Car Expert”! You know your stuff!
Great review Paul. I prefer these jacked up hatchbacks and wagons to an suv. 99% of suv buyers would never take their car true off road so cars like this is perfect for most people. I also like the colour. I'm over the silver and grey
TBH, I've only had my XV a year, but the way it drives for me. I think it's a combination of permanent AWD paired with a very low center of gravity. It just handles like a dream. It's much slower, can't put my finger on it, but it's a hell of a lot more fun to drive than my Ford ST. I just keep on grabbing the Subaru keys... My ST used to be my daily driver, and the scooby wasn't intended to replace it, but it did.
I do get a bit jealous when i see them hooning through the snow. I wonder if they get a different power train cos they seem a lot quicker in US videos.
@@MLife1972 The 2.5 is new for 2019 here so maybe they will offer it next year in OZ. It’s 135kw. Adequate but not super fast. I guess that’s better than slow.
Keep the colours Paul. And agreed, I wish here is Oz we got the 2.5L option and a full size spare. In the absence of these the Forester makes more sense for me.
Love my 2003 Forester and planning to get the XV. I was glad able to check out colours and aiming for lemonny lime one. Safety features impressed me but was a little concerned with 2.0 engine but think as I am single 78yr old 5' female I won't need to stack up the weight as in the past in Forester.. Finally I hope there isn't a long waiting time for delivery for this vehicle.
My family’s got a 2021 XV/crosstrek here in Australia and a 2019 back home in Canada. They are excellent cars in rain, mud, and snow. No reliability issues so far and Subaru customer service has been outstanding. I think the dual screen setup in the XV is by far more useable than the single larger screen in the outback. And I like that it had actual dials for the climate control instead of the stupid buttons or tapping on the screen. My only “complaint” is that the Australian spec cars don’t have the option for the upgraded sound system that the North American cars get.
I had my heart on getting the Hyundai i30 N-Line Premium. Today, I was still car shopping, as I wanted to explore all my options in the $40k price range. Went to my local Subaru dealership, thinking I'll test the Liberty. Well, he showed me this and my god!! It handles like a dream. It's so light and just glides on the road. I've stopped Car shopping now. This is my new car.
Paul could you please add the engine sound segment too. Just like you add how the key looks like. We also want to know how the engine sounds like when it start up. Thanks Paul and keep up the good job👍
good review. having had a few drives of my daughter's XV I would add to the review that the road holding/cornering is top drawer obviously inherited from the Impreza. 2.0l engine in S mode seems fast enough and you know it will be good for years since it is unstressed, lots of parking cameras and active cruise control is brilliant once you have confidence!
Hi Paul, In future do you mind showing videos of the car at night. Such as showing off the LED's and the light bouncing off the curves and creases on the car? As vein as it sounds, it's a huge part of my purchasing decision. And I'm sure for many others as well. Thanks :)
Great review Paul, first time new Outback owner in late 2019 (Gen5 with Ivory Leather), very comfy & practical, local indy dealer fantastic service, zero options for heated steering in UK, which needs fixed. A turbo model would be great/more fuel efficient for all their cars and auto-folding door mirrors on lock would be the only changes to perfect the models. Keeping fingers crossed for the Gen 6 when it arrives. Eyesight is amazing and has saved me several times since i got the car (EB function).
Another super review. Yes, I do like information about styling and colours, althought that XV 'mustard / poo' colour is awful. Prior to this update, I was a passenger in the previous version and the engine tied with the discontinued manual was totally weedy and required constant gear shifting to keep it on song. The leather seats initially felt comortable but the seat-back was very flat so after a couple of hours, I was in a world of pain. Buyers should defintely take it for an extended test. On a positive note, I really liked the interior's chunky control controls and the visibility was great thanks to the generous amount of glass. (Great to see you on the news talking about the proposed tax on EVs).
We own a 2012 Subaru Forester diesel. It is and awesome car when it's working. Lovely to drive, good fuel economy and power but we have had a lot of problems with it such a DPF, timing chain, and the viscous coupling. Subaru was absolutely terrible when trying to fix these problems. They said that everything was our fault and would not recommend anyway to fix them so we now rely on a local mechanic who has learnt what the car likes.
Yes, I like it when you tell us how many colours there are to choose from. Beautiful, perfect, I was happy with you. To be clear, my husband is writing this, and I have had too much wine.
I have a base 2017 XV. I agree with Paul the engine (110kW) is too slow on take-off or when overtaking, also the CVT takes a few seconds to engage from Reverse to Drive. I would have liked the X Mode in all specs. This means I have to stay on level gravel roads :(. The boot is small compared to my Impreza hatch, I would have liked a larger boot. Also, the cargo blind cannot be stored under the cargo floor as the spare wheel takes up the space, as in the Forester. But I do like the full wheel spare (not full alloy) which came with the car. The A-pillar sometimes blocks your view during parking. Other than that I enjoy the AWD and the ground clearance. On the negative side, the vehicle has to be serviced every 6 months which to me is a nuisance. On the colours, I do think a small palette of the common ones would be a much better choice. Thanks, Paul for the review.
2 things I would like. 1.They need a latch to open the rear hatch from the inside. 2. USB C ports instead of USB A, and they should include a short cable for the head unit to phone connection.
I'm an Outback guy but would consider an XV as a 2nd car. My current Outback is a 2.5 turbo, which is great, but I was never unhappy with the power of the standard 2.5. I'd describe that colour as "vomit". Or as you Aussies would say "fooolly seeek, mate".
Im looking in buying another SUV vehicle and this one looks nice. I'm really dying to have a sunroof. One thing Paul, I fitted a pedal box throttle responder in my Renault Arkana and it was amazing! I think fitting one with this Subaru will enhance the driving experience. Give it a go next time on your car review. Thank you for making this video. I love watching all your videos.
not been a manual XV in a long time, just wish the CVT would be a little better response, same with the engine, a bit too rev hanging for me on test drives.
I have a legacy and my wife has a crosstrek. We love them! Great in snow and crap weather. Comfortable to drive and great turning radius. Downsides of ownership are; higher price to get into the brand both new and used, remote start is an option and is cumbersome. CVT is loud and slow. Overall though, great brand to be in
Second too!😂 My brother & a good mate have this model, albeit the previous model. Whilst they both love them, both say the engine is just ordinary when anymore than 2 people are on board.👎🏼 The simple fact there are no rear air vents these days is pretty much inexcusable! Styling wise I’ve always loved the look. Stick a turbo on it then “They will come!...”🙏🏻
I wish they'd XV the Levorg, or even better make a WRXV. Subaru are missing a SG Forester XT replacement. Small but with more space than the XV, fun to drive with a bit more poke. Those who have ever driven one would know what I mean 😁
To answer your question Paul, Subaru ownership is pretty standard. Relatively above average servicing costs, but generally speaking the cars are nice enough to offset that. My wife and I bought a new 3rd gen XV in 2016. It has been a great car for my wife who is not a gear-head and so the car does what it needs to for her, up until recently that is. In March we had our first child and since then have realised how small it really is. The pram takes up the whole boot just about and having a rear facing baby seat behind the front passenger seat means the front passenger seat needs to go quite far forward to accommodate, which is a pain for anyone over 5ft 10ish. My own criticism of the Impreza and XV is that our one and it appears this new generation as well, is brutally slow. The CVT is horrible and the power just isn't there. If I had the time again I would have paid the extra money and got the VW Golf Alltrack.
I've got a 2020 XV Premium in Thailand, made Malaysia and lots of the hitech stuff is missing - eg auto braking, lane keeper etc, - they must have thought (prolly correctly) that stuff is gonna have a fit in Thailand what with the crap or zero line marking and motor cycles everywhere. One annoyance for me is the rear spoiler - it needs a vent at the leading edge to shoot air down the rear screen to blow the dust off - it's immediately very dusty all down the rear end after washing! It's a good car to live with here with the extra ground clearance to cope with crap roads and occasional flooding. The usb socket location in the front is stupid - hidden there in the dark - you hafta plug in for your phone to do gps etc. And there is only one socket - should be two. The engine/transmission performance is totally fine, you can't really plant your foot much in this country. Love the headlight washers and in particular the headlights which look around the corner as you're turning - fantastic! Happy with my choice!
Love our MY20 Foz... had for 2 years now... comfiest ride ever... people who say the Subaru engines are underpowered probaby get lots of speeding tickets. No problem overtaking.
I have a 2019 Forester Premium and find it comfortable especially on long drives. Like the long travel suspension that sucks up all the pot holes and of course the all wheel drive that is excellent, especially in the wet. I would really appreciate a turbo especially for over taking on country roads. The start stop system is annoying and would like to have a way of turning it off permanently. The eyesight works ok until you try merging to get around someone stopped in front doing a turn and eyesight decides a collision is imminent and slams the brakes on nearly getting you killed by following traffic. Overall glad I bought it and will probably replace it with another one when the time comes ...
I love my subie. Won’t go anything else any more. I had a 07 out back now a 12 forester and more my son has the same. Now my wife wants the xv. Her 13 Corolla gives us all a pain in the neck because the head rests are shocking. The Subarus aren’t all that great for punchy motors in the standard range, having said that, it’s never ever let me down I love it, for ever loyal. Here’s my suggestion for future models, rear torq locker, small biscuits for huge return of road, makes it almost unbeatable in its class,.
the lack of an A/C air duct/vent for the rear passengers is really disappointing for such a car. They have it in Forester, why not in XV? It's really embarrassing.
Have the current 2020 forester at the moment, now travelled 10,000kms. One of the better new cars I’ve owned even though I’m not a big fan of the engine and trans. Reliable, economical and also good build quality.
We know Subaru could have given it a bit more power for the UK and Europe markets (sorry, im guessing for Australia as well), but the thing is, they needed to get a fine balance between power and economy. The Forester XT had a turbo and it drank fuel and there lies the problem with turbo boxer engines. Power but compromise on fuel economy. I think they would sell fewer if the XV had a turbo, people dont want low twenties MPG round town, its not acceptable. I turned down an XT for that reason. Also, CVTs work best when you build up the engine revs slowly, not flooring it. Too much noise and you make far better progress overall by letting the revs match the engine speed. I had the Outback, some say its slow but I could fly with very little effort once I got the hang of the CVT. I never needed to red line it either. People expect DSG performance from these CVTs. A real lack of understanding out there unfortunately. 150 bhp with added electric motor is enough for daily driving. The road isnt a race track and for anyone who says you need lots of power for overtaking, in reality you hardly ever need to overtake anyone. People are too impatient these days.
No need for AWD when it's over 10 seconds for 0-100km/hr. What does it need all that traction for? Rushing to the store to buy a dash mat? Subaru need to put proper transmissions in their vehicles. CVTs are junk.
keep the color options. it's nice to expose the manufacturers charging for basic paints. We call it a Crosstrek here, but it used to be the XV Crosstrek. Funny how your country got the XV and we got the Crosstrek designations.
Bought my Subaru Brat in 1985, last forever if you do oil changes. (Head mechanic told me this). Subaru's have never been known for power but I still want the crosstreck, yes I'm keeping my Brat
I have a XV and I absolutely love it. The way I look at it is: it's a great little family car, safe, reliable, good quality and good looking (imho). We go camping and fishing a lot and I love the fact that I don't have to worry if the trail gets a bit bumpy or rough. No issues with taking it up to the snow as well. Deals with city traffic same as any other car, great on country roads as well. We did a 6000km road trip with two kids and there were no issues whatsoever. I think the engine suits the character of the car, it's like throw anything at me and I'll be fine. Yeah, it's not a sports car in terms of acceleration, but I don't think it needs to be. You get great fuel consumption because of that. And all that for mid $30k. I'm a fan 🙂
Did you buy or lease how is the pricing where your at? Thanks
@@michaels999 I bought it in Sydney - it was a 2.0 L, with added roof-racks, paint protection and a front dashcam. Final price was around $36k drive away. I test drove the Kona and the CX30, those 3 were then what I was choosing from.
Fuel economy?
how many kms do you get out of a full tank and does it need to take premium unleaded or will 91OCT be good enough. Thanks
I looked at a 2013 model and decided not to buy it because of the horror stories about the CVT failure. Still not sure I made the right call on this one
Keep the colours, it’s only a few seconds and after all, it is a detailed review
Thank you!
I agree, it's a unique touch to this channel. And honestly I wouldn't have thought so many manufacturers charge so much extra for different non-metallic colours
@@CarExpertAus Agreed. It's also interesting to hear which options are free/ how much the other colours are. Looking at your Kia Seltos with "Starbright Yellow" (vomit) the default, but every other colour an additional $520!!!
No matter what car you own, driving a Subaru is really something else. Good review as always!
Very happy with my 02 Forester. Coming up to 400,000 km and still going strong
Do you have to service it every 6 or 12 months?
Do you still own it?
To me the XV is almost the perfect car, just lacking grunt for country driving. Such a shame Subaru won’t bring the XV 2.5 to Australia. Would be even better with a 1.6 turbo
Hi Paul, I'm a proud owner of a 2020 WRX STI Spec-R & probably the best part of owning a Subaru - the build quality.
The car feels so well built & you can see that Japanese pride in the overall finish.
This is my first Subaru (was a lifelong Nissan owner) & the Nissan quality has plummeted over the last few years.
So far, so good. Loving the Subaru ownership!
isn't it ironical that Subaru is part of GM!
@@mikeykeyes GM haven't owned a stake in Subaru/Fuji heavy industries for many years now
@@phonicfrog_ Yes, these days Toyota has a stake in Subaru, which is much more comforting than GM.
@@mauritsvw that's correct, Toyota have a 20% stake in Subaru now 😪
Bought my Subaru XV back in 2016. Have done 185,000kms in that time. Serviced every time at the dealership. Couldn't be happier with the service and treatment over the time. Very much looking forward to updating to a 2022 edition
I’m on my second Outback, a 2005 3L model. I love it. The AWD is very good in snow, ice, gravel and sand. The traction control is basic but effective at controlling wheel spin. It’s comfortable, spacious and does everything I want with ease. I love it!
Yes colours are useful I like to know which companies give more options
Would be great to see more all wheel drive SUVs do that same light off road course - very interesting! Great review as always!
Love that you've also shown the car key! I also love that you've placed time stamps on parts of the video so that we'd know which parts to skip if ever we decide to skip!
*Very happy with our 2021 XV. Test drove a few of the small turbo rivals and actually prefered the 2.0 L non turbo.*
Really? A 2.0L N/A engine with a CVT sounds like a pretty horrible combination to me :(
That's surprising. It's one of the most lackluster engines in the small suv segment. What did you test drive?
@@lamborghini0610 we don't care
@@lamborghini0610 Its fine as a city car. only real issue i came upon is when climbing a decent grade hill.
The S could do with the 2.5 L motor like in US .
Have a 2013 XV from new, (now at 140,000kms) love it, solid, reliable and I love the planted feel of Subarus when driving on any surface. It’s been a great city runabout that can handle some pretty rough dirt tracks without any anxiety. Probably replace it with a new XV in the next 12 months or so. The 2.5 engine would make it even better package though! Still holding out hope they bring it to Aus.
XV Wish List:
1. 2.5L Engine
2. More comfortable seats
3. Larger Integrated touchscreen (like the outback)
And most importantly:
4. The ability to PERMANENTLY disable engine auto-off at idle.
Give us those 4 things and I will buy one.
I’ve had an outback for 15 years. Definitely the best car I’ve ever owned. Not the best car ever but so universal. Really underestimated I reckon. Nice one Paul!
Cheers mate
Please keep the colours. I like to know what they offer and how much without having to go look for it.
At the same time I bought my RAV4 2021 after your RAV4 review so yea may not be looking for a new car for a while
Thanks, will do!
My first Subaru was a 2012 XV (diesel, 6MT). After a long and passionate relation I changed to a 2018 XV. I use it for work, sport, leasure, quite a lot off road - just because that is the kind of place I live. Snow, mud, dust, sand, gravel, motorway - same good. All my other cars used to be like tools for me, Subaru was the first that I actually started to develop feelings to.
I can't fault them, I have a secondhand 17 Forester and it's been a real pleasure to drive. I get a lot of beeps that I don't know what for thought when I am driving, the voice assistant is unreliable but I love my car. really happy with the purchase. The only thing I wish they did was to increase the available power for the car.
This is THE BEST CAR REVIEW I've ever seen. Kudos!
I am driving my third Subaru in a row. In 2006, I bought a MY05 Subaru WRX base model with a 4 speed automatic transmission and owned it for 6 years. In 2012, I bought a new Subaru XV 2.0i base model with CVT which I took to an aftermarket tuner and had it turbocharged. I owned it for 7 years. In 2019, I bought a new WRX Premium with CVT and I am very happy with it. I intend to keep it for 10 years.
Thanks for the feedback, Andrew!
I have a 2014 FXT now at 60,000 kms. Still running with not much major problems. Loved it so much that I bought a 2020 XV.
Yes, colour info is useful. And all colours are free, I don’t understand the extra cost for other colours given it’s just a different pigment! Metallic maybe.. but just colour? And those wheel arch cladding looks wonky...
Great point!
Colour feature was a welcome surprise, keep it. Great presentation and review, my new go to channel for vehicle reviews
I own a 2016 Forester, a 2.0 Boxer diesel. This car is without doubt the most reliable and incredible car I have ever owned. I regularly get 50+mpg and frequently get 55mpg. On a few occasions I have seen 60mpg on a run. Furthermore it has only needed the following in 93,000 miles:
One new set of glow plugs
One new set of brake discs and pads
Two rear wheel bearings.
I have maintained it at my local Subaru dealer (Daventry, UK) and the customer service is excellent.
I have no intention of changing it, but if I was to get another vehicle to replace it I would not look beyond another Subaru.
I am a Subaruer. Ownership experience has been good after 20 months. The car was three years old and had done 37k when purchased. Servicing has been good but the cost is higher than average.
Thank you Paul for a fair and detailed review of the Subaru XV for 2021. To me, it was a mustard yellow colour. Where has the bright orange gone? In future reviews, I am happy for you to mention the colour options. As the owner of a Subaru Outback 2020, I am quite excited to see the review for 2021.
Subaru forester driver for 5 years now. Absolutely love it. It will drive virtually anywhere in any weather, and costs way less than Range Rovers and Land Rovers. 🔥👊
Had original 2014 and now have 2018 XV’s as second car, power is adequate for regular driving (it improves noticeably after 30k km) very comfy, very reliable. But if they had a WRXV I’d be first in line.
Got my first Subaru (and first car) a month ago; a Subaru Forester 2.5I-S! Great car to drive and a great ownership experience so far👍
Great to hear!
Please review the stereo and speakers in your reviews
Look at the savagegeese channel - they have reviewed this in US spec and they cover stereo performance
great little car, ive built mine up for overlanding and its been perfect for city 9 to 5 and the odd camping trip!. spent 30 days living out of the car offgrid and loved it! goes offroad better than i thought aswell!
Very nice! Glad you’re enjoying it 😁
YES Please include the available colors. It would be great at the end of each video images of all colors... THANKS!
Have owned 3 Subaru cars. Currently own a Outback 6 cylinder super happy with it. Been happy with ever Subaru I have owned
CD player and a full spare? I'm sold
It has a CD player. That slot just below the screen.
Unfortunately it's now a space saver spare, so it's not that great for country buyers.
I'm with everyone else who has said keep the colours on the videos - the colour of the XV in this test is Plasma Yellow Pearl (yes, I cheated and went onto the XV subsection on the Subaru website!)
I’m a Subaru owner.
Bought a brand new BRZ in 2018. Had brake issues and intermittent pre-stall issues (RPM drops to
Another great review Paul! Just found your channel not too long ago and love your videos! Always professionally made, easy to understand, time stamps included and you live up to your name “Car Expert”! You know your stuff!
Great review Paul. I prefer these jacked up hatchbacks and wagons to an suv. 99% of suv buyers would never take their car true off road so cars like this is perfect for most people. I also like the colour. I'm over the silver and grey
TBH, I've only had my XV a year, but the way it drives for me. I think it's a combination of permanent AWD paired with a very low center of gravity. It just handles like a dream. It's much slower, can't put my finger on it, but it's a hell of a lot more fun to drive than my Ford ST. I just keep on grabbing the Subaru keys... My ST used to be my daily driver, and the scooby wasn't intended to replace it, but it did.
The XV is the overseas version of the Crosstrek ... and it's so popular, it's everywhere!
I do get a bit jealous when i see them hooning through the snow. I wonder if they get a different power train cos they seem a lot quicker in US videos.
@@MLife1972 They get the 2.5L, we only get a really crappy 2L.
@@MLife1972 it’s 182hp here in the states and that makes it decent
@@michaels999 Darn it. That would certainly make a difference. Subaru Australia refuse to give us the 2.5 L in the XV (Crosstrek).
@@MLife1972 The 2.5 is new for 2019 here so maybe they will offer it next year in OZ. It’s 135kw. Adequate but not super fast. I guess that’s better than slow.
This needs the 2.5 and the outback needs the 2.4 turbo. Not sure why Subary only give Australia underpowered options 😞
Yes they are gutless
Agree to slow.... Find non turbo Subaru so dull to drive,
Keep the colours Paul. And agreed, I wish here is Oz we got the 2.5L option and a full size spare. In the absence of these the Forester makes more sense for me.
I don’t know why you don’t get the 2.5 in OZ. Maybe next year? You do get extra cameras that we don’t get in the US though.
Had my 2015 XV since new. Great car. Could do with a bit more oomph. Never had any issues with suburu as a company.
Fuel economy
Yes I love that you mention the colour options
Love my 2003 Forester and planning to get the XV. I was glad able to check out colours and aiming for lemonny lime one. Safety features impressed me but was a little concerned with 2.0 engine but think as I am single 78yr old 5' female I won't need to stack up the weight as in the past in Forester.. Finally I hope there isn't a long waiting time for delivery for this vehicle.
Yes please keep the colour info in your reviews. Thanks Paul.
Thanks for the feedback!
My family’s got a 2021 XV/crosstrek here in Australia and a 2019 back home in Canada. They are excellent cars in rain, mud, and snow. No reliability issues so far and Subaru customer service has been outstanding. I think the dual screen setup in the XV is by far more useable than the single larger screen in the outback. And I like that it had actual dials for the climate control instead of the stupid buttons or tapping on the screen. My only “complaint” is that the Australian spec cars don’t have the option for the upgraded sound system that the North American cars get.
I had my heart on getting the Hyundai i30 N-Line Premium. Today, I was still car shopping, as I wanted to explore all my options in the $40k price range. Went to my local Subaru dealership, thinking I'll test the Liberty. Well, he showed me this and my god!! It handles like a dream. It's so light and just glides on the road. I've stopped Car shopping now. This is my new car.
Paul could you please add the engine sound segment too. Just like you add how the key looks like. We also want to know how the engine sounds like when it start up.
Thanks Paul and keep up the good job👍
What is the audio system , Paul? But a fantastic review!
good review. having had a few drives of my daughter's XV I would add to the review that the road holding/cornering is top drawer obviously inherited from the Impreza. 2.0l engine in S mode seems fast enough and you know it will be good for years since it is unstressed, lots of parking cameras and active cruise control is brilliant once you have confidence!
Hi Paul, In future do you mind showing videos of the car at night. Such as showing off the LED's and the light bouncing off the curves and creases on the car? As vein as it sounds, it's a huge part of my purchasing decision. And I'm sure for many others as well. Thanks :)
Would love to! Unfortunately it's pretty hard to film consistently...and I don't think my wife would let me stay out that late for work! Ha ha.
Best review I’ve seen so far on the XV. Love the off road test !
Great review Paul, first time new Outback owner in late 2019 (Gen5 with Ivory Leather), very comfy & practical, local indy dealer fantastic service, zero options for heated steering in UK, which needs fixed. A turbo model would be great/more fuel efficient for all their cars and auto-folding door mirrors on lock would be the only changes to perfect the models. Keeping fingers crossed for the Gen 6 when it arrives. Eyesight is amazing and has saved me several times since i got the car (EB function).
'Available colours' is a valuable piece of information to include. Thanks
Another super review. Yes, I do like information about styling and colours, althought that XV 'mustard / poo' colour is awful. Prior to this update, I was a passenger in the previous version and the engine tied with the discontinued manual was totally weedy and required constant gear shifting to keep it on song. The leather seats initially felt comortable but the seat-back was very flat so after a couple of hours, I was in a world of pain. Buyers should defintely take it for an extended test. On a positive note, I really liked the interior's chunky control controls and the visibility was great thanks to the generous amount of glass. (Great to see you on the news talking about the proposed tax on EVs).
We own a 2012 Subaru Forester diesel. It is and awesome car when it's working. Lovely to drive, good fuel economy and power but we have had a lot of problems with it such a DPF, timing chain, and the viscous coupling. Subaru was absolutely terrible when trying to fix these problems. They said that everything was our fault and would not recommend anyway to fix them so we now rely on a local mechanic who has learnt what the car likes.
Yes. I like hearing about the colour options. Thank you.
Yes, I like it when you tell us how many colours there are to choose from. Beautiful, perfect, I was happy with you. To be clear, my husband is writing this, and I have had too much wine.
Am I the first person to notice that Paul’s boots are the exact colour of the ground?
We’ve been Subaru owners (3 Foresters) since 2008. Absolutely love them. Just miss the turbo with bonnet scope.
I have a base 2017 XV. I agree with Paul the engine (110kW) is too slow on take-off or when overtaking, also the CVT takes a few seconds to engage from Reverse to Drive. I would have liked the X Mode in all specs. This means I have to stay on level gravel roads :(. The boot is small compared to my Impreza hatch, I would have liked a larger boot. Also, the cargo blind cannot be stored under the cargo floor as the spare wheel takes up the space, as in the Forester. But I do like the full wheel spare (not full alloy) which came with the car. The A-pillar sometimes blocks your view during parking. Other than that I enjoy the AWD and the ground clearance. On the negative side, the vehicle has to be serviced every 6 months which to me is a nuisance. On the colours, I do think a small palette of the common ones would be a much better choice. Thanks, Paul for the review.
2 things I would like. 1.They need a latch to open the rear hatch from the inside. 2. USB C ports instead of USB A, and they should include a short cable for the head unit to phone connection.
I'm an Outback guy but would consider an XV as a 2nd car. My current Outback is a 2.5 turbo, which is great, but I was never unhappy with the power of the standard 2.5. I'd describe that colour as "vomit". Or as you Aussies would say "fooolly seeek, mate".
This car is way more capable off road then you'd think, it's a fantastic cross vehicle for a small family
Im looking in buying another SUV vehicle and this one looks nice. I'm really dying to have a sunroof. One thing Paul, I fitted a pedal box throttle responder in my Renault Arkana and it was amazing!
I think fitting one with this Subaru will enhance the driving experience. Give it a go next time on your car review.
Thank you for making this video. I love watching all your videos.
I think the wheel arches for both the Outback and XV are designed to look like mud splatter from a distance.
I can see that now.
Agree would be nice with the turbo or 2.5 like the overseas Crosstrek gets in USA
It really is all that it needs!
Here here 2.5 .
Maybe next year? I mean that did just come out for 21’ it’s not like we had the 2.5 all along in the XV.
The lackluster powerplant would be a deal breaker for me. Its pleasant to have enough power.
US gets a 2.5 litre - australia gets the poverty pack.
I wish Subaru would bring the 2.5l engine for the XV.it’s available in the US of A...so it’s simply a corporate issue I suspect
Good review as usual. I saw the new Navara bakkie in rear view camera. Looks forward to that review.
It’s already live 😁
@@CarExpertAus you guys are legend!
It's crazy that Australia does not get the 6speed Manual 0_o
That'd be a nice addition!
most people would buy an automatic. Not smart for companies to make manual when there's a really small market here.
not been a manual XV in a long time, just wish the CVT would be a little better response, same with the engine, a bit too rev hanging for me on test drives.
2.5 motor in the S I would buy.
@@bradleydavies4781 They come with a FB25 in the US for 21’ 183hp. We don’t get all those cameras though. Just the backup camera.
I got an XV from work 2 years back for few weeks and loved it. Wife come for a drive in it few months later got the forester due to bigger boot.
Love it!
I have a legacy and my wife has a crosstrek. We love them! Great in snow and crap weather. Comfortable to drive and great turning radius. Downsides of ownership are; higher price to get into the brand both new and used, remote start is an option and is cumbersome. CVT is loud and slow. Overall though, great brand to be in
I have a Subaru 2021 XV premium, I absolutely love it
Second too!😂 My brother & a good mate have this model, albeit the previous model. Whilst they both love them, both say the engine is just ordinary when anymore than 2 people are on board.👎🏼 The simple fact there are no rear air vents these days is pretty much inexcusable! Styling wise I’ve always loved the look. Stick a turbo on it then “They will come!...”🙏🏻
I love that you tell us about the extra colours but if you could Show them aswell, the XV in deep blue looks very nice for instance
subaru do one thing really well in all their models. Driving position and comfort is always top notch.
Companies that make small SUV's that can do off roading and city driving will do well in the future. That's where the trend is going.
But that will be electric I believe
I wish they'd XV the Levorg, or even better make a WRXV. Subaru are missing a SG Forester XT replacement. Small but with more space than the XV, fun to drive with a bit more poke. Those who have ever driven one would know what I mean 😁
To answer your question Paul, Subaru ownership is pretty standard. Relatively above average servicing costs, but generally speaking the cars are nice enough to offset that. My wife and I bought a new 3rd gen XV in 2016. It has been a great car for my wife who is not a gear-head and so the car does what it needs to for her, up until recently that is. In March we had our first child and since then have realised how small it really is. The pram takes up the whole boot just about and having a rear facing baby seat behind the front passenger seat means the front passenger seat needs to go quite far forward to accommodate, which is a pain for anyone over 5ft 10ish. My own criticism of the Impreza and XV is that our one and it appears this new generation as well, is brutally slow. The CVT is horrible and the power just isn't there. If I had the time again I would have paid the extra money and got the VW Golf Alltrack.
I've got a 2020 XV Premium in Thailand, made Malaysia and lots of the hitech stuff is missing - eg auto braking, lane keeper etc, - they must have thought (prolly correctly) that stuff is gonna have a fit in Thailand what with the crap or zero line marking and motor cycles everywhere. One annoyance for me is the rear spoiler - it needs a vent at the leading edge to shoot air down the rear screen to blow the dust off - it's immediately very dusty all down the rear end after washing! It's a good car to live with here with the extra ground clearance to cope with crap roads and occasional flooding. The usb socket location in the front is stupid - hidden there in the dark - you hafta plug in for your phone to do gps etc. And there is only one socket - should be two. The engine/transmission performance is totally fine, you can't really plant your foot much in this country. Love the headlight washers and in particular the headlights which look around the corner as you're turning - fantastic! Happy with my choice!
Love your videos! Very fun and entertaining. If you can, can you review the Land Cruiser 70 series please?
I think the black claddings on cars is to differ from the hatchbacks and suv in american market. They don't like hatchbacks
Love our MY20 Foz... had for 2 years now... comfiest ride ever... people who say the Subaru engines are underpowered probaby get lots of speeding tickets. No problem overtaking.
I have a 2019 Forester Premium and find it comfortable especially on long drives. Like the long travel suspension that sucks up all the pot holes and of course the all wheel drive that is excellent, especially in the wet. I would really appreciate a turbo especially for over taking on country roads. The start stop system is annoying and would like to have a way of turning it off permanently. The eyesight works ok until you try merging to get around someone stopped in front doing a turn and eyesight decides a collision is imminent and slams the brakes on nearly getting you killed by following traffic. Overall glad I bought it and will probably replace it with another one when the time comes ...
Would have loved to see a bit of off road in the Outback review! And a 0-100 for the outback also
We have 0-100 in our review I'm pretty sure. We'll try and get one again for some light off-roading!
@@CarExpertAus You are correct! I missed the 0-100 but it is there
Hey Paul, we're on You Tube watching, so we can skip ahead. No sure where you think we watching. LOL.
We embed the videos on our website and often they'll be embedded on other websites :-D
Well there you go. If you know you know. Lol
I love my subie. Won’t go anything else any more. I had a 07 out back now a 12 forester and more my son has the same. Now my wife wants the xv. Her 13 Corolla gives us all a pain in the neck because the head rests are shocking. The Subarus aren’t all that great for punchy motors in the standard range, having said that, it’s never ever let me down I love it, for ever loyal. Here’s my suggestion for future models, rear torq locker, small biscuits for huge return of road, makes it almost unbeatable in its class,.
Have a 20 XV, besides it being a bit gutless and short on boot space, I’m pretty happy with it... looks nice and is an easy car to get around in...
the lack of an A/C air duct/vent for the rear passengers is really disappointing for such a car.
They have it in Forester, why not in XV?
It's really embarrassing.
Have the current 2020 forester at the moment, now travelled 10,000kms. One of the better new cars I’ve owned even though I’m not a big fan of the engine and trans. Reliable, economical and also good build quality.
Thanks for the feedback! Always good to hear from owners.
Amazing! You even tried to measure the softness of the cushions! New subscriber here!
We know Subaru could have given it a bit more power for the UK and Europe markets (sorry, im guessing for Australia as well), but the thing is, they needed to get a fine balance between power and economy. The Forester XT had a turbo and it drank fuel and there lies the problem with turbo boxer engines. Power but compromise on fuel economy. I think they would sell fewer if the XV had a turbo, people dont want low twenties MPG round town, its not acceptable. I turned down an XT for that reason. Also, CVTs work best when you build up the engine revs slowly, not flooring it. Too much noise and you make far better progress overall by letting the revs match the engine speed. I had the Outback, some say its slow but I could fly with very little effort once I got the hang of the CVT. I never needed to red line it either. People expect DSG performance from these CVTs. A real lack of understanding out there unfortunately. 150 bhp with added electric motor is enough for daily driving. The road isnt a race track and for anyone who says you need lots of power for overtaking, in reality you hardly ever need to overtake anyone. People are too impatient these days.
No need for AWD when it's over 10 seconds for 0-100km/hr. What does it need all that traction for? Rushing to the store to buy a dash mat?
Subaru need to put proper transmissions in their vehicles. CVTs are junk.
Love hearing about colours and price range ☺️
Thanks!
If this car had a 1.6 turbo with about 130kw and a manual gearbox it would be great.
🙌
The 2.5 only makes 135kw which is...enough. Not real fast, but not real slow either.
keep the color options. it's nice to expose the manufacturers charging for basic paints. We call it a Crosstrek here, but it used to be the XV Crosstrek. Funny how your country got the XV and we got the Crosstrek designations.
Simply because it is a Subaru.
I agree with you, the range engines need more power, but other than that, they are great cars to own.
Great video very informative have been looking at the XV for a while now makes the decision easy now. Cheers
Bought my Subaru Brat in 1985, last forever if you do oil changes. (Head mechanic told me this). Subaru's have never been known for power but I still want the crosstreck, yes I'm keeping my Brat