Subaru XV 2.0i SE Premium Lineartronic 2018 first drive

Subaru’s rugged XV crossover returns for 2018 with plenty of promise. Built on all-new Subaru Global Platform underpinnings, it comes packed with safety technology and a five-star Euro NCAP rating that ranks it, in terms of passenger protection, top of the compact family car class.

It also retains core USPs of its predecessor including proper permanent all-wheel drive and 220mm ground clearance, ensuring it remains a hardier option than segment alternatives like the Seat Ateca and Nissan Qashqai.

But the new car has lost a diesel option and so comes available exclusively with petrol power and a CVT gearbox – which is quite the contrast to the class norm for vast powertrain line-ups and something that you might expect to hamper its chances of making a mark in such a congested segment.

The thing is, Subaru’s not concerned with taking on mainstream models such as the Ateca, but rather, more interested in growing its faithful customer base so that it achieves a targeted 3500 sales overall in 2018. It expects the XV to account for about a third of that, so the real question is, will it be able to draw in new buyers, or is it destined to remain a car for Subaru’s loyal but small customer base?

There’s no denying the XV looks more purposeful than conventional compact SUVs thanks to the way it appears to be standing on its tippy-toes. The car’s 18in wheels are surrounded by thick arch gaps and its underside clears the ground with an extra 38mm compared to the Seat Ateca. But the car’s nose is longer and sleeker than most off-roaders, thanks in part to the low-set boxer engine beneath it, so it doesn’t look cumbersome.

Slip inside and the car trades the exterior’s hardy theme for a more premium look. The new XV’s dashboard and centre console feature a much cleaner, more modern design than the old car, with a standard-fit 8.0in infotainment system featuring Apple Carplay and Android Auto taking centre stage. The layout remains functional with big buttons, but there’s clearly been a concerted effort to boost the car’s design appeal here.

Our car comes with the 2.0-litre flat-four Subaru expects to be the car’s best selling powertrain, but a smaller 1.6-litre boxer is also available. The 1.6-litre engine is new, while the 2.0-litre is a heavily reworked version of the previous XV’s unit.