MOTORS: This robust and rugged Boxer is built to last
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Most test cars which come my way are pretty fresh – usually with barely a thousand miles on the clock, they still have that new car look and smell.
Recently I was behind the wheel of a ‘23’ plate which had done only 130 miles.
It’s nice to get something which looks and feels as if it’s straight out of the box but it means you can’t see how well it stands up to a hard life of daily use. Will it still feel as tight and rattle-free after many thousands of miles?
I was surprised when the featured Subaru XV test car arrived to find that it was almost two years old and with more than 20,000 miles on the odometer, it could have been almost round the globe.
What was more surprising was just how good it felt with no squeaks, rattles or loose bits showing the signs of its life over the previous 24 months.
That says everything about Subaru who know about building robust and rugged cars, which is why they had such success in world rallying with Scotland’s greatest rally driver Colin McRae at the wheel of the all-conquering Impreza a few years ago.
Sadly, they seemed to lose their way after that and now have a relatively low profile in the market but don’t be fooled – their cars are still tough machines which are happy to put in a hard day’s work.
Look around any farming area and in amongst the pick-ups and Land Rovers you’ll find a mud-spattered Forester, Outback or XV going about its business in a low-key way.
The compact crossover XV is the youngest of the breed, arriving here six years ago but the latest version comes as a hybrid for cleaner economy but still with its rugged go-anywhere ability.
It couples a two-litre flat-four Boxer petrol engine with a small electric motor for improved mpg and extra boost especially when off-roading with the X-Mode engaged where the impressive symmetrical all-wheel-drive system confidently tackles serious challenges in rough terrain.
At a more gentle level it allows all-electric driving – in short bursts only – around town at speeds below 25mph to reduce fuel consumption when the green “EV” light appears on the dash display.
Above that speed, the petrol engine automatically recharges the battery when the car is coasting or braking but even with that, you can expect only around mid-30s mpg.
I liked the CVT gearbox which performs smoothly as long as you don’t demand sportslike performance from it when it can be a bit jumpy.
On the road, the four-wheel-drive makes the car feel confident whatever the surface or the tightness of the bends and while the battery adds extra weight, it handles well with good balance.
The interior has a look of functionality without any great emphasis on advanced design but having said that it does its job and the controls are easily at hand and simple to use, without having to negotiate a complex screen menu.
The boot isn’t the biggest but perfectly acceptable and isn’t noticeably restricted by the underfloor battery. In the cabin, there’s plenty of foot and headroom for passengers and all-round visibility is good.
The test car was the SE Premium edition so the level of equipment was comprehensive with twin-dash screens, the 8-inch touchscreen giving access to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with DAB radio, satnav and Bluetooth. There’s also adaptive cruise control, steering wheel paddle shifts, leather seats, reversing camera and low-level front view monitor which projects a picture of the view ahead – important when tackling tricky off-road terrain.
It also comes with Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance system through three cameras set in the windscreen which warns of obstacles ahead and with the other safety features can bring the car to a halt.
And the whole package looks as if it’s built to last.
Subaru XV e-Boxer 2.0i SE Premium Lineartronic
PRICE: £33,680
ENGINE: 1995cc Horizontally Opposed Boxer 4 cyl petrol + electric motor Lithium-ion traction battery
POWER: 150 PS
TOP SPEED: 120mph
0-62mph: 10.7 secs
CO2 EMISSIONS: 149g/km
