For forest and paths

The XV, which has been available in the second generation since 2018, is one of the most popular Subaru vehicles in Europe and Germany with the Forester. So it's no wonder that both vehicles take the CO2-saving pioneering position in the Subaru portfolio. Like the larger, 4,63-meter-long Forester, the 4,47-meter-long XV has been available as a so-called e-Boxer since March. Customers have to invest at least 30.690 euros for this XV variant. The reward should be cheap consumption and thus low CO2 emissions.

The first hybrid for SUBARU in Germany

The e-Boxer is a hybrid system. The Japanese combine the well-known but modified 110 kW / 150 PS strong 2,0-liter boxer engine with an electric motor that delivers 12,3 kW / 16,7 PS. There is also a small 0,6 kWh battery that should enable purely electric driving for up to 1,6 kilometers. With the XV, the electric motor is housed in the CVT gearbox to save space. The lithium-ion battery and the other components of the hybrid system are placed in a special safety cage below the trunk.

Inconspicuously pleasing Hybrid XV 2.0ie

In day-to-day driving, it always took a while for the system to agree that all components would work together. In the morning when the driver set off, the combustion engine of our test car immediately took over - even with a fully charged battery. However, once it got warm, the hybrid system acted inconspicuously. In partial load operation, for example when coasting to a red light, the electric motor came into play. A maximum of 40 kilometers can be covered electrically up to 1,6 km / h, but the XV switches back to combustion mode after a short time. There is no switch to activate purely electric driving. The animated graphics in the 8-inch display illustrate the interplay between the combustion engine, electric motor and battery. You can also see when the system recuperates, i.e. when the battery is recharged using braking energy.

The XV e-Boxer gently sets the mood

Under full load, however, the boxer is solely responsible for propulsion. However, like with Forester, you quickly get used to a gentle foot on the accelerator. The reason for this is the CVT transmission. This acted more confidently with the 150 kilogram lighter XV than with the almost 1,7 ton Forester, but attempts to accelerate quickly are slowed down by the continuously variable transmission by annoying increases in volume. The engine revs up to the maximum, the transmission then follows with the adjustment of the translation - an effect that was previously known from the Toyota hybrids. If you avoid inclines and sprint adventures, it stays calm. Less restrained was the thirst of the XV. Despite a predominantly moderate driving style, an average of 8,2 liters flowed through the lines. If you are driving faster on the motorway, the consumption approaches two digits. The standard consumption is Subaru for the all-wheel drive with 6,5 liters.

Real all-wheel drive in the XV - as always at SUBARU

Speaking of all-wheel drive: The XV is not a soft-washed fair-weather crossover. Anyone who wants and is allowed to do so can dare to go into the field. After all, the compact Japanese offers 22 centimeters of ground clearance. The short-term electric support, which comes up with an additional 66 Nm right from the start, gives the boxer engine, which does not have turbo support, a certain extra punch. Not for long, of course, but when maneuvering off-road, the electric motor helps you overcome smaller obstacles very smoothly.

It would also work without a hybrid

Whether the e-Boxer is necessary for use in the forest, however, should be a matter of the account balance. Subaru also offers the XV with an 84 kW / 114 hp 1,6-liter boxer engine, which has an average of 6,9 liters. Dispensing with clever hybridization saves 7.000 euros (“Trend”) or 8.200 euros (“Comfort”), depending on the comfort line. Even if the e-Boxer is somewhat better equipped in detail, the price difference is large. The larger tank with 1.6 liters speaks for the 63. Only 48 liters fit into the boxer tank. Buyers of the e-Boxer also have to cut back on the volume of the trunk. Instead of 385 to 1.310 liters, only 340 to 1.193 liters are available.

An offer not only for foresters

The space is good average in the XV, the processing is impeccable. The test car we drive in the Platinum version (from 37.290 euros) has almost everything on board that the Subaru price list has to offer. The standard equipment includes leather, sat nav, 18-inch, electric sliding glass roof and an electrically adjustable driver's seat. But the basic "Trend" line also offers many equipment details. The second level of comfort "Active" (from around 34.000 euros) should meet most of the equipment requirements at the latest.