Meet our new team member, the rugged looking, all-wheel driving and very green, 2014 Subaru XV 2.0i-S.

Run by: Isaac Bober
Travel: 348km
Fuel Consumption: 6.8L/100km – tested (7.0L/100km official)
List Price: $36,990 (+ORC)
Service Costs: Nil
Faults: Nil

Week ending July 18.

Read our full review of the Subaru XV

IN ITS FIRST FEW DAYS with Practical Motoring our new Subaru XV 2.0i-S has been a busy little thing. It arrived with just 38-delivery-kilometres on the odometer and has since schlepped up and down the motorways between home and work, has carted both mini-Bobers to their respective schools, and even got its feet a little dirty with a run out onto some tracks in the Blue Mountains.

So, why’d we go for a Subaru XV? Simple, it’s one of the most popular cars on the site and, if my daily commute is anything to go by, one of the most popular on the road too. Now, I’ll be up front and say I’m a fan of Subaru’s first proper compact SUV, but it’s easy to like something when you’re only in it for a week.

I wanted to see what the rugged little Subaru would be like in the real world: how it would handle long commutes back and forth to the big smoke; two kids and a dog; and frequent trips out into the bush west of the Blue Mountains NSW. Will I still like it after six months?

So, what is the Subaru XV? Well, it’s more than just an Impreza on stilts. Sure, it’s obviously been spun off the Impreza, but the XV features a different front-end – it’s more hawk-like – stands taller with an impressive 220mm of ground clearance (more than a Ford Ranger), and it’s also a little shorter in the wheelbase than its Impreza sibling (2635mm Vs 2645mm), then there’s the bulging guards which add to its rugged look.

One of the things that appealed most to me about the XV was that it’s a permanent all-wheel drive with a 50:50 drive split. That, in a sea of part-time AWDs, makes the Subaru XV a true crossover with genuine rough-road ability. And, we’ll be putting that to the test over the next few weeks with some family drives out into the country planned.

Under the bonnet of the XV is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Boxer engine with makes 110kW (at 6200rpm) and 196Nm of torque (at 4200rpm). This is mated, as standard, to a six-speed manual, but we selected the cost-optional CVT and that’s because 80% of buyers, says Subaru, are doing the same. And, as far as CVT units go, it’s pretty darn good; sliding smoothly and ensuring you’re never left wanting – but I’ll spend more time discussing the CVT as we go on with the car.

Fuel consumption is a claimed 7.0L/100km (combined) for the CVT, and while I didn’t expect it to get close to that for the first, say, 1000km as everything started to bed in, I’ve actually managed to better that returning 6.8L/100km for the first 348km travelled. I like the fact the Subaru XV runs on 91RON fuel.

Out on the road, the XV is just as impressive as I remember. Despite its ground clearance, the XV boasts the lowest centre of gravity in the class and offers direct but light steering, incredible grip and a near perfect suspension set-up for this sort of dual-purpose car.

Our Subaru XV 2.0i-S sits at the top of the tree and lists for $36,990 (+ORC) and it’s pretty well equipped, getting Bluetooth and iPod connectivity as standard, a reversing camera, auto air-con, cruise control, reach and rake on the steering wheel, 17-inch alloys (with a 17-inch steel spare wheel), front driving lights, full leather interior, heated front seats and electrically adjustable driver’s seat, as well as a sunroof. The Subaru XV comes with a three-year unlimited kilometre warranty and capped price servicing for the life of the vehicle.

I’m just settling in with the XV at the moment but my early impressions are pretty good. Let’s wait and see how it stands up to family life on and off the bitumen.