Isaac Bober’s 2018 Subaru XV 2.0i-S Review with pricing, specs, performance, ride and handling, safety, verdict and score.
In a nutshell: The all-new Subaru XV is a big step ahead of its predecessor and easily the benchmark compact SUV.
2017 Subaru XV 2.0i-S
Pricing $35,240+ORC (from $27,990+ORC) Service Intervals 12 months, 12,500km Warranty three-years, unlimited kilometres (standard); five-years, unlimited kilometres (offer until 30 June) Safety five-star ANCAP Engine 2.0-litre four-cylinder Boxer petrol engine Power 115kW at 6000rpm Torque 196Nm at 4000rpm Transmission CVT Drive All-wheel drive Dimension 4465mm (L); 1800mm (W); 1615mm (H); 2665mm (WB) Turning Circle 10.8m Ground Clearance 220mm Angles 18-degrees (A); 28.8-degrees (D) Boot Space 310/765L Spare Temporary Spare Fuel Tank 63 litres Thirst 7.0L/100km (claimed combined)
THE ALL-NEW SUBARU XV HAS arrived in Australia with its local launch conducted earlier this week in the Snowy Mountains. Based off Subaru’s Global Platform this is only the second new model to make use of the platform (Impreza was first) but it’ll see service in everything from the WRX, to the Forester, Outback and Liberty going forward.
What is the Subaru XV?
Well, it’s a compact SUV, as if that wasn’t patently obvious. It goes up against the likes of Mazda CX-3, Nissan Qashqai and even the quirky Toyota C-HR and Honda HR-V, but it’s the only model in the segment with real rough road ability and permanent all-wheel drive. Indeed, while Subaru’s local marketing will play up its connectivity and urban-friendliness, it’s this things ability to clamber up and inch down a rough hill that really stand it out from the crowd, and we’ll get to all of that shortly.
The new XV continues the theme set by its predecessor which was launched here in 2012, and offers the contrasting colour bumpers and wheel arch spats. The rest of the design borrows from the new Impreza and the same goes on the inside, although the mid- and upper-spec models with their contrast orange stitching elevate the cabin beyond the Impreza.
Subaru was wise to launch the Impreza and XV so far apart from each other as the XV has been a stand-out seller for the brand and will be again, and could have overshadowed the launch of the brand’s small urban runabout. Indeed, Subaru Australia boss, Colin Christie, speaking at the local launch said, “We’re almost more excited about the launch of the new Subaru XV”.
Despite the Impreza helping Subaru lift both sales and market share in Australia, the former by 10% and the latter by 4.5%, we suggest the XV will lift it even further so practical and well equipped is it… then there’s the option of the five-year warranty if you place an order for one before the end of June and the extended service intervals introduced on Impreza.
There are four model grades of XV available, the entry-level 2.0i, 2.0i-L, 2.0i-Premium, and top-spec 2.0i-S (which we spent all our time in at the local launch). Prices range from $27,990+ORC through to $35,240+ORC.
XV 2.0i
- New generation touchscreen infotainment system featuring:
- Apple CarPlay connectivity
- Google Android Auto™ connectivity
- Subaru Global Platform
- Active Torque Vectoring
- Front fog lights with integrated Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- 115 Kilowatts of power at 6000 rpm and 196 Newtonmetres of torque at 4000 rpm
- Higher power output, up from 110 kW
- 17-inch alloy wheels
XV 2.0i-L adds (to 2.0i specification):
- 8-inch touchscreen
- Premium cloth trim
- Dual zone fully automatic air conditioning
- Electric folding mirrors with integrated indicators
- EyeSight driver assist, with new Lane Keep Assist feature
- Leather accented trim steering wheel and gear shift
XV 2.0i Premium adds (to 2.0i-L specification):
- Electric sunroof
- Factory fitted SatNav powered by TomTom
XV 2.0i-S adds (to 2.0i Premium specification):
- Automatic head lights
- Automatic front wipers
- Heated front seats
- Heated mirrors
- High Beam Assist
- Leather accented trim
- Power driver’s seat
- Steering responsive LED head lights with integrated DRLs
- Vision Assist features:
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Lane Change Assist
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Reverse Automatic Braking – debut feature in Australia
- 18-inch wheels – pattern unique to the variant
Subaru is hoping to shift around 1000 XVs each month and after our local drive of the thing I don’t think they’ll have any problem realising that. But let’s look at the new XV in greater detail.
What’s the Subaru XV like on the inside?
The interior of the XV follows in the footsteps of its Impreza sibling with the key difference being (from mid-spec variants up) the bright orange contrast stitching on the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, centre console lid, and gear shifter boot, and the X-Mode and hill descent control buttons just below the transmission shifter on the centre console (they don’t have contrast stitching, they’re just not on the Impreza).
Subaru never used to be known for the fine quality of its interiors, although some models were better than others but with its new generation of cars that’s no longer the case and, Subaru is now on-par with anything coming from either Europe or Korea at this price point. The materials used in the XV, both on the dashboard and elsewhere, are all excellent (read, fine grained and soft-touch) with only a little bit of hard, scratchy plastic found on the entry-level XV 2.0i in the sort of out of the way places your hand will never touch.
The dashboard layout is typical Subaru (read, functional and easy to read) and almost identical to the Impreza. This means you get a small storage space at the base of the centre stack which can be used to hold your phone and other odds and ends; there are two 12V/120W outlets and two USB ports (only one for the entry model) in the front of the car but none in the back. Above this space is the climate control which is single-zone only in the entry-level variant and dual-zone after that; our top-spec 2.0i-S variant also featured heated front leather seats which given the morning of the launch started out at -1-degress C were greatly appreciated.
From there, you move up to the infotainment screen which is 6.5-inches wide in the entry model and 8-inches wide for all others. Thankfully, there are shortcut menu buttons which makes navigating the system a breeze and with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity syncing your smartphone is a cinch. The 2.0i-Premium and 2.0i-S we tested both get native sat-nav via TomTom with three-year’s worth of map updates included, which is handy if you lose mobile coverage and can’t use the mapping from your smartphone, although sometimes this can be used offline if you plan ahead.
What’s the Subaru XV’s passenger space like?
The new XV measures 4465mm long (up 4450mm), 1800mm wide (up from 1780mm) – body only, and runs a longer wheelbase of 2670 (up from 2640mm), it maintains the current car’s 1615mm height. The longer wheelbase and clever packaging has allowed Subaru’s interior designers to squeeze in a bit more passenger room and that’s clear whether you’re sat in either the front or the back of the thing.
Our XV 2.0i-S test car offers driver’s side electric front seat adjustment (eight-way) and manual passenger side adjustment, all other variants are manual adjustment only. The front seats are comfortable for long haul driving and while they feel quite broad initially they’re grippy and supportive enough for when the corners start appearing or the terrain becomes bumpy.
Getting in and out of the front seats is a cinch thanks to the just-right hip point which literally allows you to swing your legs out and walk away; there’s no dropping down or grabbing hold of the A-pillar to pull yourself out. And vision from the front seats is excellent, too. Subaru tries to ensure that, from the driver’s seat, you’re able to see something one-metre tall outside the car and while I didn’t measure and test the claim, I’d believe it. Throw in the rear vision camera and the automatic reverse braking on the top-spec variant and visibility and safety is well taken care of.
Move into the back of the XV and there’s plenty of room for two adults to sit comfortably; the middle seat is shaped more like a perch and the transmission tunnel robs foot and legroom, meaning it wouldn’t be a super comfortable place to be for any length of time. There are ISOFX mounts for the two outboard seats and top tether anchor for all three seats across the back of the seats.
What’s the Subaru XV’s boot space like?
The boot measures 310 litres with the back seats up and 765 litres with them folded down. Now, this isn’t a huge space and this is probably the only area where I think Subaru should focus a little more attention… if the boot was nudging 400 litres it would be handier for a family of four. That said, having lived with a previous generation XV for six months, I can tell you the boot is just about big enough. The shape of the boot is nice and square although it’s quite shallow. Lift the boot floor and you’ll see the temporary spare wheel, emphasis on the temporary rather than space-saver spare.
What’s the Subaru XV like to drive?
The Subaru XV uses the same refreshed 2.0-litre four-cylinder Boxer engine as its Impreza sibling with the same power and torque figures, which are 115kW at 6000rpm and 196Nm of torque at 4000rpm. This engine is mated to a CVT with “seven gear ratios” when driving in Manual mode or “Auto Stepped Speed Control” when in D for Drive. Fuel consumption is a combined 7.0L/100km.
Undoubtedly, you’ll read in other reports or comments on those reports (by people who’ve never driven the thing) that the engine is a little underpowered. And they’d be wrong. Sure, put the XV up against a Golf GTI and it’ll feel underpowered, but the XV has more than enough grunt to keep up and overtake traffic with a family on-board, so, let’s just move on…
The launch route took in some delicious twisting roads and some rough dirt tracks, some with potholes that could have swallowed the XV. And this was a clever move by Subaru, because it showed off the work done to match the suspension to Australian conditions. That’s right, it’s not just Kia and Hyundai and now Holden that tweak the ride and handling of their cars to suit Australian driving styles and conditions; Subaru has been doing it for years and years.
Indeed, the XVs Practical Motoring drove in Japan rode very well but that’s a depth to the Aussie tune that turns up the body control and compliance up 11. So much so, that I’d suggest the XV is the best riding and handling compact SUV on-sale right now. The way the thing handles corrugated roads, changes in direction on both bitumen and dirt, dials in the driver to the car’s doings but insulates the cabin from road and wind noise really is benchmark-setting stuff.
The steering too is nice and meaty with good on-centre feel and stability. The brakes are progressive and feelsome in their action and the transmission is both quiet and adept at making the most of the power and torque available to it.
The headline-grabber for the XV is undoubtedly the addition of X-Mode which, when activated works below 40km/h and adds another layer of practicality and usability to the XV that its competitors just don’t have. And X-Mode isn’t a gimmick either. We got to play with it in water, mud and snow at our preview drive in Japan and, at the local launch this week Subaru had a short off-road course set-up that showed off the hill-descent control, the ground clearance which is a 4×4-rivalling 220mm and the suspension’s compliance at low speed.
Once activated, X-Mode is operational below 40km/h and tweaks the stability, traction and throttle mapping. The hill descent works at up to 20km/h with the speed set via the brake; meaning whatever speed you enter the descent is the speed the vehicle will maintain and it’ll work down to 1km/h.
Subaru’s X-Mode system isn’t a toy and there’s no other compact SUV on the market that offers the XV’s low-speed throttle control; the thing, when X-Mode is activated offers a softer throttle making it harder to over-rev when you’re driving in rough terrain. The system also speeds up the lock-up between the front and rear axles by 25% to reduce the chance of wheelspin. And the brake traction control is clever in that it actually works (unlike those that run an on-demand system), pop a wheel off the ground and that wheel will stop spinning while drive is shuffled to the wheels with grip (switch off stability control, something you might want to do when driving off-road and, thankfully the XV’s system keeps traction control active). We’ll delve into the XV’s performance off-road once we’ve had it through the garage.
I said it after my preview drive in Japan and the drive this week in Australia has confirmed my earlier statement, that the new Subaru XV is the best riding, best handling, most capable compact SUV you can buy.
What are the Subaru XV’s safety features like?
The Subaru XV has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating. It’s worth noting that only the entry-level variant misses out on Subaru’s EyeSight system (autonomous emergency braking) which will be required on all variants from next year (2018) to qualify for a five-star ANCAP rating.
According to Subaru, it’s new global platform is future-proofed to ensure that whatever is built on top of it can achieve the top safety rating out until 2025. The XV offers improved visibility over its predecessor thanks to the thinner pillars while the overall strength and rigidity of the chassis and body is much higher than the old car (collision energy absorption is improved 1.4 times). And, packaging of the engine and transmission has lowered the centre of gravity by 5mm, ensuring improved stability when cornering.
Then there are other things like the seatbelt tongue… I’ll bet not many of you pay too much attention to that, but Subaru and Honda are notable brands that have started using a locking tongue; basically, this locking tongue helps to reduce hip movement and the load on the chest in a collision.
All models above the entry-level 2.0i feature EyeSight which for XV adds lane keeping assist which can actively steer you back into the middle of the lane if it senses you drifting. Also improved is the adaptive cruise control function which, thanks to EyeSight’s better recognition of brake lights, is now more effective. The top-spec XV 2.0i-S adds blind spot monitoring, high beam assist, lane change assist which will warn if you try and move into a lane with a car approaching from behind, rear cross traffic alert and reverse automatic braking. A reversing camera is standard across the range.
Subaru offered demonstrations of its EyeSight system in both forwards and reverse and in both instances the systems performed flawlessly, indeed so convincing was the reverse automatic braking on the 2.0i-S that I offered to stand behind the car and have it reversed towards me, but OHS wouldn’t allow that. Watch the little video of it in action; the car in it was travelling somewhere between 5-10km/h; the system will work up to 14km/h.
So, what do we think of the Subaru XV?
I was a fan of the old XV, so, maybe I’m a touch biased, but I think this new one is a big leap ahead of that car. And, while I spent all my time at the local launch in the top-spec 2.0i-S, I think the new XV is a good thing indeed. It’s easily the best driving and riding compact SUV in the segment and while the boot could be bigger, there’s more room in the front and back seats which makes it a more comfortable thing. It’s bang up to date in terms of connectivity and while Subaru wants you to think of it as the ultimate urban runabout, it’s ability when the going gets rough shouldn’t be ignored.
Subaru lifting its game. The offroad ability over its rivals is certainly a deal breaker for me. Looking forward to the new Forester next year.
Thanks Tony. Do you mean, you wouldn’t buy it because of its rough road ability? – Isaac
No the opposite. Perhaps I didn’t choose my words well. I don’t really see the point of front wheel drive SUV’s. Having the confidence to know that if your in the country that the XV can go further than the competition is reassuring and a plus to me.
Got you. Agreed.
How do you compare the driveability and performance over Impreza, since XV use the same engine but heavier?
I have the Impreza for a while. The performance is acceptable after 1000km run in. But still kind of hope to have 10Kw more to make it fun.
Hi Vins, I prefer the XV but only because it offers more versatility. And, I think the suspension set-up is better than the Impreza, too, so, for me, I prefer the ride and handling in the XV. – Isaac
Good to know the suspension setup is better. My partner did complain the suspension is a bit bouncy in the Impreza. For me the Impreza is a bit too low for some hilly roads when it comes to entering or exiting the road. Scrap the front bottom a few times.
It’s a shame the 5 year warranty isn’t the norm. Also, the lack of diesel is a (continuing) disappointment…
too nervous about the filters in diesel’s these days, you have to have particular driving habits for it to be worth it
Do you buy the changhong tv with 3 years warranty or the samsung one with 1 years warranty?
I’ve always thought the XV’s nose is too long. Can’t be easy going up (or down) a steep slope.
HI Swee, sure, the approach angle isn’t amazing, but there’s very good ground clearance and the XV is better than any other compact SUV when it comes to tackling rough roads and hills… we’ll have a full test and video review of the new XV once it’s been through the PM garage. Cheers Isaac
The front nose looks much longer in photo’s yet when looking at the car for the first time you realise it isnt that bad, in fact with the given ground clearance, you should have any issues in the terrain you would tackle in the little XV.
there isnt another small suv that can really go offroad properly. and its got ground clearance similar to a triton 4×4 ute
Late to the party but the Suzuki Vitara AWD is pretty good from what I’ve read and pretty funky inside and out too!
Issac, once again I applaud you on your reviews. You review a vehicle relevant to the segment it competes in.
I am tired of hearing the same thing on other sites about the engine power. Most of its competitors have considerably less power and I hear no complaints. Honda HR-V 85kW / 172Nm, Toyota CH-R-85kW / 185Nm and CX3 109kW and similar torque yet so many other sites and people(lounge room test drivers) comment on how under-powered the Impreza and New XV are. Seriously, I would much rather a 2.0 litre NA engine than a wheezy 1.2 litre with a small scroll turbo. I am still old fashioned and like displacement, and in 5 to 10 years time, I wonder what these small turbo engines will still be running like.
100% agree with you, I have 17 year old Honda Civic in the family…0-100 in 14+ secs, will get smoked by anything these days even some Kia Picanto. But I have absolutely no problems doing 100km/h on any freeway, overtaking is also effortless once rolling: drop a gear, rev up to match and away you go. 115kw is plenty for your everyday driver.
Thanks Mixedfish, too many motoring writers have a 911 in mind when reviewing anything… and too many of the younger blogger reviewers read what ‘they’ write because they simply don’t know any better. As @WhoCares wrote, many of this car’s competitors have considerably less power and torque and yet the reviews don’t pan those vehicles. Cheers Isaac
so agree with this
Hi, Isaac.
I will be trading-in my Golf 7 Comfortline in the next 6-12 months, and I am still
tossing up as to what my new vehicle may be. I have been reading your reviews
on new vehicles over the last 12 months, and love your “in-depth” and “down-to-earth’
style when describing cars. I will eventually test drive some these new cars,
but the “test-drives” from car dealerships are only about 20-25 minutes and
mostly on city-suburban roads. You don’t get to experience what these new cars
are like at highway speeds on course-chipped / patchy road surfaces – that’s
where I rely on motoring journalists like yourself for this type of information.
I frequently drive on course chipped/ patchy country roads, and my priorities in my
next new car are low levels of cabin / road noise, ride comfort & safety/convenience
aids like adaptive cruise control etc. I rarely drive on dirt roads, and only need a small medium vehicle that can comfortably fit into my garage.The ride comfort and noise levels in my golf over
these roads are quite acceptable, but I would still like a car that is a bit quieter.
Don’t get me wrong, the golf is very quiet and refined on most surfaces, but at
highway speeds on coursed surfaced roads – I would just like it be a bit
quieter.
I would appreciate your
opinion as to what vehicle might be the best choice for my situation, whether
it is a SUV, sedan or hatch. Cars I am considering at the moment include the Impreza,
XV, Civic, i30, and even the Tucson.
Go a Subaru all day long. The investment in a Subaru is well worth it as their safety tech and build quality is by far more superior than any other manufacturer in their class.
agreed
XV would be perfect, its the quietest of the small SUV’s, make sure u drive the MY18 model though.
However if you need more boot space you might have to look at something bigger like a forester (which i have cause im a tall person) or if its only you and one other person in the car mostly you can fold the XV seats down and there is tons of room
Quite an appealing practical small car, I like it. I would still struggle to buy one due to:
1. Service intervals should be 15,000Km not 12,500Km @ 12mths
2. The boot is way to small, this is a packaging fail, even more worrying that this is a new platform
3. Subaru’s warranty should be 5 years and not be limited to warranting squeaks and rattles at 12 months
4. The previous model’s sheet metal was way too thin and dented too easily compared to other cars in this class… I hope this one is better.
5. High service costs and maintenance requirements that other cars don’t have
6. To service the CVT is punitively expensive, I think the fluid alone may cost around $600
7. The previous model seemed to chew through batteries every 18 months or so due to the battery being small. This was compounded by some dealers taking out the high quality Panasonic battery at delivery, putting it in spares and fitting a cheap Century battery.
I just have to step in on this one, this is quite biased slander;
1. 15k service intervals? i dont think 12.5k and 15k matters that much – go for a mitsubishi asx then and ill grab an xv
2. boot is way to small? thats why there is a choice and you go for a medium or large SUV instead??
3. warranty should be 5 years, i mean just because a manafacturer has a less or more warranty doesnt mean its more or less reliable
4. The previous model sheet metal is way too think to its competitors? why dont you push on the sheet metal of an ASX for example and see the difference between it and an XV. also you say you would struggle to buy a new one based on the previous model which is nearly completely different? lol…
5. high service costs, the service costs are now cheaper than last year going from 6 months to 12 month intervals
6. CVT being expensive? Noone repairs auto gearboxes these days they just replace them, it all depends on the manafacturer mostly
7. previous model chews batteries, well again even if that was the case how do you know the new one will be any different? its completely redone.
Rubbish Mr Fitzy, I have owned a Subaru Liberty and on top of the valid ssues I have raised the interior faded even with tinting in Melbourne, the drivers seat wore through after 3.5 years, the mean spirited warranty does not cover squeeks and rattles after 12 months plus no roadside assistance as standard. The service requirements were ridiculous, clearly a product of a small under capitalised manufacturer. The customer support was more corporate double speak than support.
My advice is to carefully consider Subaru ownership, I for one won’t be putting Subaru at the top of my shopping list anytime soon.
The points you make are mostly speculative, i mean if a dealer is swapping out panasonic batteries for cheap century ones, take it up with the dealer? That comment alone seems deeply suspicious and biased.
How would you know whether some dealers did that or not anyways?
Anyways proud owner of a 2011 forester and looking forward to seeing what the new platform on that would be like for it when it comes out.
Speculative? A laughable comment, what is speculative about a fading and disintegrating interior, it’s fact. As for the business with the battery, the dealer was caught out and the dealer did nothing about nor Subaru. If Subaru think this is the way to keep a customer, then they are eating their own corporate bulldust. If you have had a better experience, good on you feel comfortable with your choice. I won’t be doing business with them.
Jacques LaFeet • 2 months ago
Quite an appealing practical small car, I like it. I would still struggle to buy one due to:
1. Service intervals should be 15,000Km not 12,500Km @ 12mths
2. The boot is way to small, this is a packaging fail, even more worrying that this is a new platform
3. Subaru’s warranty should be 5 years and not be limited to warranting squeaks and rattles at 12 months
4. The previous model’s sheet metal was way too thin and dented too easily compared to other cars in this class… I hope this one is better.
5. High service costs and maintenance requirements that other cars don’t have
6. To service the CVT is punitively expensive, I think the fluid alone may cost around $600
7. The previous model seemed to chew through batteries every 18 months or so due to the battery being small. This was compounded by some dealers taking out the high quality Panasonic battery at delivery, putting it in spares and fitting a cheap Century battery.
Refering back to your initial post, you do not mention anything about interior, i was refering to the 7 other points you made. (even about your point with interior fading, everything does eventually and it probably represents a lack of care by the owner. what steps did you take to maintain the interior?)
i don’t see the funny side of me calling your comments speculative,i mean on one point what you are saying is some dealers (not just the one you must have dealt with) are swapping batteries from their original one given by the manafacturer. i’d like to see what your information is based on because as far as i can see that comment is quite laughable on itself.
From what i have to assume here is you have had a bad experience at the dealer so just leave it at that. this site appears to have relatively unbiased advice based on facts not speculation and unfounded information lets keep it that way.
No you are totally wrong. Both the product, dealer and head office were substandard. I get it, you love the cars and can’t understand why I’m so negative… Maybe I’m just a troll. Fact is I have been burned by Subaru, I started as a keen supporter and ended up as a dissatisfied customer. We can agree to disagree, I stand solidly on my statements as a past owner, I do not recommend Subaru.
“Cheap Century batteries” … On the contrary, they may be “cheap”, (or not, ..I don’t have a price comparison), but I do know that I have used Century batteries for the last two changeovers, and they have each lasted at least four years through cold winters (down to -6 regularly), and hot summers (average high 30’s)….(Southern Highlands) … So, I think they are pretty good, and I will be using them again.
Forester to small realy,owned one.
Try a imprezza and see how that go.
Cars are quality build i like to say.
depends how old the forester is but i guess it all depends on everyones individual circumstance.
Any thoughts cant decide down to buying top of the range new VX or new Kona. I like the VX it seems to be a down to earth practical car, the Kona is stunning and ticks all the boxes, well except 1 Highlander at $41000 does not have a sunroof. The 1.6 turbo the Kona is like a little rocket and beautiful to drive. Thought I would be driving Hyundai forever after owning 4 and never having an issue with any of them. mmmm I do like the VX though.
I’m in the same boat Garry. My wife and I share 1 car, and we are looking for a compact crossover to replace our 8 year old hatchback. It appears to be between the Hyundai Kona, and the Subie XV. The engine power of the Kona appeals, but I would want the trimmings that only come with the Highlander (LED headlights for example) and that is a $40K plus proposition. In contrast, the Subaru XV is a little larger (but not too much), and under $40K. (2.0-S) .. and while I have always thought that the constant AWD of Subaru was my sole preferred option with Subie, from this review, it would appear that the ride and handling of the XV have also taken a leap forward.
We are going to look at both this weekend, so I hope it becomes clearer.. It’s hard to decide between each one. They both have advantages, and disadvantages over each other.
Take5 I decided on XV it ticked all the boxes took me some time to decide but very happy with XV it a pleasure to drive.
Thank you for this review. Others’ negative comments about “lack of power” were making me hesitant about buying the XV though when I test drove the L variant I didn’t feel it at all.
Hi Isaac
A late comment I’m sorry.
I used to have a terrific old Impreza Sportswagon with Hi and Lo range. Can you please tell me does the CVT go ‘low enough’ to simulate the old low range at all?
I’m intrigued how the XV might go in the steep rough stuff…
Thank you.
Regards
Adrian.