2014 Subaru XV – less choice, more refinement

The 2014 Subaru XV compact crossover had been given a bit of a makeover with more refinement but fewer engines and trim options.

The Subaru XV arrived in the UK in 2012, and it’s a perfectly able and reasonably-priced compact crossover from Subaru.

But within a year of launching the XV Subaru decided to inject a bit more appeal in to the XV with a price cut of £2,300 across the range and now, not more than six months later, they’re fiddling with the XV range again.

The 2.0 litre petrol XV gets new valve-train components to cut engine noise and revised suspension, with extra soundproofing improving NVH levels across the range, a revised power steering system for added stability and feel  and thicker and reshaped suspension lower arm and extra reinforcement around the base of the A-Pillar for better crash performance.

There are also tweaks to the interior of the XV – although they’re not huge – with a Subaru logo on the steering wheel, silver surrounds for the steering wheel buttons and heater controls and gloss black switches for the AirCon. As we said, not much to wrote home about.

Under the bonnet, the XV loses its 1.6 litre petrol option leaving just the 2.0 litre petrol and diesel boxer engines available.

Trim levels are now SE and SE Premium (with manual or CVT ‘box) with the SE spec remaining unchanged and the SE Premium spec replacing the old Lux Premium and adding in SatNav and leather for good measure.

Now on sale, the 2014 Subaru XV costs from £21,995 for the XV 2.0i SE manual rising to £25,995 for the XV 2.0D SE Premium.