Frankfurt 2011: 2012 Subaru XV gets unveiled

2012 Subaru XV arrives on the Frankfurt stage

After months of teasing – despite a concept at Shanghai – the 2012 Subaru XV Crossover is launched at Frankfurt 2011.

We did moan – which we have been known to, from time to time – about the tease for the launch of the 2012 Subaru XV at Frankfurt.

We moaned because we couldn’t see the point. We couldn’t see the point in Subaru teasing the XV with art photos, particularly when those photos showed a production XV which looked exactly like the concept XV.

So when the XV hit the floor at Frankfurt this week there wasn’t really anything to surprise, but there were differences between the XV and XV concept. But they’re small.

The panoramic roof has gone for production and there have been a number of tweaks at the back; the chrome of the number plate/boot opener has gone, there’s a bit of a fake diffuser thing going on in the bumper now and the roof rails have departed – probably to the options list, like the panoramic roof.

But other than that, it’s an Impreza on stilts and very convincing entrant to the sector. It promises to have decent on-road manners and real character, something the Mitsubishi ASX – which somehow seems the nearest equivalent – misses with.

Engines at launch will be a pair of petrols – a 1.6 litre and a 2.0 litre – and a single 2.0 litre diesel lump.

The 1.6 litre petrol gets 112bhp, 110lb/ft of torque and comes with a manual ‘box, although you can opt for a rubber band one if you must. It’ll do o-60 mph in a very leisurely 13.1 seconds, struggle on to 116mph and will do 41mpg.

The 2.0 litre petrol is a bit more impressive, with 148bhp and 144lb/ft of torque to play with. That returns 0-60mph in 10.5 seconds, 116mph and 41mpg.

But the choice will be the 2.0 litre diesel. It musters almost as many horses as the 2.0 litre petrol – 145bhp – but with a lump more torque – 258lb/ft. That makes it quicker – 0-60mph in 9.3 seconds and 123mph – and more economical – and 50mpg.

Despite taking the Mickey over the tease, we thing the Subaru XV a good offering, especially if it drives like an Impreza.

On sale early 2012 in the UK, but no prices yet.