Very thorough and detailed review. I'm now thinking I should look around more before deciding on buying this hybrid.Thanks for doing this review - very helpful.
"This car is a lower end model. It costs 40K. The interior is not premium. It costs 40K." I don't know what the average cost of a Hybrid car is, but if your salaries in AUS are similar to ours in the US, then that would be a deal killer for me.
I was seriously wanting the XV Hybrid (I own a 2010 Impreza that is great to drive, although quite a "peaky" engine), but having watched several of your videos, I'm pretty disappointed and will probably get a Toyota Hybrid. I know this is an old video, but do you think the Rav4 would be as efficient in a city like Ballarat as it would be in Sydney or Melbourne where the regen technology is most effective? I'm on the track to retirement and want to try to future proof my next car purchase, for the next decade or two anyway. Patrick
Yes. While the Australian dollar is falling, making exchange rates less favourable, on the whole dealers are going to be desperate to move stock and car companies will want to get sales numbers back on the board. It's already a buyer's market and I expect it to get better.
Yes, it's true there is a "compliance car" factor at play here - for the European market they need theoretically efficient vehicles. Ultimately, though, it's about Toyota's enormous lead in R&D. They've been doing series parallel hybrids for 20 years and it shows. The initial ones weren't great, but the new stuff is fab. I imagine Subaru will catch up reasonably quickly - it won't take 20 years. They just have to want it.
I reckon we have a good amount of diversity on this channel - but ultimately, Kieran, we have to make money. We make money by running ads on the videos. Because 60%+ of Australians now buy SUVs, that’s what they’re researching, so we have to make videos on the cars relevant to them. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop making them on other cars, and I know how important it is for the fan base, but there are economics involved (and people’s jobs). Thought I’d give you a straight answer and not just PR spin.
So what exactly is the point of this car? The fuel saving and CO2 reduction are both marginal and yet it costs like $6,500 at RRP more than the standard XV. If it costs like $2k more than the standard car, maybe some people would buy it for the Tiffany green paint...
Way too big a jump in price. To your point, look at the take up of the RAV4 Hybrid with its far more modest price premium over the standard petrol version.
That price. No full sized spare. Only that grade interior. Three reasons why I wouldn't buy it even if I had the cash and was in the market for a new car. I'd buy #Toyota #RAV4 in a heartbeat. But if the fix the #XV...😏
Love the XV in orange or pale blue as does what it says on the tin with real 4x4 although cvt box has had problems and hybrid effort seems a bit half hearted - great review Tom 👍
I have the 2022 version in the UK having recently disposed of a 2019 petrol version. They are chalk and cheese. The suspension was revised after the model you tested and the car feels much smoother . The CVT isn't so harsh when changing gear and the addition of the S/I mode is a bonus if you want a more sporty response. X mode again is better and I think the electic motor again helps. Checking tankful to tankful I'm getting about 3mpg more on average. On a motorway run of 250 miles i achieved a genuine 40.77 mpg. My biggest disappointment is that the fuel tank is now only 48 litres rather than 60 of the petrol version. The range is therefore down by about a hundred miles. Overall a great car though and I'm speaking as someone who owned 4 Lexus before the Subaru (By the way the panel fit is better on the Subaru and my last Lexus was a top spex RX450h costing double when new).
I agree with you - they just miss the mark. The package could be near perfect but for a few items - sizing is excellent, ground clearance etc. Give it a little more oomph, a real gearbox, and some long range seats, and they'll sell them in droves.
Agreed on those three points. A car that is decent in petrol form, underwhelming in hybrid form, but on the whole, the XV could easily be an amazing car.
XV and Impressa, most underrated in their class, but unfortunately deservedly so. As you say, the car could be so much more, just that Subaru hasn't and won't accept customer/reviewers' feedback - like being underpowered, lack of comfort features like no rear air vents, no ability to permanently turn off the stop/start feature and no rear air vents. No spare tire on the Hybrid, hey - FAIL again! The XV is wonderful on gravel roads, and therefore great for those in regional areas and those occasionally touring on country roads and venturing bush, but without a spare??? Your honest review is appreciated.
Pretty disappointing, the lack of spare makes country driving problematic at best, and the Australian spec is low rent and a big miss on presenting data to the driver. Overall I'm giving this one a miss until subaru can get it's act together and come up with a better value proposition.
I'm actually interested in buying one of these here in Trinidad and Tobago, I would have to do more research on the models we received here in this country. I am also comparing the xv with the Kia Niro.
Hey Tom - good review as always. I’m with you with wanting to like the Subaru, but their interiors are equivalent to some Toyota exteriors for me. They’re bland and insipid and overpriced for the offering. I remember years back looking at a WRX & I can see the same bloody parts in that XV. Subaru needs an overhaul there and they have to make it a value proposition. All the best.
Thanks, Sam. The good news is just that - it's not all bad. Subaru still has a good foundation and reputation to continue building on. It's clear to me though that the focus on driving dynamics has been left behind somewhere. Hopefully that begins to change soon. Our foreign colleagues have had good things to say about the new Outback (though Australian tastes often differ considerably on really key points). The new Levorg and WRX could be good. Hopefully. Let's see.
Good ideas - but for the Australians here, the Niro and Prius AWD are not available. The CX-30 is, though, and has been covered extensively on this channel.
Very thorough and detailed review. I'm now thinking I should look around more before deciding on buying this hybrid.Thanks for doing this review - very helpful.
Love your work, Tom....but more rav4 long term review! (Please😀👍)
Thanks for the review. As for the Subaru XV Hybrid. I like the colour. That is all.
Unusual to see such a bold colour these days. I like it too.
"This car is a lower end model. It costs 40K. The interior is not premium. It costs 40K." I don't know what the average cost of a Hybrid car is, but if your salaries in AUS are similar to ours in the US, then that would be a deal killer for me.
I was seriously wanting the XV Hybrid (I own a 2010 Impreza that is great to drive, although quite a "peaky" engine), but having watched several of your videos, I'm pretty disappointed and will probably get a Toyota Hybrid. I know this is an old video, but do you think the Rav4 would be as efficient in a city like Ballarat as it would be in Sydney or Melbourne where the regen technology is most effective? I'm on the track to retirement and want to try to future proof my next car purchase, for the next decade or two anyway. Patrick
One of the few small crossovers that actually has off road capability...
That's true, as I hope we demonstrated fairly!
Wait a minute, that's not a plugin hybrid, this is eboxer. There are big difference between them. Crosstrek Plugin Hybrid exist.
Great review
Thanks!
Is this a plugin or mild hybrid?
If you got the money is now a good time to get a great deal on a new car ?
Yes. While the Australian dollar is falling, making exchange rates less favourable, on the whole dealers are going to be desperate to move stock and car companies will want to get sales numbers back on the board. It's already a buyer's market and I expect it to get better.
I'd like the (HUD )head up display on next upgrade.
That would be a sweet upgrade.
Inside just like my basic impreza
Yeah, the spec inside is too low, I think.
Why would Subaru bring out such inferior hybrid vehicles ( XV & Forester) when compared to Toyota.
Yes, it's true there is a "compliance car" factor at play here - for the European market they need theoretically efficient vehicles. Ultimately, though, it's about Toyota's enormous lead in R&D. They've been doing series parallel hybrids for 20 years and it shows. The initial ones weren't great, but the new stuff is fab. I imagine Subaru will catch up reasonably quickly - it won't take 20 years. They just have to want it.
Was there a vehicle than made less sense than this?
Yeah that’d be the Forrester Hybrid.
Stop doing suvs. Killing me.
I reckon we have a good amount of diversity on this channel - but ultimately, Kieran, we have to make money. We make money by running ads on the videos. Because 60%+ of Australians now buy SUVs, that’s what they’re researching, so we have to make videos on the cars relevant to them. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop making them on other cars, and I know how important it is for the fan base, but there are economics involved (and people’s jobs). Thought I’d give you a straight answer and not just PR spin.
So what exactly is the point of this car? The fuel saving and CO2 reduction are both marginal and yet it costs like $6,500 at RRP more than the standard XV. If it costs like $2k more than the standard car, maybe some people would buy it for the Tiffany green paint...
Way too big a jump in price. To your point, look at the take up of the RAV4 Hybrid with its far more modest price premium over the standard petrol version.
I need a Subaru WRX Hybrid AWD Manual Transmission Sedan/Hatchback
That price. No full sized spare. Only that grade interior. Three reasons why I wouldn't buy it even if I had the cash and was in the market for a new car. I'd buy #Toyota #RAV4 in a heartbeat. But if the fix the #XV...😏
Love the XV in orange or pale blue as does what it says on the tin with real 4x4 although cvt box has had problems and hybrid effort seems a bit half hearted - great review Tom 👍
Thanks, Malcolm. I'd take an orange top-spec petrol, which is a well-priced vehicle here in Australia. Makes the underspecified hybrid look expensive.
I have the 2022 version in the UK having recently disposed of a 2019 petrol version. They are chalk and cheese. The suspension was revised after the model you tested and the car feels much smoother . The CVT isn't so harsh when changing gear and the addition of the S/I mode is a bonus if you want a more sporty response. X mode again is better and I think the electic motor again helps. Checking tankful to tankful I'm getting about 3mpg more on average. On a motorway run of 250 miles i achieved a genuine 40.77 mpg. My biggest disappointment is that the fuel tank is now only 48 litres rather than 60 of the petrol version. The range is therefore down by about a hundred miles. Overall a great car though and I'm speaking as someone who owned 4 Lexus before the Subaru (By the way the panel fit is better on the Subaru and my last Lexus was a top spex RX450h costing double when new).
I agree with you - they just miss the mark. The package could be near perfect but for a few items - sizing is excellent, ground clearance etc. Give it a little more oomph, a real gearbox, and some long range seats, and they'll sell them in droves.
They should make a GT version of this car.
Agreed on those three points. A car that is decent in petrol form, underwhelming in hybrid form, but on the whole, the XV could easily be an amazing car.
Great unbiased solid review, excellent!
Thanks a lot for watching.
MrGdotcom Agree!
Are we any closer to the long term RAV4 review? :)
I expect publication shortly.
XV and Impressa, most underrated in their class, but unfortunately deservedly so. As you say, the car could be so much more, just that Subaru hasn't and won't accept customer/reviewers' feedback - like being underpowered, lack of comfort features like no rear air vents, no ability to permanently turn off the stop/start feature and no rear air vents. No spare tire on the Hybrid, hey - FAIL again! The XV is wonderful on gravel roads, and therefore great for those in regional areas and those occasionally touring on country roads and venturing bush, but without a spare??? Your honest review is appreciated.
Pretty disappointing, the lack of spare makes country driving problematic at best, and the Australian spec is low rent and a big miss on presenting data to the driver. Overall I'm giving this one a miss until subaru can get it's act together and come up with a better value proposition.
I'm actually interested in buying one of these here in Trinidad and Tobago, I would have to do more research on the models we received here in this country. I am also comparing the xv with the Kia Niro.
Good review as always, unfortunately not the market leader in that segment. RAV4 hybrid is better than every aspect.
Ultimately, that's true - though the XV's size is different and a lot of people like that.
Chasing Cars no doubt, buying car is never a rationale calculation.
Hey Tom - good review as always. I’m with you with wanting to like the Subaru, but their interiors are equivalent to some Toyota exteriors for me. They’re bland and insipid and overpriced for the offering. I remember years back looking at a WRX & I can see the same bloody parts in that XV. Subaru needs an overhaul there and they have to make it a value proposition. All the best.
Thanks, Sam. The good news is just that - it's not all bad. Subaru still has a good foundation and reputation to continue building on. It's clear to me though that the focus on driving dynamics has been left behind somewhere. Hopefully that begins to change soon. Our foreign colleagues have had good things to say about the new Outback (though Australian tastes often differ considerably on really key points). The new Levorg and WRX could be good. Hopefully. Let's see.
Also test drive the Kia Niro and the non-hybrid Mazda CX-30. Also the Prius with optional all wheel drive.
Good ideas - but for the Australians here, the Niro and Prius AWD are not available. The CX-30 is, though, and has been covered extensively on this channel.
Same as the Forester Hybrid, nice car but don't bother with the hybrid. Subaru really "phoned it in" on the hybrids.
Agreed, John.
Is there an undercarriage spare? That's become real common in a lot of larger cars in the US.
No spare at all unfortunately.
XV is just an Impreza but lifted. The Forester has a better and bigger interior
Indeed.
Hey Tom can you review the new Passat 140tsi business ?
Happy to report that video HAS been filmed, so it will be coming out soon. Spoiler alert - it's good!
North America Version has a better touch screen and interior. Sorry for what they are sending your way, especially considering the cost.
Yeah, it is a shame our version is not based on a higher specification.
@@chasingcars I'm wondering if they put a different battery in yours as well. Your cargo area actually seemed larger than mine.
這時進來臺灣販賣，是最好時機，政府補助只到9月中旬，把握。
别期待太多，混动版的性能与油耗提升不多，不是很值。