A refreshing change

MANILA, Philippines – As a motoring journalist, my neighbors have become pretty used to seeing a different car parked outside my place every week. Sure they thought I was hooked up with a shabu-making ring at first, but these days, they’ve become almost jaded by the seemingly endless stream of shiny new metal that litters my driveway.

They’re a tough crowd, these neighbors of mine, which is why I always know I’ve got something pretty special sitting outside when they start ringing the doorbell. And that’s exactly what happened when I took home the soon to be launched Subaru XV last week.

And it wasn’t just the neighbors, either. Every time I arrived back at the car, either from the mall or at work, I would either see a few people mulling around it, or need to wipe the tell-tale smudges on the windows where they had cupped their hands over the sides of their face and breathed some envious sighs over the glass while sneaking a peek at the interior. And the effect was easily multiplied by ten once I parked on the foothills of the mountain biking trails in either Santa Rosa or Timberland or wherever adrenaline junkies tend to gather. In fact, the last time I remember getting this much attention was with the new Ford Explorer. And we all know what happened there.

Like anything, it all starts off with good design. Now Subaru have been known for many things – rallying, ruggedness, speed, durability, excitement, go-anywhere capability – but never really for design. In fact, it was a cross that most owners were just willing to carry for the trade-off that they got in performance and the unique ownership experience of owning a premium Japanese vehicle; which explains why once it was addressed, even non-traditional Subaru buyers started lining up outside MotorImage like it was an Apple store on the eve of a product launch.

Despite keeping the car on the top floor of the building, under a car cover and away from public view, MotorImage Pilipinas, the official Subaru importer, received over sixty orders for the all-new XV – the first forty of which, were inked even before they could give the customers the price.

So it shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone that by the time MotorImage pull the covers off next week at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), they’re expecting that figure to double or even triple. And once the launch price of P1.299M starts leaking out, well, it’s anyone’s guess from there...

There are many variables that need to come together to come up with something viral in the automotive industry: design, performance, economy, practicality, and most importantly, value. Take just one of those away and it ends up as the lead picture in a dealership promo poster some months later offering you everything from free floor mats, tint, tents, mountain bikes and endless gratitude, all with no deposit and five years to pay.

The XV won’t have that problem. Just bear in mind, of course, that viral is relative. For a Toyota, its 20,000 units a year, while for a niche brand like Subaru, this could be anywhere between 500 to 1,000. But at the rate that interest is picking up, there’s every chance that they’ll hit that.

In case you haven’t worked it out yet, the XV plugs the gap between an Impreza and the best-selling Forester. But unlike some models of other brands that have tried doing the same thing, Subaru seems to have nailed the target dead center. It’s chunky and muscular enough to distance itself from the five door-hatch, but not quite as tall and wide as the compact SUV.

It has a touch more ground clearance than an Impreza, as well as the legendary symmetrical all-wheel drive system to get you further off the beaten path, plus its nimble enough to zip around city streets or tight parking buildings.

It’s powered by Subaru’s new generation boxer engines that produces 150hp @ 6,200rpm, but the big news here is the all-new CVT transmission that is able to milk every precious drop of torque out of the engine and give you that sense of urgency that was lacking in the Imprezas.

A tasteful pair of paddle shifters breaks up the monotony of the CVT’s shiftless hum, and allows a bit more involvement once the roads start getting interesting. I’ve never been a fan of CVTs, but this is one of the best examples out there. Besides which, I’d take it over the four speed auto that it replaces. You cannot compare it to a 2.5 turbo, but at least there’s change out of eleven seconds when you do the dash from 0-100Km/h, plus a very realistic 11 kilometer per liter city cycle when you’re not trying to set any speed cameras off.

It feels every bit as premium as any Subaru before it, but there’s something special in the way it rides over tortured roads and dirt paths. It just feels glued together. Everything from the four wheel independent suspension with McPhersons up front and double wishbones at the back, to the tasteful, yet functional interior, the XV is a vehicle that makes you want to go places.

MotorImage will offer two variants, including the top of the line version that offers a sun roof, dual climate control and a large multi info display that has a very novel trip computer and reverse camera all for just P100,000 more.

If I were to have any qualms, its mostly that I find the rear cargo area still a little too shallow, even if it does at least offer 60/40 split fold seats that can swallow a small to medium mountain bike whole.

To see the XV up close, as well as just about every new car on offer these days, visit the Manila International Auto Show at the World Trade Center this coming March 28 to April 1.