The winner is in the details

MANILA, Philippines - Each time the Subaru XV arrives at the office, it seems to have a very busy schedule. Trips to hole-in-the-wall restaurants and out-of-town destinations are the norms for the compact crossover. However, in those cases, it’s always been the 2.0i, the base model that’s all well and good but not truly representative of the XV line. Instead, that distinction goes the 2.0i Premium, which is the better selling XV. It’s slightly more expensive, but it also comes better loaded with features. But is the additional price tag worth it or are Subaru buyers getting it wrong? Let’s find out.

The Subaru XV is becoming a common sight on Philippine roads, replicating the success enjoyed by its bigger brother, the Forester. Nonetheless, you can’t get tired looking at it. The XV remains youthful and fresh, balancing the right amount of machismo and refinement that wouldn’t make it out of place whether it’s in the great outdoors or at a luxury hotel parking lot.

The thought of having extensive black body cladding may seem like a turnoff, but the overall execution is stellar. It’s nicely textured and together with the eye-catching black-and-silver 17-inch alloys makes for a dramatic entrance. Differentiating the 2.0i Premium over the regular 2.0i are HID headlamps with pop-up washers, chrome trimming on the door handles, and signal indicators that migrate from the front fenders to the side mirrors. All in all, the exterior dolling up are mostly in the details but they’re welcome details nonetheless.

Of course, like any other range-topping variant, the XV 2.0i Premium comes in some exclusive colors. Aside from the usual choices of white, black, and silver, the Premium comes in a retina-searing shade of Tangerine Orange. It actually looks good in photographs (and unmistakable in parking lots), but the lack of metallic flakes (it’s pearlescent) make it look flat in person. This year, Subaru quietly added a brand-new color: Deep Cherry which is a cross between dark purple and red. Like the orange color, this one’s pearlescent as well. Thankfully, whether you choose pearlescent or metallic, you don’t have to pay extra (take that, Toyota and Honda!).

Like the exterior, the 2.0i Premium is modestly upgraded inside to differentiate itself from its base brother. Again, the changes are mostly minute and detail-oriented, but in the bigger scheme of things, they do count (and work).

First up, the instrument panel features LED lighting with a white on black odometer and trip meter combination (the base XV has a black on white display). Second, the pedals are now sheathed in aluminum complete with grippy rubber studs. They hark to Subaru’s sportier offerings such as the WRX STI and Forester XT. Third, the digital calculator-like center display is replaced by a fancy 6.1-inch WQVGA monitor. Aside from offering the usual trip computer functions such as Instantaneous Fuel Economy, Average Fuel Economy, and Distance to Empty; the multi-function display throws things like self-check maintenance alerts, calendar functions (birthday and anniversary), safety-related information, and even Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) monitoring into the mix. It even has a customizable triple-meter display that shows things from coolant temperature to accelerator pressure to elapsed time travelled. Plus it doubles as the monitor for the standard back-up camera. Lastly, the climate control is upgraded to a dual-zone system for optimal comfort for passengers.

Overall, the XV 2.0i Premium feels very, well, Premium. The materials are top-notch, the buttons and stalks have crisp engagement, and build quality is outstanding. The driving position is simply superb and the outward visibility is outstanding. In terms of interior room, it’s actually good to swallow five adults with enough shoulder, hip, and knee clearance. Luggage space is a tad on the small side, though the rear seatbacks fold in a 60/40 split to accommodate larger luggage. The only thing that’s missing on the XV is standard leather seating. Though the XV’s mesh-fabric cloth seats are good (it’s shared with the base XV), the additional price asked over the Impreza should have commanded leather seats as standard (the Impreza has leather seats).

The 2.0i Premium is mechanically the same with the base XV so it pretty much drives the same way. It’s a very driver-centric crossover that balances comfort and enthusiasm very well. The steering on the XV is nicely weighted and the chassis are responsive through corners. There’s also a good amount of mechanical grip which inspires you to carve through canyon roads faster while the full-time all-wheel drive provides an extra layer of assurance, especially in foul weather. If there’s only one chink to the XV’s armor, it’s got to be the brakes which could use better bite.

The XV runs on the same FB20 engine powering the Impreza and the non-turbo Forester. Overall, it’s a good engine with excellent low-end pull and a fat torque curve that matches the CVT very well. Even with 150hp and 196Nm of torque, the XV doesn’t like to be rushed; if you do, you’ll only end up with the CVT’s drone. Power must be laid down in a linear fashion, resulting in surprisingly brisk acceleration (it feels faster than my Forester equipped with the same FB20 engine but with a 4-speed automatic) while returning top-notch fuel economy. In city driving, the XV Premium did 12.5 km/L while achieving 15.38 km/L on the highway.

With a ride height of 220mm, the XV is actually taller than most crossovers and equals the Forester (both the 2009-2013 and even the upcoming 2014 models). This means the XV’s got surprisingly good off-road ability to go with the stellar on-road dynamics.

What’s the Bottom Line?

Priced at P1,478,000, the Subaru XV 2.0i Premium is P80,000 more than the base XV and a whopping P180,000 more than the Impreza 2.0 i-S. Initially, this may sound like a lot of money to pay, given you’re basically getting a raised Impreza. But after a while, it hits you: the 2.0i Premium DOES feel more like a complete product. By simply drilling down the difference between the two XV models, you’ll notice that the difference pays for itself with the HID headlamps with pop-up washers, power-folding side mirrors with LED turn indicators, chrome door handles, LED backlit gauges, aluminum sport pedals, 6-inch multi-function display, dual-zone climate control, and rear back-up camera.

Of course, some will argue that the Impreza is better value given you’ll get everything the XV Premium has plus leather seats. There’s no denying that, but remember: you’re not getting the security and versatility offered by the increased ground clearance. Overall, the choice is definitely up to the consumer, whether he or she wants a more luxurious (Impreza) or youthful (XV) ride. But in case you’re leaning towards the youthful XV, you won’t go wrong with spending the additional P80,000. By far, this is the best compact crossover around blending driver-centric handling with family car practicality and stellar fuel economy.