The Subaru XV is the compact crossover that has quietly built a loyal following in Australia. The 2018 generation retains the same silhouette but improves the interior, the tech, and the ride quality, which was a genuine complaint with the previous model. The standard all-wheel drive and 220 mm ground clearance remain, along with the boxer engine that Subaru has never shown any interest in abandoning.
Simone reviews the 2018 XV and focuses on what changed and whether the changes matter. She looks at how the revised suspension tuning handles the kind of suburban and regional driving that XV buyers typically do, the new StarLink multimedia system, and the EyeSight safety tech that is now available across the range. The XV competes with the Mazda CX-3, Honda HR-V, and Mitsubishi ASX in a segment where value and practicality drive most decisions.
The 2018 XV is a better car than the one it replaced, and that was already a solid package. If AWD in a compact footprint is the priority, it is one of the few options in Australia that delivers it without asking you to pay luxury-car money. The full review is on the CarTell.tv YouTube channel above.
