Subaru’s popular XV SUV continues to turn heads and has recently caught the eye of the corporate sector - winning the National Business Review’s (NBR) Crossover of the Year award.
The most compact model in Subaru’s SUV range, the XV has seen its sales skyrocket by 78% since the launch of its stylish new generation model in June last year.
The NBR’s Motoring Editor Cameron Officer had plenty of praise for the Subaru XV.
“The Japanese carmaker does everything right, from its mechanical architecture, to its styling and packaging and even its pricing. It’s good news all the way. And so it goes with the XV,” he says.
Mr Officer went on to comment on the “absolutely humming” compact crossover market, where SUVs make up the majority of every manufacturers’ sales.
“But it appears that, essentially, what mainstream car buyers really want is a hatchback wearing hiking boots. The XV delivers on this promise, mainly thanks to the sure-footedness of Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Its square-jawed exterior – all angles and muscles atop a satisfyingly raised ride-height – underscores the idea of this being a crossover you really can take off the tarmac,” Mr Officer says.
He then outlines the XV 2.0i Premium’s features.
“[It] gives you 18” alloy wheels, chrome accents, silver roof rails, a sunroof, TomTom satellite navigation (over and above standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring systems already in the car), leather accented seats and a Vision Assist package which includes updated safety equipment like Blind Spot Monitoring, High Beam Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and – a new advent – Reverse Automatic Braking, which is designed to stop you hitting that low-lying wall you’ve failed to notice as you back up,” Mr Officer says.
Subaru of New Zealand’s Managing Director Wallis Dumper says: “The Subaru XV just keeps getting better. Subaru’s EyeSight technology which Cameron refers to, is in fact classified as level one autonomous driving. Our clever crash avoidance system was developed to help keep our drivers safer on the roads. It’s like a second pair of eyes, spotting potentially dangerous driving situations, and in some circumstances will provide intervention to avoid an incident.”
Mr Dumper continues: “Despite the XV being loaded with technology in the second generation model launched last year, we managed to reduce the starting price from $39,990 to $34,990, further cementing the XV as one of the most value-packed SUV’s amongst it’s competitors.”
“At just $34,990 for the 2.0i Sport and $39,990 for the 2.0i Premium, the XV is an extremely appealing contender in the compact SUV, crossover market. Like all our Subarus, XV comes standard with All-Wheel Drive, which we believe elevates it above all it’s 2WD rivals.”
To find out more about Subaru’s clever crash avoidance system, Eyesight Technology, visit https://www.subaru.co.nz/why-subaru/technology or to discover more about the XV click here: https://www.subaru.co.nz/showroom/xv
Catherine Pattison
Public Relations
Subaru of New Zealand
46 Lady Ruby Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013, New Zealand
M +64 (0)27 4455389
E catherine.pattison@subaru.co.nz
subaru.co.nz