All-New Subaru XV Launched In Malaysia

The all-new Subaru XV has been officially launched by TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, which distributes the Subaru brand of vehicles in Malaysia. And while you may think this looks like a facelift due to the similarities in its general appearance and profile, this is a completely new generation; approximately 90% – 95% of the car is new.

For starters, the new Subaru XV is built on the company’s new Subaru Global Platform, with increase in body and chassis rigidity of about 70% over its predecessor, for better control. The new Subaru XV gets a 30mm longer wheelbase (2,635 mm), and consequently a body that’s longer by 15 mm (4,465 mm), wider by 20 mm (1,800 mm) but with height maintained at 1,615 mm. This allows for a larger cabin space while keeping the roof-top carrier accessible (the XV comes with roof rails). Ground clearance also stays the same at 220 mm.

Most notably, the head and tail lights are different from the old one; not seen is the fuel tank that’s 13 liters more voluminous, at 63 liters. The luggage space however, hasn’t increased as much although it’s a more usable space due to the wider opening. This is due to the use of a full-sized spare tyre and TC Subaru might change this to a space-saver in the future, depending on customer feedback. But Subaru states that it can still swallow up 3 golf bags without hindering rear view.

The cabin has more space for the passengers and looks more refined. The dashboard is all-new and derived from the Subaru Impreza. The 8″ infotainment touch screen has navigation and smartphone connectivity while the upper 6.3″ LCD display shows car and driving information.

Subaru is known for its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and X-Mode which optimize control of the engine, wheels and brakes for tackling challenging terrain e.g. wet or muddy roads.

The brand is also known for its boxer engines which have pistons moving horizontally toward each other instead of the more upright inline or V configurations of other conventional engines. This allows the engine to be flatter and placed lower thus lowering the vehicle’s center of gravity. And while it is still a 2.0L boxer engine, it has been lightened by 12 kg and equipped with direct injection for improved power delivery and fuel economy. The new engine produces 156 PS at 6,000 rpm (6 PS more than previous) and 196 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm (same torque as before but at a higher 4,200 rpm). The 7-speed Linertronic CVT (continuously variable transmission) also maintains its name but also has its weight reduced by nearly 8 kg and ratio increased by one. The CVT features an auto-step shift control and manual mode for greater control.

The Subaru XV is available in 2 variants – 2.0i and 2.0i-P, at the introductory prices of RM118,819 and RM125,868 respectively (on the road without insurance for private registration in Pen. Malaysia). There are 6 colors to pick – Sunshine Orange, Dark Blue Pearl, Pure White, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic and Crystal Black Silica.

Standard on both variants are: