The new Subaru XV, now refreshed and looking rather superb

The seminal Subaru XV; the car that took a rather talented yet underrated automaker from selling a couple hundred units in a year to shifting thousands out the showroom doors – now receives a much anticipated mid-life update to maintain its power play within the segment.

Aesthetics updates to the new car include sharper contour lines running along the new bumper down flanks of the car. There’s a distinctive difference to the front fog-light enclosures and the rear of the new Subaru XV is signed off with a new clear-lens combination tail lights. The superb looking 17-inch alloys have also been spruced up… now featuring an angular offset in the spoke designs.

The interior sports a finessed-spin of the leather seats and gear boot cover. While tactile orange stitching, now adorns the seats sides and steering wheel touchpoints. In addition the conclusive standard features of the XV 2.0i variant which includes three airbags up front (including driver’s side knee airbag), multifunction steering wheel, automatic air-conditioning and cruise control, the 2.0i-Premium adds Bluetooth, power adjusted driver’s seat controls, touch-screen infotainment, voice recognition, rear-view camera, LED wing mirrors and a premium audio setup among others.

The new Subaru XV still call on power from its venerable 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed (Boxer) four-cylinder mill outputting 148bhp at 6200rpm and 196Nm of torque at 4200rpm. Power is transmitted through a Lineartronic CVT powering all four wheels symmetrically. Ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear provide stopping power.

Standard kit in the safety department remains extensive with the firm’s Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system, four-channel ABS with EBD and brake assist and override if the situation calls for it.

The new Subaru XV now comes to us in two different flavours - the 2.0i and 2.0i-Premium. Priced at RM132,724 and RM137,074 respectively inclusive of GST, insurance and registration charges. There are six different colours to choose from – Pure White, Ice Silver Metallic, Desert Khaki, Tangerine Orange Pearl, Dark Grey Metallic and Obsidian Black Pearl.