Absolute rubbish
The rear suspension is too tight or something and can't go over speed humps like a normal car as the noise is terrible. Sounds like its fully contracting really quickly. Could be easily fixed with better shocks I believe it seems to be on the rear drivers side. Brought the car brand new complained to dealer they didn't believe me we took 2 other XVs for a drive same issue answer from Subaru is don't go over speed humps too quickly. My reply is not only is my 2011 I20 more sophisticated I can go a lot faster over speed humps with no horrendous noise coming from the suspension.
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LaunchmoreMetropolitan Adelaide, SA
- 4 reviews
So far, very impressed.
We've only had the car for several months, but so far, it has been excellent. No hiccups. Smooth ride. Plenty of leg space, especially for backseat passengers. Easy to park. Excellent air-con. Stereo not too bad - not top quality, but otherwise absolutely fine. Overall, a very positive purchase - no regrets at all.
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Annette
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
It's the first and last Subaru I'll buy
Although the performance (i.e. the drive itself) is good there are so many other issues with the car it is horrible.
I have been having back issues due to the uncomfortable seat (which I've since found out is not that uncommon for the XV). I have had to buy a $100 support to resolve this.
The boot wouldn't close in the first couple of weeks after buying the car and they had to replace the seal around the door as it was buckling in places and preventing the door closing.
The Bluetooth kit for the phone is very poor quality to the point wh...Read more
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CharuSydney
- 2 reviews
- 3 likes
- XV G4X 2.0i-L (2015-2017)
- Verified purchase
Great Car with few things which can be improved!
We bought Subaru XV last month and till now loving the car. It's a compact SUV, has a lot of space, when the back seats are folded down. Love the sun roof!
Minor things which we didn't like is updating the maps for the GPS is very expensive and the music system isn't great (love my speakers on my Toyota Camry)!
Overall a great car!
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Derek Weith
- 2 reviews
Best sml car I have ever owned or driven.
Now let's be clear first. These little cars are NOT 4WD they are all wheel drive hence the badge AWD on the back lift hatch. The boxer engine is by far the best thing about the car. So responsive, so economical and the auto / manual version is a dream to drive. I pay $55.00 to fill it most times when petroleum is around the $1.08 to $1.16 litre, comfy ride, plenty of room,. So much I fact I tested recently with 9 hay bales for the garden and not once did I get straw in my hat. Huh! The inclusions are amazing, sunroof, Bluetooth, Gps tracking, ...Read more
talking directory, all the audio you could ask for, for music choices. The reversing camera is amazingly accurate and I now rely on it heavily in tight places at shopping malls etc. The alloys sit well on the road and there is very little road noise when driving. Range of colours is a little different but that's the XV, it's different!! One of the best things is, when you close a door it sounds connected and secure, no wobbles or rattles. Love the idea of not being able to see the exhaust pipe very sensible. Interior all feels nice and sensible use of materials. Subaru you out did yourselves can't wait to see the new one when its released later this year I hear. 11/10 for me. try one, buy one Reasonably priced you won't be sorry.1 comment
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Never will I buy another Subaru
Driving experience was outstanding it stuck to the road like glue especially corning in the wet.
Fuel economy was atrocious in the high revving constant velocity auto box.
Way too much useless tech rubbish on the in dash graphic display. (waste of money).
A real annoying 3 second lag changing from reverse to drive (loads of fun as trucks bear down on you and you go no where) put your foot flat to the floor in this delay period and nothing happens, the engine doesn't even rev! But be warned if you pop out of that lag time with your foot plant...Read more
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piquetmelbourne
Oil consumption issues A totally terrrible vehicle
Really my rating for this car is a big Negative 4-5 stars. The most important thing about any car is the engine. The most important thing about an engine is the oil. Both these thing on my daughters XV are less than impressive.
My Daughters XV has had oil consumption problems from the very first service. It is a 2013 model and it is now heading towards its 3rd, yes that right, 3rd engine. The problems continue with the car which was her first new car and her first Subaru. First up it chewed out the cams and carriers due to oil starvation. T...Read more
hen we have had the continued issues of oil consumption. A re-ring kit was put through the car but the the problems continued so a complete short motor was put in the car. Now the low oil level light come on after a minimum of 170km and generally within 500 kn of refill. The latest is after 650 km. We have contacted Subaru Australia to be informed that it has been escalated but have not heard from anyone at all after that initial contact. The low oil level switch was replaced but nothing changed. Then it was found that the engine harness had corrosion on the plug that may be causing a faulty reading. It didnt fix the problem, They have even changed the dipstick as there were several different lengths fitted to the cars over the years and hers may have had the incorrect one fitted during one of the rebuilds. We are heartily sick of the car. Daughter drives about 160-170 km round trip to work and often late at night. We no longer trust the car or that Subaru Australia knows what is wrong or how to fix the vehicle. One incident happened in Ballarat and there was no Subaru dealer in Ballarat to take the car to for them to have a look at what was happening. We want out. Pay out my daughters loan, take back the car and find out what is wrong is all we want. We dont even want any monetary compensation. Would I recommend a Subaru XV No way. NEVER so long as my bottom points to the ground.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Sylvia ElseAU
- 24 reviews
Has annoying details
The seat is not comfortable. The sides appear to be designed to provide support when going round bends, but I find they just dig into my ribs and kidneys.
The automatic engine stop (at traffic lights, for example), can be disabled, but the disabling isn't remembered. It must be done again each time the car is started. I usually forget, resulting in additional wear on the starter, battery and engine. There appears to be no way of permamently disabling this feature.
The daytime running lights cannot be disabled other than by disconnecting t...Read more
hem, and they can be confusing in a garage, making it seem that the headlights are on. When the car is started, a page of text appears on the display imploring the driver to obey the road rules, and drive safely. This cannot be disabled. I don't need to be patronised by my car. The analogue speedometer is small and has a ridiculously small range for the legal speeds - about one quarter of the dial. This may be deliberate so as to encourage people to upgrade to the L level (as I did) in order to get the digital speedometer.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
John S
- 5 reviews
- 1 like
- XV G4X 2.0i (2015-2017)
- Verified purchase
Understated & excellent
My first choice was the Forester but as this was a replacement for my wifes Impreza she much preferred the size for city parking and looks of the XV. This car is no power house but the performance in all circumstances has proven to be satisfactory. The CVT once used to makes it a very relaxed vehicle to travel on Motorways, Highways and country backroads. We purchased the XV because we regularly visit a friends farm up fire trail up a steep winding mountain range, the XV with its superb ground clearance has proven itself extremely capable throu...Read more
gh the rutted sections and the AWD feel and feedback offers great confidence when the trail was muddy and as slippery as baby poo, even better than true 4*4s we'd driven up in the past. Negatives: Lack of boot hatch space, fixed for Holidays by buying a Rhino Rack luggage pod. Check the Dealer is not overfilling oil by a significant amount after each service, if more than a 1cm take it back to drain.5 comments
2 things to be careful of is to make sure your servicing mechanic only uses the handbook specified 0-20 synthetic oil and not to fill past full, I've returned both my '12 Impreza and '14 XV 4 times to... Read more
the servicing Subaru dealer be drained due to more than 20mm overfill, there were some US owners reporting that some oil consumption problems started soon after a service due to wrong oil or overfill causing the low friction oil control rings to fail, both our Subarus only drop an acceptible 5mm max between the marks during their 10 to 12k kms between 6 month services.Update: 3 years since purchase while the XV itself has proven itself to be an excellent vehicle no matter the conditions have an issue caused by the servicing dealers oil overfill again.
Despite my ... Read more
demands when booking and handing over the keys to not fill past full they managed to overfill by 18mm again causing a cold start missing problem during their Nov service but while they drained and corrected the overfill the cold start misfire problem has remained.When picking up the car Friday afternoon after 4 days in our Subaru dealers service department they advised they have replaced the plugs, cleaned the intake manifold and done the best they can to clea... Read more
r oil residue from the related intake hoses. This mornings first cold start after getting back our XV was the first since their late Nov '17 service that the motor hasn't misfire stumbled so guess their above steps appear to have fixed the fault they caused, there is a slight but noticeable fast idle engine mis until the motor warms but I'm hoping this is only ECU relearning if they have disconnected the battery and hopefully will clear with driving.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
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possumCairns
HANG ON TO YOUR HAT. LOL
Well, my friends and family will tell anyone if a car can stand up to the way i drive it, it is tough. I chose this particular vehicle as i wanted something sporty looking, with a sunroof, reasonable ground clearance, and suitable tyres that can go onto the dirt road, and a spare tyre that will take me as far as i need to go before it can be fixed. I absolutely love putting the sunroof open, feeling the wind in my hair and the sun on my face.I also chose the Plasma Green and i always receive compliments on my car wherever i travel. I find tha...Read more
t its does not slide at all in the water and have tested it in a depth of 1/2 a foot deep and locked the steering wheel onto one side, and given it the "Doughnut" treatment. It handled it like i was still driving on the freeway. Having grown up on the dirt roads in Central Western Queensland i tend to travel as fast on the dirt roads as on the bitumen and still find that it handles smoothly and brakes efficiently. The automatic shifts easily into manual mode and i do use the manual mode when towing a braked trailer which weighs just over a ton. Keep in mind i am still traveling on average 120 klm an hour. when towing and achieving a fuel usage of 10 liters to 100 klms. Compared to my friends who own the manual version, i get a lot better fuel economy and a smoother performance. I cannot find any faults with the interior but you definitely have to be at a standstill for the Satellite map system to work. Being able to drive at a 130klm in the NT and still achieve around 8.3 liters per 100 klm is fantastic for me. i can afford to do a lot of travel both in style and comfort. This particular car represents my personality, fun, sporty, versatile, colourful and goes 100 miles an hour.lolSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
SandyglossEast Fremantle
Love my XV
This is my first 4wd I have bought. I've had my car since May 2013 and cannot fault it. I use top grade Caltex fuel & I believe this helps the car to drive better. Never had a problem with the manual gears and the car has never let me down. Would I buy another one....yes but next time it will be automatic.
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purplewombatTamworth, New South Wales
- 2 reviews
- 4 likes
- XV G4X 2.0i (2015-2017)
- Verified purchase
Major Design Fault Spoils An Otherwise Good Vehicle!
I bought my 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek in May based on research and reviews but mostly because I really need an AWD for our dirt roads. In the end it came down to price and I got a very good deal from the Subaru dealer in Bateman's Bay. We live in Tamworth but the XV was $5,000 cheaper than anywhere else, so it was well worth the drive.
PROS: very responsive handling, hugs the corners well, very smooth gearbox and clutch, comfortable seats, plenty of legroom, rear doors open up nice and wide to make it easier to get in and out, plenty of room to...Read more
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Loving my new Subaru XV!
I have had my Subaru XV for 6 months now and I am still loving it. It performs well, especially in wet weather. My only complaint is having to reprogram my bluetooth every time I start up the car -it would have been great if it just remembered. The car is getting better fuel economy than we had expected - especially on the freeways. The best thing about this car is that it is easy to get in and out of, and to get things out of the boot. These things are helpful for people (like me) who are getting a bit older. The car is quite zippy and fun to drive. I really am quite happy with the purchase.
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MellyCanberra
Fantastic Fuel Efficiency and Plenty of Space
I purchased my Subaru XV earlier this year. I had downsized from a much larger car and was concerned I may have purchased a car that was too small. The car has more boot space than I first imagined and the seats fold down to give you more room when transporting larger items. The fuel efficiency is amazing!! I can get 6.6litres to the 100kms when travelling on the highway and it just purs along. Definitely happy with this car and will definitely buying a Subaru again!
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Oil consumer
The XV did not have the same build quality of previous (4) Subarus, but with constant 4WD, and good equipment levels was initially seen to be a good buy. In the first 2 weeks we experienced a dead battery on multiple occasions, which we had changed out by the dealer with little fuss, but our major issue was with excessive engine oil use. Engine oil warning light first came on at 4500km's and required topping up (over $100 for 5l bottle), and for every 4500km's later, almost a litre of oil was required each time. Discussed with Subaru and dealers, and on every occasion, were fobbed off explaining the oil use as being normal and acceptable. This was not acceptable to me and the result was we sold the car and bought a Toyota.
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Feels like I just jumped in my old car but better
You know that feeling when you get into a different car..takes a while to get used to? My 2013 XVSport isn't like that.. so comfortable, smooth, high enough for great vision, doesn't jut out of carspots like bigger 4WDs. Great all rounder that is as reliable as it is safe.
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Terrible
The XV had me stranded on pennant hills road (3 lane road) in peak hour. The car just turned off and would not turn back on again then the cvt locked when I put it in park to try turn it back on again and it would not leave park. Had no car for 2 days. The cars entertainment system didn't work for 3 months while I waited for a replacement now the new one is not working correctly again. The car uses excessive oil & petrol @ 9.8L/100km when ALL driving is HWY. The cars panels are not aligned & the build quality is shocking for a new car. Servicin...Read more
g on subarus is very expensive. The lights have got condensation in them due to cheap materials used in production The car needs a recall but they don't have free spots for a month The car has only done 100,000ks and all these problems already Very glad I also still have my old Audi A4 which has never let me down which is pushing 450,000ks Also the XV is extremely underpowered Would choose a Nissan QuashQai or Range Rover Evoque if you can affordSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Brilliant little SUV
I love my XV. It is the perfect size for running around the city, roomy, easy to park as it doesn't feel like I am driving a cruise ship. The only downfall is that the seats are not electric, so when my husband and I swap driving positions it is a little annoying, considering I know that the outback has pre-settable settings for drivers. It can also be a tiny bit small if you are planning to take a lot with you on a trip away, as the bootspace is not huge. Even despite of those tiny gripes, I love this car!!!!
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DanielAustralia
- 8 reviews
Great little car!
This is a great little car, fairly fun to drive and extremely practical. With enough room in the back for 3 comfortably and smooth enough engine and brilliant fuel economy, it's not hard to see why this car is the best in its segment. Off road, the XV is comfortable too, and it handles well in all off and on road conditions especially the wet. Great visibility and class leading safety helps too.
The interior is unfortunately somewhat on the poor side, lots of hard plastics and materials could be better, however all in all that's not the rea...Read more
son you buy this car. 2 other things that need to be changed in my mind, and that I hated. Firstly the audio system is dog crap. Nothing like the ones found in the higher end Subaru's, and secondly, it is to be honest, a little underpowered. Power isn't that great and up hills it struggles a bit even with the manual. I have heard the CVT is better, but I can't stand them. The car is of such a high quality and reliability being a Subaru you know it's going to last. I recommend the XV to someone looking for a compact and safe car, with great styling and reliable engines. Very happy with the purchase.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Great car! Will take you anywhere
Pros:
- on the surface the XV is a great looking car. It is sporty and is available in a great range of colours (mine is plasma green which is superb)
- the symmetrical all wheel drive is great, it makes steering and manoeuvring the car a dream and also makes driving much safer, it corners well and sticks to the road
- 5 Star safety rating as with all subaru's - there are literally airbags everywhere
- it has a powerful boxer engine that you wouldn't expect in a car of that size
- the height or ground clearance is fantastic for those look...Read more
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Questions & Answers
Felicity Basked
My 2012 Subaru XV is tomorrow getting it’s 3rd engine in less than 50,000km. I brought the car new and have nothing but issues - never again. I guess my question here is has anyone else had as much drama??
2 answers
why has it been replaced each time?
Mine had an oil leak under warranty needing to remove the engine to resell the cam carriers. After that it had a ticking noise that was found to be a bent camshaft. Engine out again and new camshaft installed. Now running well at 80,000 kms
We bought our 2012 Subaru XV in March 2015. It ran like a charm, clocking up 110,000 ks without a hitch until four weeks ago when it shuddered, lost power intermittently and flashed about four different messages reporting engine trouble. We've been waiting all this time for the problem to be diagnosed, and now onto our third hire car at great cost. We bought Subaru on the expectation of reliability and thought we were winning the game. Nooooot sooo. We are waiting for some satisfactory answers Subaru!
Wendyasked
Having just purchased a 2018 XV Hatch sports, in setting the volume for the front sensors, let alone the rear, the volume on the highest level is actually very quiet, especially if you have hearing aids. Any tips or short instructions to ensure I have done this correctly? TIA
No answers
Rosieasked
Hi
We have a dilemma with our 2012 Manual Subaru XV which threw up all warning lights one evening driving home. Subaru dealer told us we needed a new battery, quoted us 750 including diagnostics test, we had it replaced for half price with a local mechanic. Drove away, and discovered all the warning lights on dashboard again. Second diagnostic test at Subaru dealer (more money:( and now we are told a problem with ABS system which cost 6500 to fix. This knocked me off my feet. Has anyone spent such enormous amounts on this problem, or this car, in one hit? Very angry at this point as I feel there is no guarantee that this may be all that is wrong with the car.
1 answer
Bought a used 2012 XV and days after buying it, it did this exactly. Turns out it just needed a new o2 sensor.
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Derek Weith
Yep still feelin it and lovin it!!