What's the news?
Subaru has brought a new iteration of its oddball XV compact SUV to Geneva. The car has struggled for sales here in comparison to rivals like the Nissan Qashqai, but Subaru hope that revisions will give it a boost towards the top of the super-competitive segment.
Exterior
The XV concept shown at last year's Geneva show has been closely followed, and a wider, lower stance is immediately evident. A new front grille and headlights, a strongly defined character line and some new alloys complete the visual changes, while additional paint options can be specified in the form of 'Cool Grey Khaki' and 'Sunshine Orange'.
Interior
A similar case of gentle evolution for the cabin sees the seats altered with new grey trim, while orange stitching features on the dashboard. A new 8-inch touchscreen takes pride of place on the centre console and promises multiple infotainment and connectivity options.
Mechanicals
The 2.0-litre boxer engine has received a pretty thorough overhaul, with 80 per cent of parts said to be new in an attempt to increase output and efficiency. The direct injection unit now has 154hp, while the Lineartronic CVT gearbox has a simulated manual mode. An X-MODE function on the all-wheel drive is claimed to increase traction on difficult and slippery terrain.
The bodyshell has been revised, with torsional rigidity up by 70 per cent, and stiffer suspension mounting points help to reduce body roll by nearly 50 per cent. There's also a quicker steering rack for improved steering response.
Anything else?
Additional safety aids have been introduced, including automatic headlights with swivel function and traffic and light detection capability. Blind spot warning has been improved, while Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system includes features like pre-emptive braking and lane departure warning. The bodyshell improvements are also said to give a 40 per cent improvement in impact absorption.