Subaru XV Hybrid S 2021 Review

A hybrid variant of the popular Subaru XV was launched early in 2020, and notwithstanding delays with supply, the Japanese brand subsequently announced an upgraded MY21 series in October last year.

The 2021 Subaru XV range brought a variety of changes, including two hybrid variants comprising the entry-level XV Hybrid L and the flagship XV Hybrid S tested here that pushed the electrified small SUV beyond the $40,000 mark.

The previous single model variant was priced at $35,580 plus ORCs.

Despite the MY21 tweaks, Subaru’s first foray into the hybrid market in Australia – launched in parallel with the Subaru Forester Hybrid – looks a little tentative.

With talk of more environmentally focused developments in the future – the full-electric 2022 Subaru Solterra is coming, but not for Australia at this stage – the company is virtually admitting that its first stint at hybrids is essentially an opportunistic stop-gap measure.

The Subaru XV and Forester are there to offer buyers an alternative to the bigger hybrid players – particularly Toyota which covers practically every SUV segment from the light-class Toyota Yaris Cross to the just-launched fourth-generation Toyota Kluger.

Subaru’s XV Hybrid, like its larger Forester sibling, uses a powertrain comprising a slightly detuned version of the company’s 2.0-litre normally-aspirated boxer four-cylinder engine that receives some aid from a minuscule 12.3kW/66Nm electric motor with a quickly-charged, quickly-depleted lithium-ion battery pack that absolutely minimises the XV’s ability to run in full-EV mode.

The 2021 Subaru XV Hybrid S AWD is the most expensive model in the XV line-up at $40,790 plus on-road costs.

You can still step into a petrol-electric XV for around $35K, with the new Hybrid L version priced at $35,490 plus ORCs. That said, some features that were previously standards have been withdrawn, such as blind spot monitoring, lane change assist, high beam assist, rear cross traffic alert and reverse automatic braking.

That now leaves the more expensive XV Hybrid S as the safer option. Helping justify its step up in pricing, the S gains a new front view monitor and side view monitor for 360-degree viewing, plus a new two-setting X-Mode off-road traction control system.

As well as the driver assist safety aids mentioned above, it also has standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in forward and reverse – both high- and low-speed operation in the former – as well as adaptive cruise control.

Inside, the XV Hybrid S gets leather-look trim, an eight-way adjustable power seat with memory for the driver (including pre-set side mirror positions), seat heating on both sides, self-dipping LED headlights that also follow bends in the road ahead, climate control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and an impressive six-speaker sound system with plenty of punch at both the upper and lower registers.

More affordable than the Mazda CX-30 X20 Astina SKYACTIV-X mild-hybrid (from $46,690), but positioned well above the Toyota C-HR Koba Hybrid (from $37,665), the 2021 Subaru XV Hybrid S AWD delivers appropriately in terms of refinement and general on-road performance.

That’s with the caveat that the powertrain, which is also a mild-hybrid compared to the more substantial series-parallel hybrid set-up in the Toyota, is a bit of a disappointment in the end.

The now-universal e-Active SI-Drive system maintains higher engine rpm when braking, cornering or going downhill to ensure consistent torque delivery, while the latest MY21 update has upgraded the suspension to improve ride and handling.

The Subaru XV Hybrid S feels settled, responsive, secure and commendably quiet on the road.

Though it gets little help from the electric motor, the 110kW/196Nm boxer engine has enough power on hand when you need it and is commendably quiet – albeit with the usual CVT annoyances.

A pointer to its hardly-hybrid approach, the XV comes with paddle shifters and, as mentioned earlier, an EV light indicating full-electric operation that rarely activates. And, unlike many hybrids that favour full-EV mode at start-up or when reversing, the XV’s boxer four generally fires up from the get-go.

The XV’s all-time AWD system is the same as that used in other Subarus. That is, it’s a proper mechanical arrangement with a rear differential fed via a tail shaft from the CVT transmission mounted aft of the longitudinal boxer engine (symmetrical AWD).

The bottom line to all this is that the Subaru XV S Hybrid’s fuel consumption and CO2 figures are barely any different to the regular, non-hybrid XV at 6.5L/100km versus 7.0L/100km and 147g/km versus 159g/km.

On test we averaged 7.9L/100km, which could have proved a cruising-range challenge for the hybrid’s smaller (48L versus 63L) fuel tank.

Despite its compact dimensions, the five-seater cabin in the 2021 Subaru XV Hybrid S AWD offers surprisingly decent accommodation.

The back seat brings good legroom for tall passengers – although it’s disappointing that the Subaru XV lacks air vents for the rear passengers – while the boot, with its normal spare wheel confiscated to make way for the lithium-ion battery pack, will carry as little as 340 litres or as much as 765L. The spare tyre is replaced by a repair kit.

The XV’s cockpit is a pretty good place for the driver, too. Although it seems like there are a lot of systems to come to grips with, there aren’t that many.

Frequently used functions such as cruise control speed and radio volume are operated by tactile toggle switches on the steering wheel and, while there are the often-indecisive touch-control functions embedded in the big central screen, they are at least easily identifiable, with large finger-landing points that help minimise mis-hits.

Subaru’s camera-activated EyeSight system delivers reliable functioning of elements such as lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control – although at times with our review car the former would inexplicably switch off before quietly resuming, usually after a minute or two.

Primarily, the XV has the space and amenities to suit small families without a problem. And even though pulling a small caravan or boat is not really on the average small SUV buyer’s radar, the maximum towing capacity of 1270kg is at least up to the mark in its class.

It all comes down to Subaru’s perceived need to offer mild-hybrid technology in the small SUV segment.

Increasingly, it appears that if you’re going to compete with electrified rivals such as the Toyota C-HR Hybrid, Mazda MX-30 and CX-30, the new Kia Niro and even the MG ZS EV, it’s necessary to have at least a degree of environmentally-friendly technology on hand.

The 2021 Subaru XV Hybrid S AWD ticks this box, but the question remains whether or not the extra engineering and expense was worth the minimal improvements in fuel economy and exhaust emissions.

And do these incremental improvements justify a $3400 price premium over the similarly-equipped, non-hybrid Subaru XV S that starts from $37,390.

Call me environmentally unfriendly, but I really can’t see that it does, especially considering the non-hybrid Subaru XV is already a highly competent small SUV anyway. Hybrids this mild aren’t going to change the world.

And, with fuel economy improvements over the regular XV of just half a litre every 100km, recouping the premium charged for the similar-spec hybrid is never likely to happen.

How much does the 2021 Subaru XV Hybrid S AWD cost?
Price: $40,790 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 110kW/196Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 147g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)

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