Subaru Impreza test drive since 2007 sedan

New Subaru XV. Reboot

As soon as we managed to take off and gain a height, as the commander of our Airbas announced: the Florence airport does not accept due to weather conditions, so we will sit in Pisa. We never saw the famous falling tower, but the plane was shaking well during landing, Italy met with a strong wind and rain. Waiting for the bus, the road to Florence all this was eaten by time. Those watches that were planned to spend on acquaintance with the new Subaru melted before our eyes, and the weather was getting worse ... But the precipitation was traveling to us from testing the XV crossover.


The market for compact crossovers is now on the rise, so the temptation is great to bite off its piece of pie. The previous Impreza XV was for Subaru, by and large, by an urgent decision, which was supposed to ensure the presence in the classroom in any way. And then, finally, a car that can be considered a full -fledged city crossover, new XV

How so? After all, Impreza XV appeared in the Subaru lineup only last year! But not so long ago, the Japanese presented a new generation of improvisation, and this time version XV was not forced to wait long for her debut took place in the fall at the Frankfurt car dealership. Moreover, XV will arrive in Russia earlier than any other improvisation of sales will start in April 2012. However, the word Impreza in relation to this machine can be forgotten, following the example of charged WRX and WRX STI, the new crossover is called Subaru XV.


However, you can’t call compact Subaru XV. In length (4450 mm), it does not reach the Subaru Forester, but through the wheel base (2635 mm) and completely exceeds the forester! It is interesting that the distance between the axes of the XV is 20 mm larger than that of Impreza XV, but 10 mm less than that of the usual improvisation of a new generation. For Subaru XV, six body colors are offered, the brightest of which, of course, is the orange Tangerine Orange Pearl

Is this true? Perhaps yes! Let the recipe for cooking remain the same. Impreza XV, in fact, was an ordinary Impreza, which was hung with an off -road body kit made of unpainted plastic, and slightly increased the clearance. The dexterous course of Subaru made it possible to remove the popularity of the Impreza hatchback from the Russian market, replacing them with version XV. Like, here you have a passenger crossover. Now the situation is different.


Pay attention to the wheel arches of the black linings are trimmed in front and behind. According to Subaru designers, so they better emphasize the athletic and sports appearance of XV. Despite the noticeable increase in the clearance, the overall body height of the XV has not changed 1570 mm (1615 mm when using luggage arcs). True, there were no cars with rails on the test, but the presentation said, among other things, that their form was also optimized from the point of view of aerodynamics

Firstly, Subaru XV will be sold in parallel with Impreza sedans, they will reach Russia in the summer (hatchbacks will not be sold). Secondly, XV is stronger from the maternal model. And the point is not even in brighter features and details. XV has a noticeably grew road clearance. Subaru Impreza XV could boast of only 185 mm, and the new XV has 220 mm under the body. Like a Forester!


The basic package of Subaru XV includes 17-inch discs with tires 225/50 R17. It is true in the bloated arches small wheels look ridiculous. The predecessor had 16-inch

So Subaru XV is now rightly dormant by the crossover. And the Japanese make a large bet on him on the Russian market. Is it a joke, we were waiting for us in Florence ... All possible modifications of XV! There is diesel and gasoline with two different engines, with mechanical gearboxes, with variators. The director of the Russian representative office of Subarru over the past 11 years, who now transferred the authority to his compatriot Ogure Shiger, also came here.


Despite a slight increase in dimensions, Subaru XV has become easier. If the former two-liter Subaru Impreza XV had a equipped mass from 1440 to 1505 kg, then the new XV will pull the scales on 1385-1430 kg. Modification with a 1.6 engine weighs less - 1365-1400 kg. And only diesel pulls 1435 kg

Josida-san told us what is so important in XV. It turned out that Subaru replaced the branded slogan, and XV became the first machine personifying confidence in the movement. She will also set the vector for the upcoming new Forester and Legacy. So will all Subaru be now? Well, the more interesting to get behind the wheel. It remains only to choose from the abundance of options.


Reducing mass is only one of the advantages of wider use of high -strength steels. The stiffness of the body increased a little, which beneficial affected safety and handling. Double bars appeared in the rear doors that protect with a side blow

However, the answer suggested by itself. In the presentation, the incident said that XV will even become cheaper in comparison with the current model, we recall that it starts with 999,900 rubles. But instead of a two -liter engine, the base XV will have a new 1.6. And for it dealers will ask for approximately 950 thousand. Such a machine, not with mechanics, but with a variator, I saddled first.


Even the basic interior XV is a step forward compared to the previous generation machine. True, the calm design of the front panel is not very fused with the youth image of the XV.

Ba! There is the same simple two -day radio as in the previous Impreza XV. And higher the old display with calculatory graphics. But, fortunately, this is the only thing that reminds of the past model. The upper part of the panel is covered with pleasant soft plastic, and it itself now causes associations with the same -workers, the front racks went ahead strongly, so the engineers had to lengthen the panel.


-In the salon of the basic Subaru XV, everything is prostrate. However, the devices are informative, the upper display is clear, the climate control hilt is very convenient. But the radio is the last century. There is no USB input (only AUX) in the basic configuration, and the sound of four speakers is hardly pleasing to music lovers. What can we say about the only automatic windows with a button backlight? But the most alien element in the car for 950 thousand rubles is a slippery and unpleasant plastic steering wheel. However, the initial set of XV has not yet been approved for Russia.
-Ak, the word, machines will still be delivered only with fixed equipment sets, it will not be possible to order anything for the surcharge. But it is known that the basic Subaru XV 1.6 will have at least six airbags, a dynamic stabilization system, 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, adjusting the driver's seat in height, heating the rest zone of wiper brushes, electric drive and heated side mirrors

But why again this savings on trifles? Vynamics with mirrors do not have a backlight, ceiling handles are complete without a microlyft, an automatic glass lifting is only at the driver. And the descending darkness made it possible to detect that the backlight of all the buttons on the doors of the XV could not pamper. The cost of basic configuration? Alas, the Premium version is the same. Annoying.


The seats do not have a lumbar backup, but for all the time the test, neither I nor my partner in the crew, they did not even remember the profile very successful. And only feeble drivers or girls will complain about the lack of lateral support. The headrest is adjustable along the angle of inclination. It’s convenient to sit back, there are enough legs for legs, but the rear passengers do not have additional amenities. Electric drive of the front seats and leather upholstery are included in Premium

Fortunately, everything is in order with ergonomics. It is convenient to sit, the steering wheel is adjusted in the corner of the inclination, and by departure, and most drivers will arrange the control ranges. I liked three climate control handles. And the racks leaving forward made the salon visually more spacious. And visibility is good, large burdocks of mirrors remove any problems during rebuilding, and the front racks managed to make relatively thin. In expensive trim levels there is a rear view camera.


One of the best qualities of Subaru XV should not be used to it. Efforts on controls, gearbox, visibility, ergonomics all this helps the driver adapt as quickly as possible

Subaru XV C 114-horsepower 1.6 leisurely. But, if the previous Impreza with a one and a half liter engine and a four -band automatic machine was frankly slow, then XV does not even cause negative emotions with a basic engine. In conventional traffic modes, the variator supports minimum engine speed, allowing you to save fuel. And along the winding paths, looping along the hilly terrain, it is best to go in the Line L. Then the LineArtronic box drives the tachometer arrow above. Although this does not facilitate overtaking, and in general, XV 1.6 is hardly pleased with active drivers. But in the conditions of heavy rain on the serpentine and 114 forces more than enough.


Five modifications are four different gearboxes! 1.6 gasoline is equipped with a five -speed mechanics with a demultiplier, or a LineArtronic variator with a L. Basin 2.0 mode is available with a six -speed mechanics or a Lineartronic mode with M (manual) mode. And a diesel without options is only a six -speed pen. There were no complaints to any of the listed boxes. All manual transmission has understandable clutch and adequate moves. The variator (by the way, he is more compact and light than on Legacy) also works without complaints. There is only a small spoon of tar -back gear on a six -speed mechanics to turn on inconveniently

Modification with a 1.6 engine deserves another mention. An alternative to the variator is a five -speed mechanics with a demultiplier! The box has economical gear rates, but on the off -road you can use a lowering row. This compensates for the lack of torque on the bottom (the engine reaches the peak of the moment (150 N ∙ m) at 4000 rpm). In addition, traditionally for Subaru, machines with mechanics have a more sophisticated all -wheel drive transmission with a conical center differential (distribution of 50:50), which is blocked by WISKOFTA.


The trunk is difficult to call 310 liters, like the previous Impreza XV. Subaru has not yet published data with the folded rear seats (the predecessor had 1130 l). But the loading height has become smaller, and for the convenience of loading/unloading, the back of the floor can be lifted and hooked with loops for hooks on the threshold. The outgoing Impreza XV in Russian can boast of a full -sized spare wheel, but whether it will appear in the new XV question. However, at least the XV will be equipped with accurately

And XV with a variator has a transmission with a multi -disc coursed in the drive of the rear wheels. It is controlled by electronics, which in ordinary traffic modes distributes the torque in a ratio of 60:40 (in favor of the front line), but in the case of slipping the front wheels, it can be thrown back. The next morning I again got a XV with a LineArtronic box, but with a two -liter engine.


-EJ series traders served their own. Both gasoline engines on the XV FB series. Their main feature is long -term. If the EJ20 (1994 cubic meter) has 92 and 75 mm, respectively, then the new FB20 (1995 cubes) ratio of 8490 mm! This helps to increase torque in the low and medium -speed zone.
-FB16 develops 114 hp. at 5600 rpm and 150 N ∙ m at 4000 rpm. With it, XV reaches hundreds for 13.1 s (with a variator for 13.8 s), and the maximum speed is 179 km/h (175 km/h).
-Fb20 issues 150 hp. at 6200 rpm and 196 Nm at 4200 rpm. Dynamic indicators: 0-100 km/h for 10.5 (10.7) seconds and 187 km/h. In brackets, data with the variator of LineArtronic.
-Dshaya fast XV is equipped with a two-liter turbodiesel (147 hp/3600 rpm, 350 N ∙ m/1600-2400 rpm). With this engine, Subaru XV accelerates to 100 km/h in 9.3 seconds and can develop 198 km/h
-All the engines, of course, are opposed and equipped with Auto Start/Stop system, but it will not be presented in our market.
-The month of gas stops of the hood was occupied by an ordinary poker. Saving? The creators say that the whole thing is in the requirements for the protection of pedestrians

It would seem that the same 150 horses, the same 196 N ∙ m, and the engine is completely new! Honored EJ20, which was put on Subaru for more than 20 years, was retired, and the FB20 unit took his place. On the go, such a XV is expected to be faster than with 1.6, but the hunt for going quickly disappears. If you drown, then the motor hangs at high speeds for a long time and becomes a dominant source of noise.


-Premium is completely different! The steering wheel is covered with the skin, on the knitting needles there were buttons to control the phone, cruise control, on-board computer and audio system. Yes, and the multimedia system itself is different with 10 speakers, USB and AUX inputs, a slot for SD cards and a 4.3 diagonal color screen screen. There is a Bluetooth protocol, and you can also play music files from the phone. There is also a voice control in a notebook or among music files.
-The interface has a Russian language, including navigation vocal hints. But the head device itself pumped up a few buttons flat and slippery, and the display brings strongly in the sun.
-Thum, the Premium version includes an electric hatch, xenon headlights and an engine start button, and climate control here is already two-zone. But for XV with an engine 1.6 Premium execution is not available

The situation could change the manual mode, it has a variator paired with a two -liter unit. The box has six programmed pseudo -access, which can be switched by steering wheel petals. But in fact, it does not make sense to do this, since even the first gear ends at ... 80 km/h! Therefore, on a serpentine, manual mode is useless not to go all the way on the first, listening to the aria of the motor again.

However, there was another limiter on most cars were the winter friction tires of Yokohama Ig30, which, to put it mildly, are not very well suited for asphalt at +10 Celsius. You can forget about the quick passage of turns. A little overwhelmed, and XV slides out to the mournful screech of the tires. But this is by no means at transcendental speeds. It's a pity! Because, despite the impressive clearance, Subaru XV is no worse than many cars on the move. This is the merit of the low center of gravity, which is provided by the opposition engine, and minimal rolls, and the excellent settings of the steering, even in winter, the steering wheel is saturated with force and it is always unambiguous. And although with rapid rotation it still bites it, XV gives the impression of a dense, firmly knocked car. The branded line.


Plastic shields appeared a lot of attention to aerodynamics on the bottom, the shape of bumper and body was optimized. An important role was played by the larger angle of inclination of the front rack. In the cabin and indeed some air noise, despite the large burdocks of mirrors

The suspension works for this sensation. Yes, she is hard and at low speeds pretty shakes passengers. But the energy intensity is excellent! More than the stroke less pits! You can rush not only according to unexplored asphalt (and this is full of this in the vicinity), but there will be neither the buildup nor the breakdown in the primer. Booking! Our route also included a small area in vineyards, where it was supposed to check off -road abilities. However, there, rather, we tested the suspension of the rolled areas alternated with transverse ruts, stones, potholes, and there were no serious obstacles. Well, they didn’t tear anything away, they didn’t hook it and that is good.

Another plus the suspension is silent and does not annoy excessly with a mumble. In any case, while the car is new. Inside, it became quieter in general than in the previous Impreza. Unless, of course, do not drive the tachometer arrow constantly in the red corner. But on rough coatings, the vocal part is performed by wide tires.

The next I took the XV with a two -liter engine and a mechanical checkpoint (it is six -speed). And did not regret it! The engine ... you notice that it is elastic. But I did not expect that a car weighing 1400 kilos with a regular atmospheric 2.0 could accelerate in the sixth gear with 40 km/h! Yes, at first the motor twitches (the turnover is slightly higher than the idle!), But it slowly accelerates the car. Quite in impudent, I drove close circular interchanges on the fourth step.


In 2012, Subaru counts on sales growth in Russia if this year the Japanese sell a little more than 12 thousand cars, then in the next they plan to reach the level of 20 thousand, and by 2014 they want to double this indicator. Boldly! But everything is realistic if Subaru agrees on the production of cars in Russia and reduces the prices of products. Subaru is now actively studying all the possibilities

But the championship title gets another XV that, under the hood of which a 147-horsepower turbodiesel is hiding. This XV is simply in another league 350 N ∙ m, available in the range of 1600-2400 rpm, allows a lot. Bold overthrow, powerful accelerations at the exit of turns, buzz! In addition, it turned out to be even quieter than gasoline modifications. There are only two six -speed mechanics for Russian shortcomings in the diesel Subaru XV (LineArtronic variator is not available for diesel) and price. Obviously, the XV 2.0D will be much more expensive than those 950 thousand voiced for the basic version. Not to mention typical problems, such as climate or unstable fuel quality.


Subaru now offers two similar cars XV and Forester. Both are close in price, with two -liter engines, have the same clearance, similar equipment. It would seem, why? But in fact they are for different customers. XV is more a city crossover. It is perfectly controlled, but tougher and has a smaller trunk in volume. Forester is suitable for people who often go out of town with the whole family

Therefore, the prospects of diesel XV in Russia are vague, although the Subarovites threaten to bring it to us in a year and a half. And since April we will have only gasoline XV. In Subaru, this moment is expected with optimism, and they can be understood by XV can now be considered a full -fledged crossover. The Japanese are not afraid of internal competition with Forester according to their calculations, the XV should buy a younger and active audience, which will attract design, image, orange color and fashionable wheels. And if the development of the remaining Subaru models will go according to the same scenario, then the Pleiades will be among the constellations of the world auto industry for a long time. Although, maybe for starters, reload prices? After all, this is exactly what Subaru interferes with the struggle for the market.

Vadim Gagarin
Photo by the author and Subaru


Safety


The Euro NCAP association has already managed to break the Subaru XV. And authoritative experts were satisfied with the result of XV received five stars. Moreover, for the protection of children (a mannequin simulating a one and a half year old child is involved in the test) XV earned the best rating in the entire history of Euro NCAP 90%! 86% got the car for protecting adult passengers, the same amount of active security systems and 64% for protecting pedestrians

Story


The off -road versions of the Impreza were before the appearance of Impreza XV. In 1995, the United States debuted Subaru Outback Sport. The recipe for manufacturing was the same enlarged clearance and plastic body kit. It is funny that in Japan a turbocharged car was sold called Impreza Gravel Express. True, the demand for gravel express was small and in the second generation it was no longer. The second generation reached Australia, where it received the name Impreza RV and a mechanical box with a demultiper. Outback Sport and Impreza RV were discontinued in 2007


For three years, Impreza did not have a modification of increased cross -country ability, but in 2010 Subaru Impreza XV arrived in time for the aid. But she was destined to live for less than two years
 

Source: Auto.mail.ru