The battle in the Compact SUV class in Indonesia is increasingly competitive with the presence of the All New Subaru XV. Presented directly from Japan by PT Plaza Auto Mega, this second generation Subaru XV carries various advantages that its rivals in Indonesia do not have, namely the Boxer engine and All Wheel Drive (AWD) drive.
Moreover, with a very competitive price tag, the Subaru XV seems to be a serious threat to other compact SUV options in Indonesia, especially the Honda HR-V RS, which also just launched this year. How come? Offered in two variants, namely the Subaru XV 2.0i-S and 2.0i-S EyeSight®, the price tags offered are 'only' IDR 449.5 million and IDR 499.5 million, on-the-road Jakarta.
Compare that to the Honda HR-V RS which is currently priced at IDR 515.9 million, or the Mazda CX-30 GT which is priced at IDR 539.9 million. Both are also Jakarta's on-the-road prices. With technological advantages, the Subaru XV is clearly more tempting.
Modern, Balanced and Efficient Boxer Engine
One of the key advantages of the Subaru XV is the use of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine under the hood. This engine offers a better balance than an inline engine or a V configuration. The pistons in it move horizontally on either side of the crankshaft at an angle of 180 degrees.
This makes the engine work more balanced because the pistons work in opposite directions. Not only that, this makes this machine more stable and has minimal vibration so it is more efficient. This configuration allows the Boxer engine to be positioned lower in the engine compartment which provides a lower center of gravity and makes the car more stable and more enjoyable to drive.
The 2.0 liter Boxer engine used in the Subaru XV offers a power figure of 156 PS at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 196 Nm obtained at 4,000 rpm. This figure is indeed not as big as that presented by the Honda HR-V which reaches 177 PS and 240 Nm of torque, but the Subaru XV promises fuel efficiency from using this Boxer engine.
Based on the results of tests conducted by Subaru Indonesia in early 2022 for 3,000 km using pre-production cars with Indonesian specifications, they succeeded in getting fuel test results of 16 to 18 km/liter. "This test is carried out via a combination route between toll roads, outside the city, and traffic jams in the city with RON 95 fuel," said Ismail Ashlan, Marketing Communication Manager for Subaru Indonesia.
Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System
Even though the engine performance figures are not as big as its rivals, Subaru combines this Boxer engine with a full-time symmetrical four-wheel drive system aka Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (S-AWD) via a 7-speed Lineartronic® CVT transmission. This further confirms its superiority in terms of handling in various terrains and road surface conditions.
As the name implies, S-AWD can deliver a symmetrical distribution of power and torque to each left and right wheels. This of course has an impact on the work balance of the four wheels where the power requirements can be adjusted optimally to tires that require traction in various road conditions.
Moreover, the use of S-AWD on the Subaru XV is also accompanied by the latest X-MODE driving mode. This feature will provide a choice of driving modes according to the terrain that will be traversed with Snow, Dirt, Gravel options and the latest mode is Deep Snow/Mud. This last driving mode helps the Subaru XV deal with road terrain that has the potential for tires to get stuck due to deep snow or mud.
ADAS In the Form of EyeSight®
Like its rivals, the All New Subaru XV has also been equipped with an Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) called EyeSight® in the highest variant 2.0i S-EyeSight®. This feature consists of a series of safety features that can help reduce the fatal risk in the event of an accident on the Subaru XV.
EyeSight® features include Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Throttle Management, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, and Lead Vehicle Start Alert. This system also has additional convenience features when dealing with urban traffic density, namely Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Reverse Automatic Braking, and Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Steering Responsive Headlights.
For safety assurance, the Subaru XV is also equipped with seven airbags, namely front airbags for the driver and front passenger, side curtain airbags and side hip/torso airbags, and driver knee airbags. Subaru XV has also got Hill Descent Control which can maintain control and speed when going down slippery roads to provide peace of mind.
