Road Test: Subaru XV 2.0D SE 5dr

You don’t need me to tell you that crossovers defy reason and rationality, but here’s proof anyway. Subaru says the XV is its first compact crossover. It’s having a crack at the 4WD versions of the Kuga and even, if it’s feeling ambitious, the  Audi Q3 (we’ll get to the Audi business in a minute). Hang on. Subaru already has a car that, rationally, does the same job. The XV is the same size as a Forester, has a similar range of engines, albeit updated, and the prices overlap almost completely.

But the Forester looks like a boxy and boring old-school SUV. The XV, being pretty much a jacked-up next-gen Impreza, looks more crossed-over. That means the XV is less practical because the boot’s smaller. And because the XV is chasing sportiness, it badly lacks the Forester’s amazingly serene ride.

And yet despite these handicaps, Subaru is expecting the XV to sell far more than the Forester. Where’s the rationality?

Still, if you want a car like this, here are the XV’s arguments. People won’t hate you for buying an off-roader, yet it’s actually better at going through the rough than many far more obvious-looking 4x4s. There’s loads of ground clearance because the slimline flat-four doesn’t bottom out, and the gearing and power distribution among the wheels is well arranged. There’s good rear seatroom and excellent NCAP scores, including a child-protection score that’s the best of any car anywhere ever.

Given its off-road ability, it’s surprisingly fun for quick work on the road. The flat-four 2.0 engines enjoy a thrash (though the diesel I drove was very new and a bit gluey in consequence). The steering is sharp and accurate; the grip, stout. But the penalty is an over-firm ride and too much lateral shuffling.

But what really kills it is the money. Subaru builds cars only in Japan and has been stymied by the shift in the yen’s value. The XV costs nearly as much as a Q3, and its interior is nowhere near as smartly executed. As an attempt at compensation, Subaru has a new scheme where its dealers will wash your car every month, and annually clear up scuffed alloys and dinged paint, all for nothing.

But wouldn’t you rather have a dirty expensive-feeling car than a clean cheap-feeling one?