http://subaru.co.uk/news/subaru-launches-new-xv-at-frankfurt-motor-show

No prices/availablity yet it seems. So a bit late on the scene?

And their diesel isn't great - lacking in oomph and very thirsty. Possibly worth a look when it comes out, but Subaru seem to have a lot of catching-up to do.

They do have a very strong 4wd legacy though so it makes commercial sense. It is something they should have done some time ago really. It should be a competitor for the Yeti but whether it is is down to Subaru, ie will it be good enough, will it offer enough value etc?

I notice that there's quite a bit of wordage there about fuel efficiency. This has been a real achilles heel for Subaru and has probably prevented them gaining the kind of traction in the wider market that they would like. The boy racers in their WRXs don't give a hoot about MPG but it matters to Joe Blow comparing the XV to a Cashcow, ix35, Sportage, Puma, Tiguan or Yeti.

Before the Yeti I had driven an Impreza for ten years (the same one) and I would have been quite happy to have another Subaru but for two things:

1) The latest Impreza looks like any other Vauxhall/Honda/Toyota hatchback;

2) Even their new diesel boxer has unacceptably high MPG compared to other cars in the class.

I'd be interested to see what economy figures they eventually quote for the XV. I think the styling is still too anodyne for my taste, though.

They do have a very strong 4wd legacy...

I like what you did there!

looks very like a Kia I parked beside this morning

I like what you did there!

Unintentional actually but since you mentioned it, ooopps.

I made the mistake some years back of buying a Subaru Forester. Worst car I've ever owned, no question. Got rid after 6 months of constant breakdowns (it had about 10k on the clock when I bought it). Dealer support non existent. Parts took forever to come from Japan (so it would lie idle for a couple of weeks after a breakdown). Fuel economy? I'd have been better off with a big engined Jaguar! I won't be looking at this one!

I made the mistake some years back of buying a Subaru Forester. Worst car I've ever owned, no question. Got rid after 6 months of constant breakdowns (it had about 10k on the clock when I bought it). Dealer support non existent. Parts took forever to come from Japan (so it would lie idle for a couple of weeks after a breakdown). Fuel economy? I'd have been better off with a big engined Jaguar! I won't be looking at this one!

I'm not quite sure how you felt here. Is that a yes or a no?

I made the mistake some years back of buying a Subaru Forester. Worst car I've ever owned, no question. Got rid after 6 months of constant breakdowns (it had about 10k on the clock when I bought it). Dealer support non existent. Parts took forever to come from Japan (so it would lie idle for a couple of weeks after a breakdown). Fuel economy? I'd have been better off with a big engined Jaguar! I won't be looking at this one!

Hmmm thats strange, I've had several Subarus, 22b, RB5, STi and found them very very reliable, the Boxer engine is regarded by many as bullet proof and the 4 wheel drive system one of the best around, perhaps you were just unlucky and had a bad one . As for the servicing and customer service, the best I have every experienced, far better than anything I've experienced with Merc, BMW and LR whilst the mechanics had a real interest in the cars and knew their stuff many owning Subarus themselves. I for one would not hesitate to go back to a Scooby, probably would have if I had anticipated the long wait for a SM.

Another new competitor? No.....I have already spent my money. I'm not changing yet. Not for anything else (for at least 2 more years anyway....)

I have what I want. A value for money 4x4 that is reasonably economical for an automatic around London, that can cope with the bad weather if and when it arrives and the steep 1 in 4 hills that are around me.

I can't think of anything that gives me what the Yeti does. That is the big smile on my face every time I jump into it.

Maybe the picture isn't the whole story, but to me it just looks like an Impreza with a bit more ride height. The Forrester seems the more direct competitor to the Yeti, but is quite expensive and a bit thirsty - I'd be surprised if the XV is any different in those respects. I had a similar experience to servicepoint with an Impreza and then a Legacy so trust Subarus - the only negative was the alarming rate the fuel gauge needles fell.

I'm not quite sure how you felt here. Is that a yes or a no?

Sorry, I know I'm sometimes a bit vague and difficult to understand. It was a pile of cr*p and it stinketh. Is that better?

I'm pleased you cleared that up. I don't like ambiguity.

Has a Yorkshireman ever been ambiguous?

They're going to have to do something about the appalling fuel consumption that the forester is known for.

A colleague at work has a forester and is always complaining about the running costs,

but come the bad weather he has a smile on his face again.

They're going to have to do something about the appalling fuel consumption that the forester is known for.

A colleague at work has a forester and is always complaining about the running costs,

but come the bad weather he has a smile on his face again.

As he drives from fuel station to fuel station

Well...................at least he could

PS

Why do I have reason to think that I could regret not purchasing the Cosworth varient & parking her up for twenty years.

Probably a better investment than bank shares.

On the other hand I might just put a bid in to buy Greece outright.

Edited 28 September, 201114 yr by dieseldogg

I'm pleased you cleared that up. I don't like ambiguity.

Has a Yorkshireman ever been ambiguous?

Wash your mouth out! I'm a Norfolk boy, temporarily exiled in Yorkshire!

Wash your mouth out! I'm a Norfolk boy, temporarily exiled in Yorkshire!

Yes but you have clearly been drinking the water.

Wey Hey,

Bobdog's a turnip cruncher!! :giggle:

Yes but you have clearly been drinking the water.

Ah yes, the water. Our's comes from a small spring further up the hill - no Yorkshire Water mains supply here. After a heavy downpour of rain it comes through the taps brown.

Wey Hey,

Bobdog's a turnip cruncher!! :giggle:

"I come from a county, thass misunderstood, for my native county is Norfolk and good"

their diesel isn't great - lacking in oomph and very thirsty.

They're going to have to do something about the appalling fuel consumption that the forester is known for.

I wondered about how representative these comments are of the reality. On paper there doesn't seem to be much between a Forester and a Yeti ... I used Parker's figures to draw a comparison, (although the new interface is pants), by trying to get as close as possible equivalent models.

The current Forester 2.0D XS NavPlus was available from 1st Nov 2009 while the Yeti 2.0 TDI CR (140bhp) Elegance 4x4 was available from 17th Sep 2009. They both have 2.0 diesel engines but the Forester edges the Yeti with an extra 6 bhp and 22 lb-ft. Both available with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Their official overall consumption figures are identical (47 mpg), the CO2 emissions are almost the same (158 v 157 g/km), and they are both in VED band G. The Forester is more than a foot longer but about 7 inches narrower. It is also 95 kg heavier.

The trade off appears to be that the Forester possibly has the better 4wd system, is a bit larger, but is half a second slower 0..60.

Given these figures are the comments I quoted a bit fanboy-ish or are there significant other differences in economy that are different in real life?

I wondered about how representative these comments are of the reality. On paper there doesn't seem to be much between a Forester and a Yeti ... I used Parker's figures to draw a comparison, (although the new interface is pants), by trying to get as close as possible equivalent models.

The current Forester 2.0D XS NavPlus was available from 1st Nov 2009 while the Yeti 2.0 TDI CR (140bhp) Elegance 4x4 was available from 17th Sep 2009. They both have 2.0 diesel engines but the Forester edges the Yeti with an extra 6 bhp and 22 lb-ft. Both available with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Their official overall consumption figures are identical (47 mpg), the CO2 emissions are almost the same (158 v 157 g/km), and they are both in VED band G. The Forester is more than a foot longer but about 7 inches narrower. It is also 95 kg heavier.

The trade off appears to be that the Forester possibly has the better 4wd system, is a bit larger, but is half a second slower 0..60.

Given these figures are the comments I quoted a bit fanboy-ish or are there significant other differences in economy that are different in real life?

I really don't understand why some on here are so critical of the Subaru diesel, have they driven the car because it gets very good reviews from mags and owners alike. The engine is fairly powerful and economical whilst reliability is without question going by owners and personal experience. The engine is very smooth due to the nature of its layout, the higher it revs the smoother it becomes due to opposing cylinders, at tick over, there is that familiar thump thump thump, that sets boxer engines apart, you do grow to love it honestly. The 4x4 sytem is excellent too.

Some have questioned the fuel fuel economy of the diesel, could they give me some evidence of this, bearing in mind the Subaru is full time 4 wheel drive I think its figures stack up pretty well like for like.

Think this makes for interesting reading maybe for those doubting the economy, seems pretty good to me.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/subaru-forester-ski-drive/subaru-forester-ski-drive-part-two

Edited 29 September, 201114 yr by servicepoint

The Forester I had was the older 2.0 petrol model, and fuel consumption was poor - high teens most of the time, broke into the twenties if I was lucky. The diesel engine is more recent and I have no direct knowledge of it. Overall, as I've suggested, I thought it was a cr*p car; aside from the constant breakdowns, fit and finish was cheap and shoddy, bits rattled everywhere.

However, it's 4wd capability (on the rare occasions it actually ran) was pretty awesome. One snowy day I was trying to get home over Oxenhope moor. Ahead of me half a dozen cars were sideways, sliding backwards, off the road in snowdrifts ... total chaos. I pulled into the opposite lane (no cars were coming in the other direction, I later found the road had actually been closed at the southern end) and simply breezed past them all without a twitch. But all the pain for that one moment - not a good trade off overall.