After three Yeti we’ve decided go with the new Subaru XV 2018 model, 2.0i SE Premium Lineartronic. 

It’s been a difficult decision but the fall in the trade in value of our current car and the mega delivery estimate on a bespoke spec’d Karoq meant we had to look else where.  Ideally we wanted a petrol, 4x4, automatic and there’s not a lot of choice for a well spec’d car at a price we wanted to pay.

We’ve owned Subaru Forresters before and have used a particular dealer so it was easy enough to arrange a test drive of the new XV,  built on Subaru’s  new Global Chassis/platform. I was concerned about the additional length, overall drive (feel) and to some extent the CVT based gearbox. However, the demo convinced us that if we could strike a deal we’d opt for this model.  The premium model is loaded with useful technology, adaptive cruise control, lane assist+sway and departure warning, lead vehicle start alert, pre-collision braking and throttle management, etc.  The 8” sat nav has Apple Car Play and Android Auto, amongst others.  The gear box was pretty impressive if I’m honest, the manual mode with paddle shifters work much better than I thought it would with the CVT working in predetermined bands in manual mode.  There is a bunch of other aids, steering headlights, KESSEY, rea camera (nice wide view with the travel lines bending as the steering is turned). Anyway enough of that, it’s reading like a sales pitch and that’s no my intent. All this and more are just one bundle, no selecting options then being told you can’t have this without that or you must delete this etc. The dealer struggled to get a quote for our car, at least 2 not even being prepared to offer a price, eventually we got a deal made up of a complex almost magical set of numbers which gave us a cost of change we were happy with.  Delivery expected in May, we opted for a Pure Red colour and the attached image give an idea of what it will look like.  Sorry to leave the Skoda brand and our Skoda dealer but I’ll continue to look at the forum and see how it’s all going.

 

cheers

All the best Ernie, enjoy the XV mate 

Nice wagons, Subies .  Enjoy it, Ernie, and  good luck

I think there is one for sale in motorpoint, looks great.

Thanks guys, not sure anything will be quite like a “Yeti” but the 2018 XV is a significant step up on the 2017 in my opinion.

Best of luck with your new endeavour 

Good luck Ernie.

 

We also looked at the XV, but it looked a bit on the 'small' side and didn't seem very intimidating.

 

I would have jumped at the chance to test drive the Forrester, but the wife hated it because it looks too much like a 'farm truck' as she put it.   Pity as it has a BRILLIANT x4x4 system and crammed with nice tech.  (Still had Xenon headlamps and not LEDs'

 

We're both happy we opted for a Karoq Edition.

@Macdemon, thanks, the 2018 version has LED everything.  I’d have preferred something more a Yeti size but I’m happy with the size as I found I could easily see where the front and rear of the car were.  I’m sure the Karoq will be a good car and it’s already proving to be popular based on the delivery times.  What I’d really like to see and may well be a good option for us would be a petrol/hybrid which I think is likely to be 2021 so timing might work well.

I hope you both enjoy the Karoq, I’ll continue to follow the Yetu and Karoq forums so can follow how you get on.  Cheers

 

@JED, thanks