Category Archives: SUV/4X4

AWD, Electric/hybrid, Motor reviews, SUV/4X4, Vehicle type

Subaru Boxer clever

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The XV is a capable ‘soft roader’

Subaru XV e-Boxer

By Bill McCarthy

The XV compact crossover was already a very capable, left field alternative to mainstream brands with its excellent Boxer engine and all wheel drive capability.

The latest self-charging hybrid version is built on Subaru’s Global Platform and has hi-tech additions including EyeSight driver assist technology and rear vehicle detection as standard and much improved economy and reduced emissions.

It will appeal to those who covet that off road capability, but with a saving in the running costs. And it is in places like fields,  where with its higher ground clearance, it is likely to score for those inclined to pull trailers or horse boxes, but don’t want a full-fat mud plugger.  

The two litre horizontally-opposed petrol engine has been mated with an electric motor and powerful lithium-ion battery which is mounted within the boot floor and allows for pure-electric driving at speeds of up to 25mph. The power plants are mated with the familiar Lineartronic transmission.

 The interior is smart, with Subarus being more upmarket these days

The savings in fuel are not huge however and the electric only running only really kicks in in slow moving traffic. Economy is better but not stunningly so as the extra weight of the 4×4 technology and power of the engine brings the official figure to around 35mpg. I reckon I did a little better than that with careful driving and was nearer the 40mpg mark.

It looks the part with its mixture of curves and angles. It sports an hexagonal front grille, sloping profile with integrated roof bars, with new fog lamp bezel which surrounds the LED fog lights. The rear spoiler end plate is finished in gloss black and an e-Boxer badge has been added to the wings and tailgate. It sits on smart 18-inch alloys, standard across the range.

 The interior is smart, with Subarus being a bit more upmarket these days. Not luxurious, but still fairly lavishly equipped with sporty styling, comfortable leather, powered, seats on this model, commanding driving position and good all round vision.

Centrally placed is an eight-inch multifunction colour touchscreen controlling major functions like infotainment, connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio and Bluetooth. Above this sits a screen displaying information on economy and driving data. A TFT information screen sits behind the steering wheel.

The SE is pretty well packed with standard kit, but this model includes dual zone air-conditioning, reversing camera and heated seats are also standard on this model as are eight-way power adjustable driver seat, satellite navigation and sunroof.

Performance is quite lively if you floor the accelerator, but the transmission becomes raucous under heavy acceleration. The vehicle can hit 60mph in around 10.7 seconds, with economy of around 35mpg.

 This is because it is a heavy vehicle, with it its all-wheel drive, motor is placed near the vehicle’s centre of gravity and the battery is positioned above the rear axle. This improves handling but affects economy. 

It handles pretty well despite its high ground clearance and is a comfortable motorway cruiser. The proven all wheel drive capability will not let you down in inclement weather conditions either.

In practical terms, it offers ample storage capacity and a towing capacity of 1,270kg, so you can pack it to the rafters for those offroad events that require trekking over muddy fields or rutted tracks. Boot space of  385 litres expands to 1,290 with the rear split seats folded.

Not the cheapest, starting at just under £31k, but it is packed with equipment and includes neat touches like the reversing camera displays a live colour image and head-up display for added safety. There’s also the five year, 100k miles warranty for peace of mind.

Its certainly worth expanding on the ample safety and driver assistance features which are standard. These include EyeSight driver assist technology functions optically using two stereo cameras which are mounted either side of the rear-view mirror. It monitors for hazards up to 110 metres ahead and includes: adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning and lane keep assist. Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection identifies vehicles approaching from the rear.

 As well as the usual goodies you would expect on a vehicle of the price, standard kit includes LED lights, keyless entry and privacy glass on the rear windows and 18-inch alloy wheels standard across the range.

There are two trim levels, SE and this SE Premium model priced from £30,995 OTR.

Factfile

Subaru XV 2.0 SE Premium e-Boxer Lineartronic

Price: £32,140

Mechanical: 150PS, 1,995cc, four cylinder petrol engine driving and electric motor, driving four wheels via automatic gearbox

Max speed: 120mph

0-62mph: 10.7 seconds

Combined mpg: 37.9

Insurance group: 16E

CO2 emissions: 149g/km

BiK rating: 34%

Warranty: 5yrs/100,000 miles

AWD, Land Rover, Manufacturer, Motor reviews, SUV, SUV/4X4, Vehicle type

Another Landmark for Disco

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Land Rover Discovery

By Bill McCarthy

THIRTY years of producing a model is something of a landmark, so it should come as no surprise that Land Rover’s special edition Discovery is called, you’ve guessed it, the Landmark.

The vehicle has notched up 300 awards since its 1989 introduction and goes from strength to strength.

It’s reputation and capability is legendary, whether posing at the school gates, towing the horsebox to the gymkhana or navigating fast flowing rivers and mud tracks in the the Amazon.

And it looks like a landmark, a huge premium vehicle with a commanding road presence.

It does look good, based on the SE model but with the addition of Dynamic Exterior Pack which includes unique Landmark badging, bumper design, and black mesh grille and vents plus black nameplate lettering on the bonnet and tailgate.

There are also two fixed, front and rear panoramic roofs, with sliding cover, front fog lights  privacy glass and 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels and an upgraded sound system.

Key features include a seven-seat setup, where the rearmost pair fold into the boot floor, clever storage options and its even pet friendly with with special provision to make your canine pal comfortable.

At the touch of a button the rear suspension can be lowered to allow the dog to jump on board via the powered interior tailgate and settle into a prepared comfortable area.

The Discovery name is now in vintage territory, but in desirablity terms, remains as fresh as ever

A visual road presence, but still first among equals in terms of off-road capability as all-wheel drive technology advances at a pace. It also costs a wedge to buy, with this model a cool £57,350 price tag, although with a PCP  deal  it can be available for around £499 per month.

It has proven over the years that it can almost go anywhere and technology includes All Terrain Progress Control, which enables drivers to set and maintain a steady speed in tricky conditions. It is available alongside Terrain Response 2, offering a number of driving modes and class-leading wading depth of 900mm. Add to this a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and you have a top notch off roader.

JLR is on the road to electrification, but in the meantime, that has taken a back seat for this model with a choice of two two-litre diesel engine set-ups available in  240bhp SD4 and 306bhp SD6 power units.

The 240bhp ingenium unit in this case offers plenty of pulling power and better economy than the higher spec engine, but loses out with performance. Having said that, it pulls the two tonne-plus beast to 60mph in an impressive 8.3 seconds via a slick eight speed gearbox, with a top speed of 121mph.

On the road, the car is a pleasant place to be with the refined engine, barely audible and extensive soundproofing cutting out exterior noise from road and wind. It is expecially relaxed when cruising on the motorway.

The inside is packed with premium kit, high quality soft touch finish, leather seats, heated this and electrically operated that, plus acres of room.

This version offers a choice of Ebony or Acorn grained leather with  satin brushed centre console and unique aluminium mesh finisher, plus the 380W Meridian Sound System. This is operated via the state-of-the-art 10 inch Touchscreen (InControl Touch Pro) which incorporates  navigation, TV,  Bluetooth connectivity,  DAB radio and connnectivity via  Wi-Fi Hotspot, various apps and smart phone connectivity.

Large glass areas allow plenty of light into the cabin as does the double panoramic roof while head and leg room is plentfiful for all, as you would expect in a vehicle this size.

Boot space with the rearmost seats stowed away is impressive and neat touches are the powered interior and exterior tailgate for ease of loading.Stowage space ranges from  258 litres to a maximum of 2,406.

In vehicle name and model terms, the Discovery name is now in vintage territory, but in desirablity terms, remains as fresh as ever, if you can afford it.

Factfile

Land Rover Discovery SD4 Landmark 240ps

Price: £57,495

Mechanical: 240bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels wheels via 8-speed automatic gearbox

Max speed: 121mph

0-62mph: 8.3. seconds

Combined mpg: 30-33

Insurance group: 18

CO2 emissions: 197g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/100,000 miles