Rugged, well equipped and luxurious, the Subaru XV is one of the most sought-after 4x4s on the road. But don’t just take our word for it. Subaru gave busy riding instructor Susie Pilbeam an XV to test for the day at Attington Stud (www.attington.com) and she found it a brilliant fit for her equestrian life. Read on to find out more.
“Driving between 500-600 miles a week, I need a car that is reliable, comfortable and that allows me to easily keep in touch with clients when I’m on the go.”
So says popular — and in demand — BHSI riding instructor Susie Pilbeam (www.susiepilbeam.com). For Susie, who has been teaching throughout Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire for the past 25 years, the right car is an absolute essential.
“No matter what the weather’s doing or how much kit I need to take out with me, I need a car that I can rely on — and enjoy.”
The Subaru XV ticks every box for Susie when she tries it for the day. Voted 4×4 Magazine’s SUV of the Year 2012, the XV is the ideal companion for people like Susie who spend much of their time in the countryside, enjoying their horses and driving to lessons, events and fun rides.
And for Susie, whether she’s off to teach, accompanying horses up the gallops, organising her diary or doing chores about town, the XV with its full-time all-wheel drive is perfect for her busy equestrian life.
So how might it be a perfect fit for yours?
Great spec at a great price
THE 2-litre XV range is incredibly well appointed and comes with many features, such as heated seats, hill start assist and roof rails, as standard — and all for a starting point of only £21,995.
When compared to rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan the XV is incredible value for money, without compromise on spec or that all-important driving performance.
There are multiple XV models available. Whichever model you choose, you will enjoy:
- Permanent symmetrical all-wheel drive
- Subaru’s Boxer engine for a lower centre of gravity
- Class-leading ground clearance
- 5-star Euro NCAP safety score
- A 5-year/100,000-mile warranty
- 3 years’ home and roadside assistance
With a host of features designed to improve comfort and convenience, including clever additional storage space that’s perfect for riding and grooming kit, a lower boot floor for practicality, cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls, rear vision camera system, keyless access, 12-volt power outlets, a USB jack and automatic air-conditioning with anti-dust filter, the XV is a joy to drive. For someone like Susie, who spends hours behind the wheel each day, the XV puts the fun back into driving.
With its modern looks and compact dimensions, the XV is a great car to drive around town. But as Susie’s lifestyle proves, it’s not all about the car’s good looks and well-built interior. Appearances can be misleading and, as the SUV of the year award proves, the XV is great off-road and will handle anything the country can throw at it with ease.
Fantastic off-roader
As Susie’s day shows, the all-wheel drive capabilities of the XV are ideal for anyone whose life demands great performance across all terrains. The car’s durable build too means that it is a tough and long-lasting choice for anyone leading an outdoor life.
Full-time all-wheel drive creates a more engaging and safer driving experience with great traction in all conditions, and class-leading ground clearance of 220mm enables people like Susie to tackle mud, snow and plough without worry.
Proper all-wheel drive performance and smart, tough good looks make the XV the perfect partner for anyone living a busy equestrian life like Susie.
4 things Susie loves after testing the Subaru XV
- Full-time all-wheel drive: reassuring in all conditions and makes for a safer, more engaging ride. Allows me to meet clients in all weathers
- Stacks of storage room and a brilliantly practical lower boot floor. Great for kit
- Fantastic features — such as hill start assist and heated seats — as standard
- Although the XV is really roomy, it’s dimensions mean it’s not too big for driving around town — or parking in awkward spots!
- To find out more about the award-winning Subaru XV and why other drivers like Susie love their XV, visit www.subaru.co.uk
Win a luxury festive hamper worth over £400 with Subaru!
For your chance to win a wonderful selection of produce, including meat, cheese, wine and champagne from the famous Rhug Estate organic farm, visit www.subaru.co.uk/HH2013 by Saturday, 30 November 2013.
Official fuel consumption figures for the Subaru XV range in mpg (l/100km): Urban from 32.1 (8.8) to 41.5 (6.8). Extra Urban from 47.9 (5.9) to 56.5 (5.0). Combined from 40.9 (6.9) to 50.4 (5.6). CO2 emissions from 160 to 146 (g/km). MPG figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Price shown is for an XV 2.0i SE, manufacturer’s on the road price £21,995.00. Vehicle shown is an XV 2.0D SE, manufacturer’s on the road price £23,995.00. On the road prices include VAT, delivery, number plates, 12 months’ road fund licence and first registration fee. Metallic paint extra. For built-in peace of mind, all vehicles marketed by Subaru (UK) Ltd are covered by a five-year/100,000 mile (whichever is sooner) limited warranty.
Pictures by Jonathan Davison
