Bangkok 2015: 2016 Subaru XV Makes Regional Debut, Hits Malaysia In January With Provisional RM130k Price

Motor Image, official distributor of Subaru vehicles in the region, seems quite pleased to announce an updated version - a facelift, more accurately - of their far-away best selling model, the Subaru XV crossover at the 2015 Bangkok Motor Expo. During its unveil in the Thai capital, the car’s price is pegged just shy of 1.1 million Baht or approximately RM130,000.

We were on the ground to experience the newly updated XV and can report that, while the exterior changes are rather scant, a new wheel design and sharper front fascia, the updates to its drive and overall refinement levels are significant and impressive. Our full report on that will follow shortly.

As we’ve said, the main differentiators here are the wheels and the front. Starting with the wheels, we have 17-inch rims that is an updated version of the current XV’s two-tone five-spoke design. At the front, we have halogen headlamps, LED daytime running lights and a new pair of lights that flank the fog lamps. Moving upwards, we also see the roof rails are now finished in anodised aluminium. 

Inside, the layout will be very familiar to those who have sampled the current XV’s interior, both share a leather interior and other leather-wrapped trim, however there are some noteworthy additions to the higher-end variant, namely a 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, steering controls for wireless phone operation and multimedia, electrically-adjustable seats, and aluminium pedals.

The 2016 Subaru XV arrives in two variants, an entry-level 2.0i and a 2.0i-P (P for Premium) above that. Both share the same powertrain, the familiar 2.0-litre petrol 4-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine that develops 150PS and 196Nm of torque that’s transmitted to all four wheels using Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD) system via a six-speed Lineartronic CVT. 

As well, the torque split between the front and rear wheels remains with 60 percent of power being transmitted to the front wheels and the rear wheels given 40 percent, adjusted actively to ensure traction in even the most sticky situations, nearly.