2010 Subaru Impreza XV launched in Australia

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By Tim Beissmann | June 01st, 2010

Subaru Australia has added the high-riding Subaru Impreza XV to its local line-up after the car made a strong first impression at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Based on the Impreza hatch and sharing the 2.0-litre Boxer engine with the R, RX and RS models, the RV sits 30mm higher and features retuned suspension settings to complement the added ride height.

The grille is new, as are the front and rear bumpers, rear spoiler and roof rails, but it is the black plastic protective flared wheel arches that truly make the XV stand out from the rest of the range.

Under the arches sit 16in alloys and standard fog lamps light the way up front.

Inside is a mix of sport and luxury with bucket seats; leather-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake and gearstick; climate control; Bluetooth and a 10-speaker MP3/CD stereo with iPod and USB connectivity.

The XV is available in five colours and can be ordered with a factory-fitted sunroof for an additional $1500.

Subaru Australia managing director, Nick Senior, said the Impreza XV carries the spirit of Sportswagons and RVs of the past and is aimed at a younger, “go your own way” section of the market.

“By using Impreza hatch as the donor car, Subaru has created a vehicle that enables people to mix five day a week commuting with an active weekend adventure lifestyle,” Mr Senior said.

Sales of the Impreza have dropped by 15 percent year-to-date this year compared with the total small car market which has gained almost 20 percent. Subaru is hoping its latest adventure-focused addition can turn the tide and push the Impreza back towards 2009 numbers.

“[The] current Impreza is already our best-selling generation of the car and XV will only add to that success, appealing to customers looking for something that stands out and represents a fun package, all with the essential Subaru ingredients of great engineering, safety and retained value,” Mr Senior said.

The Subaru Impreza XV is on sale now and is priced from $27,490* for the five-speed manual and $29,490* for the four-speed automatic.

*Manufacturer’s List Pricing includes GST but excludes dealer delivery charges and all other government and statutory charges.

Jim

Why?

Cal

Well put.

I actually laughed when I first saw the photos on this page. I don’t think a car has ever made me do that before. Subaru’s dark period continues…

Cal

Further to the point… are they trying to canibalise the forester or what? I don’t get it.

http://navelcontemplation.blogspot.com Supercujo

I’m reminded of the ads from a few years ago: Kiiiii-AA!!
Gan Tan

Nice niche model, but why on earth would you want different coloured wheel arches??
http://www.facebook.com/sammo.8191 Sam Moss

DEAR GOD, what is that THING??
It looks hideous, both inside and out!

http://www.facebook.com/sammo.8191 Sam Moss

It’s the Frankenstein’s monster of cars!

It’ll be rejected by society, and live out its days in a secluded cave high in the Australian Alps…

Paulo

one word……… HIDEOUS
greenroom

an impreza with a fat lip… butt ugly… awful attempt.
MAK

FFS…
http://Peugeot WTF

Ninja turtles !!!!
Ozworld

I cant understand why subaru are doing this. there is a movement inside subaru to kill the barnd. I cant concieve of anything uglier than new subies.
Pops

Another pig from Subie.

Fortunately I managed to pick myself up an ’07 GT Spec B. Pretty much Subaru’s last decent vehicle….

Their current complete model range is either bland or of awkward proportions, particularly the new Liberty which is a complete abomination.

Its a shame to see both Subaru & Honda lose their way over the past decade. Hopefully the new competition from the Koreans will force them to inject some excitement into their vehicle designs…

Jerry

Its funny. All the koreans are employing top end designers and coming up with some interesting cars. The Japanese seem to be resting on their reputations and don’t seem to care what their cars look like, except maybe Mazda and to a certain degree Suzuki. Honda Subaru and Toyota need a kick up the…..

James Cortez

Subaru,

you have gone baaackward. Your products in the last few years are very very ugly
Toxic_Horse

They have done it to make it look like a semi off roader like the SX4. The extra ground clearance could come in handy for the soft roader crowd.
But those unpainted plastic wheel arches just don’t work on this car.
davie

I think this is marketed at people who want a “outdoors Lifestyle” machine but find the forester too big.

In the past, such people would have bought the 1997-2000 Impreza Sportswagen or the 2001-2005 Impreza RV. I know this as I’m one of them.

Unfortunately, I think Subaru is getting lazy. Their transmissions are behind the pack and the 4 speed auto is simply awful. The sloppy looking body kit and helicopter-skids-on-the-roof on this hatch doesn’t really convince me.

I believe that the CVT auto and 6 speed manual require floorpan changes to fit in the impreza. Pity Subaru didnt spend time and money where it is really needed.
davie

Further to my comment above, I would rather buy a Suzuki SX4 which at least looks a bit more cohesive.
riceboy

truly stands out alright, the fugliest subaru ever!

McBain

Not sure about that riceboy. The original Tribeca was truly awful. I just threw up a little in my mouth even thinking about it.

Radbloke

The goggles do nothing!

Tom22

I do wonder, since when do people have such active weekend life styles they need this psuedo crossovers that enable them to do that? Are you really going to take this on the beach? Like maybe if your property has a gravel road its better than a ground hugging commodore, but the whole car reads like a marketing spill rather than a niche that needed to be filled.

Having said that, the base impreza never really worked as an entry level hatchback, maybe this will give it a broader appeal.
Adam

Ugliest.
Car.
EVER.

http://saab Devil’s Advocate

…after the Ssangyong Stavic that is…

Tom R

High five!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=668475019 Jake Williams

I saw one in person the other day. The front, I think is no worse, but the rear, with it’s awful roof rails and stupid spoiler is way worse than normail Imprezas. This car shoud never’ve been created!
Baddass

Everything about it is so wrong.
nickdl

SX4 anyone?

This brings back memories of the Pontiac Aztek. Ok maybe not that bad but still it’s a horrible car to look at. Usually I would be able to put up with ugly cars if they had decent interiors, however this is never the case with Subarus nowadays.
Vibe

-vomit
http://caradvice OSU811

Doesnt look that bad guys!!
a worthy competitor for SX4 awd!!
http://saab Devil’s Advocate

……um……..ok Subaru……….
Aleks

how to make an ugly model uglier
AAA

Can I say phail?
My Cars Called T-Rex

Looks like the inbred offspring of an Impreza and a Liberty.What are they smoking in Geneva??

My Cars Called T-Rex

Maybe it will look better in the metal.

Alex

The RV has been around for a decade, just not in Australia. The previous model looked better as it was more utilitarian.

Basically its the Forester ability (sort of) in the afordable Impreza package.

Makes sense, it’ll go on teh beach and slot into an inner city carpark. Perfect for the surfer who works in the CBD.

My Cars Called T-Rex

It just looks low in the front and that makes it look like its got a big butt.The Andrew Johns of cars.
greenroom

….in the metal recycler

Kevin Rudd

Alborz will call this car, the most fun you can have with your pants on. Great AWD handling, and superb fresh looks.
zahmad

The front minus the grill isn’t actually too bad…

Tom R

Yeah are those lights and that grill normal? I swear to god they’re different to the usual Impreza but the article implied they aren’t.

Nick K

Wow, what a concept, I really want one. Great styling, expensive feel inside the cabin, high tech auto and compact too! Only kidding, ugly, cheap interior, only a 4 speed auto, has nearly double a Golf TSIs fuel consumption. It does have the the best awd system going and handles well… Too bad the rest of the package reeks.
Shak

if you want to turn the sales slide, you make a mass appeal model such as the 3. not a but ugly high riding hatch with no real off road or on road benefits.
Campa

I think Holden did this many moons ago with the ‘Adventura’ and it was also quite hideous – from memory that was unsuccessful…
http://bugatti aurion lover

I find it quite offensive these callous remarks about a sister company of our glorious toyota .

Camry lover and myself have only respect for subaru and their beautifully styled bodies , they are morphing into the shapes of our loverly quiet toyota looks .

Their technology is right up to the minute with modern 4 speed autos , just like grandma toyota .

Why even sandy stone would be impressed with an interior that matches his slippers and dressing gown .

We should all stand and say ” DOG SAVE OUR TOYOTA ” and all who sail in her .
TK

Why do the latest Subarus look so uninspiring ? Look no further than the majority owner of Subaru—TOYOTA. Say no more.
Hung Low

Does Benny Hill give their designs the tick of approval?

Seriously the design department at Subaru are probably issued with “medical marijuana” and designing cars like these must be the stoned entertainment for the team!

Radbloke

Marijuana makes things better, not worse.

Don

subaru’s design haas gone to sh*t, can’t believe they are still a top 10 seller in this country with their current pathetic model lineup. The odd thing their sales have actually strengthened…stupid public.
http://thethrillofdriving.blogspot.com MaK

Why oh why Subaru!

This is what the forester/outback range was for was it not?

Why have you tarnished the famous WRC Impreza name with this hideous creation!
macca

“Sales of the Impreza have dropped by 15 percent year-to-date this year compared with the total small car market which has gained almost 20 percent”.

I would suggest that the implementation of the CVT in the impreza is now urgent. You just cannot sell a 4 banger auto in this day and age. The first thing a Volkswagen sales rep is going to say is ‘Our cars have 6 or 7 speed autos, take your pick… oh, the subaru impreza? don’t worry about them, stuck in the 80′s with their 4 speed auto.. fuel economy suffers, so does acceleration, etc’. People are not stupid when putting $30k of their own cash on a long-term investment. (The forester has enough appeal for ppl to overlook the 4 spd auto for a couple of years, but the impreza has many alternatives).

PS – Subaru, if you’re looking for design inspiration, look no further than the new Audi’s. Do not get someone from Alfa Romeo like you did with this impreza, the design is just too feminine and too fat at the rear.

davie

For an engineering focused company like subaru to doggedly persist with such an outdated tranmission is frustrating in the extreme. When they have a better auto sitting around already to use.

They spent so much money developing the 5 speed auto… And then hardly used it except for Liberty 3 litre and a special Japan-only Impreza STI model. Proof that the 5 speed DOES fit in the impreza chassis.

Why? why? why? why? why?

My parents have a subaru liberty 4 speed auto. The transmission is simply terrible. The ratios are miles apart and its forever slurring the torque converter and changing gears to hide the huge gap between ratios.

Heres my 2c: Subaru, your styling is awful. The only thing people like is your engineering and you are now behind the game on that to. Fix it or keep loosing sales to volkswagen whom you claim you are as good as.

Peter

WTF ?????
biteater

Another Subaru Ohhhhhhhhhh Nooooo!
Mr. Senior’s and $30 plus grand joke!
Well over priced and ugly looking car!
Sorry no sale!
Use to have a kicking Subaru Outback 2000 model auto Gearbox which the Dealer never fixed. Definitively not 5 Stars!
Blue smoke out of the exhaust after 90000km plus paint peeling of the plastic parts!
Never again Subaru!
Mr. Senior is always looking for the $5 dollar an hour painter for his Sydney Headquarters!
We wonder if Subaru Japan Headquarters know about the poor Service in Australia.
Mr. Senior should be ashamed of himself for the five star services!
Cheers to all, and don’t bother about Subaru.
Tim

So this is where all the internet trolls hang out to write nasty comments.

This car may not be everyones cup of tea but it is defiately not the ugliest car.

It is priced very well considering it is all whell drive, and has many great features standard (bluetooth, ipod connection, usb, etc).

As for the auto trasmission, it is bad. All you need to do to conquer that is learn to actually drive and buy a manual.
Steely Sub

I don’t get why the guy(s) with bad (poor) comments are so persistently watching out for subaru if they don’t like it.
Is it too good but hard for them to chew out?
That’s what makes a Subaru a Subaru. It’s simply not for all (idiots – sorry, don’t take this personal, I’m not aussie).
MM2

How stupid review can I get out of here?! Those people think the design is awful would not even tried driving a good car ever!
Car design is a FASHION TREND! Just like how you STUPIDLY dress up on a friday or saturday night! This is a car that I can bet for a rally!!!! anyone???? hahahhaaa…… some droll but we stand out! It is the performance that counts not just the looks of it! Just like having an ugly boyfriend but performs well! GOT IT GUYS! so Stop being stupid!!!