Can a Subaru XV tow a caravan?

In this article, we will answer the following question: Can a Subaru XV tow a caravan? We will discuss the car’s performance on long roads, the engine’s power, and what we’d expect to be different. 

Can a Subaru XV tow a caravan?

With a braked capacity of 1400 kg, a Subaru XV can easily tow a caravan. The four-wheel-drive will help you pull the caravan and the Subaru diesel engine is famous for its performance and low consumption even when towing. 

Subaru XV Towing Capacity 

Subaru XV specs and more

Subaru’s infernal cars, such as the Outback or Forester, are becoming obsolete by their very performance, clearly superior in rough terrain, in a world where compact SUVs are increasingly sought after. It needed a new breath, a model that would bring Subaru back into competition in this segment, which is very fashionable today.

This is how XV appeared. It was a strange car, quite unattractive in the photos, a kind of elevated station wagon, which did not announce anything special. And yet, on closer inspection of the technical specifications, a savvy eye notices things. You can’t overlook the permanent all-wheel drive Symmetrical AWD, it’s every man’s dream. 

If the Subaru Boxer engines, especially the turbo petrol ones, were famous in the past for their performance and high fuel consumption, the technology has evolved, now the Boxer Diesel engines are famous for their performance and low consumption. And the XV is particularly aerodynamic, with a low height, in addition, it has one of the lowest weights in the segment…

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Modern compact SUVs generally sin by ridiculous ground clearance. XV offers 22 cm and a Self Levelizer system, keeping the ground guard constant. True, the trunk is small, but if we weigh it, it could be a minor disadvantage in terms of advantages.

Independent front-rear suspension, navigation, xenon, a decent interior, with perfect finishes in places, a modern and well-equipped dashboard, good ergonomics, all these are like fine toppings, added over Symmetrical AWD and Boxer Diesel.

With a gorgeous orange colour, the XV looks incredibly good in reality, proportionate as an athlete and as dynamic as only a Subaru can be. It behaves great on any surface, road or not.

Overall, the Subaru XV materials do not flatter you at first glance, seeming only normal, but the tactile sense suggests that we are talking about durability. Subaru remains one of the most appreciated brands by fans of the term “reliability”. It becomes clear why engineers preferred to diminish the premium impression, but this also implies a pragmatic clientele.

The clientele will be delighted with the Subaru XV, thanks to the enormous storage space at the base of the console, and the buttons on the steering wheel, even if they seem a lot, are very intuitive and easy to use. Good idea for the colour display of the on-board computer, located at the top of the centre console and which curiously provides a lot of information compared to the basics.

In terms of interior space, the Subaru XV is a compact car, like the Impreza, offering generous front seats and a spacious enough seat thanks to the 2.63-meter wheelbase. The trunk is good for the compact class category, offering 380 litres with 5 seats, by folding the seat reaching 1,270 litres.

Basically, the Subaru XV seems rather intended for active singles or a couple of people with more sporty occupations, but it is also suitable for mothers with one or two children. Eventually, some might blame the fact that for the money of a Subaru XV, crossovers or even more spacious SUVs can be found on the market.

The Subaru XV’s main advantage over other crossovers or SUVs on the market is the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, considered the most powerful and safe in its segment today. The system benefits from a central differential with viscous-coupling, but the power is transmitted in a ratio of 50:50 on the two axles, not like many other SUVs, which have front-wheel drive, only when a wheel skids the power is sent to the rear axle.

In other words, whether it’s winter, rain or dry, the Subaru XV has permanent all-wheel drive – which is equivalent to the “Lock” mode of some SUVs on the market, but the Japanese promise better all-wheel-drive performance. , thanks to the experience of so many decades.

And I can only agree with them: the Subaru XV, even if, basically speaking, it’s just a raised hatchback, withstands muddy roads without problems, much better than I expected and obviously better than almost any crossover or current SUV with 4 × 4 tractions. And the electronics seem very well set so that you don’t get stuck in muddy situations.

Another feature of the Subaru XV is the 2.0-litre diesel engine and 150 hp. It is the only diesel boxer configuration in the automotive world, which has both advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is the engine’s homogeneous and uniform response, which rises in very supple turns without that standard shock to other diesel when the turbine comes into action.

The torque has a good value, of 350 Nm, being reached very low, from 1,600 rpm. In practice, this means an excellent availability of the engine at low speeds, in crowded traffic XV being pleasant to drive. Overtaking the Subaru XV equipped with this engine is also safe and fast.

Subaru XV engine and performance

In terms of dynamic behaviour, the engine receives only praise, but there are also some shadows. At idle, it feels that the boxer is not so well balanced; at regular intervals, the car is shaken a little by vibrations easily noticed. Eventually, we can say that it is a “signature” of this engine, which the fans will appreciate…

Then, the car’s soundproofing deteriorates quite quickly over 80 km / h, and the engine noise is higher than I expected, at high speeds competing with the aerodynamic noises, quite pronounced. Overall, the car is well soundproofed at low speeds, but those who are in a hurry do not think they will appreciate the noises as sporty.

From the manual gearbox point, there are no reproaches, the steering is correct, and the ratios are well chosen. The suspension, however, is contradictory and is probably the clearest thing that shows us that the Subaru XV is just a raised Impreza.

The Subaru XV looks quite comfortable on the road, the unevenness being absorbed dry, without shaking unpleasantly. However, as the speed increases, there is a phenomenon of pumping sufficiently accentuated to make you pay more attention to sudden braking, which, at speeds over 100 km / h, requires firm intervention on the steering wheel to maintain the trajectory.

However, thanks to the high-performance all-wheel drive, the trajectory’s stability is better than you think, and the roll is not as big as the inclination of the body suggests. Basically, on the cornering routes, you need to get used to the car’s reactions, XV proving to be safe even in fast driving.

A slender suspension means better comfort on macadam, right? Well, yes and no. As long as the speed is low, the Subaru XV proves comfortable on rough roads, but if you are more sporty, depending on the size of the bumps, the car will start to have a hop that should temper your warrior starts.

The bottom line

Therefore, the Subaru XV is a strange crossover: it looks dynamic, but the suspension is a bit soft to temper the tempo, although the engine is able to cope with a sportier regime. 

On the other hand, although to some it may seem just a taller Impreza, the ground clearance and competent all-wheel drive make the XV much more capable than many crossovers and 4 × 4 SUVs on the market.

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments on the content.

FAQ on  Can a Subaru XV tow a caravan?

What weight can a Subaru XV tow?

The weight that a Subaru XV can tow is between 1250 and 1400 kg braked capacity. 

What weight can the Subaru Crosstrek tow?

Subaru Crosstrek has a towing capacity of 680 kg or 1500 pounds, making it great for towing small campers, a flatbed or a bicycle trailer. 

Is the Subaru XV a good car?

Overall, Subaru XV is a very good car, quite comfortable on high-speed and the torque has a good value, of 350 Nm, being reached very low, from 1,600 rpm.

References 

• Subaru XV – Towing Capacity & Weight Limit Information
• 2021 Subaru Crosstrek – Best Compact SUV | Subaru