Subaru XV 2.0i-S EyeSight GT Edition (A) Review

In Singapore, the market trend towards SUVs is no more apparent than in the Subaru brand. Where you'd use to spot Imprezas all around, these days you'd struggle to find a Subaru sedan on our roads.

What you will see quite commonly, though, are Subaru SUVs. Leading the SUV charge for the brand locally is the all-conquering Forester, the brand's best-selling model in Singapore, followed closely behind by the XV compact SUV.

In a bid to breath new life into its popular but now one-year old Subaru XV, Motor Image has launched a special edition model dubbed the 'GT Edition'. 

What does that get you? 

Mostly, it's a set of cosmetic enhancements. The special XV aero kit that comes on the GT Edition consists of a front bumper lip extension with integrated canards, side skirts, a roof spoiler and a rear bumper extension.

The GT Edition also gets a set of 18-inch bespoke alloy wheels, as well as a special seat-leather design.

The XV also comes equipped with a 360-degree Around View Monitor camera, a useful addition for a lot us when it comes to narrow roads and tight parking spaces. 

The car's mechanically unchanged, then? 

The rest of the car is mechanically unchanged, and that's not a bad thing at all. As it is, the XV has a lot going for it. The car is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine delivering 154bhp and 196Nm of torque. The CVT that its paired to isn't the most inspiring, but the powertrain delivers enough smoothness and punch to make everyday driving a casual and problem-free affair.

The car is also generously equipped. You get EyeSight Driver Assist technology, with useful features like lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The XV also comes equipped with Reverse Automatic Braking. The rest of the car is also a sensible and practical affair - the cabin is spacious and comfortable for five, the boot sizable enough for basic haulage, and it's a car that excels in simplicity of use.

And it costs how much?

The standard XV starts at $85,800 (as of 26 March 2020) - an attractive price point for a sensible, practical and achievable compact SUV.

The GT Edition is an additional $2,588, which honestly isn't that much more money. All things considered, it's still a pretty good value for money purchase. We reckon $2,588 for the 360-degree camera itself is reasonable enough. The slightly sportier exterior design is a welcome plus.

SUVs are all the rage these days, and the XV delivers plenty of everyday competencies. Well-equipped, comfortable to drive and spacious enough for a family of five, the XV should prove to still be popular among buyers. Some may scorn at this GT Edition for being merely a cosmetic update (it basically is), but hey, cosmetics do matter. And for under 90 grand (as of 20 March 2020), there's really not much to complain about it at all.