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Drivetime With Vinnie Richichi-Road Test: 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

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This weeks edition of Drivetime has us taking a spin in the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

You know Subaru is a pretty cool little car company and the XV Crosstrek shows you exactly why. They seem to get what the person who likes to get off the beaten path wants in a car just as well as the family who still loves the traditional station wagon.  It's the off the beaten path thinking that brings us this extremely ample off-roader.

From the outside the compact five-door hatchback that is built off an Impreza is a bit different looking. The Impreza was all new for 2012 so the design is fresh with soft rounded lines,  not a lot of sharp angles on the body so it flows with nice curves and good visibility.The Crosstrek gets a different front bumper and body cladding that offsets the raising of the body to with about eight inches of ground clearance. The car has been raised with the intention of making actually able to go off-road instead of dreaming about it. Special wheels, black with steel insets look awesome and really give the car a sportier look.

Inside the XV is comfortable. No one is going to mistake it for a  luxury crossover but who wears their tuxedo on a hike? Seats are well positioned, materials of good quality and gauges simple and readable. Controls all seem to be easy to use, nav and Bluetooth easy to figure out. The nav system seems a bit aftermarkety like it was slapped in as an afterthought but it still gets you where you want to go. Bluetooth is also available. There is also a lot of room getting in and out of the front seats. Fold down rear seats will provide a fairly large cargo area that becomes with a washable rear mat if you get your XV all muddied up. A roof rack is standard as well with the up packages. Nice touch.

The XV gets the tried and tested four-cylinder boxer engine that is fairly bulletproof. While its not going to knock your socks off with acceleration especially with the CVT it still gets the job done. You might find yourself working the gears a bit with the steering wheel mounted paddles. 148 horses and 145 pound feet of torque quickly remind you that those paddles are not connected to a sports car but a good athletic hatchback.  It also has a 1500 pound towing capacity…rare in this type of vehicle.

Subaru has announced that it will introduce a XV Crosstrek Hybrid at the New York International Auto Show which ought to be a huge hit.

Handling can be a bit squirrelyat high winds in an empty car as it does sit higher but otherwise it might be the best handling Subie that doesent have a WRX or a BRZ attached to it's name. Solid through the curves and very connected to the road it gives you a car like driving experience in a car that handle the offroad life after it rolls out of the showroom!

The XV Crosstrek that I drove which is the Limited with sunroof and and nav stickered at $27,290 which is about as loaded as it can get.  It gets a 2013 Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Mileage figures come in at 25 city/33 highway according to Subaru.

The XV Crosstrek should be called an AUV for Active Utility Vehicle. If you live an active lifestyle and want a car like vehicle that can handle a bit of the off road life the XV Crosstrek fits the bill. It will get you to that mountaintop campsite with a couple of bikes strapped to the roof then wash up real nice and look elegant as you pull up to the fancy restaurant on date night. It's also a pretty good car to take to Costco, fill up with paper towels and a side of beef and get you back home in any kind of weather, even if you never get to that mountaintop.

Note: Subaru debuted the Hybrid version of the XV Crosstrek  at this weeks New York International Auto Show. It uses a gas electric system, weighs about 300 pounds more, will operate at low speed on electric only and should be available in the fall.

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First look at the XV Crosstrek Hybrid at the New York International Auto Show

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For more information:http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/xv-crosstrek/index.html

Follow Drivetime on Twitter @dttweet and on Facebook at Facebook.com/DriveTimeRadioandTV

Get more reviews, news about cars and the people who drive them, interviews and tips on how to get more out of your driving experience all on Drivetime with Vinnie Richichi and Rob Pratte Saturday mornings 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Newsradio 1020 KDKA. Also listen to Vinnie on The Vinnie and Cook Show Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan.

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