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In-depth reviews

Subaru XV hybrid reliability & safety rating

The XV hybrid has strong safety ratings, excellent preventative safety measures and pretty decent customer satisfaction ratings

Overall rating

3.0 out of 5

Reliability & safety rating rating

4.5 out of 5

Fuel Type:
Hybrid Petrol
Euro NCAPAdult protectionChild protectionSafety assist
5 stars (2017)94%89%68%

It may be more expensive to run than some rivals, but you should be able to depend on your XV e-Boxer. The XV itself scored a decent result in the most recent Driver Power survey, Subaru as a whole has a good reputation for dependability and longevity and the XV carries a five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating, too.

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Subaru would also no doubt point out the active safety benefits of one of its long-standing traditions: all-wheel drive. It’s something still not offered by every rival, but the car’s surefootedness in poor conditions is as valuable as any airbag.

Subaru XV hybrid reliability & problems

The XV sells in relatively small numbers, so it didn’t appear in the 2023 Driver Power survey, but the Subaru Outback finished an impressive fifth on the list of the best cars to own. Owners praised its reliability and build quality, which bodes well for the XV.

There’s more good news, with Subaru ranked fourth on the list of best car manufacturers, beaten only by Tesla, Polestar and Porsche. The company notched up excellent scores in the interior, practicality, ride and handling, and safety categories.

Safety

Subaru’s reputation for safety is somewhat underrated, for some reason rarely considered alongside the Volvos and Mercedes of the world. But the XV achieved a five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2017 when it was launched (the e-Boxer hasn’t been tested separately, but is unlikely to be too different). It scored an impressive 94% for adult protection, and Subaru’s 'EyeSight' technology is pretty comprehensive.

EyeSight includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, lane sway and departure warning, lane-keeping assistance and lead vehicle start alert. Rear vehicle detection is also standard, with blind-spot monitoring, lane-changing assistance and rear cross-traffic alert all rolled in.

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Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

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