Refreshed 2021 Subaru XV arriving in PH very soon

Subaru PH to launch facelift XV on June 1

Remember when Subaru Philippines announced they will be launching six new vehicles last year? So far, Motor Image Pilipinas already introduced the 7-seater Evoltis albeit quietly earlier this year. This means, Subaru is about ready to introduce its next model, and it’s the refreshed 2021 XV.

Motor Image Pilipinas has already taken to social media, hinting at the XV’s upcoming arrival. Interested buyers can even sign up to “experience the fun” on the Subaru Philippines website. But when will the 2021 Subaru XV make its official Philippine debut? According to a source, it will be launched this June, less than a month to go.

What are the changes to the 2021 XV? Well, they’re very mild. On the outside, Subaru gave the popular crossover a slight nip and tuck. The front end has been slightly revised, featuring a new grille with a new pattern. There’s also a new bumper with more defined corners and thicker black cladding. Aside from the front end, the only other changes are the new 18-inch wheels and the new Plasma Yellow Pearl color. With that, the refreshed XV still looks very much like the one that’s in showrooms.

Step inside, and it’s a familiar sight to current XV owners. The cabin is carried over from the current model. However, we’re told local units will feature a new 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It will also get the Forester’s Dual X-Mode function, allowing the crossover to drive through almost any kind of terrain. Improvements were also made to the suspension for a more comfortable ride. Expect Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite to be available as well.

Under the hood, expect the same 2.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-four engine to power the 2021 XV. The engine makes 156 PS and 196 Nm of torque and shifts via the brand's continuously variable transmission dubbed Lineartronic. Symmetrical all-wheel-drive is, of course, standard.

There’s no word yet on price, but expect the 2021 XV to stay relatively close to the current XV’s price point. For reference, the entry-level XV 2.0i EyeSight retails for PHP 1,608,000 and the XV 2.0i-S EyeSight at PHP 1,908,000.