Automotive industry giant Subaru has trekked as yet unfamiliar territory, easing their way into manufacturing hybrid (electricity and gas-powered) vehicles with one of their newest offerings: the 2014 XV Crosstrek SUV. With more car companies entering the realm of hybrids, NorthJersey.com writer Frank Aukofer thinks Subaru made the right move towards this direction:
"If you're an automobile manufacturer these days, it seems that you simply must have a hybrid, if for no other reason than to show you have some environmental affability in your lineup."
Already offered at numerous Subaru dealers throughout New Orleans, LA and the U.S., the 2014 SV Crosstrek is Subaru's first hybrid vehicle. It is a direct sequel to the regular SV Crosstrek released last year, sporting the same basic aesthetics but differing in engine and drivetrain configurations.
The 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid features Subaru's patented all-wheel drive, a 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder boxer engine; and a standard 13.4-horsepower electric motor built into the Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), also known as automatic transmission.
Together, the gasoline engine and the electric motor, produce a 161.4-horsepower powertrain with a maximum of 193 lbs. /ft. of torque. The combined-power nature of its powertrain provides maximum versatility, allowing it to be perform equally strongly off-road and on-road.
The vehicle's interior sports the same sleek design from last year's model. Like its predecessor, the SV Crosstrek Hybrid offers a spacious interior with excellent cargo and passenger space. Its dashboard features a standard speedometer and tachometer, and an electronic-based fuel economy and level gauges. Advanced audio and Bluetooth controls are embedded in the steering wheel, and the central dash features a GPS navigation system projected on an LCD screen.
For the exterior, the XV Crosstrek Hybrid comes in a number of colors and configurations. Buyers can choose from colors like Tangerine Orange Pearl; Plasma Green Pearl; Ice Silver Metallic; and accessories like moon roofs, top loads/roof cargo carriers, and others. Overall, the hybrid looks sleek and stylish, fit for drivers that bank on style.
For fuel economy, the Hybrid does as well as its predecessor. GreenCarReports.com writer John Voelcker test-drove a Hybrid and found that its fuel efficiency tallied at an average of 31 mpg (miles per gallon), and sporting a 29 mpg on city streets and 33 mpg on wide-open highways. For a Subaru model, this is considered excellent in terms of fuel economy.
Feeling excited about it now? Think the 2014 XV Crosstrek is your thing? Then visit dependable New Orleans LA Subaru dealers, as well as dealerships in surrounding areas, such as Covington's Baldwin Subaru, and test-drive a Subaru today.
(Source: Subaru Eases into Hybrids with 2014 XV Crosstrek, NorthJersey.com, April 22, 2014)
