Subaru XV: The safest choice for families (sponsored)
See why the super-safe Subaru XV is the ideal car for families
The SUV crossover is the ideal vehicle for life in town, mixing an elevated driving position and great styling with hatchback practicality. But you shouldn’t have to scrimp on safety, capability or reliability to get the body style you want – and with the Subaru XV, you don’t have to.
Lucy and Chris had safety at the top of their list when they chose the XV as their family car. With daughter Millie on board, they felt happier in a vehicle that was awarded Safest Small Family Car by the crash-test experts at Euro NCAP in 2017. They knew the car’s trademark Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive would keep them out of trouble on their frequent camping trips to the country, because sending power to all four wheels, all of the time, means no loss of traction when conditions get slippery. And they’re still confident that it has enough practicality to cope with Millie’s brother or sister, who’s due to arrive soon.
What has surprised them, though, is the way the Subaru has made their lives easier around town. It’s proof that the best safety systems, like the XV’s camera-based EyeSight tech, which actively tracks other vehicles and pedestrians, bring reassurance in everyday use as well as protecting against accidents. “The EyeSight system is always looking out for you,” says Chris. “It’s especially reassuring to know that it’s watching when the noise from Millie in the back seat becomes distracting.”
“The cameras are always looking at what is in front,” says Lucy, “and EyeSight will give you warnings or even apply the brakes to slow you down (or stop you completely) if there’s a risk of hitting something. It’s like a second set of eyes that are constantly looking at the road. In fact, the whole car is loaded with things that just make driving easier, all designed to keep you safe.”
Lucy also says the Subaru’s blind spot sensors have benefits beyond dual carriageways and motorways, where they flash up a warning if there’s an approaching car out of your own line of sight. “They keep a check not just when you’re changing lane but also for crossing traffic behind you when you’re reversing out of a parking space,” she says. “It’s definitely saved us a scrape in the supermarket car park.”
The XV’s in-car tech also helps with another potentially stressful task: keeping Millie amused during trips across town. “Our daughter loves listening to Roald Dahl audiobooks, which we can download and use thanks to the Apple CarPlay functionality,” says Lucy. “They’re brilliant for a quiet trip to the grandparents. And when I’m on my own in the car, I like listening to podcasts.”
In fact, the XV has reached the point where it’s pretty much secured a spot as the fourth member of Lucy and Chris’s expanding line-up. “Keeping us all safe on the road has to be our top priority and the XV does that,” says Chris. “There’s plenty of space for the buggy and bags too, and we need a car that won’t let us down, so Subaru’s reputation for reliability sealed the deal for us. It’s part of the family.”
To find out more about the Subaru XV, visit the Subaru website...
