Fact: Motoring enthusiasts like you and I rarely pay attention to facelifted cars. There’s a reason why they’re called ‘facelifts’ anyway, because all the changes are skin deep, and so if you’re already taken with how a car drives, there’s nothing to see here. So when Subaru called MalaysianMotoring invited us to attend the regional launch of the facelifted XV in Bangkok, we were surprised to say the least. I believe that during the course of the phone call, there was at least one instance when I asked them why they weren’t just sending us photos.

Fast forward two weeks, and I find myself following a duck in Suvarnabhumi airport, along with other members of the media from around the region. After being introduced to the new Subaru XV the following day at the regional launch event, I was shuttled to a nearby carpark, where they’d laid out a course for the media to test the new car.

Right off the bat, it has to be said that the facelifted XV doesn’t look massively different than the car it replaces. Which is no bad thing, because the XV has always been a rather handsome thing. Now with slightly updated looks, the XV looks better prepared to take on the new competition in its segment.

The first part of the media drive saw us on an off-road simulation. The course was designed to show off the XV’s capabilities when not on the straight and narrow. I was impressed with how effortlessly it handled the relatively tough terrain, with no loss of traction on sand or mud, and great wheel articulation through segments with altering heights. As well as it handled the course though, I did feel that it was a slightly unnecessary exercise. The XV dukes it out with cars like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX5. These are hardly cars that inspire you to take the road less travelled. So does the XV really need to excel in these areas?

The second part of the drive was designed to show the XV’s on-road prowess, which I found much more relevant. A quick brake test saw me hurtle Subaru’s baby crossover from 0km/h-80km/h, before slamming on the anchors. Amazingly, the big thing managed to halt itself in less than an entire car length, without much drama. A dart through a slalom revealed that the facelift wasn’t just cosmetic, as the new car felt much taughter, more precise a tool than the car it replaces. I quickly negotiated another drive round the course, and my initial findings were reinforced. They did some work under the skin, and it really shows from behind the wheel.

The Subaru XV has always been a massively impressive car to begin with. Its introduction to the Malaysian market saw the Subaru brand shoot from an off-kilter choice to something more mainstream, and with its Boxer engine, has made Malaysian streets sound that much more pleasant. Having driven the XV before, I felt that it was one of the best cars in its segment, though it did suffer from a rather uninspiring interior. Despite not doing too much to the interior (they only changed the steering wheel), I still think the XV is an incredibly capable machine, both on and off road.

Speaking of which. The XV is an immensely capable off-roader, which to some might be a little pointless. As I mentioned earlier, SUVs and crossovers in this segment are rarely purchased for their ability to handle the rough stuff, which makes it difficult to justify whatever expense might be related to making a car more capable in that area. However, Subaru’s are regarded as cars that you own because you want something different, because you do things a little differently than everyone else. And in that respect, it’s this writers’ opinion that the Subaru XV’s great abilities both on tarmac and on mud, sand and silt make it a really accomplished machine.