Subaru XV With Eyesight
When Motor Image Pilipinas Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru in the Philippines, introduced the Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology last April, I didn’t make a big fuss out of it. I looked at the Subaru XV with EyeSight and thought that it didn’t look much different even with the new technology.
I drove the Subaru XV 2.0i-S with EyeSight and I was initially convinced that it did not drastically differ from earlier XVs. It has a four-cylinder boxer engine that is typical of Subaru vehicles, coupled with a Lineartronic CVT transmission and MacPherson strut/double wishbone suspension. But after driving the XV with EyeSight through Metro Manila traffic and on rainy days, I realized that the EyeSight imparts something more than meets the eye.
Subaru’s EyeSight technology is a driving support system that uses a range of functions to assist the driver. It uses stereo cameras to identify hazards, surrounding vehicles, traffic obstruction and other obstacles.
Specific applications of the EyeSight include a Pre-collision Braking System that warns the driver with a buzzer and a light on the dash if there is a risk of collision. If the driver is unable to take evasive action, the system can automatically apply the brakes to reduce the impact of, or possibly prevent, a collision. If the driver is able to react, the Pre-collision Brake Assist applies more brake force to help prevent a collision. If there is an obstacle in front of a vehicle and the driver continues to advance, a Pre-collision Throttle Management sounds several short beeps, turns on a flashing indicator and then cuts the engine output to help avoid a collision.
At cruising speeds, the EyeSight’s “Adaptive Cruise Control” adjusts the speed to keep a set distance from the lead vehicle. It also adjusts the engine, transmission, and brakes to keep the XV’s speed in line with the traffic flow. At speeds of 50 km/h or more, the Lane Departure Warning system warns the driver when the vehicle drifts to the edge of the lane without signaling.
For faster drives of around 60 km/h or more, the Lane Sway Warning system uses a buzzer and a flashing indicator to warn the driver when the XV wanders or drifts away from its lane.
A feature of the EyeSight that I found to be highly useful for navigating through Metro Manila’s bumper-to-bumper traffic is its “Lead Vehicle Start Alert.” The EyeSight senses when traffic has started moving again and prompts the driver to act through a buzzer and a flashing indicator.
Subaru’s 2017 models with EyeSight technology merited the highest possible 2017 rating for front crash prevention from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the US.
But more important than the rating is how the EyeSight system reinforces Subaru’s goal of empowering drivers with confidence, comfort and safety. The EyeSight complements Subaru’s core technologies consisting of the Boxer Engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and Subaru Global Platform. The EyeSight system is also available in other Subaru vehicles such as the Outback and Levorg.
With the affordable pricing of Subaru vehicles, the EyeSight takes safety to a whole new level — in terms of features and accessibility.