The Subaru XV arrived in January 2012 minus the Impreza nameplate that was attached to the original.<br /><br />Even though it was unlikely to see many unsealed roads, the XV gave the appearance of being a capable SUV with its chunky exterior design, black wheel arches with 17-inch black alloy wheels and roof rails.<br /><br />Available in three specifications, the all-wheel drive XV came with one engine option - Subaru’s 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Boxer petrol engine that delivered 110kW of power.<br /><br />All models in the range were mated to either a six-speed manual or Subaru’s Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).<br /><br />In manual guise, the crossover recorded fuel consumption figures of 7.3L/100km on the combined cycle, while the CVT managed 7.0L/100km.<br /><br />The XV offered 310 litres of cargo space, slightly less than its Impreza sibling and 100 litres less than one of its main rivals, the Nissan Dualis.<br /><br />Awarded a five-star crash-test rating from ANCAP upon release, the XV featured the usual array of safety gear as well as hill-hold assist and rear-view reversing camera.<br /><br />All models in the XV line-up featured steering wheel audio and Bluetooth controls, USB connection and auxiliary jack and cargo security blind.<br /><br />The mid-spec 2.0i-L added a sunroof, satellite navigation, and dual-zone air conditioning, while the range-topping 2.0i-S gained leather upholstery, heated front seats and an eight-way electronically adjustable driver’s seat.