2022 Subaru XV to hit Europe this spring

The third generation of the Subaru XV came out nearly four years ago, and the updated Crosstrek version hit the showrooms across the USA, Australia and Japan last year. Europe will be getting the mini-SUV in March, with pre-orders already running in the UK.

Exterior design highlights include a new front grille and bumper. Shock absorbers and springs have been tweaked, but other than that, most of the change takes place inside. Even in its most basic version, the XV/Crosstrek packs an infotainment system with an eight-inch touchscreen display and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Keyless entry and a front-facing dash camera are also included, and the view angle has been increased to 180 degrees, improving visibility while driving off a minor road or a parking lot. A selector knob can be used to choose special drive modes (gravel, snow and mud), and a dedicated SI-Drive switch helps adjust throttle response to a desired level.

Prices in Great Britain start from £31,655. Power is provided by an e-Boxer hybrid system that links to a CVT and AWD, producing 156 PS (154 hp / 115 kW) and 196 Nm (143 lb-ft) of torque.

It has to be noted that the compact SUV has been losing popularity lately: in 2018, 144,384 cars found new owners in the USA and 14,706 more in Europe. A year after that, EU sales plummeted 30%.