The Japanese car maker’s XV nameplate with the new Subaru Crosstek.
Subaru will soon launch the new generation Crosstek, which is the same model called XV in Australia. While Subaru Australia has not confirmed the model locally, it is very likely to replace the XV soon, with the local branch saying: “The latest global reveal from Subaru Corporation is very exciting! Details for the Australian market to come soon.”
The Crosstrek has only just been announced for the Japanese market, so don’t expect the new car to arrive in Australia until the end of 2023. Subaru says the Crosstrek will be a third generation model of the XV-Crosstek line and the Crosstrek name will now replace XV in all markets – but as we can see from these images, it’s more of a heavy facelift of the XV.
Starting with the exterior, the XV-based Crosstrek will gain a new front end. There are slimmer headlights, a bigger grille, a redesigned bumper and new foglights. Plastic cladding around the wheelarches remain, but they’ve grown on the Crosstrek. The rear lights have also been tweaked to look more like the larger Outback model and we can also see a chunkier rear bumper.
The extensive redesign carries over to the inside. The dash now features a larger 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen with the physical climate controls vanishing to become a part of the screen’s functions. The driver’s instrument cluster hasn’t become a screen, with analogue dials remaining. The design of the cabin has changed as well, with a new look to the vents, door handles and centre console.
Subaru says the new Crosstrek will use a 2.0-litre e-Boxer hybrid engine mated to a CVT transmission. It’s not clear if it’ll produce more power than the outgoing 115kW flat-four e-Boxer model. As ever, all-wheel drive will come as standard.
The Crosstrek will also add new features such as a 360-degree bird’s eye camera of the car, LED cornering lights and a wide-angle camera. Safety technology is also improved with pre-collision braking and a reworking of the Subaru Global Platform for better crash results.
Expect more details to be announced later this year or during its roll-out in 2023.
Alastair Crooks