Subaru has given us our first look at what appears to be the next-generation XV small crossover ahead of a reveal on September 15.
The brand teased this “new SUV” in a short video uploaded to YouTube and its Japanese website.
Although Subaru doesn’t refer to the teased car in any of its material as the XV, or Crosstrek as it’s known in North America, it features exterior styling that appears to be an evolution of the current XV’s.
The current XV is closely related to the Impreza.
Throughout the video there are fleeting glimpses at the car’s headlights, grille, tail lights, and alloy wheel design.
According to overseas reports, the new Subaru XV is expected to receive a 1.5-litre turbocharged flat-four engine that’ll replace the existing 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-four engine.
Power and torque outputs are unconfirmed at this stage, but the current 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated unit produces 115kW of power and 196Nm of torque.
Current XV
It’s expected a hybrid version of the XV will continue to be offered as well in updated form.
At this stage it’s unclear what other upgrades Subaru has in store for the XV, but overseas reports have indicated that it may receive some form of Level 3 semi-autonomous driving assist function.
It’s possible the 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen from the Outback will also make its way into the XV.
If and when the updated Subaru XV launches locally, it’ll go up against the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-30, Volkswagen T-Roc, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Kona.
To the end of July 2022, Subaru sold a total of 4728 XV models. It was outsold by the MG ZS (11,609 sales), Mazda CX-30 (9520 sales), Hyundai Kona (7572 sales), Mitsubishi ASX (6697 sales), Kia Seltos (5398 sales), and Toyota C-HR (5022 sales).
The Subaru XV outsold the GWM Haval Jolion (3769 sales), Honda HR-V (3011 sales), and Jeep Compass (1074 sales), and considerably outperformed the related Impreza hatch and sedan (1590 sales).
Subaru first launched the standalone XV model locally in late 2011, though it previously offered rugged-looking variants of the Impreza range including one called XV.
The Japanese automaker launched the second-generation XV locally in 2017, and gave it a mid-life facelift in 2020.
MORE: Everything Subaru XV
