Bye bye XV! 2023 Subaru Crosstrek revealed to replace popular XV

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek has been revealed globally, with the badge previously used mainly in the US to now replace the Subaru XV nameplate used in Australia and Japan.

The Crosstrek will have the boots of Subaru’s third-best selling model to fill, the XV trailing the Forester and Outback closely to each make up around a quarter of the brand’s sales this year so far.

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Now heading into its third generation, the Crosstrek will come with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a lithium-ion battery for hybridisation, dubbed e-Boxer. For the new Crosstrek, this drivetrain has had vibration and noise-reducing adjustments made.

Australian details and drivetrains haven't been confirmed, nor has timing, availability, or pricing, but the Crosstrek joining the local range is a safe bet given the XV’s popularity here.

According to a local Subaru spokesperson: "Details for the Australian market to come soon".

We do know Japan will see the new-generation Crosstrek before other markets, so expect more specific details ahead of a likely 2023 launch.

For now, the Crosstrek’s design and basic features are all we can go on, with elements like a more rugged, plastic-clad body built on the Subaru Global Platform which incorporates rigidity-increasing inner-frame construction already used in the new WRX and Levorg.

Subaru explains: “Normally, a vehicle body is constructed by assembling the upper body and underbody separately and then joining them together. 

“The new full-inner-frame body design, however, entails sturdy assembly of the entire frame first, followed by welding on of outer panels, which increases body rigidity while reducing weight.”

The new Crosstrek is 4480mm long, 1800mm wide, and 1580 tall, but is 30mm taller with roofracks and an antenna. The current XV is slightly shorter at 4465mm, the same width, and taller at 1595mm.

The steering rack has also been changed to a dual-pinion set up which Subaru says will make the Crosstrek’s steering feel more direct and “sporty”.

An updated interior features an 11.6-inch multimedia touchscreen similar to that found in the Outback.  It's a significant increase over the old 8.0-inch screen, even though the software remains similar.

Other comfort-focused changes Subaru outlines are very specific. The seats, for example, have been designed to reduce vehicle swaying motions from being transferred to passengers’ heads by “supporting and aligning the pelvis”. 

The seats have also had redesigned mounts to reduce vibration and improve damping between the car and seat.

Safety improvements include a new 360-degree top-down parking view camera, as well as wider angle sensors for obstacle avoidance.