Subaru XV

The Subaru XV arrived in January 2012 minus the Impreza nameplate that was attached to the original.

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.

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.

All models in the range were mated to either a six-speed manual or Subaru’s Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

In manual guise, the crossover recorded fuel consumption figures of 7.3L/100km on the combined cycle, while the CVT managed 7.0L/100km.

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.

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.

All models in the XV line-up featured steering wheel audio and Bluetooth controls, USB connection and auxiliary jack and cargo security blind.

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.