√2023 Subaru Crosstrek confirmed for Australia to replace XV

The successor to today’s Subaru XV is coming to Australia with a new look and more technology – but Subaru Australia is yet to confirm when the first cars will arrive.

The replacement for the Subaru XV small SUV – the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek – has been locked in for Australia, but showroom arrival timing is yet to be confirmed.

Revealed last month, the Crosstrek badge will be new to Australians, but it has been used on the prior two generations of XV in North America – and is now going global.

It has now been confirmed for Australian showrooms, to replace today’s XV – but Subaru Australia is yet to confirm launch timing, only stating it is due in showrooms “soon”, with more details to be confirmed in the coming months.

As reported, the new Crosstrek benefits from styling cues, interior technology and safety upgrades borrowed from Subaru’s latest models – but there will be few changes under the bonnet, where a choice on non-turbo petrol or hybrid power remains.

Features available on Australian models will include an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and a full suite of advanced safety features, which overseas includes autonomous emergency braking with intersection support, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

Nine airbags are standard – up from seven in the current model. It remains to be seen if a centre airbag between the front seats features – a common inclusion among cars with five-star safety scores under the latest ANCAP test criteria.

Under the bonnet, the familiar 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine carries over from the outgoing model, with standard all-wheel drive – though it’s connected to a new or revised continuously-variable automatic transmission (CVT) with eight simulated ratios, up from seven.

Buyers will be able to opt a e-Boxer hybrid variant, expected to be a tweaked version of the current XV’s 2.0-litre petrol engine and small electric motor. Details of this system have yet to be revealed.

For more details on the new Subaru Crosstrek, click here to read Drive’s earlier story published at the car’s reveal last month.

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek will come to Australia “soon”, according to Subaru Australia – but it’s unclear exactly when it will arrive.

Given the company says further specifications will be announced “in the coming months”, and Japanese deliveries aren’t slated to begin until 2023, the first Australian cars are unlikely to arrive in showrooms until next year.

Keen buyers can register their interest on Subaru’s website here.

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