Subaru XV concept teased

The Subaru XV concept has been teased in an image released by Subaru and will be on display at the Geneva motor show in March. 

The new Subaru XV has been revealed - get the latest here:

The XV concept will preview the next-generation Subaru XV, although no further details have been released. The XV has just received its mid-life facelift, with tweaks to the engines, chassis and interior and exterior styling, as well as an improved infotainment system.

Read our Subaru XV first drive here

The subtle styling changes include new metal-tone front foglight surrounds and a new lower grille and bumper treatment. Tweaks to the headlight clusters also feature on the 2016 model, along with a new set of diamond-cut black and silver alloy wheels. Two new paint colours have also been added.

The rear end remains largely unchanged, aside from revised LED tail-lights and tweaked boot spoiler.

The exterior upgrades mark the second part of a two-step facelift, according to Subaru, with the interior upgrades having been put in place prior to the exterior updates for the 2016 model year. The chassis upgrades are claimed to improve the ride and grip of the XV and were implemented prior to the exterior facelift. Despite the subtlety of the exterior styling tweaks, Subaru claims that the updates ‘significantly change’ the original car.

Subaru says it experienced an increase in sales following the earlier interior and chassis upgrades and expects to maintain current sales of 600-700 units per year in the UK, although this is a long way from the sales figures of more mainstream rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and BMW X1. 

Inside, a new steering wheel is the most notable upgrade, with a greater amount of metallic trim replacing some black plastics in the previous model. Voice control has also been added to the XV, allowing navigation and climate control settings to be changed using voice commands, alongside full connectivity for iPhone users.

Engine updates have improved the fuel economy of the 2.0-litre petrol unit to a claimed 43.5mpg, with CO2 emissions of 151g/km when equipped with Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT transmission. The 2.0-litre diesel’s fuel economy rises to a claimed 52.3mpg, with emissions falling by 5g/km to 141g/km. No further engines are planned to feature as part of the XV model line-up, though.

The facelifted XV goes on sale from 1 March, with prices remaining unchanged from the previous model despite Subaru’s claim of higher-quality interior materials.