Subaru Crosstrek 2023: new small SUV revealed as XV name set to be retired in Australia

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The new-generation Subaru Crosstrek has been revealed overnight, featuring a new exterior design and new cabin technologies atop a revised version of the Subaru Global Platform (SGP) architecture.

What’s a Crosstrek? In the United States, this badge has been used for what Australians know as the Subaru XV – but now, the XV name will be retired with all markets set to use Crosstrek from 2023.

While the Crosstrek has not yet been confirmed for an Australian release, Subaru Australia’s public relations manager Adriana Saviane told Chasing Cars that details for the Australian market will be coming soon.

The new-gen Crosstrek will ride on Subaru’s existing SGP platform but has been revised for 2023 with a new full inner frame construction as seen on the current WRX, which was the final all-new model to be developed atop SGP.

One of the biggest changes to the Crosstrek will be in the infotainment, with a larger portrait-style 11.6-inch screen from the Subaru Outback to feature, along with revised exterior styling featuring large plastic cladding panels on the front and rear of the vehicle. 

For Japanese-delivered Crosstreks, they will use a 2.0-litre e-boxer four-cylinder hybrid engine that will be paired to a CVT automatic transmission. Power and torque figures have not been revealed. 

What’s different about the Crosstrek?

Subaru hasn’t revealed power and torque figures for the new Crosstrek, however it has confirmed that the small SUV will use a 2.0-litre e-Boxer hybrid configuration. 

A non-hybrid four-cylinder boxer engine is likely.  The current hybrid XV sold in Australia has combined outputs of 110kW/196Nm, but we could see slightly better figures for the new Crosstrek. 

While Subaru says that the unveiled Crosstrek is just a prototype for now, features such as the larger infotainment screen, revised exterior styling and a new-generation of Subaru’s Eyesight active safety systems. 

Subaru says that a new front-side radar has been installed in the Crosstrek to aid with front cross-traffic situations where a cyclist or pedestrian may be entering an intersection from either the right or left side of the vehicle. 

How big is the new Subaru Crosstrek?

The new Subaru Crosstrek measures in at 4480mm long, 1800mm wide and 1580mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2670mm. 

That means the new Crosstrek is 5mm shorter than the current Australian XV and 35mm lower, but has the same width at 1800mm. The modest changes to the current size aren’t surprising, given the vehicle uses a revised version of the existing SGP platform.  

The Crosstrek has 200mm of ground clearance, down 20mm from the current XV, and will weigh between 1540kg-1620kg at launch. 

The new-generation Subaru SUV will have staggered wheel sizes, with 17-inch wheels on the front axle and 18-inch alloys on the rear. 

When will the Subaru Crosstrek be released in Australia?

Subaru Australia told Chasing Cars that “details for the Australian market [will] come soon.”

While we don’t have firm details about a release date for the Crosstrek in Australia yet – or when the existing XV will be retired from the market – we’d hazard a guess that it will be some time in the first half of 2023.

Subaru says that deliveries for the Japanese market will commence in 2023.