The Subaru XV first went on sale in the UK in 2012 and with its chunky looks, genuine off-road ability and trademark Subaru solidity was one of the brand’s most popular options. A decade on, the second-generation model (first released in 2018) competes in a very different SUV market – one where four-wheel drive is scarce, and where passenger space and refinement are more important than whether a car can actually handle itself off-road.

The XV isn’t just an oddball for that reason either. With its sloping roofline and segment-straddling size, it’s a rival for compact models like the Ford Puma and Peugeot 2008 as much as it is larger offerings like the Nissan Qashqai, Toyota RAV4 and Peugeot 3008.

It’s also safe – even by the standards of its newer rivals. It scored five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, and features as standard a set of driver-assistance features that includes adaptive cruise control, active lane-departure and blindspot monitoring as well as automatic emergency braking in a package called Eyesight. Even now, not that many rivals have all of these systems as standard.

These days, there’s only one type of XV on the price lists – it’s a 2.0-litre petrol hybrid, mated to a Lineartronic continuously variable transmission and available in SE or SE Premium trims. The entry-level model is reasonably equipped, with a central touchscreen infotainment set-up that even has a CD player (how very 1990s), but the Premium model adds leather interior and electrically-operated sunroof and seats.

Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the Subaru XV, including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it’s like to drive – and whether we recommend buying one.