Subaru XV review

Front-seat passengers are unlikely to complain about the amount of space on offer: head room is good and the seat goes back far enough to accommodate taller drivers.

Those in the back won’t be quite so happy. Our sunroof-equipped test car may have had just enough head room for a six-footer, but even shorter occupants will find the area a little claustrophobic. That's a shame because leg room is excellent – better than in many rivals – and shoulder room is adequate for three people to sit side by side.

There’s a useful cubby with USB and 12V sockets in front of the gearlever, another cubby under the armrest, and two cupholders. The door bins aren’t particularly big but will hold a few bits and pieces and a small bottle of water.

Unfortunately, the boot is disappointing. It’s smaller than that of the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca and is narrow in places where the wheel arches encroach. There’s also a sizeable load lip to heave luggage over, with no adjustable boot floor to flatten things out.