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 in front of the gearlever with USB and 12V sockets, 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 in the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca and is narrow in places due to the encroaching of the wheel arches. There’s also a sizeable load lip to heave luggage over and no adjustable boot floor.