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A Rugged Runabout For The Masses



If there's one thing manufacturers can't stand, it's a void in the marketplace. Product planners spend untold hours scouring the automotive spectrum for any whiff of white space, and once found, waste no time in sussing up a new model to fill the vacuum. That's how we wind up with oddities like the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, Chevrolet HHR Panel, and yes, the BMW 5 Series GT. Even Subaru has occasionally fallen into the answer-to-the-question-no-one-asked trap, resulting in models like the short-lived Baja.

So, when we first laid eyes on the 2013 XV Crosstrek, we couldn't help but approach the model with all the caution we typically reserve for unidentified casseroles. At first blush, the hatchback looks just like an Impreza with a lift kit and some funky body cladding. But given recent shifts in the Subaru playbook, the XV actually makes sense as part of the company's comprehensive lineup. As the Impreza has grown larger and softer, the WRX has moved even deeper into the performance realm and the old Impreza Outback Sport has vanished completely, leaving buyers looking for an economical, rugged runabout with no place to turn. That's where the XV Crosstrek comes in.

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2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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