A completely new XV is on the cards, but this revised model is clearly an interim update, designed to try to keep it fresh until the new vehicle arrives. As such, vehicles at this stage tend to get a fairly conservative makeover, and the latest XV is no exception.

On paper at least there is quite a lot going for it. It has decent ground clearance, it has Subaru’s proven all-wheel drive system, it looks and acts like a compact crossover – a hugely popular class – and it’s several grand cheaper than the equivalent Qashqai. You know what the next word is.

But, somehow it just doesn’t stack up, which is the main reason you don’t see that many of these Subaru models on the road, or indeed off it. The latest model does try to sharpen things up. The exterior gets tweaks to the front end, from lights to grille, and there are new alloys and paint options.

Inside there some better materials here and there and an upgraded infotainment system. Other changes, to engine and chassis, are more minor again. There are two engines on offer, both 2.0-litre flat fours, one diesel one petrol. We’re trying the diesel with six-speed manual transmission with the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

Again, good on nice white paper but less good on the black stuff. The diesel likes to have a bit of a clatter until the revs and speed are up, and there’s quite a bit of suspension noise getting into the cabin. It feels like they haven’t full addressed the horrible triumvirate of NVH – noise, vibration and harshness. Bumps get through too, even though the long-travel suspension ought to keep them away.

That quite high ground clearance and long suspension works in an off-road scenario, as long as it’s mild, but it does allow for quite a bit of body roll in the corners. Given how this will mostly be used on the road, that’s not a terribly balanced trade-off.

But overall handling is okay and there’s a sound towing ability of 1600kg, so this is a practical vehicle for a variety of scenarios. If you’re only after a practical wagon this could be worth a look, particularly as the SE version we drove was £23,995, a full £3000 less than the equivalent Nissan Qashqai. But for most others, it would be worth looking at the competition or waiting for the new XV to arrive. It was unveiled earlier at Geneva and should be a big step up.

Subaru XV 2.0D SE

Location: Surrey

On sale: now

Price: £23,995

Engine: 4 cyls horizontally opposed, 1995cc, diesel

Power: 145bhp at 6200rpm

Torque: 258lb ft at 4200rpm

Gearbox: 6-spd manual

Kerb weight: 1637kg

0-62mph: 9.3sec

Top speed: 123mph

Economy: 52.3mpg (combined)

CO2/tax band: 141g/km, 28%