Why is the Crosstrek called XV?

The Crosstrek’s XV badge comes from Subaru’s global branding for its compact crossover lineage. In the United States, the model is commonly known as the Crosstrek, while in many other markets it’s sold as the Subaru XV. The letters themselves serve branding and differentiation rather than a single, fixed acronym published by the company.

Origins of the XV designation

The XV name began with Subaru’s early crossover concept and carried into production as a global model family. Subaru used the XV badge to signal a crossover vehicle derived from the Impreza platform, and later adapted regional names around that identity.

Milestones and branding

The following points outline key steps in how the XV designation entered the lineup and how the US market adopted Crosstrek branding alongside it.

• The XV concept signaled a compact crossover built on the Impreza platform, shaping the future model’s crossover identity.


• The production crossover carried the XV name in several markets, establishing a global XV lineage.


• In the United States, Subaru paired XV with Crosstrek in marketing materials, creating the widely recognized "XV Crosstrek" naming for early models.


• In Europe and other regions, the vehicle has often been marketed simply as Subaru XV, reinforcing the global crossover branding.

In short, the XV badge originated from Subaru’s global crossover branding and was carried through production, with Crosstrek becoming the US-market name while XV remained the core badge in many other markets.

Names by market

Branding varies by region to fit local marketing strategies and regulatory labeling, even though the underlying vehicle is the same.

Regional branding patterns

The list below summarizes how different regions label the model in practice.

• North America: Commonly marketed as Crosstrek, with older materials sometimes listing "XV Crosstrek" to acknowledge the global XV lineage.


• Europe and many other markets: Marketed as Subaru XV, emphasizing the global XV crossover identity.

These regional differences mean the same car can appear under different badges depending on where you buy it, without implying a different model.

What XV might stand for

Subaru has not published an official, explicit acronym for XV. Over time, observers have offered interpretations tied to branding and product strategy, though none are formally confirmed by the company.

Common interpretations

• X for cross or crossover, highlighting the blend of car-like efficiency with SUV capability.


• V for versatility or vehicle, suggesting flexible packaging and capability.


• Some sources describe XV as a nod to a crossover concept rather than a precise acronym.

Because Subaru has not issued a formal breakdown of each letter, the exact meaning remains a branding convention rather than a fixed technical acronym.

Conclusion

The Crosstrek’s XV badge reflects Subaru’s global branding strategy for its compact crossover derived from the Impreza platform. The XV label signals lineage and crossover identity, while Crosstrek serves as the primary name in the United States. In short, XV is a global branding cue; Crosstrek is the market-facing name in North America, with both names pointing to the same core vehicle.

Summary

Summary: XV is Subaru’s cross-over branding that originated with the concept and production of the Impreza-based crossover. In the US, the model is branded as Crosstrek, while in many other markets it’s sold as Subaru XV. The letters function as branding rather than a strictly defined acronym, underscoring the vehicle’s crossover character across regions.

Why is Subaru discontinuing the Crosstrek?

Subaru is not discontinuing the Crosstrek model line entirely, but the Crosstrek Hybrid (PHEV) was discontinued in the U.S. due to slow sales and Subaru's strategic shift toward new hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) platforms that will be shared with Toyota. Subaru is still producing the standard Crosstrek and is developing new hybrid and EV models based on its new Global Platform, which will offer a new hybrid system for the Crosstrek in the future. The discontinuation of the manual transmission option was also driven by declining demand. 
This video discusses the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Crosstrek Hybrid and Subaru's future plans for electrification: 46sAlex PrestigiacomoYouTube · Jun 9, 2025

• Hybrid model discontinued: The Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid was dropped after a short run in the U.S. because it only accounted for a small percentage of total sales. 
• Strategic shift to new platforms: Subaru is focusing on developing new hybrid and EV models using its new Global Platform, which is designed to accommodate these powertrains. The company is working with Toyota on future EV platforms to improve profitability and innovation. 
• Manual transmission phased out: The manual transmission option was discontinued due to declining sales, as a small percentage of buyers opted for it compared to automatic transmissions. 
• Standard Crosstrek remains available: The gasoline-powered Crosstrek continues to be a popular and available model. 
• Future hybrid return: Subaru has stated that it will launch a new hybrid Crosstrek in the future, likely with a new hybrid system and on the new Global Platform. 

This video explains the changes coming to the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek, including updates to the powertrain options: 55sAlex PrestigiacomoYouTube · Nov 4, 2024

What is the difference between a Subaru Crosstrek and XV?

The Subaru Crosstrek Specifications and Features
Sharper LED headlights flow into the redesigned grille. The cabin's layout remains similar to the XV but with a little modern twist. It now features a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen instead of the previous dual-screen. Newer seats = new user experience.

What does XV stand for?

XV most commonly means the number 15 in Roman numerals (10+510 plus 510+5). However, it can also stand for other things depending on the context, such as the Subaru XV compact SUV or the "XV" image manipulation software for Unix systems. 
Roman numerals

• XV: represents the number 15.
• This is because X is the Roman numeral for 10 and V is for 5, and they are added together (10+5=1510 plus 5 equals 1510+5=15). 

Technology

• XV: is an image display and manipulation program for Unix/X11 systems.
• It's also known as the "X video extension," which is an extension to the X Window System. 

Vehicles

• XV: is the name of a compact SUV model by Subaru, known as the Crosstrek in some regions. 

Other contexts

• In some technical contexts, it can be an abbreviation for an on-off isolation valve. 
• In Tarot card readings, XV represents The Devil card, often symbolizing liberation, freedom, or resisting temptation. 

What does XV mean in Crosstrek?

Well, the XV moniker as used on the Subaru Crosstrek stands for "crossover vehicle". It hints at the Crosstrek's unibody construction, as it was initially based on the Impreza platform — it's also been built off the Subaru Global Platform shared with the Subaru Impreza since the 2018 model year.