THE name Subaru may be synonymous with spoiler-decked rally cars kicking up the dust as they roar along a forest track but there is much more to the Japanese brand than grunt and muscle.

The XV crossover is a perfect example of how the company can design elegant and stylish models that can shine in a fiercely competitive market.

In fairness to Subaru, it has been producing this type of vehicle for almost two decades now - the first being the Legacy Outback in 1995 - so there is no lack of experience or expertise in this field.

But nowadays, showrooms are awash with crossover models to meet the demands of motorists who want style, performance, versatility all neatly wrapped up in one eye-catching bundle.

And it has to be said, the XV (that's "X" "V" not 15), looks great from any angle thanks to 17-inch alloys, a roof spoiler, flared wheel arches, tinted windows, plus two-tone door mirrors and body-coloured door handles.

And once you take your seat - leather and heated - it's difficult not to be impressed with the volume of techno treats that greet you. Creature comforts include a six-speaker sound system with CD player, Bluetooth connectivity, dual zone air conditioning, a rear parking camera, colour display screen and lots more besides.

The driver benefits from a high seated position which results in excellent all-round visibility and all passengers are treated to plenty of leg, head and elbow space - even a trio of back seat occupants can stretch out in comfort.

Storage will never be an issue either because the Subaru XV has a generously-sized boot that can accommodate 308 litres of luggage. And this capacity can be increased to 1,270 litres with the rear seats folded down. Elsewhere there's a number of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin.

With all-round versatility in mind, the XV needs to be as comfortable in busy city centres as it is on the faster roads and it lives up to all expectations.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine delivers plenty of oomph and acceleration through the six-speed manual gearbox is nicely smooth and responsive.

Admittedly, it's not the quietest of engines, but rumbling sound effects aside the handling was pretty impressive. The road-holding is good which means bends can be attacked with confidence and the added reassurance of all-wheel-drive capabilities will help to keep Mother Nature's mood swings at bay.

With the family market in sight, the Subaru is kitted out with a whole array of safety features and scored a maximum five starts in the Euro NCAP safety ratings. In fact, the XV recorded a score of 90% for child occupancy in the safety tests - which at launch was the highest for a car on sale in the UK.

All in all, the XV is a fabulous all-rounder that boasts great handling and dynamics, is packed with techno treats and certainly won't look out of place on the smartest of school runs.