Car statistics
How many Subaru XVs are still on the road in Great Britain, how many are declared off the road, how new registrations have changed and which fuels they use. Built from DVLA licensing records and 6,942 DVSA MOT tests.
There were 7,033 Subaru XVs licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 136 declared off the road (SORN). That is 2.9% fewer than the peak of 7,240 in 2023.
Numbers peaked in 2023 and have fallen every year since, as older cars are scrapped faster than new ones are registered.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 590 |
| 2013 | 1,188 |
| 2014 | 1,762 |
| 2015 | 2,362 |
| 2016 | 3,092 |
| 2017 | 3,640 |
| 2018 | 4,663 |
| 2019 | 5,512 |
| 2020 | 5,892 |
| 2021 | 6,485 |
| 2022 | 6,760 |
| 2023 | 7,240 |
| 2024 | 7,189 |
| 2025 | 7,051 |
| 2026 | 7,033 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
In 2025, 80.8% of Subaru XV MOT tests were passed first time, against 72.8% for all cars. Cars of the same ages as the Subaru XVs tested pass 77.7% of the time, so the Subaru XV does better than average for its age, by 3.1 points. In 2024 its pass rate was 81.5%.
Comparing like with like: each bar pair covers cars of the same age, so an older average age does not count against a model.
| Vehicle age | Subaru XV | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 years | 92.9% | 87.6% |
| 6–7 years | 87.8% | 83.0% |
| 8–10 years | 77.8% | 75.7% |
| 11–14 years | 65.9% | 65.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the most common reason a Subaru XV fails its MOT, appearing on 40.2% of failed tests. A failed test can have defects in more than one category, so shares add up to more than 100%. 4.4% of Subaru XV tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 7.3% for all cars.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 40.2% |
| Suspension | 36.2% |
| Brakes | 22.5% |
| Tyres | 16.1% |
| Visibility | 13.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.9% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.6% |
| Steering | 2.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
The single most common reason a Subaru XV failed its MOT in 2025 was “Position lamp: not working”, on 13.7% of 1,332 failed tests. 46.4% of tests ended with at least one advisory, a problem to watch that did not fail the test; the most common was “Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement”. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
Share of failed tests with each defect. A test can fail for more than one.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.7% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint excessively worn Suspension | 12.9% |
| Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick Brakes | 11.8% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.1% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 8.9% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush excessively worn Suspension | 7.4% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 5.5% |
| Tyres: cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Tyres | 5.1% |
| Brake discs: significantly and obviously worn Brakes | 3.6% |
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 3.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Share of all tests with each advisory: worth checking on a car you are buying.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 14.6% |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 13.6% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 9.5% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 8.4% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 8.2% |
| Suspension arms: ball joint has slight play Suspension | 2.7% |
| Anti-roll bars: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 2.3% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 2.1% |
| Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Non-component advisories | 1.8% |
| Brake discs: worn, but not excessively Brakes | 1.5% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
9 years of the Subaru XV, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2018 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (87.0% passed first time) and the 2012 cars worst (61.5%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | – | 507 | 61.5% |
| 2013 | – | 551 | 66.7% |
| 2014 | 645 | 598 | 69.6% |
| 2015 | 628 | 615 | 72.9% |
| 2016 | 733 | 724 | 77.8% |
| 2017 | 603 | 593 | 81.3% |
| 2018 | 1,094 | 1,082 | 87.0% |
| 2019 | 932 | 932 | 89.3% |
| 2021 | 576 | 556 | 93.2% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
The average Subaru XV covers 7,120 miles a year, worked out from odometer readings at consecutive MOT tests.
| Vehicle age | Miles a year |
|---|---|
| 4–5 years | 7,575 |
| 6–7 years | 7,205 |
| 8–10 years | 7,265 |
| 11–14 years | 6,592 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Registrations of Subaru XVs for the first time in Great Britain peaked at 1,099 in 2018. In 2025, 1 were registered. With almost none registered new, the number on the road is likely to keep falling.
| Year | First registrations |
|---|---|
| ’01 | 0 |
| ’02 | 0 |
| ’03 | 0 |
| ’04 | 0 |
| ’05 | 0 |
| ’06 | 0 |
| ’07 | 0 |
| ’08 | 0 |
| ’09 | 0 |
| ’10 | 0 |
| ’11 | 2 |
| ’12 | 601 |
| ’13 | 612 |
| ’14 | 645 |
| ’15 | 646 |
| ’16 | 729 |
| ’17 | 606 |
| ’18 | 1,099 |
| ’19 | 945 |
| ’20 | 327 |
| ’21 | 573 |
| ’22 | 382 |
| ’23 | 552 |
| ’24 | 17 |
| ’25 | 1 |
Source:DfT / DVLA 2001 to 2025 Updated
Of the 7,268 Subaru XVs licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 91.1% have an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc, and 8.9% have an engine of 1,601cc to 1,700cc. Diesels made up 50.7% of those licensed in 2014 and 21.4% in 2025.
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 1,901cc to 2,000cc 6,624 licensed | 91.1% |
| 1,601cc to 1,700cc 644 licensed | 8.9% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,901–2,000cc | Petrol | 3,386 | 46.6% |
| 1,901–2,000cc | Hybrid | 1,684 | 23.2% |
| 1,901–2,000cc | Diesel | 1,554 | 21.4% |
| 1,601–1,700cc | Petrol | 644 | 8.9% |
Share of those licensed at the end of each year.
| Year | Petrol | Hybrid | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 49.3% | 0.0% | 50.7% |
| 2015 | 49.9% | 0.0% | 50.1% |
| 2016 | 52.1% | 0.0% | 47.9% |
| 2017 | 56.2% | 0.0% | 43.8% |
| 2018 | 64.0% | 0.0% | 36.0% |
| 2019 | 68.4% | 1.5% | 30.1% |
| 2020 | 65.5% | 5.6% | 28.8% |
| 2021 | 62.1% | 12.0% | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 58.9% | 16.7% | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 54.8% | 22.8% | 22.3% |
| 2024 | 54.9% | 23.4% | 21.7% |
| 2025 | 55.4% | 23.2% | 21.4% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
United Kingdom figures from DfT table VEH0220 (licensed cars at the end of each year, SORN excluded), so they differ slightly from the Great Britain counts elsewhere on this page. How we use engine sizes.
The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Subaru XV from 2012 to 2023. On the WLTP test (listings 2019 to 2023), official combined fuel economy for its petrol and petrol hybrid versions ranges from 35.3 to 35.7 mpg, with CO2 of 180 g/km. On the older NEDC test (listings 2012 to 2018), official combined fuel economy for its petrol and diesel versions ranges from 40.4 to 52.3 mpg, with CO2 of 141 to 160 g/km.
| Engine and fuel | Combined mpg | CO2 g/km | Listed | Euro standard | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 35.3 | 180 | 2019–2021 | Euro 6d‑TEMP | 2 |
| 2.0 petrol hybrid | 35.7 | 180 | 2019–2023 | Euro 6d | 2 |
| Engine and fuel | Combined mpg | CO2 g/km | Listed | Euro standard | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 petrol | 40.9–44.8 | 145–157 | 2012–2018 | Euro 5 to Euro 6d‑TEMP | 6 |
| 2.0 petrol | 40.4–43.5 | 151–160 | 2012–2018 | Euro 5 to Euro 6c | 9 |
| 2.0 diesel | 50.4–52.3 | 141–146 | 2012–2018 | Euro 5 to Euro 6b | 4 |
Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated
DVSA lists 7 safety recalls for the Subaru XV since 1992, the first in 2019. The most recent was launched on 1 September 2022.
All 7 Subaru XV recalls, with defects, remedies and build dates
A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Subaru XV. The details come from manufacturers through DVSA, which says they may be delayed or incomplete. To check a specific car, use GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check or ask the manufacturer or a dealer. How we match recalls to models.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru XV | 7,033 | −1.8% | 136 | 386 | Petrol |
| Subaru Forester | 15,896 | −2.1% | 3,745 | 277 | Petrol |
| Subaru Impreza | 11,510 | −7.3% | 16,565 | 323 | Petrol |
| Subaru Outback | 9,169 | +0.6% | 1,014 | 348 | Petrol |
| Subaru Legacy | 3,684 | −12.0% | 3,386 | 472 | Petrol |
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 7,169 XV records (licensed and SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
| Registered for the first time | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | 2001 to 2025 | – | 15 September 2026 |
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 6,942 MOT tests | 15 September 2026 |
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
