A hybrid version of the brand’s SUVS has been a long time coming but customers are eager for it.

For Subaru New Zealand it’s been a long wait for a vehicle that not only customers are clambering for, but also one that the Japanese brand knows will be popular here.

Actually, make that two vehicles, but for Subaru one is winning the popularity race with Kiwis.

Now the brand introduced two all-wheel-drive mild hybrid SUVs to the market. But instead of calling them hybrids, Subaru played on the boxer engine aspect of the vehicles and named them e-Boxers.

The most popular with Kiwi customers has been the XV e-Boxer, priced from $42,490 while the Forester gets e-Boxer models for the Sport ($47,490) through to the Forester Premium at $54,990.

It was more than two years ago that Subaru NZ featured the XV e-Boxer at a car event, and that began the Kiwi demand.

But there was also global demand for Subaru’s hybrid models, so the factory kept delaying models coming to New Zealand.

Though the vehicles are here, there is another issue – limited stock. There will be about 10 to 20 vehicles arriving on our shore every month – so Subaru’s 16 dealerships will be fighting over stock, as there is already a waiting list for the hybrids.

Subaru isn’t the only one with the problem; the highly popular Toyota RAV4 hybrid has a waiting list too.

But for Subaru, the wait has been worth it.

“We’re a little bit late when it comes to hybrids with the e-boxer, but not too late as other brands don’t have hybrids,” said Subaru NZ’s managing director, Wallis Dumper.

While it shares some technology with Toyota, Dumper refutes that it’s using a Toyota hybrid system into a Subaru.

Instead Subaru engineered its own system "using the same box of bits" said Dumper.

“We didn’t build a hybrid until we could call it a Subaru,” said the brand.

Subaru’s SUVs have identical petrol-electric engines, with both models featuring e-Boxer power – a 2-litre horizontally opposed Boxer engine linked via Motor Assist to a high voltage lithium ion battery – offering fuel economy benefits, particularly in congested city driving.

The XV hybrid offers over 14 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency over equivalent petrol variants in the urban cycle and over 7 per cent improvement in the combined cycle.

And the XV will run a pure electric under 50km/h unless you are a lead foot driver – like I am – but the system also recharges its battery when the car is coasting or braking.

Hence the fuel efficiency during my week-long test wasn’t as economic as Subaru would have hoped for.

It was also interesting to see how the XV e-Boxer coped under different driving conditions. Around the city and it was a star. On the 100km/h speed on the motorway then out to Parihoa at Muriwai and there was no difference from the full petrol version as far as fuel economy.

That was an interesting find as a friend in Canterbury was keen to swap her petrol XV for the hybrid, er e-Boxer, version. But as she has long daily commutes then it isn’t the fuel-saving vehicle she’s after.

But the customer who spends a lot of time in the city, and needs room for themselves and four passengers, or a load in the boot, then this is the crossover for them.

On the upside for any commute is Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance and safety technology that is standard. It operates via a trio of cameras in the XV’s windscreen – a system that helped the crossover to gain a five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2017.

The e-Boxer’s electric motor is used to help bolster the XV’s impressive off-road ability, delivering extra low-down torque when ‘X-Mode’ is selected via a rotary dial on the centre console.

Combined with Subaru’s all-wheel drive system, the system makes short work of steep inclines and descents including a drive along the dirt track on Parihoa farm.

The XV’s powertrain is not entirely conventional, and its CVT gearbox is still an issue for first time drivers of the vehicle. Large throttle inputs are accompanied by a flash in revs that doesn’t quite match the car’s speed.

Low speed driving is comfortable and under light throttle the e-Boxer drivetrain sticks with all-electric power – great for crawling on the motorway in stop-start traffic.

The XV’s ride and handling balance is well judged for this class of car. Body roll is ably controlled despite the car’s sizable 220mm of ground clearance, and the XV e-Boxer’s low centre of gravity means it handles challenging road conditions.

Inside, the car is pure Subaru, with a more neutral interior but I liked that there were button controls and steering wheel mounted dials rather than just touchscreen.