2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review: Still Pretty Much Perfect

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When the Subaru Crosstrek went on sale in 2013, it elevated (actually and figuratively) an affable compact wagon right into a succesful life-style off-roader that suited the outdoorsy wants of my burgeoning millennial cohort. The one drawback was that it was gradual as hell. Once I reviewed the second-generation automotive with a bigger, extra highly effective 2.5-liter engine in 2020, although, I deemed it just about excellent.

After I spent per week with the redesigned 2024 Crosstrek, full with the identical late-arriving 2.5-liter boxer powerplant, I haven’t modified my tune. So far as small crossovers go, the third-generation Crosstrek continues to do every little thing I may ask. It’s enjoyable to drive, fascinating to take a look at, succesful sufficient to sort out any cheap impediment, exceedingly properly geared up, protected, and comfy sufficient for the calls for of on a regular basis life. The one actual downside is an above-average value for the Restricted trim I drove. However as is so usually the case with Subaru, you get what you pay for.

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• Exterior Shade: Alpine Inexperienced
• Inside Shade: Black w/Orange Sew
• Wheel Measurement: 18 Inches

I’m no fan of the derpy wanting Impreza, however the Crosstrek – with its 9.3 inches of floor clearance (half an inch greater than a Ford Bronco Sport Badlands) and tough-looking cladding – cuts a extra spectacular determine. The armor helps the visible mass of the rounded nostril higher, and throughout, the physique safety emphasizes the compact entrance and rear overhangs.

And but, the Crosstrek’s additions don’t give it the offended, imposing look so frequent within the off-road house – together with in its just lately revealed Wilderness sibling. I’m unsure there’s a automobile in the marketplace that higher balances cutesy crossover design with such a purposeful and succesful character, save the Jeep Renegade.

Sitting within the Crosstrek’s cabin, although, I can’t spot practically so many variations between this automotive and the Impreza it’s primarily based on. A excessive middle console, a domineering portrait-oriented touchscreen, and a preponderance of plastic match the Impreza virtually precisely. The fabric high quality trails the segment-leading Honda HR-V, whereas the Restricted mannequin I drove leaned a bit too onerous on the all-black-everything sentiment. The extra inexpensive Sport, with its splashes of gold upholstery on the seat bolsters, feels younger and refreshing.

• Seating Capability: 5
• Seating Configuration: 2 / 3
• Cargo Capability: 19.9 / 54.7 Cubic Ft

I examined the Crosstrek mere weeks after driving the usual (and practically pretty much as good) Impreza, and it was a textbook demonstration of why of us desire the upper trip top of crossovers. I had a better time getting out and in of the Crosstrek as a result of it requested me to step in fairly than drop all the way down to get into the motive force’s seat. The supportive entrance seat bolsters hugged my hips with out proscribing my motion, which was a boon when it got here time to exit the automotive. The added trip top additionally saved my eyes from the glare of following automobiles’ headlights.

With the entrance row arrange for my long-legged 6-foot-2 physique, the second-row bench was too tight for my consolation, with my knees pressed into the entrance seatbacks and an uncomfortable door opening that prompted me to kick the door panel when getting out. Cargo house is surprisingly slim too, with the wheel wells narrowing an area that appears substantial from the skin. Stowing my golf golf equipment within the again meant wedging them in and risking the lifetime of my longer golf equipment or dropping the second-row seats.

Trip high quality, in the meantime, was glorious because of the softly-sprung suspension and sizable 55-series tire sidewalls, and even the thrum of the boxer engine/CVT combo not often bothered my ears with the tone or quantity.

• Middle Show: 11.6-inch Touchscreen
• Instrument Cluster Show: 4.5 Inches
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: Sure

All Crosstreks save the bottom mannequin carry an ordinary 11.6-inch, portrait-oriented touchscreen. Neither the system’s graphics nor its response instances are particularly spectacular – the previous are muddled and the latter half a step behind the what you’ll discover in a Kia Niro – however the visible assertion of the massive show is difficult to argue with. The range-topping Restricted is out there with a navigation perform however contemplating the presence of wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, I didn’t discover the built-in nav all that crucial.

Subaru solely provides two manufacturing unit choice packages for the Crosstrek – one that features a sunroof and 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and one other that provides nav to that twosome. Both field is straightforward to tick. Though the sunroof is not significantly spectacular, the upgraded audio system is price the price of entry, with richer, clearer, and extra highly effective sound.

• Engine: 2.5-liter H4
• Output: 182 Horsepower / 178 Pound-Ft
• Transmission: Constantly Variable

Because it did approach again in 2020, Subaru provides the two.5-liter Crosstrek in Sport and Restricted guises solely. The bigger engine is an actual distinction maker, including 30 horsepower and 33 pound-feet of torque whereas demanding solely a tiny sacrifice on the pump. The naturally aspirated mill’s added torque, particularly, makes the Crosstrek really feel simpler to drive and extra energetic off the road. And whereas repeatedly variable transmissions have suffered from a poor status, Subaru’s received the expertise found out. It’s fast to have interaction; contains a stepped handbook mode for simulated gear modifications; and avoids the buzzy, obnoxious conduct of previous CVTs.

The Crosstrek’s smooth, lifted suspension limits its dealing with relative to the Impreza, however the Crosstrek is about as entertaining as any of its rivals with predictable physique motions and fast, direct steering. And in contrast to the Mazda CX-30 and its soft-road ilk, the Crosstrek has respectable chops on rougher filth surfaces, because of its X-Mode off-road system and a suspension/steering tune that mitigates the impact of larger bumps. If you should go deeper into the woods, a Bronco Sport Badlands or Jeep Renegade Trailhawk might be a greater companion, however neither can match the Crosstrek’s stability between rougher roads and paved surfaces.

• Driver Help Degree: SAE Degree 2 (Fingers-On)
• NHTSA Score: Not Rated
• IIHS Score: Not Rated

Subaru’s EyeSight is a section chief and it’s normal on each Crosstrek, rolling in adaptive cruise management, lane-keep help, and automated emergency braking into one cohesive package deal. The Restricted trim provides blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automated emergency braking. I slipped behind the wheel of the Crosstrek and set off – the system doesn’t require any fiddling or tweaking of settings – and loved the system’s conduct at freeway speeds, the place it lowered the necessity for small changes and on the whole, the pressure.

All that stated, the Crosstrek (and its ilk) all struggled in IIHS’ more durable moderate-overlap crash testing.

• Metropolis: 26 MPG
• Freeway: 33 MPG
• Mixed: 29 MPG

• Base Worth: $24,995 + $1,295 Vacation spot
• Trim Base Worth: $32,190
• As-Examined Worth: $34,635

The Crosstrek begins at $26,290 together with a $1,295 vacation spot cost, however to be frank, I’d by no means take into account the bottom trim. The two.5-liter engine’s added energy is just too onerous to disregard. And whereas I just like the Restricted’s expansive characteristic set, its $32,190 staring value is a bit onerous to abdomen. My tester got here in at $34,635, owing to the nav/audio/sunroof combo’s $2,445 premium, however the usual Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility makes {that a} silly funding.

If I have been ordering a Restricted, I’d fairly mirror my smartphone and pay the $1,795 package deal for the Harmon/Kardon sound system/sunroof alone. However the true energy transfer is to go for the $30,290 Sport, which has a younger exterior aesthetic and comes shut sufficient to the Restricted’s lively security set because of a $1,920 choice pack (blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic help, an influence driver’s seat, and a sunroof). At $32,210, a loaded Sport is a mere $20 greater than the bottom Restricted.

On the aggressive entrance, although, the Crosstrek faces a more durable problem. A loaded Kia Seltos, with its highly effective turbocharged engine, is available in at $32,515 and the Honda HR-V EX-L is simply $30,995 totally loaded. And whereas boring, the roomy Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid boasts far superior gasoline economic system in a range-topping trim that calls for $32,400, The Crosstrek fares higher in opposition to rough-and-tumble choices – it’s considerably cheaper than the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands ($39,685) and feels higher constructed than the $33,540 Renegade Trailhawk.