Pros

• Standard four-wheel drive.
• High gas mileage.
• Design for the inside that is both easy and big.
• Better off-road than most of its rivals.

Cons

• The standard engine moves slowly.
• Noise from the road inside.
• Not enough room for storage and cargo.
• Not enough technology know-how.

The way the Crosstrek is driven. Even in a class of pretty slow cars, the Crosstrek is not the best. The base 2.0-liter engine in a Crosstrek Premium was used for the test. Going from 0 to 60 miles per hour on our test track took 9.9 seconds. The base 2.0-liter Crosstrek needs the most patience when passing. We suggest upgrading to a 2.5-liter model.

The Crosstrek is not an all-star when it comes to how it drives. You may hear the body roll when you turn or stop, and the driving is shaky. No matter what, it goes smoothly on the road and is easy to live with and use for everyday tasks. Even better, the all-wheel-drive system makes it feel sure-footed and confident in mud, giving you more peace of mind in bad weather. Feel free to take it on roads that only get a little traffic.

How well does the Crosstrek fit? The Crosstrek’s ride ease is worth pointing out. This small SUV can easily handle bumps in the road because it sits high and has wide tires. There aren’t many maintenance hole covers or potholes big enough to throw this Subie off. The seats, on the other hand, are less excellent than the ride. The padding is too soft, and there’s not much support on the sides. Different materials in better trims tend to make seats more supportive.

The windscreen and door reflection made noise whenever we drove across state lines. At or around 65 mph, the Crosstrek is a noisy car that makes it hard to talk at a regular volume. The climate control fans are also quiet until you turn them up, at which point they start to blare, and you’ll need to keep them running to keep the cabin at the temperature you set.

How does the inside look? The best way to describe the Crosstrek’s cabin is as simple. There aren’t many buttons, knobs, or switches, but the ones there are big and easy to use without looking too hard. Also, the controls on the steering wheel have a good feel and make it easy to change the settings on the instruments. Even though the screen isn’t perfect, most of the essential functions of the car are on the multimedia screen, which is easy to use because it has big buttons and icons.

Inside, it feels just as big, and the log cabin and high roofline make it clear that the Crosstrek is more of a crossover than a hatchback. The back seat has a lot of space, and you can see out the sides and back. You also have doors that open quickly and higher chairs, making it easy to get in and out of the car.

How good is the tech? Subaru has never been known for its advanced technology, and the Crosstrek only does a little to change that. Our test car, which has an 11.4-inch touchscreen display like a tablet, is the lowest model level. We like how big the icons are on the screen, but the system can slowly respond to your type.

The music is another thing that could be better about the Crosstrek. Most Crosstreks only have six speakers, but the Crosstrek Limited has the most features and a better version. Because of this, the music is tinny at any volume level. Also, the system can’t compensate for the bad sound in the bedroom because it doesn’t have accurate bass. Those who like to listen to music in their cars may only want to use the improved system.

The Crosstrek comes with a lot of basic driving aids from Subaru. But they could improve how they do things. The forward impact warning system, which can be a little jumpy and give scary warnings, sometimes mistakes a public trash can for a person or another car. Even if you try to keep the vehicle in its lane, you will often get a warning from the lane-keeping aid. In our tests, adaptive cruise control kept a safe distance between you and other cars. However, the Crosstrek’s sometimes slow acceleration lets other vehicles pass you while it tries to catch up to the car ahead.

What about putting things away? The Crosstrek has less cargo space than its top competitors, which have the same amount of space for goods. Behind the back seats, it only has 19.9 cubic feet of room, less than what the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Volkswagen Taos have. There is little room in the house to store more minor things. The door pockets look small, and none of the cupholders look like they can hold big bottles. If you put in a small center console, your loose items may quickly fill the space.

On the other hand, it is easy to fit a car seat. The Crosstrek is easy to install because it has big door openings, easy-to-reach LATCH mounting points, and a high riding position. There is enough space in the backseat to fit even a big seat that faces backward.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA says that the 2.0-liter engine in the Crosstrek we tried should get 29 mpg when driving in the city and on the highway. That is a typical price for a tiny SUV with all-wheel drive. On our real test trip, we got 33.4 mpg, which shows that the EPA’s estimate may be doable in real life.

Is it a good idea to buy a Crosstrek? Compared to how far its competitors have come in terms of quality, number of features, and performance on the road, the 2.0-liter Crosstrek seems a little lacklustre. Inside our test Crosstrek, the walls were a mix of colors and textures that didn’t feel good to the touch. Mazda CX-30 and Kia Seltos have nailed this market area, and their prices are about the same as the Crosstrek. The Subaru’s actual worth comes from the fact that it can go off-road, but the Crosstrek isn’t as good right out of the box.

The warranty on a Subaru is also standard. The engine is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles, but the basic security and roadside assistance are only good for 3 years or 36,000 miles. Some of Subaru’s competitors give free maintenance, but Subaru does not.

It’s easy to see why the Crosstrek is liked by people who want to go off the beaten road. Even though it isn’t exhilarating on the street, its simple shape and great utility make it a good fit for Subaru’s rallying past and more casual situations. It would also be a great thing to go camping. But you will see these everywhere, and if you buy a Crosstrek, you give up your identity.

Trust us when we say that you want a Crosstrek with the bigger 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that at least tries to speed up. But the Sport trim, which is the cheapest and has ugly yellow accents, comes with this engine. This makes us more likely to suggest the Limited trim. Almost all of the technology is included in the base price. The Harman Kardon premium sound system is the only thing that isn’t. Even though the Limited is well-equipped, it costs about the same as its main off-road rivals.

Models of the Subaru Crosstrek

There are five different trim options for the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek: base, premium, sport, limited, and wilderness. After the first four have come out, The Wilderness will come out in the fall of 2023. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the Sport, Limited, and Wilderness trims makes 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the Base and Premium trims makes 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Both machines come with an all-wheel-drive system and a transmission that constantly changes speed.