Vehicle Type: A four-door, five-seat subcompact crossover SUV.
Price Range: From $26,290 to $33,290, including destination, but before options.
Powertrain: A 152-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or a 182-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder.
All engines are paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with all-wheel drive (AWD).
What’s New for 2024?
The third-generation Subaru Crosstrek is new for 2024 after being shown at the New York Auto Show this spring. Though it uses the successful recipe of the previous models and shares similar looks, this is a significant redesign with an upgraded platform and powertrains shared with the also-redesigned Subaru Impreza.
A Wilderness trim level previously offered on the Forester and Outback will be available for the Crosstrek later this year. In Wilderness trim, the Crosstrek is beefed up from a style and substance perspective and promises more off-road capability than the other variants.
What’s Good?
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Good fuel economy
- No-frills interior fit and finish
- Offroad-ish Wilderness trim
What’s Bad?
- Some drivers will miss the manual transmission
- Lacks passing speed power
- Sloped shape limits rear cargo space
Would we buy one? Put simply, yeah. This popular compact wagon/crossover shows no signs of letting up on the straightforward formula that's made it so popular with so many consumers.
More Photos:
See more 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Photos.
Overview:
The Subaru Crosstrek is ubiquitous in many parts of the country, and with this latest generation, Subaru hopes to continue that trend. The Crosstrek offers a balance of practicality, capability, and economy that appeals to outdoorsy buyers who don't want a bigger SUV.
With standard all-wheel drive, a hatchback shape, and respectable fuel mileage, the Crosstrek delivers specs that will appeal to many car shoppers. The Crosstrek is more than just a raised-up Impreza with some body cladding.
One significant addition for 2024 is the availability of the Wilderness model, following the addition of the trim level on the Outback and Forester. This trim features increased towing, off-road capability, and a more dramatic look that should satisfy the outdoorsy types shopping for a small, practical SUV.
The new Crosstrek competes in a crowded subcompact SUV segment with models that include the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Dodge Hornet, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Jeep Renegade, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Volkswagen Taos.
Overall Score: 4/5 stars
Driving Experience: 4/5 stars
Neither engine propels the Crosstrek with much haste. The base engine is slow but has enough usable power at low speeds. The larger engine offers a noticeable bump in power but still leaves something to be desired in passing situations.
Steering and cornering have been improved, partly thanks to a steering rack sharing its design with the Subaru WRX performance sedan.
Revised suspension tuning makes the ride more supple without feeling floaty. A stiffer chassis and slightly softer suspension combine for a nicer overall experience.
Subaru made a concerted effort to reduce interior noise, and it shows. The cabin is not luxury car quiet but is noticeably more hushed than the previous generation.
Safety Features: 4/5 stars
Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology comes standard across all trims. This comprehensive suite of safety features includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beams, and automatic emergency steering assist.
Disappointingly, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert is not included in the standard package and is only optional on mid-tier models and included on the highest Limited trim.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have yet to test the 2024 Crosstrek at the time of this writing.
Value: 3.5/5 stars
The Subaru Crosstrek has a base MSRP slightly higher than other models in the class but compares well when its peers are equipped with all-wheel drive. That said, the Mazda CX-30 includes AWD at a starting price less than a base Crosstrek.
Overall the standard equipment included with the Crosstrek makes it a reasonable value in the small SUV segment.
The price increase with higher trim levels and additional options maintains the value proposition of the Crosstrek.
The Crosstrek has generally had high resale value and suffers from few known reliability issues, making the long-term cost of ownership a good value proposition. A three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty are average for the class but fall behind the leading offerings from Hyundai and Kia.
Tech Features: 4/5 stars
Base-model Crosstreks come with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. These cars get the wired versions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard equipment.
All models above the base trim receive a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen, which makes the system more useable. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are upgraded to wireless connectivity in models with the larger infotainment screen. Reviewers generally found the Subaru Crosstrek's user interface intuitive, and the processor operates smoothly.
For audiophiles, high-end features are available in higher trims with options like a Harman Kardon premium audio system.
Practicality: 4/5 stars
The Crosstrek offers good practicality with a rugged interior with fewer frills than some of the competition but is clearly geared towards an active lifestyle.
It also offers a decent cargo space at about 20 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 54.7 with the back seat folded down. That is down slightly from the last Crosstrek but is competitive for the class. The wide rear hatch makes loading and unloading easy.
With 1,500 pounds of towing capacity, putting any hitch onto a Crosstrek is probably more helpful for bike racks. However, towing capacity is increased to 3,500 pounds on the Wilderness, making it possible to tow a micro-size camper.
Styling & Design: 4.5/5 stars
The Crosstrek shrank a few inches in exterior dimensions, but it is the most comfortable model on the inside. Front legroom and headroom are above average, and the backseat is comfortable for most adults.
With physical buttons and knobs to control standard audio and climate control functions, the interior offers an intuitive feel. Subaru also increased the size of the door pockets and expanded cupholders to fit larger water bottles.
Another area of significant improvement is the front seats. The new seats are more padded and bolstered for a more comfortable ride. Though the new generation is more upscale in design, it wouldn't be confused with a luxury car. Buyers looking at the Subaru Crosstrek probably prefer the utilitarian setup to something more plush.
Regarding exterior looks, the Crosstrek is inoffensive, and most casual observers would probably struggle to identify changes from the old model. As is the current automotive trend, the front fascia features a larger, more prominent grille, but other stylistic changes are subtle. This latest Crosstrek continues the tradition started by the first. It is a practical small hatchback that has borrowed some of the features and utility of an SUV.
Fuel Efficiency: 4/5 stars
With the standard 2.0-liter engine, the Subaru Crosstrek gets an EPA-estimated 34 mpg highway, 27 mpg city, and 29 mpg on the combined cycle.
Stepping up to the larger, more powerful 2.5-liter engine only means a slight decrease in fuel economy. The EPA rates the optional motor at 33 mpg highway, 26 mpg city, and 29 mpg combined.
The Crosstrek compares favorably with the small AWD SUV competition. The VW Taos 4motion gets 28 mpg, the Honda HR-V gets 27 mpg, and the Mazda CX-30 is rated at 29 mpg in combined driving testing by the EPA.
What’s it Going to Cost Me?
In base trim, the Subaru Crosstrek starts at $26,290. You get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque for that price. All-wheel drive is standard, and power is transmitted through a CVT. The AWD system includes the X-Mode set of drive mode presets for low-traction driving, hill-descent control, and active torque vectoring.
Towing capacity is rated at a maximum of 1,500 pounds when properly equipped. Also standard are 17-inch alloy wheels with a dark grey painted finish are standard. LED steering-responsive headlights and a rear roof spoiler are included exterior trim.
Cloth upholstery is standard, and the front seats are manually adjustable. Power windows, mirrors, and remote keyless entry are standard. Tech features include a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a four-speaker sound system, a front USB port, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Safety and driver assistance systems include Subaru's EyeSight package with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency steering.
The Crosstrek Premium has a starting MSRP of $27,440. It adds features like 17-inch alloy wheels with machine finishing, paddle shifters with eight preset ratios, LED fog lights, and turn signals integrated into the mirrors. Raised roof rails are added for more utility. The interior upholstery is a nicer cloth, too.
A push-button start is added to the keyless entry system, and there are USB-C ports in the first and second rows. Rear-seat passengers get a folding armrest, including cupholders. The infotainment screen is upgraded to an 11.6-inch unit featuring wireless AppleCarPlay and Android Auto, and the stereo system gets six total speakers.
Additionally, a power sunroof, All-Weather Package with heated side mirrors, heated seats, wiper de-icer, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert are optional packages starting on the Premium trim.
The Crosstrek Sport has an entry price of $30,290, and upgrades to the larger 2.5-liter engine with 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, 18-inch alloy wheels, and gloss black exterior trim pieces and mirrors set the trim apart from others. Heated front seats are standard, as are a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter. The interior also gets a different cloth upholstery with yellow stitching.
The Crosstrek Limited trim starts at $32,190 and includes 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels, a standard power driver's seat, a wireless device charger, and leather upholstery with contrasting stitching. The X-Mode system also gets a deep snow/mud setting for even more grip in slippery situations. Limited models can also be outfitted with built-in navigation and a Harman Kardon premium stereo as an optional package.
The Crosstrek Wilderness starts at $33,290 and gets a bump to 9.3 inches of ground clearance, improved transmission cooling for a 3,500-pound towing capacity, and revised gearing for better off-road performance. The 11.6-inch touchscreen is standard, and the interior gets special upholstery with Wilderness branding. The trim also receives distinctive 17-inch wheels, Yokohama all-terrain tires, redesigned front and rear fascia, extra body cladding, hexagon-patterned LED fog lights, and copper accents to ensure it looks the part. An uprated roof rack includes crossbars and is rated for a 700-pound static load, which is ideal for a rooftop tent. The Wilderness is both the flashiest-looking and most capable Crosstrek in the lineup.
Though the Wilderness's extra utility and off-road features are tempting, the Sport trim is the best value for our money because it's equipped with a more powerful engine and better technology than the lower-end models while keeping the overall price reasonably affordable.
