2024 Subaru Crosstrek – subaru.com | Shop 2024 Subaru Crosstrek on Carsforsale.com
The 2024 Crosstrek is the start of the model’s third generation and just about everything is new. It gets a stiffer chassis, a matured interior design, and all-new paint colors as well. One thing that’s not new is the engine choices which remain a pair of somewhat underpowered four-cylinder options.
Smooth ride
Above average interior
Great safety aids
Low-power powertrains
Clunky infotainment
No hybrid
An everyday commuter
Pop the hood on the Subaru Crosstrek and you’ll find a four-cylinder engine. In the base and Premium trims, it’s a 2.0-liter version with 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. It sends that power to all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission. The drivetrain as a package is mostly focused on being reliable and not much else. It’s not particularly engaging or fun and it’s not what we’d call quick either. Instead, it’s so smooth that it mostly blends into the background.
The larger 2.5-liter engine that’s standard across the rest of the lineup isn’t dramatically different. It makes 182 hp so it offers a bit more grunt but it’s still not setting anybody’s hair on fire. That somewhat soft attitude is by design though and it translates to the chassis and suspension design too.
Poor roads and broken pavement have a tough time unsettling the Crosstrek. That rugged nature makes it all the more at home when the road runs out. While not an all-out rock crawler, the additional ground clearance on the Wilderness Edition makes it a confidence-inspiring choice for soft-roading and overlanding.
Where the Crosstrek really will struggle to keep up against rivals is at the gas pump. While many brands continue to lean heavily into hybridization, the Crosstrek is still a gas-only crossover. Despite that, it gets up to 28 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway according to the EPA. Rumors suggest that Subaru will drop a hybrid version sometime in the near future which could really add value.
The Crosstrek isn’t about to stun anyone with its interior design but considering how much this little car costs, we’re somewhat impressed. Subaru is one of the best in the business when it comes to making a positive impact in the right ways and they do it here with soft-touch materials in the right places and with a design that’s clean and mature despite being somewhat cheap. The seats are exceedingly comfortable for a car in this class.
The rear seats are spacious too. Visibility is outstanding in all directions and the physical controls on the steering wheel and center console make sense and are easy to use. There’s storage in the door cards that’s unobstructed and those that want it can add leather upholstery to the mix. Heated seats are also available as is a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Cargo space is decent with 20 cubic feet behind the second row and 55 with those seats folded down.
The base Crosstrek makes do with a relatively small 7-inch infotainment system that comes with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It’s not particularly snazzy or fast but it, like the rest of this Subaru, will get the job done when it’s needed.
What most buyers will likely end up with though is the 11.6-inch vertically-oriented infotainment system found in the rest of the Crosstrek lineup. It certainly looks a lot more modern and integrates a few more features not available in the smaller unit. It’s laggy at times though, the graphics aren’t as crisp, and some features that could be physical buttons are just buried deep in the system.
The stock sound system features just four speakers which again, gets the job done but nothing more. Most trims come with six speakers. Only the Limited trim offers a Harman Kardon sound system which is the only one in the lineup that’s sincerely good.
In terms of safety technology, the Crosstrek gets it right with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-aid package on every trim. It comes with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, rear-seat reminder, and automated emergency braking. Those who want additional features like rear cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assist, and blind-spot warning can add them to higher-level trims.
The base Crosstrek kicks things off with 17-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, a 7-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, a USB-A charging point, and four speakers.
The Premium trim adds roof rails, LED fog lights, hands-free keyless entry, an 11.6-inch infotainment system, a total of six speakers, and more USB ports.
This trim gets the larger 2.5-liter engine, 18-inch wheels, heated exterior mirrors, a heated windshield, heated front seats, faux-carbon fiber accents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped gear knob, a wireless smartphone charger, and a cargo area cover.
This off-road-focused trim gets 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, a suspension lift, extra plastic underbody protection, faux-leather upholstery, blind-spot warning, and evasive steering assist.
The top trim adds 18-inch wheels, upgraded headlights, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and rear automatic braking.
The Subaru Crosstrek gets an eight out of ten in terms of overall value. It’s unapologetically focused on utility and it accomplishes its goal with dutiful engines, a well-laid-out cabin, and good cargo storage. It’s far from perfect but standard features like adaptive cruise control and all-wheel drive make it far from average. Available new car incentives could sweeten the deal.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek – media.subaru.com | Shop 2024 Subaru CrossTrek on Carsforsale.com
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is very dull to drive but for those who want a good value in an everyday commuter, it’s hard to beat. We’d love to see Subaru offer more warranty coverage, a better transmission, or over 200 horsepower but they’re clearly selling enough without that.
Context is everything here. How good is it as a race car? Pretty terrible. How good is it as an everyday commuter that can haul people and things? Slightly above average.
No. Subaru doesn’t sell a hybrid version of the Crosstrek but there are rumors swirling that it’s coming soon.
The smallest Subaru on sale right now is actually a tie between the Impreza and the Crosstrek as they’re the same body on slightly different suspension setups.