Subaru Crosstrek

The third-generation Subaru Crosstrek came to market with familiar styling combined with more rugged design cues. The exception is the all-new Crosstrek Wilderness, sporting unique styling, off-road tires, and 9.3 inches of ground clearance. All third-generation Crosstreks ride on Subaru’s updated global platform for improved handling and ride comfort. 

All but the base-level Crosstrek received a new 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen display running Subaru’s intuitive infotainment system. Subaru also updated its EyeSight® driver-assist system to improve performance in a wider range of road and weather conditions, while automatic emergency steering was added to the extensive driver-assist feature list.

The Crosstrek's engines were carried over from the previous generation; however, the more powerful 2.5-liter engine was revised to deliver slightly more torque for improved responsiveness. Subaru discontinued the manual transmission for this generation, and all variants use a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Like all prior generations, the Crosstrek comes standard with all-wheel drive.

A year after Subaru introduced a new Impreza, the second-generation Crosstrek joined the lineup, built on the same new Subaru Global Platform as its smaller sibling. Slightly longer and wider than the previous version, the updated Crosstrek stood out from the first generation with larger fender flares, stylish new headlights, and a revised grille. 

More interior space and an updated infotainment system with a new eight-inch touchscreen were significant improvements from the previous version, with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ added as standard features. The next-gen Crosstrek was also equipped with X-MODE® for improved off-road capability.

The standard 2.0-liter engine received a slight power bump from the previous generation, and it was available with a new six-speed manual gearbox or an updated Lineartronic CVT. In 2019, Subaru added a plug-in hybrid version of the Crosstrek with 17 miles of electric-only driving. A more powerful 2.5-liter engine was added as an option a few years later.

This popular crossover was initially called the XV Crosstrek when the first generation launched in 2013–the XV was removed from the name for the 2016 model year. Following the same formula Subaru used when converting the Legacy wagon to the Outback, the XV Crosstrek was basically an Impreza with an additional three inches of ground clearance, upgraded suspension, and rugged styling. 

The first gen XV Crosstrek came standard with the same 2.0-liter engine found in the Impreza, along with a five-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive. In 2014, the Crosstrek became the first hybrid in Subaru's lineup–it had slightly more horsepower, but with the required battery pack adding significant weight, the hybrid's performance and fuel economy were not dramatically improved over the standard model.

With a plain but functional cabin, the XV Crosstrek had enough room for full-size front and rear passengers, as well as a spacious cargo area. An available 6.1-inch touchscreen navigation system included a rearview camera, and Subaru’s EyeSight® driver-assist system became available in 2015.