Yep, the photograph shown above is what this car excels at, and so it should as it is a Subaru after all. It climbs steep inclines, traverses fords and clambers through fields with ease.
Therefore, if you are staying in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, the Crosstrek is worth a visit. Otherwise, like most of us, you might finish better than your rivals.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it’s worth noting the car I tested was a U.K. spec model. What that means is we get a little less of everything that’s needed and more of what’s not.
For example, U.S. buyers can choose from either 152 bhp 2.0-liter or 182 bhp 2.5-liter engines, while U.K. buyers only get a 134 bhp 2.0-liter hybrid. U.S. buyers can also select from five trim levels while the U.K. gets just two. Likewise, the base U.K. car weighs 1,597kg (3,520lbs) while the U.S. one weighs 1,486kg or (3,277lbs).
In the UK it’s priced at £34,995, while adventure enthusiasts in the US can pick up one new for $26,540 (including delivery).
It’s not a bad car. It’s solid in the corners, comfortable on the motorway, comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, you get a premium SUV-like driving position and it tackled Scotland’s terrible winter situations without wasting traction, as you’d expect from all-wheel drive. . There’s also a nifty X mode, which ensures all-wheel drive is optimized for rougher terrain at low speeds.
Unfortunately, things start to lose steam with his behavior from now on. The 134-hp engine struggles to push back the Crosstrek’s mass from low revs. This is almost glacial and forces you to plan overtaking, while access to motorways takes a little longer than, for example, in a top-of-the-range XV.
Paddles mounted on the steering wheel allow you to shift up and down the Crosstrek’s “simulated gears”. Really, you’re best leaving this alone as the car does a better job smoothing progress this way. Similarly, the CVT gearbox, like many, is overly noisy under acceleration and can be quite jerky through towns.
The Crosstrek is a mild hybrid, I didn’t see the formula contribute to the car’s economy. At best, it controlled consumption of 35 mpg, and while that’s only two figures less than Subaru claims, it’s not smart enough in a global world of rivals offering more.
Large windows and mirrors give great visibility of the terrain you’re steamrolling through, and the Crosstrek’s commanding driving position makes it feel bigger than it really is.
Getting comfortable in its cabin is easy and if you opt for the Touring guise like I had, you’ll get electronic seat and steering wheel adjustment. A large 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen sits in the middle of the dash.
It’s responsive enough to use and, although most of the car’s settings are overridden from here, there are physical buttons on both sides for the radio and weather controls.
Start to look around and you’ll notice some rather cheap materials. And while these don’t look like they’ll crumble at an infant’s fist, they feel cheap and scratchy. It’s not the kind of thing you would see in a Skoda Karoq or a Kia Sportage.
There’s plenty of room for the driver and front passenger, but things are a little different in the rear. My car had a sunroof, which meant that people over six feet tall would have a hard time getting headroom. It’s a shame, because there is plenty of leg and shoulder room.
Exploding the truck reveals a square usable area. Its total capacity is less than some of its competitors, but you can fold the rear seats 60/40 for more area if you plan to attack the center aisle of wood chippers and pizza ovens. Lidl.
As mentioned previously, this is a good, and very capable, off-road car. It laughs in the face of squishy terrain, rocky trails and snowy fields, but it struggles to carry its weight on the road.
The mild hybrid formula is rarely the best and the CVT gearbox ruins the serenity in the cabin every time you step on the accelerator. On the other hand, the Crosstrek can be a farmer’s best friend, especially if he has dogs. or charging equipment, but the Sportage simply makes more sense for hybrid daily drivers.
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