Yes, the photo above shows what this car excels at, and besides, it’s a Subaru after all. Climb steep slopes, cross fords and climb gently through fields.
Therefore, if you stay in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest then the Crosstrek is certainly worth a look. If not, like most of us, you might be better off with its rivals.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, it’s worth noting that the car I tested was a UK-spec model. This means that we get a little less of everything that is mandatory and more of what is 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 American adventure seekers can pick up a new one for $26,540 (including shipping).
It’s not a bad car. It’s pretty solid in the corners, it’s comfortable on the top road, it has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, you get a premium SUV-like driving position and it tackled Scotland’s tough winter situations with no loss of traction, as you’d expect. all-wheel drive. There’s also a nifty X mode. This ensures all-wheel drive is optimized on rougher terrain at low speeds.
Unfortunately, things start to go south with his driving from here on out. 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 accessing the 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 contributing to the economy of the car. At best, it managed 35mpg, and while that’s just two figures less than Subaru claims, it’s not smart enough in a 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 your cabin is simple and if you opt for the Touring edition like I do, you’ll get advantages of electronic seat adjustment and the guide wheel. A giant 11. 6-inch vertical touchscreen sits in the middle of the dashboard.
It’s sensitive enough for use and while most car settings are replaced 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 lots of room for the driver and front passenger but things are a little different in the rear. My car was equipped with a sunroof and this meant anyone over six feet would struggle for headroom. A shame really, because there’s 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 above, this is a good and very capable off-road car. It laughs at the comfortable terrain, rocky trails and snowy fields, but struggles with 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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