The Subaru Crosstrek has done remarkable things since its arrival in 2013. For a very moderate price, it offers huge SUV capabilities, with legendary fuel consumption and reliability, as well as excellent rugged appearances. The Crosstrek sells like hotcakes, especially in the Pacific Northwest in Subieland, because of the responsibilities a vehicle must fulfill there, i. e. , driving on snow and ice and carrying objects. In the Northwest, a Crosstrek looks empty without a mountain bike or kayak on the roof.
The Crosstrek can take care of blizzards, monsoons, muddy roads, gravel mountain roads, towing a small boat, or your daily commute. It is based on the Impreza five-door hatchback, but significant adjustments have been made to the chassis, suspension, and bodywork. Increased ground clearance, frame reinforcements, more powerful suspension, all-season tires, larger front brake rotors, more engine cooling, larger fuel tank and new wheels, grille, bumpers, fenders, fairings and roof racks. It’s quite distinctive, especially when the Impreza and Crosstrek are next to each other. The Crosstrek is much bigger. It looks as big as an Outback and comes in some of its own colors. The 2016 Crosstrek features a new grille, fascia, bumper, headlights and wheels to distinguish it from pre-2016 models.
The Crosstrek uses Subaru’s outstanding four-cylinder boxer engine with horizontally opposed cylinders, a compact design that allows the engine to be fixed in the low and rearward position, for greater overall dynamics. It has 2. 0 liters and makes 148 horsepower, mated to an engine frequently manufactured by Subaru. variable transmission (CVT) or a five-speed manual transmission (but lucky to locate a manual transmission; last time we looked, there was precisely a Crosstrek with a manual transmission in the state). Even though the 5-speed transmission is popular equipment, the CVT is optional). The good news is that the CVT is one of the most productive cars. Most of the time, you don’t even notice that it’s not a classic automatic.
Many homeowners simply buy the Crosstrek because it looks cooler than the Impreza, but if you don’t want extra floor space, it may not be worth much. The Crosstrek is a bit louder internally than the Impreza, due to tire and cabin savings. And its handling is a little less accurate due to its height, which also makes it difficult to get on and off, not to mention the alcance. la roof rack. It’s only about 4 inches taller than the Impreza.
The Crosstrek is rated by the EPA at 26 miles per gallon in the city, 34 on the highway and 28 combined with the CVT and 23/31/26 with the 5-speed manual transmission, so for the most part, it’s not a huge loss that the manual transmission isn’t available. For maximum fuel mileage, there’s a hybrid that gets 29/33/31 mpg.
The Crosstrek Hybrid is the big news for 2016. Es quieter, with five tweaks to the front suspension and a dozen other things, maximum noise and vibration isolation, innovations that have been added to other models. It has a glossy black grille to make it distinctive. It’s the most fun Crosstrek to drive.
The hybrid uses the same 2. 0-liter engine with other configurations, as well as a 10-kilowatt (13. 4 horsepower) electric motor between the engine and the CVT. The acceleration is about the same, i. e. modest. The battery is fixed underneath the rear. seat; Space isn’t compromised with the seat used, but when lowered, 1. 7 cubic feet in cargo capacity is lost. The formula may force the car on electric power alone, but that’s not what is intended, so don’t look at it that way; It’s too slow. This can get you within a few blocks of a gas station if you run out of fuel.
The Crosstrek earns five stars overall from NHTSA for safety, with 4 stars for head-on collisions and rollovers, and five for side impacts. The IIHS gives it a Top Safety Pick rating. For 2016, rollover sensors are added to the popular curtain airbags, a feature not discovered in the Impreza.
The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek ($21,595) is popular with cloth upholstery. The Crosstrek Premium ($22,395) adds active protection features, adding lane replacement assist and rear cross-traffic alert, as well as heated front seats, side mirrors and windshields.
The Crosstrek Premium ($25,095) comes with leather, automatic climate control, a fold-down rear armrest with cup holders, and comes with a CVT.
The Crosstrek Hybrid ($26,395) is supplied with the hybrid-electric powertrain.
The Crosstrek looks macho, especially compared to the Impreza. The chassis combines taste and utility. The black fenders are sleek, not over-the-top or ugly as they would be on many other cars. Three Crosstrek-specific colors allow it to stand out on the road: a blue like the blue of French racing; pea and persimmon soup with milk; and a comfortable shade of orange like the one we had from the Porsche 911, years ago.
The Crosstrek’s interior doesn’t deviate from the Impreza, because of the seat fabric which, in our opinion, is more physically powerful and aesthetically more pleasing. For 2016, the Crosstrek received a few updates, adding black and silver trim on the dash, orange stitching here. and there, and LED lighting around the center console.
The inner S’s are forged and basic. The board is covered with a soft touch that becomes almost sticky when exposed to heat and moisture. The analog tools are easy to read and make the board sporty. A 6. 2-inch touchscreen is standard, and the Premium and Limited models get a 7. 0-inch display. Inch screen.
Visibility is much higher than traditional crossovers due to narrow pillars and a low beltline with plenty of glass. With the height and straight seats, this gives the Crosstrek a relatively commanding view of the road.
The driver’s seat feels short and flat for comfort for long hours. The rear seat is well designed for adults and tilts smoothly 60/40.
Subaru knows that their bread is buttered in the shipping area, which is why they spend a lot of time on design. It is convenient, like a box, without intrusions. Dogs are allowed. A rubber tray slides out to be washed with a hose. The 150-pound roof rack is standard.
The Crosstrek is solid, but not fast. Its 148 horsepower will have to make 3200 pounds, which is rarely very, very heavy, but 148 horsepower is rarely much. In addition, the 145 pound-feet of torque peaks at just 4200 rpm. He responds and rushes with the manual, but he also feels more thirsty and can’t get anything anyway.
It’s unfortunate that the 5-speed manual transmission is so hard to come by, because the all-wheel-drive formula is an old-school Subaru, one that’s been running smartly for years and years. It is a viscous coupling formula with central locking. differential that feels direct and connected. The CVT uses an electronic variable motion formula.
The Crosstrek looks like a car, not a big little crossover. The ride is sleek if a little noisy, with very little pitch or pitch, unlike some SUVs, even in two choppy lanes. It doesn’t tip over at all despite the height, but it’s more susceptible to crosswind and drifts on the road (more so than the Impreza, probably because of the suspension and tire settings). The steering is somewhat numb and doesn’t care as well as the impreza; Still, we’d say it’s relatively lively and athletic in the corners, compared to more compact all-wheel-drive crossovers, with the exception of the Subaru Forester. The electric force guide is lightweight.
With its large front brakes, it will stop quickly, but it will also plummet and bounce vertically. Off-road, the 18-degree technical angle and 28-degree departure angle make it possible to traverse rocks and logs, as long as all-wheel drive can remain elevated.
The Crosstrek Hybrid’s powertrain produces less horsepower than other hybrids. The electric motor’s 48-pound-foot torque can propel the car forward, but you’ll most likely be honking from behind for being slow. The battery is charged by regenerative braking at speeds below 40 mph. The hybrid shuts off the engine when stopped at a red light.
It’s hard to find ways to overtake with the Subaru Crosstrek. The strength is modest but the CVT is the best. The all-weather and shipping capability is unbeatable, and it looks rugged and cool while going 28 miles per gallon.
Sam Moses contributed to this report; with The Car Connection staff.