The Crosstrek has been a best seller for Subaru since its introduction, thanks to its practicality, standard all-wheel-drive, and affordable price. This subcompact SUV gets redesigned for 2024 and Subaru has done an excellent job in making a good thing even better.
Base Price: $30,895
As Tested: $35,030
Horsepower: 182
Mileage: 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/29 mpg combined
The Crosstrek debuted in the U.S. for the 2013 model year as the XV Crosstrek. It was based on the Impreza. Subaru dropped the XV from the name in 2016. The Crosstrek became the fastest-selling vehicle ever for Subaru of America, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. Just look around – you’ll no doubt spot Crosstreks on any drive you make.
For 2024, the Crosstrek gets a makeover with several exterior and interior updates, a stiffer chassis, additional standard driver-assistance tech, and an available new infotainment system with an 11.6-inch touchscreen.
The 2024 Crosstrek comes in five trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Wilderness. Starting prices range from $24,995 to $31,995. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is standard on all models. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
There are two engines. The base and Premium trims get a 2.0-liter flat-four that makes 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The upper trims get a 2.5-liter flat-four that produces 182 horses and 178 pound-feet. Both engines are paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
The base engine is adequate for most driving situations but can feel sluggish. You may find yourself wishing for more power when you’re merging and passing at freeway speeds. My tester has the more powerful engine. Acceleration is relatively peppy but you’ll still want to plan ahead for those merging and passing moves. The stiffer chassis provides a smoother ride. The steering feels balanced with little body roll around corners, and the brakes are responsive. The CVT shifts promptly but isn’t always super smooth. While the Crosstrek is easy and pleasant to drive, lively performance is not its strong suit so if that’s important to you, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
The Crosstrek has 8.7 inches of ground clearance so it can handle some light off-roading to camping and ski trips and the like. The Wilderness trim is more ready for outdoor adventures with its 9.3 inches of ground clearance, drive modes for off-roading, and front skid plate.
When properly equipped, the Crosstrek can tow up to 1,500 pounds. The Wilderness models up that to 3,500 pounds.
Fuel economy is above average for the class, especially when you consider that all Crosstreks have all-wheel drive. EPA ratings for my tester are 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with a combined rating of 29. I got 28 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Trims with the base engine do slightly better at 27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined.
The cabin emphasizes function over style. The design is simple and materials look like they can withstand mud and spills. Seats are supportive and comfortable. Front row passengers enjoy generous leg- and headroom. Two adults will be comfortable in the second row. The cabin is quiet with engine and road noise kept at bay.
Standard features include a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, four-way manually adjustable front passenger’s seat, gauge cluster with a 4.2-inch driver information display, infotainment system with dual seven-inch touchscreens, four-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a USB port, automatic high-beam headlights, and adaptive headlights.
Available features include a digital key, keyless entry, push-button start, auto-dimming rearview mirror, upgraded cloth upholstery, leather upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, infotainment system with 11.6-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, navigation, additional USB ports, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, universal garage door opener, and a power moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist and pedestrian and cyclist detection.
Available driver assistance technologies include blind-sport monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse collision warning, and reverse automatic emergency braking.
The infotainment system is user-friendly but has some drawbacks. There can be a lot of glare on the screen, the graphics look old school, and the system can be slow to respond. There are handy physical buttons for common functions such as audio and climate. The lower trims get two seven-inch screens while my tester has the 11.6-inch vertical touchscreen. It’s the first time this tablet-like screen is available in the Crosstrek.
Cargo space is above average for a subcompact SUV. There are 19.9 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place, and 54.7 cubes with the second row folded. The second row folds flat to maximize space, and the wide opening of the cargo area makes it easy to load and unload bulky items. The 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks provide flexibility in hauling passengers and cargo. No power liftgate is available.
The good:
Pleasant driving dynamics
Smooth ride
Standard all-wheel drive
Rugged enough for light off-roading
Roomy cabin and cargo hold
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Good value for the money
The not-so-good:
Not as athletic as some rivals
Infotainment system could use upgrading
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $30,895. Alpine Green paint is $395. Option Package 33 is $2,445 and adds a power moonroof, Harman Kardon speaker system, and the Subaru Starlink multimedia navigation system with 11.6-inch screen. Destination fee is $1,295 bringing the grand total to $35,030.
Bottom line:
The redesigned 2024 Subaru Crosstrek has everything that has made it so popular and some improvements that make even better. Sure, other subcompact SUVs have more athletic handling, more upscale cabins, and better tech, but the Crosstrek fills that niche for drivers who want a rugged, practical and affordable vehicle that’s pleasant to drive.
