Subaru Crosstrek review

Is the Subaru Crosstrek a good car? 

The Subaru Crosstrek is as much of an oddball as its XV predecessor, and while it’s not a bad car overall, its quirky character makes it a tough sell against established hatchback rivals. 

It’s also undermined by its limited range of powertrains (well, there’s only one) and choice of just two trim levels. However, there’s no denying the appeal of its excellent four-wheel drive system, surprising off-road ability and strong reliability. If you need a compact family car for all seasons and aren’t that worried about performance or fuel costs, then the Subaru might be worth a look. Moreover, our Driver Power results suggest that owners love them.

How much does the Subaru Crosstrek cost?

The Subaru Crosstrek is a car that refuses to be easily categorised. Essentially, it’s a compact family hatchback, but its raised ride height and SUV styling cues mean it falls into the crossover class. Yet it packs a genuine four-wheel drive system and serious off-road ability that few rivals can match. 

There’s not much choice when buying a Crosstrek, with just one engine and two trim levels. Prices start at around £35,000 for the 2.0i e-Boxer Limited, while the Touring model adds around £2,000. 

Whichever version you choose, you won’t feel shortchanged when it comes to standard kit. Despite its name, the Limited comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, power-folding mirrors and automatic lights and wipers. Inside, there’s the brand’s 11.6-inch infotainment system, heated seats and dual-zone climate control.

Pay the extra for the Touring, and you’re treated to larger 18-inch wheels and an electric glass sunroof, while the cabin has electrically adjustable front seats, leather trim, plus built-in sat-nav for the infotainment.

20

There’s only one engine option for the Subaru - a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol that uses the brand’s trademark ‘flat-four’ cylinder layout. For the Crosstrek, it gets mild hybrid assistance in the form of a 16bhp electric motor, taking the total power output to just 134bhp with 184Nm of torque.

One thing is certain with the Crosstrek - this isn’t the car for owners who relish driving fast. While its on-paper 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds is average for the class, the Subaru feels slower on the road. 

At the heart of the Crosstrek’s sluggishness is its stepped Lineartronic CVT transmission, which lacks the responsiveness of a traditional torque converter or twin-clutch automatic arrangement. 

In other applications, this gearbox delivers reasonably refined and totally smooth progress, but here, it sends the engine revs soaring under even modest throttle applications. Yet the increased commotion doesn’t come with a corresponding uplift in performance. 

There are paddles behind the steering wheel, but they are best left alone because they merely mimic the gearchanges of a conventional gearbox. Instead, it’s best to leave the transmission to its own devices and take a steady approach to progress.

When taking things easy, the Crosstrek rewards with a supple ride over bumpy roads, and it soaks up motorway undulations with ease. However, it’s not the most refined car at higher speeds. Road noise is noticeable, and the engine seems to hum away in the background more than you might expect; the Crosstrek definitely doesn’t offer the kind of long-distance cruising experience of a Volkswagen Golf, or even an SUV rival like the Hyundai Tucson.

Yet, while it’s not as nimble as a standard family hatchback, it does feel more agile than many crossover models. The steering is accurate and decently weighted, while there’s more than enough grip, and surprisingly little body roll when pushing on. It’s not fun, but the Subaru is composed and capable.

However, it’s off the beaten track that the Crosstrek really shines. The Subaru’s tried and tested all-wheel drive set-up is among the very best in the business and combines with the clever X-Mode off-road setting to deliver impressive go-anywhere ability and traction in treacherous conditions. Like many dedicated off-roaders, it includes hill descent control, meaning the Crosstrek can scrabble safely down the steepest and slipperiest slopes. If you live in a rural area or somewhere often exposed to extreme weather, this machine will be a confidence-inspiring choice.

20

Despite the addition of mild hybrid assistance, the Subaru’s e-Boxer engine fails to deliver the sort of efficiency you’d expect. With just a 16bhp electric motor and 0.6kWh battery, the Crosstrek is rarely able to run on electricity alone, which means the 2.0-litre petrol is usually running. 

Factor in the fairly bluff bodystyle, raised suspension and power-sapping permanent four-wheel drive system, and it’s no surprise to find the Crosstrek claims just 36.8mpg. By contrast, the faster and more efficient Mazda CX-30 with all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission promises 46.3mpg.

As you’d expect, the Subaru’s below-average fuel returns are matched to high CO2 emissions of 174g/km. For business users, this means the Crosstrek is rated at a hefty 37 per cent for Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) taxation - the Mazda CX-30 attracts a 33 per cent charge. On the plus side, the Subaru’s list price doesn’t break the £40,000 mark, so private owners won’t face the £410 annual tax disc surcharge.

All versions of the Subaru fall into group 20 for insurance, which isn’t quite as low as many compact family car rivals, but not so high that it’ll have a big impact on insurance premiums. The Crosstrek certainly has all the latest security and safety aids that should help reduce theft and collisions.

According to our experts, the Crosstrek should maintain between 50 to 52 per cent of its original value after three years or 36,000 miles. That compares well with the Kia Xceed, which only holds on to between 34 to 40 per cent over the same period - although the latter is cheaper in the first place. 

To get an accurate valuation for a specific model, check out our valuation tool...

20

In a world where seemingly every new-car niche is already filled, true automotive oddities are becoming fewer and further between. But every now and then, something crops up that is quite unlike anything else on sale. And that’s where the Crosstrek comes in; it's a mix of family hatchback size and proportions combined with a rugged off-roader stance.

You’d struggle to call the Crosstrek handsome, but its round lines and smoother surfacing make it look less ungainly than the XV it replaces. With 220mm of ground clearance, the Subaru has genuine off-road credentials, while the tough plastic body cladding and roof rails add an extra dash of rough-and-tumble appeal.

Subaru has been attempting to push upmarket, but on the evidence of the Crosstrek cabin, there’s still some work to be done. It’s robustly built and there’s a sense that all the fixtures and fittings will hold together for decades, but the plastics lack the rich, soft-touch appeal of its European rivals. 

The dashboard design lacks the slickness of a Skoda Karoq, and while many will welcome the use of traditional analogue dials for the instruments, they do look a little old-fashioned alongside modern TFT alternatives. And while Subaru has resisted the temptation to house all the minor controls in the infotainment touchscreen, some of the physical buttons are scattered in hard-to-find places.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Subaru has swapped out the old XV’s landscape screen for an 11.6-inch portrait display, with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, plus voice recognition and a plethora of USB ports front and rear. You’ll need to opt for the flashier Touring spec for integrated sat-nav.

The system looks good and is responsive enough, while the major menus are easy to find and navigate. Even so, despite its crisp graphics the system looks and feels dated compared to set-ups from VW Group products. 

20

With its hatchback-style five-door body, the Crosstrek promises to be a practical family car choice. At just under 4,500mm in length, the Subaru ranks as one of the larger compact family hatches, alongside the Skoda Octavia, Honda Civic and Nissan Qashqai.

These larger external dimensions translate into a roomy cabin, with rear seat occupants getting more legroom than they’ll find in a VW Golf. However, surprisingly for such a tall car (it stretches the tape measure at around 1,600mm), the Crosstrek actually offers less headroom for those in the back - although only the tallest occupants will struggle.

Up front, the Crosstrek impresses with its space, because both the driver and passenger get plenty of room to stretch out. The seats are supportive and comfortable (heating is standard on all models), and there’s plenty of adjustment, especially on the range-topping Touring, which gets electric adjustment on both front seats (10-way for the driver and eight-way for the passenger). You sit slightly higher than in a normal hatchback, while the Subaru’s generous glass area means great visibility for all occupants.

There’s a decent amount of storage space provided by large door bins, a well-shaped glovebox, and a big cubby ahead of the gearlever that’s ideal for storing a smartphone. The front seat occupants also get a pair of cupholders plus a deep, lidded cubby between the seats that doubles as an armrest. Those in the rear get a fold down armrest housing a couple of cupholders.

Less impressive is the Crosstrek’s boot, which, at 315 litres, is one of the smallest in the class - even the more compact Mazda CX-30 musters at least 422 litres. The hatchback opening is large, and there are no awkward intrusions, but the need to package the hybrid battery under the floor means the load bay is shallow, and there’s no space for hidden storage. Folding the 60/40 split-fold rear seat increases capacity to 1,314-litres, and the seatbacks lie flush to create a totally flat floor.

Subaru claims a braked towing capacity of 1,270kg for the Crosstrek, which trails the 1,500kg limit offered by most rivals. However, with its excellent four-wheel drive system, CVT transmission and raised ride height, the Japanese machine will be a great choice for those who regularly tow in slippery conditions, such as through muddy fields.

20

One area where the Crosstrek steals a march on rivals is safety. Both trim levels come with a comprehensive array of standard passive and active features that helped deliver a full five-star Euro NCAP rating. That’s especially impressive given the Crosstrek has been tested in 2024 under the safety organisation’s latest and toughest testing regime.

All models get a full complement of airbags, including one to protect the driver’s knees. Just as important, the Crosstrek features Subaru’s novel Eyesight driver assistance technology. Now in its fourth generation, this clever kit features a pair of cameras that sit on either side of the rearview mirror and read the road ahead. This setup delivers autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. Better still, it works well, offering smoother interventions than the systems used by many rivals.

Overall, the Subaru feels solidly screwed together with a robust feel that suggests years of dependable service lay ahead. It lacks the premium feel of a VW Golf or Skoda Octavia (the doors shut with a tinny clang, and the interior plastics feel cheap), but there’s a depth of engineering to the Crosstrek that suggests it’ll take plenty of punishment.

That sense is backed up by owners, who voted Subaru the best manufacturer in our 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. With high ratings for the brand’s quality and reliability, the Japanese finished ahead of upmarket companies such as Tesla, Jaguar and Land Rover, as well as firms renowned for their dependability, such as Toyota.

Subaru Crosstrek alternatives

With its mix of hatchback dimensions and off-road ability, the Subaru’s entry-level model doesn’t fit neatly into any niches. Much like the brand’s other models, the Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback, the Outback will always be a left field choice, but if its set of capabilities fits your needs then few other rivals will do.

That said, in terms of its SUV-inspired styling the Subaru is similar to models such as the Skoda Karoq, Mazda CX-30 and Nissan Qashqai. The latter is far more practical and cost-effective to run, while the first two offer a four-wheel drive option, even if neither is as capable in the rough.

In terms of traditional hatchbacks, the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia and Honda Civic are all similar in size to the Crosstrek. All of them feel more upmarket and are better to drive, while the Honda also benefits from the brand’s excellent hybrid powertrain - although, as with the Subaru’s limited engine line-up, this is the only unit on offer.