There are basically two categories of Subaru drivers: those who wear Birkenstocks, and those who wear Nomex racing shoes.
On one hand you’ve got your two golden retrievers in the trunk of an Outback wagon, and on the other you’ve got an STI fanatic hacking their ECU for more boost.
Somewhere in the middle is the Crosstrek, a lifted version of the Impreza compact sedan that’s intended to appeal to both those interested in a sportier Subaru, and those who just want something quirky and outdoorsy.
To say the Crosstrek is already a success would be an understatement. In Canada, it easily outsells both sedan and hatchback versions of the entry-level Impreza, and there’s even a bit of a waiting list were you to order one tomorrow.
No matter your preferred footwear, this thing is clearly getting people to run, not walk to their local Subaru dealership. Let’s have a look to see if it’s worth the hike.
Design
Totally reworked for the 2018 model year, the Crosstrek looks much the same as it always did. It’s an Impreza hatchback with jacked-up suspension and some plastic body cladding.
Still, there hasn’t been a pretty Subaru since, perhaps, the Legacy of the mid-2000s. Besides which, Subaru practically invented the idea of raising an all-wheel-drive vehicle to add off-road chops but keep the on-road dynamics docile. (Technically we can trace the roots of the tall-wagon to the AMC Eagle, but Subaru made the concept popular.)
Is it an SUV? Well, as Paul Hogan might say, “That’s not a knoife.” Even so, the Crosstrek is right-sized for its class, and doesn’t lose practicality with styling. You can tell right away from its relatively low belt-line and large greenhouse that this is basically a backpack on wheels. You could sell ‘em at MEC.
And further, Subaru deserves a bit of praise here for selling the Crosstrek in some actual colours. Just like the outdoor clothing that potential owners will wear, there’s a couple of brighter options to supplement the usual greys and blacks.
Environment
Jot this one down in the yearbook as Most Improved. Where once Subaru interiors were plastic wastelands just waiting to develop persistent rattles, the new Crosstrek is actually pretty nice. It still looks made for durability rather than slickness, but there’s a bit more quality here to the chunky controls.
From a practical standpoint, the Crosstrek is ace. Subaru has widened up the rear hatch, and luggage capacity is a useful 588 litres – 1,565 l with the seats folded down. Young families will appreciate the way the rear doors open slightly wider than rivals, making loading kids that much easier.
And, up front, the Crosstrek makes for a worthy road-trip companion with plenty of useful cubbies. A few more USB points would not go amiss, but storage wasn’t a problem. The seat fabric also looks like it should be up to repeated abuse.
Performance
Now for the bad news, or at least the ho-hum news. While the Crosstrek gets a reworking of its 2.0-litre flat-four engine, there’s only an additional four horsepower on offer. This is doubly regrettable because the 2018 model has slightly increased in weight.
Thus, drivers are expected to pit 152 horsepower and 145 foot-pounds of torque against a power-sapping all-wheel-drive system and more than 1,400 kilograms of curb weight. One constant complaint about the old Crosstrek was its pretty leisurely acceleration, especially if you were trying to pass a truck quickly on your way through the Rockies. Things haven’t really changed.
However, there is a new six-speed manual transmission (one more gear than the old five-speed), and the CVT automatic seems to have been smoothed out. Don’t expect the Crosstrek to leap forward like a WRX, but it’ll get out of its own way.
Further, the new chassis is a delight. Body roll is well controlled, and overall grip is basically identical to the Impreza. Steering feel is fairly numb, but that’s par for the course these days. Get it on a twisting backroad, keep the 2.0-litre engine on the boil, and the Crosstrek is actually sporty enough to please a few of the rally-enthusiast crowd.
Still, with the demise of the WRX hatchback, you really have to wonder why Subaru doesn’t stick its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in here, and balloon the Crosstrek’s sales even further. Heck, I’d buy one.
In the meantime, the new car scoots but doesn’t sprint. That’ll have to do.
Features
Now equipped with Subaru’s Starlink touchscreen system and available Apple Carplay/Android Auto, the Crosstrek is far less frustrating for tech-heads than it used to be. There are also well-worth-it dynamic headlights on the higher trims, and equipping Subaru’s Eyesight driver assist makes the Crosstrek a top safety pick.
If the 2.0-litre boxer isn’t ferocious, it is thrifty. Fuel economy figures when equipped with the CVT are 8.8 (litres/100 kilometres) in the city and 7.2 on the highway. Driven modestly, the Crosstrek will reproduce these figure in the real world faithfully.
Green light
Practical layout; X-mode has off-road chops; solid resale.
Stop sign
Engine lacks passing power; even more colour choice would be great.
The checkered flag
Not built for the WRX fans, but not as laid-back as a two-tone Outback. Just about the Goldilocks option in the Subaru range.
Competition
Mazda CX-3 ($19,995): Smaller in size than the Crosstrek, the CX-3 subcompact crossover overlaps with the Subaru in pricing somewhat, making them theoretical rivals. The Mazda’s far more urban-oriented than the Crosstrek, but it’s a solid choice in snowy conditions.
It’s also a bit of a flier, with driving dynamics that would remind you of the MX-5. Like the Crosstrek, power is modest, but the CX-3 is smaller, lighter, and nimbler, and rarely feels underpowered.
What it doesn’t have is the Crosstrek’s space. The Mazda will work fine if there’s just the two of you, while you’ll want to go Subaru if you’ve got bigger backpacks to store.
mcaleeronwheels@gmail.com
