2024 Subaru Crosstrek Test Drive Review: The Wilderness Wins

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is all-new this 12 months, marking the third era of this rugged crossover because it debuted 12 years in the past. That is the smallest, most reasonably priced SUV within the Subaru lineup, coming in beneath the Forester. The redesign features a new look in and out, together with a stiffer chassis to enhance the general experience high quality. Engine choices are nonetheless the identical with solely a constantly variable automated transmission (CVT) because the handbook is not out there.

There are 5 trims, together with the brand new Wilderness, which is a label Subaru provides solely to essentially the most off-road prepared trims in its lineup. Know-how additionally will get an improve with an out there 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and the newest model of Subaru’s EyeSight driver help system. We spent a while within the Crosstrek Wilderness to expertise simply how a lot these modifications have improved this little crossover.

Exterior: Nonetheless A Crosstrek, However With Extra Oomph

The Crosstrek has a particular design that will get much more eye-catching with this new era. There’s extra decrease physique cladding that gives safety off-road and provides this crossover a bolder look. It appears to be like greater, however it’s truly the identical dimension because the prior era, which makes it well-suited to those that hit the paths on the weekend however navigate metropolis streets through the week.

The outside design modifications aren’t dramatic, till you get to the brand new Wilderness trim. It has distinctive entrance and rear bumpers, a hexagonal grille, bigger cladding on the wheel arches, hex-design LED foglights, and an anti-glare hood decal. There’s additionally a steel entrance skid plate that permits you to comprehend it means enterprise off-road. Wilderness badges adorn the doorways and liftgate with shiny copper accents on the roof rails and bumper.

Seating: Improved Consolation With A lot Of Room

One of many largest modifications to this 12 months’s Crosstrek is its improved inside. Subaru redesigned the seats to make them extra snug and the distinction is noticeable. The entrance seats are supportive with out being confining with good adjustability and loads of head and legroom. Rear passengers, even these on the taller facet, can have ample room to get snug. Children will discover it downright spacious.

Subaru makes automobiles for folks with energetic life. Which means there’s a superb likelihood of muddy canine paws, soiled boots, and all method of sporting tools being tossed inside sooner or later. You received’t discover delicate supplies within the Crosstrek. As an alternative, there are largely sturdy fabric surfaces with leather-based on the Restricted and StarTex water-repellant upholstery for the Wilderness. That is an inside that’s snug, enticing, and able to stand as much as extra rigorous day by day use.

Infotainment: One Massive Display screen Or Two Small Screens

The bottom infotainment system on the Crosstrek contains twin seven-inch touchscreens that put audio controls up high and local weather, security, and drive mode performance on the underside. It additionally has wired Apple CarPlay and Android with a USB-A port up entrance and 4-speaker audio. We aren’t a fan of this setup because it appears to be like and feels a bit dated.

The remainder of the Crosstrek lineup will get an 11.6-inch touchscreen mounted vertically on the dashboard with 6-speaker audio, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and entrance and rear USB-A and USB-C charging ports. A ten-speaker Harman Kardon audio system is obtainable on high trims. The larger display screen appears to be like extra premium with massive icons and an intuitive system of menus. The distinction is large enough that this alone might persuade us to skip the Base trim and go proper to the Premium.

Cargo: Room For Every thing

The Crosstrek is a crossover, not an SUV, so it doesn’t have the expansive cargo room of bigger fashions. It does, nevertheless, nonetheless have loads of room for a household’s stuff. Inside, there’s as much as 20.0 cubic ft behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seats with 54.9 cubic ft behind the entrance seats. That’s a stable quantity of room with an inside that’s sturdy sufficient to deal with mud and filth.

There’s additionally a max tow ranking of 1,500 kilos, whereas the Wilderness greater than doubles that determine with a 3,500-pound max tow ranking. A final little bit of cargo room is obtainable on the roof with a dynamic load ranking of as much as 176 kilos and a static ranking of 700 kilos to accommodate a rooftop tent on all however the Base.

Efficiency: A Alternative Of Two Fuel Engines

Whereas there was a Subaru Crosstrek hybrid for the 2023 mannequin 12 months, it’s not out there in 2024. That leaves you with two gasoline engines from which to decide on. The bottom engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, however an out there 2.5-liter 4-cylinder that delivers 182 horsepower with 178 lb-ft of torque. Each are paired to a constantly variable automated transmission. Final 12 months’s handbook transmission choice was discontinued.

Enhancing the potential of the Crosstrek, which already has commonplace all-wheel drive, are numerous drive modes. The Base and Premium trims get X-Mode with hill descent management, whereas the Sport, Restricted, and Wilderness add dual-function X-Mode with a deep snow/mud setting for more difficult situations.

Drive Impressions: A Succesful Crossover With A Easy Trip

This 12 months’s Crosstrek is way nicer to drive than the prior era, making it a worthy road-trip contender. It’s quieter because of extra sound deadening supplies, which makes it a lot simpler to chill out and take a nap on longer drives. Tough, pebbled pavement not rattles the cabin, and uneven surfaces are largely muted. Street and wind noise are additionally contained, which is very good off-road. The sounds of filth and pebbles bouncing about exterior not create a horrible racket contained in the cabin.

We spent our time within the Wilderness with the extra highly effective engine. It simply will get the Crosstrek in control, however the transmission does sound prefer it’s working arduous whenever you hit the gasoline for freeway merges. When you’re in control, there’s nonetheless sufficient energy to move slower automobiles and the Crosstrek has good dealing with. This isn’t a sporty crossover, and it’s not particularly partaking, however it does the job. The Crosstrek isn’t out to impress you with fancy trims and blistering 0-60 occasions. As an alternative, it impresses with its functionality and sturdiness, making it an incredible choice for messy household life.

Pricing and Verdict: A Versatile Alternative For Lively Households

The Crosstrek is a flexible crossover with a historical past of excellent reliability and the potential to go off-road. It is not for hardcore off-roaders, however it does have what it takes to handle filth roads and two-tracks, particularly within the Wilderness trim with its 9.3 inches of floor clearance. The Crosstrek affords a better of each worlds situation with a quiet, snug experience for managing on a regular basis driving and the potential to take you off the crushed path on the weekend.

The place some might not approve is with regards to the inside. Although it is snug and quiet, it is not fancy. The supplies are enticing and sturdy, however not upscale. If you wish to be fancy, then the Mazda CX-30 has a extra premium inside and extra partaking driving dynamics. There’s additionally the Hyundai Kona, which has a enjoyable, funky type.

*excluding $1,345 vacation spot

The Crosstrek is priced to be straightforward on the household price range, beginning at simply over $25K whereas even the highest trim stays beneath the $35K mark. That is an reasonably priced crossover with good commonplace options together with all-wheel drive. Whether or not you propose to go off-road or just must cope with winter climate, the Crosstrek will enable you get there in consolation.