1 year ago

Overview
It looks trail-ready with its rugged styling and meaty tires, but don’t be fooled by the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek’s appearance: it’s a car playing the part of an SUV. It won’t be going toe-to-toe with Jeep Wranglers or Ford Broncos at the off-road park, but the upside is that it’s more comfortable and carlike on the road than those dedicated dirt diggers. The Crosstrek is based on the Impreza hatchback and, like all other Subarus save the BRZ sports car, it comes with standard all-wheel drive. Its lifted suspension does offer enough ground clearance to tackle rutted dirt roads and grassy knolls, so there’s that. Unfortunately, the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is breathless, especially when mated to the optional continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); a six-speed manual is standard. The better choice is the optional 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which wakes up the Crosstrek with perkier acceleration. For the eco-friendly, there’s also an available plug-in hybrid.

What's New for 2023?
A Special Edition model joins the Crosstrek family for 2023. It’s based on the Premium trim and comes exclusively with Desert Khaki (a.k.a tan) paint, 17-inch wheels, and dark gray exterior trim. The interior sports two-tone black-and-red upholstery.

Pricing and Which One to Buy
Base $24,870
Premium $26,220
Special Edition. $27,970
Sport $29,220
Limited $30,720
Hybrid $38,070

The Sport model's enhanced features—unique 17-inch wheels, yellow-stitched upholstery, faux-carbon-fiber trim, and advanced driving modes—are nice, but the more powerful 182-hp 2.5-liter engine is what makes it worthy of the upcharge. Like other Subaru sedans and SUVs, all-wheel drive is standard on the Crosstrek—a rarity in the small SUV marketplace, where it's usually optional and sometimes not offered at all.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Crosstrek's base 152-hp four-cylinder engine makes a lot of noise but doesn't offer a lot of motivation. As with many of its competitors, getting up to highway speed is a painfully slow process no matter whether you choose the standard manual transmission or the optional automatic. In our testing a 2.0-liter automatic model required a leisurely 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph. The plug-in-hybrid model proved to be quicker, shaving 0.9 second off the 2.0-liter’s 60-mph time. This lack of energy is partially addressed by the optional 182-hp 2.5-liter engine that's also found on the Legacy sedan and Outback station wagon. It hauls the Crosstrek to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, which is still far from speedy, but far less stressful when you’re attempting a pass on a two-lane road or merging on to an Interstate. The Crosstrek’s handling, however, is pleasantly car-like thanks to well-weighted steering and a composed ride. The suspension is firm but not harsh, and it soaks up larger bumps without drama. As for the plug-in hybrid model, know that charging it fully will take up to five hours if connected to a standard household 120-volt outlet; using a 240-volt outlet does the job in as little as two hours. With only 17 miles of electric-only range, buyers should expect to spend plenty of time in gas mode.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The Crosstrek is among the most fuel efficient subcompact crossovers, with not only great EPA fuel-economy ratings but also some of the best results in our real-world testing. The Crosstrek's 2.0-liter engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) may be lethargic, but they’re easy on fuel, with an EPA rating 28 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. The manual-transmission comes with sizable drops to 22 and 29 mpg, respectively. The 2.5-liter engine-and- CVT are rated at 27 mpg city and 34 highway. On our 75-mph fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, the automatic-equipped 2.0-liter delivered an impressive 32 mpg; the manual also impressed with a 31-mpg result. The hybrid model is rated at up to 90 MPGe combined and 35 mpg on the highway, but we managed only 30 mpg in our testing. For more information about the Crosstrek's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

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