Crosstrek blends great fuel economy, AWD attitude
Subaru customers are some of the world’s most dedicated, and even fanatical, examples of loyalty to a car brand. So, where does it come from? Those who live out West love the all- wheel- drive ( AWD) capability to go pretty much anywhere, while those in other parts appreciate an odometer that easily hits 200,000 miles. Still others say Subarus represent “being different.”
For 2016, the Subaru small crossover of choice is the Crosstrek. You probably would get little argument that cargo space is a bit tight or that acceleration could be a bit more aggressive, but in the end, Crosstrek owners say the AWD, safety and fuel economy — 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway — make the Crosstrek their new family member.
New essentials for this year’s Crosstrek include blind- spot monitoring and a telematics system. The exterior gets a slight tweak to the front end, which is hardly noticeable, but the real exterior grit is based on a visual attitude that says go wherever you like.
Giving Crosstrek the exterior vibe of an off- road warrior is a big, 8.7- inch ground clearance and a stout, athletic stance. The big 17inch wheels, black body cladding and wheel arches give Crosstrek a rugged trail- rider appearance.
Crosstrek comes in three trim levels: 2.0i ( base $ 21,595), 2.0i Premium ( base $ 23,459) and 2.0i Limited ( base 25,095).
Inside the cabin of Crosstrek, you can get a feeling of tight quarters, but the function of the space is what is most impressive. I really appreciated the intuitive controls on the steering wheel and center stack. Large dials make for easy targets while driving and eliminate over- rotating tiny dials. A large, 6.2- inch touchscreen display is standard; my tester featured the upgraded 7.0- inch glass. My tester had heated leather seats, a Godsend for cold winter mornings. Most surfaces have a distinct textured feel that is above average for this class.
Head and leg room in both rows is more than adequate. This fourpassenger crossover could seat a fifth adult, but it would be very tight. The 51.9 cubic feet of cargo space, with rear seats folded flat, is in the middle of competitors’ cargo offerings.
My tester featured a fine leather- wrapped steering wheel and shifter, single- zone climate control and upgraded 12- speaker audio system. The Crosstrek comes with Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, which includes smartphone app integration, Bluetooth and USB port. One downside: features like Apple Car Play and Android Auto are not available — but Starlink’s large touchscreen icons and generally quick response times make it an easy system to use.
The Crosstrek features a 2.0- liter, four- cylinder engine delivering 148 horsepower and 145 pound- feet of torque. Look for a five- speed manual transmission and AWD as standard attractions. My tester featured the optional continuously variable transmission ( CVT), which I found to provide adequate response and smooth shifts throughout the range. The base Crosstrek CVT gets an EPA- estimated 26/ 34 mpg, a huge bonus in this segment.
Acceleration is not the Crosstrek’s top buying point; in fact, it feels like less than a priority. Perhaps the off- road capability is the trade- off.
The 2016 Crosstrek is very safe, equipped with a standard rearview camera, lane- change assist and blind- spot monitoring with rear cross- traffic alert. Subaru’s optional Eye Sight system incorporates adaptive cruise control, pre- collision braking and lanedeparture warning.
Overall, the value presented by the Crosstrek easily outweighs any shortcomings for cargo or high- output performance. The focus should be on the great fuel economy, value- based price tag and AWD attitude.