2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review

Subaru is known around the globe for two things: Boxer engines and an all-wheel drive system. Thanks to the association of these two things with Subaru, their vehicles have the image of being rough, tough, and outdoorsy. Now, we’ve got the Crosstrek, the successor of the XV, from the looks alone, it looks like it could tackle the roads less traveled. In this, review we’ll set off to find out if the Crosstrek can be a capable daily driver and if it can hold its own in a very competitive crossover segment.

Before anything else, let’s get the Crosstrek’s price out of the way. The variant we have on test is the Crosstrek 2.0i-S EyeSight which comes in at P2,018,000. Another crossover that is within the Crosstrek’s price range is the Mazda CX-30, which comes in at P1,990,000. If the lack of all-wheel drive isn’t an issue, the Peugeot 2008 is also available at P1,750,000. Other crossovers of this size also include the Ford Territory, Toyota Corolla Cross, and the Honda HR-V among others. Having mentioned these crossovers, where does the Crosstrek stand?

Starting with the front end, the Crosstrek has a decent-sized grille, complemented by DRLs, projector headlamps, and fog lights. Another thing you’ll spot is the amount of plastic cladding on the front end. It’s a big departure from the usual move of lessening plastic cladding to make the vehicle look more premium as the price of a car goes up. However, the Crosstrek is a vehicle focused on the outdoors so it might be a plus since you don’t have to worry about dinging the front end. 

At the back, the sharp aesthetic continues with the claw-like LED taillights. Black plastic cladding is also present on the lower bumper, wheel wells, and side skirts. Roof rails meanwhile are found up top for extra cargo. The look is completed by two-tone 18-inch wheels. Speaking more of the wheels, while the design of the Crosstrek’s new rims looks good, we much prefer the design of the wheels on the old XV. 

Overall though, the evolution of the XV still has a distinct appeal and is a handsome car in all angles. The look is further enhanced by the Crosstrek’s blue paint.

Dimensions

As for its size, the Crosstrek is 4,480 mm long, 1,800 mm wide, and 1,600 mm high with a 2,670 mm wheelbase. Additionally, the Crosstrek boasts a high ground clearance of 220 mm which means it's great for getting around high-speed bumps and light city floods. 

Riding inside the Crosstrek, the very first thing one will notice is the comfortable seats. The next major upside inside the Crosstrek is the unimpeded view of the road, thanks to an unintrusive A-pillar and a perfectly positioned windscreen. The view is further widened by a quarter window found at the edge of the doors and a cleverly positioned wing mirror mounted slightly away from the quarter window.

In the second row, while the seats are not as plush as the ones up front, the seats still provide a decent amount of comfort. Legroom and headroom may be a bit on the tighter side for tall people but it’s still a comfortable place to be in nonetheless. The rear seats can accommodate two passengers without a problem. The addition of a third passenger, however, may be a problem due to the Crosstrek’s center tunnel robbing away some space.

The center tunnel isn’t the last bit of bad news for the Crosstrek, unfortunately. First is the lack of a rear air vent for the second row which will be a problem during hot days and a car full of people. Second, the cargo space in the back is not that big either, holding only 291 liters of cargo. With the rear seats up, the Crosstrek can only accommodate one balikbayan box, folding them down will allow you to fit four of these boxes at the cost of leaving some passengers behind.

Up front, the driver is treated to a non-flat-bottomed steering wheel with multi-function controls and analog gauges. We don’t mind the analog gauges however, some people may find it dated. At the center of the dashboard sits a large 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a user interface that is easy to understand and easy to access. In terms of appearance, we do have a slight reservation as to how Subaru executed the interface, as we think that it could use a bit of refinement in the design to make it appear more premium. Other quirks include a bit of lag in the infotainment system as well as a lack of physical buttons for the air controls, other than that though, the Crosstrek’s system works just fine.

Features you’ll find at the front include USB ports, a wireless charging pad, a 12V socket, two cup holders at the center, bottle holders at the sides, and a few cubby holes. Before we move further, we do have a few complaints at the front area. First is the lack of padding for the center box which will make a distinct rattling noise as you go along. Second, is the faux carbon fiber plastic that is found on the dashboard of the passenger side which kind of brings down the interior’s looks. Last but not least, is the lack of a 360-degree camera for the Crosstrek. Despite having EyeSight 4.0 and being at the P2,000,000 price point, we expected to have at least a 360-degree camera, sadly however, a rear-view camera is all that is fitted on the top-range Crosstrek.

At the back, features include USB charging ports, a center armrest with bottle holders, bottle holders at the doors, and ISOFIX tethers.

Before we get to the Crosstrek’s engine and handling characteristics, we’ll talk about the biggest party piece of the Crosstrek, the EyeSight 4.0 ADAS. On the road, the Subaru EyeSight is one of the most intuitive ADAS systems on the market today, and because of that it is a major selling point of the Crosstrek. The most impressive feature is the adaptive cruise control of the Crosstrek. Unlike other systems on the market, the Crossterk is quicker to react to vehicles in front of you, making it feel like it wants to keep up with traffic. Sometimes, it almost feels like another human driving the car for you instead of a computer, a testament to how intuitive Subaru’s system is.

Moving on to comfort, the Subaru Crosstrek is comfortable and quiet inside even while driving on uneven roads. In addition, despite its height, the chassis feels compliant and stable. There is still body roll when you take corners at speed but it is a manageable amount.

Performance

Before we get to the Crosstrek’s engine and handling characteristics, we’ll talk about the biggest party piece of the Crosstrek, the EyeSight 4.0 ADAS. On the road, the Subaru EyeSight is one of the most intuitive ADAS systems on the market today, and because of that it is a major selling point of the Crosstrek. The most impressive feature is the adaptive cruise control of the Crosstrek. Unlike other systems on the market, the Crossterk is quicker to react to vehicles in front of you, making it feel like it wants to keep up with traffic. Sometimes, it almost feels like another human driving the car for you instead of a computer, a testament to how intuitive Subaru’s system is.

Fuel Economy

On an open highway, the Crosstrek consumes about 19.5 km/L. On a city drive with light traffic, the Crosstrek consumes 12.5 km/L. When the roads get congested, fuel economy drops to 6.5 km/L.

On its own, the Crosstrek is a great crossover. Decently equipped, comfortable, and very safe with Subaru’s EyeSight system. When you pan out and consider the other options available, the P2,018,000 price tag of the Crosstrek becomes painfully obvious. That is because at that price point, other cars that are much larger with more seats and space than the Crosstrek start to enter the scene. 

Nonetheless, for buyers who have no budget constraints and are determined to own this crossover, the Crosstrek's experience is sure to be one that leaves no room for regret.