Review: New Subaru Crosstrek comes blizzard ready
BOSTON — It doesn’t matter if they’re talking about a family sedan, a workhorse pickup or the latest super car. Get any group of auto critics together and someone will inevitably ask the same question: “Why doesn’t it go faster?”
So far, only Subaru has been bold enough to answer.
At the New England debut of the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek, a guy in a baseball hat pointed his pen in the air and asked why the compact crossover’s admittedly anemic 152-horsepower 4-cylinder engine didn’t come with a turbocharger. Couldn’t Subaru add one and give the car some much-needed passing power on the highway?
“Sure we could,” Subaru spokesman Dominick Infante said. “But we’re already selling every car we can make.”
It’s true. Crosstrek sales have risen every year since the car’s 2013 introduction (when it was called the XV Crosstrek), and more than two thirds of Subaru owners buy another Subaru when it’s time to get a new car.
You don’t mess with that kind of success, which is why Subaru's complete overhaul of the 2018 Crosstrek ended up looking and acting a lot like its predecessor. Yes, the car's structure is all new — it's stiffer, for improved safety and handling — but you'd have to park it next to an older car to spot any meaningful differences.
To find out why it’s such a fan favorite, I put a 2018 Crosstrek through its paces in the suburbs and cities of Massachusetts, where there are so many Subarus these days that they seem to outnumber available parking spaces. I stopped asking why it didn’t go faster, and I started asking Crosstrek owners why they loved their cars. (And, aside from some qualms about the bright exterior color palette, they all loved their cars.)
As it turns out, Crosstrek owners don’t care about looks or zero-to-60 mile-per-hour times. They care about all-wheel drive, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, 29 miles per gallon combined fuel economy, a starting price under $22,000, and 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down flat.
In real-world terms, that means the Crosstrek will give you a commanding view of the road, squeeze into tight spaces and fit all your camping gear — but it won’t guzzle gas or get stuck in a snowbank. And since it shares most of its exterior lines with the Impreza hatchback, it looks more like a car than an SUV.
Unlike the spartan Subarus of yore, the 2018 Crosstrek has an upgraded interior and even comes with some useful, affordable tech. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, so you can plug in your smartphone to replace the Crosstrek’s clunky navigation and entertainment touch-screen with familiar apps from your smartphone. Yeah, the Crosstrek lets a lot of harsh engine noise into the cabin, but you can always turn up your favorite playlist on Spotify.
Optional EyeSight costs just $1,395. It adds automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, so the Crosstrek can automatically follow the car ahead when you’re stuck in traffic. It also features Lane Keep Assist, which nudges the car back between the lines if you drift outside of your lane. Consider it the most basic form of the self-driving car.
The Crosstrek might be sluggish on the road, but the retuned continuously variable transmission (CVT) makes the 2018 respond to pedal inputs more predictably than its predecessor. (The CVT costs $1,000 extra, while a 6-speed manual is standard.) Steering and handling are also crisper than in the outgoing model, although both are still tuned more for comfort than sportiness.
Crosstrek really shines off the beaten path. I drove both the Crosstrek and a Toyota Corolla down the same muddy dirt road at 35 mph, back to back. While the Corolla transmitted every rattle and bounce straight into the passenger cabin, the Crosstrek’s suspension absorbed every bump and rut.
Whenever a wheel starts to slip, Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system sends power to the wheels that still have traction. In trickier situations, you’ll want to engage X-Mode. It takes over brakes, throttle, transmission, all-wheel-drive system and vehicle stability control to help the Crosstrek surmount awkward terrain or keep it from getting stuck on a unplowed back road on a snowy night.
If you want a more engaging driving experience from a car-based crossover, the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack costs a bit more but also offers additional cargo space, quicker acceleration and more nimble handling. And if you want an inexpensive crossover with an off-road heritage, the redesigned Jeep Compass is a good choice.
Still, I predict that most compact crossover buyers will continue to flock to Subaru dealers. That’s because the Crosstrek stays true to its original formula, even after a host of updates.
Yes, it’s based on a series of practical compromises, and you’ll never confuse it for a performance car or a true off-roader. But unless you’re a picky automotive journalist, the plucky Crosstrek probably has everything you need in a car.
WHAT STANDS OUT
Off-road ability: Ground clearance and all-wheel drive make this compact crossover a winter warrior.
Tech: From entertainment to safety, this Subaru is cutting edge.
Not its exterior: The 2018 model may be all new, but it looks a lot like the 2013 to 2017 Crosstrek.
2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK
What? Compact crossover.
When? On sale now.
Where? Made in Gunma, Japan.
What makes it go? A 2-liter, 152-horsepower Subaru “boxer” 4-cylinder engine, so named because its pistons oppose each other like boxers’ gloves in a ring..
How thirsty? 33 miles per gallon highway, 27 mpg city and 29 mpg combined when equipped with a continuously variable transmission. 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined with a 6-speed stick shift.
How much? Base price of $21,795, $26,905 as tested.
How big? 14.6 feet long —with 8.7 blessed inches of ground clearance.
Overall? A popular, practical compact crossover gets even better for 2018.