2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Originally launched as the XV Crosstrek, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is currently in its second generation following great sales success. We've long described the Crosstrek as one of the best subcompact crossovers on the market, thanks to its impressive safety technology, surprising off-road capabilities, deceptively spacious interior, and affordable price tag. There was only one glaring issue: it was painfully slow. For the 2021 model year, Subaru has solved the Crosstrek's biggest weakness by adding a larger 2.5-liter engine producing 182 horsepower, while retaining a CVT gearbox and the brand's famed AWD system. There's also a more affordable base engine with a manual transmission and a hybrid variant on offer.

Even with a power boost, the Crosstrek is not without more powerful competition. The Mazda CX-30 has joined the hatch-turned-crossover segment and has substantially more power with its turbocharged engine, while the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos are down on power but also cost less. The Crosstrek has always been an adventure vehicle first, more capable than others at the trade-off of losing out on luxury. To find out if a new engine will help keep the Subaru Crosstrek competitive, CarBuzz spent a week-long test drive with the Sport trim to see whether more power fixes all its flaws.

There are sexier small SUVs on the market, but glamour has never been the hallmark of the Subaru brand. Rather, this is an SUV designed to occasionally tackle the dirt and it looks that way with its raised body and black lower cladding. Subaru has gently updated the Crosstrek this year with a new front fascia and a new grille, while also adding some new wheel designs. The changes are nothing spectacular, but it remains an unpretentious, lovable little thing. The base model has 17-inch black alloy wheels, while other variants have 18-inch alloys. A roof spoiler, black roof rails, and multi-reflector halogen headlights are standard on the entry-level model, while pricier variants get fog lights and LED steering-responsive headlights. The new Sport has its own grille design, while a power moonroof is optionally available on all but the base Crosstrek.

All trims share the same key dimensions, including a length of 176.5 inches, a width of 71 inches, and a height of 63.6 inches including the roof rails. Only the Crosstrek Hybrid differs with its lower roof rails, resulting in a height of 62.8 inches for this model. The Crosstrek is no car or ordinary hatchback when it comes to ground clearance, with a useful 8.7 inches. By comparison, the more road-biased Mazda CX-30 has eight inches of ground clearance. As for curb weight, the lightest model is the base manual Crosstrek at 3,117 pounds, while the heaviest is the Crosstrek Hybrid at 3,717 lbs.

The gas-only Subaru Crosstrek is offered in a selection of eight colors, and even if you go for one of the metallics, they won't cost you anything extra. These colors are Crystal Black Silica, Cool-Gray Khaki, Horizon Blue Pearl, Ice Silver metallic, Magnetite Gray metallic, Pure Red, Plasma Yellow Pearl, and Crystal White Pearl. The Sport isn't offered in Pure Red and the hybrid derivative has a limited color palette consisting of Crystal White Pearl, Cool-Gray Khaki, Magnetite Gray metallic, and Lagoon Blue Pearl. Curiously, you can only have Cool-Gray Khaki on the hybrid if you also opt for the optional sunroof package at $2,500.

We enjoyed our tester's Horizon Blue, though we'd opt for Plasma Yellow Pearl if given the choice. It's a pity that there are no beige tones to choose from since these colors do a good job of hiding dirt and grime. However, grays and silvers are not bad options for concealing the after-effects of your adventure-filled weekends.

The Crosstrek's performance ranges from sluggish to quite sprightly, but it isn't anywhere near class-leading next to its competitors in this area. In prior Subaru Crosstrek reviews, we found the base engine woefully underpowered but this year, the 2.5-liter Boxer engine joins the lineup and makes a decent 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. According to independent tests, this power plant will see the Crosstrek get from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds, a dramatic improvement over the base 152-hp 2.0-liter engine's nine-second effort. The latter model will take eons to reach its top speed. Slotting in between these two configurations is the Crosstrek Hybrid, which is quicker than the base model but not quite as nippy as the new 2.5L. There's more performance to be had elsewhere, though. The new turbocharged Mazda CX-30, for example, needs just over six seconds to hit 60 mph.

Regardless of the model you choose, all are fitted with the brand's symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, whereas you'd have to pay extra for AWD in most SUVs from the competition. The gas-powered Crosstreks can tow up to 1,500 pounds, but this drops to 1,000 lbs for the hybrid.

If you can stretch to the bigger engine, we recommend doing so. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine can only muster 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to a standard six-speed manual gearbox, but a Lineartronic CVT is available optionally. The Crosstrek Sport and Limited get the new 2.5-liter four-pot which produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft, although, much to our chagrin, this engine can only be paired with the CVT. Finally, the Crosstrek Hybrid combines the 2.0-liter four-pot with a permanent AC synchronous electric motor. This electric motor produces 118 hp and 149 lb-ft on its own, but the total system output works out to 148 hp. A second electric motor functions as a starter-generator. Again, the CVT is the only transmission choice here.

The base 2.0L feels out of its depth in most situations regardless of which gearbox it's paired to. There simply isn't enough power to get anywhere in a hurry or without extending the engine often, when it emits a coarse and unpleasant noise. The hybrid at least benefits from greater torque off the mark, making it feel livelier, but the 2.5L is best at merging onto the highway or overtaking slower traffic. In our dreams, Subaru would build a turbocharged Crosstrek with a manual transmission. Although the CVT can sometimes mimic a traditional automatic transmission's shifts to help alleviate the dreaded engine drone, it's not the best one we've tested. Those 'shifts' can often feel lethargic and in reality, sticking to one rpm range helps the car accelerate quicker.

Our test drive revealed that the addition of a larger engine has mostly solved the Crosstrek's most glaring fault, but it still won't force Wrangler owners to switch to Subaru any time soon. The additional horsepower is appreciated, but we can't help but yearn for a turbocharged option for additional off-road fun. With the new 2.5-liter engine, the Crosstrek morphs from painfully slow to merely average. Like most Subaru models, the Crosstrek offers surprisingly great chassis balance that will bring a grin to your face. Body roll is to be expected from a lifted hatchback like this, but the steering is highly communicative and helps the driver feel in control of the experience at all times.

With its adequate ride height, the Crosstrek is a delight when sliding around a gravel road or dusty trail. Subaru's Symmetrical AWD system keeps the car feeling planted at all times, which should come in handy in rainy or snowy conditions. An available dual-function X-Mode lets drivers switch from snow/dirt to deep snow/mud, managing the engine, transmission, and AWD system to suit these conditions. On the paved road where most Crosstrek owners will spend the majority of their drive time, the vehicle rides well with minimal disruption or road noise for such an inexpensive price tag.

The Subaru partially makes up for its mediocre acceleration by returning some terrific economy numbers. The most fuel-efficient gas model is the 2.0-liter with the CVT which attains gas mileage estimates of 28/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined. However, the 2.5-liter isn't far behind and is actually more efficient on the highway with figures of 27/34/29 mpg. We averaged 26 mpg with mostly city driving. The least-efficient model is the 2.0-liter with the manual gearbox at 22/29/25 mpg, with a substantial drop in efficiency in city driving relative to the CVT. Considering how much quicker the 2.5-liter is and its similar economy, going for this model appears to be a no-brainer. However, none of these models can match the Crosstrek Hybrid's 35 mpg combined rating and 90 MPGe. In electric-only mode, the hybrid has a 17-mile range.

Gas-only models have a 16.6-gallon fuel tank so will manage a range of just under 500 miles. The hybrid has a smaller 13.2-gallon tank, so its range is limited to around 479 miles, including 17 miles on electric power alone. Charging the PHEV's 8.8 kWh battery will take about five hours with a typical 120-volt outlet or two hours with a 240-volt outlet.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has a gimmick-free interior that new drivers will be able to quickly grow accustomed to. No, it doesn't offer the plush materials of a Mazda CX-30, but the build quality is sound and there is enough space for six-footers to get reasonably comfortable. Depending on the trim you go for, some bright interior accents and stitching do a good job of adding some flair. Lower trims have manually adjustable seats, front USB ports, and a smaller infotainment touchscreen, but upper trims add a larger screen, a power driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and USB ports for occupants at the back. The hybrid's color multifunction display includes additional information like battery charging and energy flow. Although the cabin can't entirely keep road noise at bay, it's a solid overall effort.

In all configurations, the Subaru Crosstrek is a two-row vehicle with space for five passengers. No third row is available. We found the manual seats in the Sport trim to be fairly comfortable, though Subaru's StarTex water-repellent upholstery often feels firmer than the leather offered in the Crosstrek Limited trim. The Limited also adds a power driver's seat, increasing comfort slightly. The back seats are pretty sizable for this class, with 36.5 inches of legroom and 38 inches of headroom. As expected of an affordable crossover like this, the rear seats are fixed and do not slide or recline. These figures are reasonable but competitors like the Kia Seltos are roomier - alluding to the fact that this really is more like a compact hatchback than a true built-for-purpose crossover. The Crosstrek offers slightly more legroom than the Mazda CX-30 but slightly more headroom.

Faux carbon fiber trim and cloth upholstery are the order of the day inside the entry-level Crosstrek, and black is the only interior color choice on offer. The Crosstrek Premium is a welcome step up as it adds orange stitching and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Depending on your choice of exterior color, you can also spec gray cloth with orange stitching. The mid-range Sport gets unique gray StarTex water-repellent upholstery with yellow stitching as well as a leather-wrapped shifter. This material feels firm to sit on, but it's more durable than cloth or traditional leather. The top two trims - the Limited and Hybrid - both have leather upholstery. In the Limited, the leather is black with orange stitching and, with certain exterior colors, the leather can be had in gray. The hybrid has Navy leather with Blue stitching. Even in Limited guise, the Crosstrek is not the most premium option in this segment, but it's far from spartan.

Behind its rear seats, the Subaru Crosstrek SUV provides 20.8 cubic feet of space. Other small SUVs like the Honda HR-V offer more space in the trunk, but at least the Crosstrek has enough space to comfortably accommodate a week's worth of groceries. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats can be easily lowered to free up a massive 55.3 cubes. However, the hybrid isn't quite as accommodating. It offers just 15.9 cubes behind the second row and 43.1 cubes with the back seats folded flat. The Premium trim and above all boast a rear cargo tray and a removable, retractable cargo area cover.

Interior storage space isn't remarkable, but at least every trim has a center console storage compartment, a lockable glovebox, dual front cupholders, and a bottle holder in every door. The top two trims have a folding rear center armrest that houses another two cupholders.

From the fairly basic entry-level model up to the better-specced Limited and Hybrid models, the Crosstrek range offers enough variety for most. The base version comes with a six-way manually-adjustable driver's seat, a small 2.4-inch LCD display within the gauge cluster, electronic cruise control, automatic climate control, keyless entry, and a rearview camera. The Premium enjoys all these features plus auto on/off headlights, heated front seats, and heated side mirrors. In the middle of the range is the Sport. It gains a larger 4.2-inch LCD display in the instrument cluster, keyless access with push-button ignition, and a bevy of driver-assist technologies that come with every CVT-equipped Crosstrek. These features include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and pre-collision braking. The top two trims - Limited and Hybrid - add high beam assist, reverse automatic braking, and a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat. All trims besides the entry-level model can be optionally equipped with a power tilt/sliding moonroof.

Subaru isn't known as the techiest brand around, and the 2021 Crosstrek continues to support this reputation. In the dash sits one of two touchscreen infotainment systems powered by Subaru's Starlink operating system with less than stellar graphics. Overall, we'd describe the system as cartoonish. A small 6.5-inch screen comes standard on base, Premium, and Sport trims, though the latter is available with the larger eight-inch touchscreen that comes standard on the Limited. The Premium and Sport also get built-in SiriusXM functionality. Four speakers come on the base trim, while all others get six speakers as standard. Only the top Limited trim is available with an eight-speaker system from Harman Kardon with 432 watts. All touchscreens offer Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth while only the eight-inch screen offers available built-in navigation.

The 2021 Crosstrek has a good J.D. Power overall rating of 81 out of 100, although its specific quality and reliability score is a slightly worse 77/100. The good news is that the Crosstrek has been recall-free over the last two years. However, there were five recalls for the 2019 model with issues including ECM software that could lead to a stall and rear seat belt assemblies that may not lock properly.

If the Subaru lets you down, you can make use of the brand's three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a limited wear item warranty for three years or 36,000 miles. A rust perforation warranty covers the first five years of ownership regardless of mileage traveled in that period.

Prospective customers will be delighted to know that the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is an exceptionally safe vehicle. It returned a full five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, including four stars for the frontal and rollover tests, and five stars for the side crash test. In the IIHS's Subaru Crosstrek review, the agency named the 2021 model as a Top Safety Pick and gave it maximum Good scores in every crashworthiness test. However, the standard, non-LED headlights were rated as Poor - only the Limited and Hybrid get LED steering-responsive headlights that were rated as Good.

If you want the best safety features available for the Crosstrek, you'll have to go for a model with the CVT transmission. Only these are fitted with Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver-assist technologies like pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, lane departure and sway warning, and adaptive cruise control with lane centering. The Limited and Hybrid additionally get high beam assist, the much more effective LED steering-responsive headlights, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking.

All Subaru Crosstrek models have a rearview camera, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring, vehicle dynamics control, and seven airbags. Included here are a driver's knee airbag and curtain airbags for occupants in every outboard seating position. These features have no doubt made those high Subaru Crosstrek safety ratings possible.

Driving the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek reaffirmed our love for this vehicle. The Crosstrek offers a balanced combination of comfort, off-road capability, safety, and driving pleasure in an affordable package. Adding a larger engine has mostly solved the Crosstrek's sluggish acceleration, though we still believe competitors in this segment warrant an even quicker turbocharged option. There is a charming simplicity to how the Crosstrek functions, and we'd still recommend it for a younger buyer seeking a capable adventure vehicle.

There are plenty of other options to consider in the subcompact crossover market, including the affordable Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos, premium Mazda CX-30, off-road capable Jeep Renegade, and many more. These options each offer a different flavor of subcompact, so the choice may come down to personal preference and brand affinity. Some buyers may also prefer the more SUV-like styling of these competitors rather than the Crosstrek's lifted hatch design. With a strong reliability track record and reasonable pricing, the Subaru Crosstrek warrants high consideration here.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek base model carries an MSRP of $22,245 in the USA. It's followed by the Premium at $23,295 and the Sport at $26,495. The Subaru Crosstrek will cost $27,995 in Limited guise. The only hybrid is also the most expensive Crosstrek at a price of $35,345. However, the Crosstrek Hybrid does potentially qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $4,502, effectively bringing it a lot closer to the Limited. Various state-specific incentives may also apply. These prices exclude tax, licensing, registration, and a destination charge of $1,050.

In the US, the CVT transmission will add $1,350 to the price of the Subaru Crosstrek for the Base and Premium trims. All other models employ the CVT by default.

This year, the new Subaru Crosstrek range comprises five trims: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Hybrid. The lower two trims come with a 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine with 152 hp and a six-speed manual transmission, but can be equipped with the CVT optionally. A larger 2.5-liter engine with 182 hp powers the Sport and Limited; here, only a CVT is offered. Finally, the CVT-equipped CrossTrek Hybrid uses a 2.0-liter engine and two electric motors to make a combined 148 hp. All models use the brand's AWD system.

Starting with the entry-level Crosstrek, the base price buys you 17-inch alloy wheels, multi-reflector halogen headlights, a roof spoiler, and black folding side mirrors. The front seats are manually adjustable and you can have the cloth upholstery in any color you want as long as it's black. Automatic climate control, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, and a four-speaker sound system are standard.

The Premium adds two speakers to the sound system, SiriusXM, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, another color choice for the cloth seats (along with orange stitching), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated front seats.

The Sport is a new trim with an even more rugged approach and is the cheapest model to use the bigger 2.5-liter engine. It's more capable thanks to X-Mode (improving traction in slippery or snowy conditions) and hill descent control. It also has a sport grille, a Gunmetal finish for the side mirrors, unique wheel arch cladding, and StarTex water-repellent upholstery. The EyeSight suite with adaptive cruise control is introduced at this level.

A more luxurious offering is the Limited. This one boasts leather seats, a folding rear center armrest, a larger eight-inch touchscreen interface, high beam assist, blind-spot detection, and reverse automatic braking.

Finally, there is the economical Hybrid, equipped to a similar standard as the Limited. It differs with its low-profile roof rails, navy leather seats with blue contrast stitching, and a unique LCD display with a power meter.

You'll have to take the base Crosstrek as it is as there are no available packages for it. It does, however, come with a good few standalone accessories like an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a footwell illumination kit. The same applies to the Premium, but the Sport at least offers a $1,600 package with a power moonroof, the StarLink eight-inch Multimedia Plus system, blind-spot detection, and cross-traffic alert. On the Limited, you can get a $2,395 package with the moonroof, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and an upgraded infotainment setup with navigation. Finally, the Hybrid's sole package costs $2,500 and adds the moonroof, the upgraded infotainment with navigation, the Harman Kardon sound system, and a heated steering wheel.

Although we still find ourselves tempted by the Crosstrek with a manual transmission, its lower fuel economy and basic specification makes it a tough recommendation. Instead, we think the larger 2.5-liter engine with the CVT will appeal to more buyers, and the Sport trim is the most affordable way to get this combination. We'd pull the trigger on the Crosstrek Sport, which starts at $26,495. From there, we'd add the omly available package for $1,600, which bundles the larger eight-inch infotainment system, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and a moonroof. With a $1,050 destination fee, this model rings in at a reasonable $29,145 price.

If you prefer a rugged, family-friendly vehicle with more of a wagon body style, the Outback should appeal. It starts at $26,795, so is the more expensive vehicle, but unlike the Crosstrek, it comes standard with the 2.5-liter engine and the EyeSight driver-assist suite. The Outback has the same ground clearance as the Crosstrek but far more cargo space thanks to its longer body. The Outback's 2,700-pound towing capacity also exceeds the gas-only Crosstrek's 1,500 lbs comfortably. For more power, the Outback can be upgraded with a 260-hp turbocharged engine that will see it comfortably leave behind the quickest Crosstrek. The Crosstrek is a plucky and capable SUV, but the more refined Outback is a nicer vehicle and worth the extra cash.

The Forester is a step up from the smaller Crosstrek, offering a comfortable ride and impressive off-road capability in a bigger package. At $24,795, it starts at $2,500 more than the Crosstrek. The Forester is only offered with the bigger, 182-hp 2.5-liter engine, but a manual gearbox is not available. The Forester is a bit better equipped as standard and offers additional extras like a power tailgate and a driver's side memory system. It also has a lot more cargo space than the smaller Crosstrek, but the towing capacity and ground clearance of both models are the same. If economy matters, the Crosstrek Hybrid wins as there is no hybrid version of the Forester. The Forester is everything the Crosstrek is, just more of it. Both are great SUVs but we'd get the Forester if we could.