Subaru Crosstrek Reviews

In the last two instalments, I have covered off the value equation, and more, for the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. But now I can reveal how it drives and if it's as good as the best small SUVs on the market.

Buyers in the small SUV segment usually demand practicality, as well as value-for-money and the latest tech. How practical is the new Subaru Crosstrek, and does it have a spacious cabin? Let's find out.

Changing model names is a risky move. But sometimes it makes no difference at all. With Subaru changing the name of its small SUV from XV to Crosstrek with the new-generation version made an impact? Read on to find out.

Subaru's XV has been a firm favourite in the small SUV category in Australia for some time, and now it's been renamed Crosstrek to bring it inline with global markets. The Hybrid S is the flagship model and we've looked at how electrification impacts everything from performance and efficiency to practicality and onnership costs.

These small SUVs promise to be small family value heroes, but can we determine which one is the best for you?

Prices have risen significantly with the change from XV to Crosstrek, so the entry price to the range is $1800 more than where the XV ended up in December 2022, but is more than $5000 dearer than it was 12 months ago.

The Crosstrek 2.0R is the pinnacle of the range in terms of equipment, but not price. Starting from $41,490 (excluding on-road costs), it’s actually slightly cheaper than its hybrid equivalent.

The Crosstrek 2.0R is priced from $38,490 (plus on-road costs) and comes generously equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, dusk-sensing headlights and black roof rails.Inside you’ll find cloth-trimmed seats, dual-zone climate control, USB-C and USB-A connections, a six-speaker stereo and an 11.6-inch tablet-style multimedia touchscreen with compatible wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a wireless charging pad.It also comes with a two-mode X-Mode off-road settings, front and rear wipers with front de-icer, self-levelling LED headlights with auto off, front cornering lamps, heated door mirrors, front LED fog lights and dark grey roof rails. Inside the 2.0R gets premium cloth trim for the seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift, sports pedals, auto-dimming rear mirror, heated front seats and a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat. It also adds USB-A and USB-C charging ports for the rear passengers, but notably no rear air-conditioning vents.The design of the Crosstrek follows the same formula as the XV, so it will be familiar to previous or current owners. That means a real ‘high-riding hatchback’ feel to the cabin, with good space up front and in the second row.The front seats have been redesigned for the Crosstrek and do feel comfortable and supportive, even after a whole day of driving.The space in the rear seats is good, enough to accommodate two adults in relative comfort but the boot is on the small side for this class, at just 291-litres. And the temporary spare tyre doesn’t fit with Subaru’s sales pitch of the Crosstrek being an off-road capable small SUV.Like the rest of the range, it comes with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of active safety features. Just some of the highlights of a comprehensive array of safety features includes Front Pre-Collision Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Lane Centring Function, Lane Departure Prevention, Lane Departure Warning, Autonomous Emergency Steering and Speed Sign Recognition. There’s also a driver monitoring system, which brings a distraction warning, drowsiness warning and facial recognition, and Subaru’s Vision Assist safety package.The 2.0L is powered by Subaru’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine making 115kW/196Nm, sending its power to the all-wheel drive system through a CVT automatic. Because of the permanent all-wheel drive the fuel economy is behind some of the Crosstrek’s key rivals, rated at 7.2L/100km.

Changing the name of a popular car model can be a very risky move. So the arrival of the new Subaru Crosstrek is a risk for the Japanese brand. It's a fresh name applied to this new-generation replacement for the XV, which was already a subtle name change from the original nameplate for the model - the Impreza XV.