2019 Subaru Crosstrek Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　

What's new

Revised feature availabilityThe Starlink telematics system gains a few new featuresPart of the second Crosstrek generation introduced for 2018

　　The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek's primary draw is its jack-of-all-trades nature. Like a lot of other similarly priced cars or crossover SUVs, it has a roomy interior for both people and cargo, a smooth ride quality, and a long list of available advanced safety features. But it's also equipped with standard all-wheel drive and a raised suspension that provides 8.7 inches of ground clearance. These features make the Crosstrek more capable in poor weather and on off-road trails.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$148/mo  for Crosstrek 2.0i

　　Crosstrek 2.0i

　　2.0i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl 6M) - $21,895 MSRP2.0i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $22,895 MSRP2.0i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl 6M) - $22,895 MSRP2.0i Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $23,895 MSRP2.0i Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,195 MSRPHybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid CVT) - $34,995 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　The main thing holding the Crosstrek back is its engine. It's underpowered and loud and buzzy when prodded. This is especially true when it's paired to the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) since the elasticlike revving nature of the CVT automatic brings out the engine's worst qualities. There's not a big payoff in terms of fuel economy either.

　　Overall, we like the 2019 Crosstrek. It's best suited for adventure-bound owners or those who live in regions that have frequent bad weather. If you don't fall into these categories, however, a subcompact crossover such as the Hyundai Kona or the Mazda CX-3 might suit you better because they're more enjoyable to drive.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid as one of zzdcar' Best Small SUVs and Best Small SUVs for this year.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.6 / 10

　　The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek exceeds expectations in most areas. We give it high marks for its above-average off-road ability, roomy interior, and long list of advanced safety features. Unfortunately, its loud engine is underpowered, and handling is underwhelming compared to rivals.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i Limited (turbo 2.0L flat-4 | CVT automatic | AWD)

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.6 / 10
Driving	7.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	8.5
Utility	7.0
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

7.0

　　The Crosstrek is abysmally slow for a modern vehicle. If you can get past that drawback, though, it offers reassuring steering and a lot of off-road ability. Handling and in-town drivability are acceptable, though rivals offer a more enjoyable driving experience the majority of the time.

　　

Acceleration

5.0

　　The Crosstrek's 152-hp engine and CVT automatic provide sluggish acceleration. Highway merging and passing maneuvers can be difficult. Considering the 0-60 mph time of 10.3 seconds at the zzdcar test track, a Toyota Prius can outrace you from a stoplight.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　When you come to a stop, pedal feel is good, with a linear progression in brake pressure. It's easy to modulate in city traffic and along the highway. In zzdcar' simulated panic-stop test, the Crosstrek slowed from 60 mph in 118 feet. That's an average distance for the class.

　　

Steering

8.0

　　The Crosstrek steers much like the related Subaru Impreza, which means most buyers will be happy with the reassuring on-center feel and the lack of play in the steering wheel. The amount of power assist feels just right.

　　

Handling

6.5

　　While the Crosstrek's Impreza-based bones are solid, the hard tires and tall ride height result in compromised handling. There is a significant amount of body roll when you drive aggressively around turns, and the back end feels unexpectedly light when you hit a bump or a patch of dirt midcorner.

　　

Drivability

6.5

　　At low speeds the Crosstrek is less lurchy off the line than the outgoing model but still has an unresponsive CVT automatic. It is more drivable in the city than many larger crossovers — it can fit easily in tight spaces — but the lack of power is a drawback, especially with a full load.

　　

Off-road

9.0

　　Off-roading is where the Crosstrek shines thanks to the 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. Subaru's X-mode (hill descent control) works well and is a rare feature in this class. Outside of the Jeep brand, you'll have a hard time finding a better off-roader for the price.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　Thanks to its relatively quiet and smooth ride, the Crosstrek is pleasant to drive on the highway. Going up a hill or passing other cars makes for some serious racket under the hood, though. The seats are generally comfortable and well-bolstered.

　　

Seat comfort

7.0

　　Both the front and rear seats have decent bolstering, which helps you stay in place when driving around turns. But the seat padding is rather firm. If you prefer softer seats, long trips may cause some comfort issues.

　　

Ride comfort

8.5

　　Ride comfort is excellent, even with the optional 18-inch wheels. Small and large bumps on the highway are absorbed easily and quickly. On undulating hills, the Crosstrek's body feels stable.

　　

Noise & vibration

5.5

　　There is minor steering and center console vibration when idling, and our test car had a few noticeable squeaks and rattles. Wind noise is almost zero. But the engine is raucous and unpleasant when you go full throttle, which is pretty much every time you pass another car or climb a grade.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　Our test car had the automatic climate control system, which is easy to operate through the three centrally located dials. A couple of the main air vents are right next to the steering wheel. They blow air directly on the driver's hands, which you may or may not like.

　　

Interior

8.5

　　The Crosstrek's controls are laid out well, and the car is easy to get in and out of. There's plenty of room in both the front and back seat. Thanks to the Crosstrek's lifted ride height (compared to its Impreza sibling), visibility is excellent.

　　

Ease of use

8.0

　　The radio controls, touchscreen interface and climate control knobs are generally easy to read and use, and the secondary dashboard info screen is surprisingly useful. Large fonts, high-resolution screens and simple button structures help ease the learning curve dramatically.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.5

　　As you'd expect from a compact crossover, the seats are mounted right at slide-in height. Average-height adults can get in without ducking their heads much at all. That's true for both the front and rear seats.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel allows for a lot of adjustment, and the driver's seat is six-way-adjustable, so there's plenty of range for all types of drivers to find a good fit.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　The Crosstrek has plenty of headroom and legroom in the front and a decent amount of room in the back. Those over 6 feet may find the backseat legroom a little cramped, but only just.

　　

Visibility

9.0

　　Visibility is excellent out of the front thanks to a big windshield, small front pillars and small sectional windows near the windshield. A big rear window and rear quarter-panel windows make for great rear visibility as well.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　There are lots of nice soft-touch surfaces on the inside of the Crosstrek, especially at the top Limited trim level. If you compare the Crosstrek to some class-leading compact hatchbacks, it's middling. But among the Jeeps of the world, it's a class leader.

　　

Utility

7.0

　　Compared against crossovers such as the Jeep Compass and the VW Golf Alltrack, the Crosstrek's utility is below average. Even against a compact hatch like the Civic, total cargo capacity is a few cubic feet. It fits child seats easily, but the limited cargo space and small-item storage are minuses.

　　

Small-item storage

6.0

　　Small-item storage is decent but pales in comparison to what you get from other top compact SUVs. The center storage console and door pockets aren't as deep or long as we'd like. There are several cupholders, all capable of accommodating a standard water bottle or soda can.

　　

Cargo space

6.5

　　The 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded is impressive but not class-leading. You get 20.8 cubes of cargo space behind the rear seats, compared to the 27 cubes in the Jeep Compass or the 30 cubes in the Ford Escape. This is a roomy compact hatchback, not a compact SUV.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.5

　　Car seat accommodation is excellent. The big door openings, tall roof and easily accessible rear seat latches make for a swift installation. The best part is that the roomier, redesigned interior offers plenty of space for a big rear-facing seat, too.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　Standard features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto give the Crosstrek an easy entry point for tech-savvy users. The center screen's crisp graphics are appealing. Our test car had some issues with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. But when it's working, it's one of the nicer available interfaces.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.5

　　The optional Harman Kardon audio system gives a nice increase in max volume and audio quality compared to the stock system. The 8-inch center screen is pleasant to look at and sized right for the map display.

　　

Smartphone integration

7.0

　　Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard even on the base Crosstrek, and both are responsive when working. However, even in our short test, there were several issues with USB connections and Bluetooth audio. We're not sure whether our test car's bugs are representative or not.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　Adaptive cruise control maintains an acceptable but conservative distance. Lane keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring also work well. The reverse automatic braking feature that comes with the Limited trim is a useful companion to the rearview camera.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Voice controls have to be very specific to control things such as radio stations and song selection. But after learning the menu structure, things get easier. Otherwise, the system works relatively well with natural language to make calls or input directions on the navigation screen.

　　

Which Crosstrek does zzdcar recommend?

　　For most shoppers, we recommend the base Crosstrek 2.0i. You can add the EyeSight suite of advanced safety features to it this year, so there's less of a reason to spend more to get one of the higher trim levels. It also has the same engine as all the other Crosstreks, and its interior is still pretty nice. A manual transmission is standard on this base trim, which we prefer, but you can opt for the CVT automatic. For the most part, the more expensive trims only add creature comforts.

　　

2019 Subaru Crosstrek models

　　The Crosstrek is offered in three levels of trim: 2.0i, 2.0i Premium and 2.0i Limited. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder (152-hp) engine powers every trim level and all-wheel drive is standard. A six-speed manual transmission comes on the 2.0i and 2.0i Premium trims, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional. The CVT automatic is standard on the Limited.

　　The base 2.0i trim is well-equipped for its price range. It features 17-inch wheels, a 60/40-split folding rear seat, auto up/down windows for the driver and front passenger, a rearview camera, a driver information display, a 6.5-inch touchscreen dashboard display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration, and a four-speaker sound system. This year, you can add Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features that includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and lane keeping assist.

　　Upgrading to the 2.0 Premium model adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic headlights, heated seats and mirrors, a six-speaker sound system, a noise-reducing windshield and extra Subaru Starlink features such as collision notification and remote services. The 2.0i Premium models also offer additional options, including a sunroof, contrasting interior stitching, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert for the EyeSight system.

　　The top-of-the-line 2.0i Limited builds on the features of the Premium with 18-inch wheels, LED adaptive headlights, a larger 8-inch touchscreen, leather seating, automatic climate control, keyless entry and ignition, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and all of the EyeSight features as standard. A Harman Kardon audio system and a navigation system are optional for the Limited only.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Crosstrek articles

　　

2019 Crosstrek Highlights

Type: SUVPlug-in HybridSUV

　　Trim: 2.0i2.0i Premium2.0i LimitedHybrid2.0i

　　

Base MSRP	$21,895
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$148/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles