2019 Subaru Crosstrek

Times have changed, however, the subcompact SUV segment has evolved from a goofy hatch concept to a mainstream segment. Jam-packed with premium SUVs, all of these cars work on the same ideology, but each brings something new to the table. For example, the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 boast their superior handling, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Hyundai Kona flaunt their tech-savvy feature list, and the Subaru is an off-roading wrecking machine.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek is offered in 3 trims, 2.0i, 2.0i Premium, and 2.0L Limited. A 2.0L Boxer-4 cylinder engine is shared amongst all 3 trim levels. There are 2 options for transmission with a 6-speed automatic and a CVT gearbox, though you need to add an additional $1,000 for the CVT. However, CVT is the only transmission on the offer for the Limited trim.

Trim	2.0i	2.0i Premium	2.0i Limited
MSRP (Automatic)	$21,895	$22,895	Not Offered
MSRP (CVT)	$22,895	$23,895	$27,195
Key Features	17-inch wheels	Leather-wrapped steering wheel	18-inch wheels
	60/40-split folding rear seat	Six-speaker sound system	8-inch touchscreen
	EyeSight suite of advanced safety features	Contrasting interior stitching	LED adaptive headlights
	Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration	Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert for the EyeSight system	Keyless entry and ignition
	6.5-inch touchscreen dashboard display	Noise-reducing windshield and extra Subaru Starlink features	Power-adjustable driver's seat
	Driver information display	Heated seats and mirrors	Leather seating
	Rearview camera	Sunroof	Automatic climate control
	Four-speaker sound system	Automatic headlights	f

Well, Subaru made it clear, they wanted a feature-rich SUV, so the Base 2.0i is well equipped with all the tricks and treats from the Subaru’s warehouse. The 2.0 Premium and Limited trim make things better. You can equip any trim with Subaru’s EyesSight suit which adds a set of advanced safety features including Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Braking, Lane Keep Assist and more.

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Now that you can add the EyeSight safety suite to the base variant the 2.0i trim makes more sense. Since there is no change in engine and the additional features are not that lucrative, there is no point in spending more.

“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”- Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

Despite having 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, the Crosstrek’s engine is lazy and uninspiring. The hood hides a 2.0L Boxer-4 engine which is either mated to a 6-speed automatic or a CVT transmission. Well, no matter which one you choose the engine doesn’t feel motivated to accelerate. However, the throttle response is tuned to cover up the nebulous buzzing sound which hounds their yesteryear’s transmission, that’s an improvement.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
MSRP	$21,859	$20,520	$20,945	$19,500	$23,200	$20,390	21,300	$20,945
Engine	2.0 Liter Boxer-4	1.8 Liter Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4	1.4 Turbocharged Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4	1.4 Liter Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4
Transmission	6-speed manual	2-speed CVT with Overdrive	2-speed CVT with Overdrive and auto-manual	6-speed automatic with Overdrive and auto-manual	2-speed CVT with Overdrive and Manual mode	6-speed automatic	2-speed CVT with Overdrive and Manual mode
Horsepower	152 hp @ 6000 rpm	141 hp @6500 rpm	144 hp @ 6100 rpm	147 hp @ 6200 rpm	138 hp @ 4900 rpm	148 hp @ 6000 rpm	138 hp @ 4900 rpm	148 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	145 lb. ft. @ 4000 rpm	127 lb. ft. @ 4300 rpm	139 lb. ft. @ 3900 rpm	132 lb. ft. @ 4500 rpm	148 lb. ft. @ 1850 rpm	146 lb. ft. @ 2800 rpm	148 lb.-ft. @1850 rpm	145 lb.-ft. @ 4,200 rpm

This baby SUV might drive fine and accomplish its off-roading intentions but it’s awfully slow during the post 60mpg acceleration. Though that’s what you expect from a crossover weighing over 3100 pounds so its all good. You can skip the CVT if you want, there is not much difference in the fuel economy numbers.

Despite the sluggish powertrain Subaru Crosstrek is still the most potent SUV in the segment. Its 152 horsepower has no rivals get. The closest competition comes from Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Kona with their 148 and 147 horsepower.

Acceleration

The engine’s sluggish attitude will leave you scratching your head. The throttle response is long and acceleration feels sluggish, not the best car for a sprint. On the highway, overtaking, merging and passing lanes feels like mountainous work for the Crosstrek. The SUV takes 9.0 seconds to complete the 60 mph test, which is bad as the car competes with Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V. Further, the Subaru took 17 seconds to hit the quarter-mile light, even a minivan can beat that.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
0-60 MPH (sec)	9.0	9.3*	11.0	10.0	8.4	8.6	9.3	8.9
Quarter mile (sec)	16.9	16.8*	18.4	17.3	16.2	16.3	16.8	16.6
Engine	2.0-L H-4	1.8-L I-4	2.0-L I-4	2.0-L I-4	1.4-L I-4	2.0-L I-4	1.4-L I-4	2.0-L I-4
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.0	6.3*	6.0	5.9	6.3	5.7	6.3	7.1

The 9-second 0-60 mph acceleration feels like forever but we have competitors delivering much less. Toyota C-HR and Hyundai Kona are the potential lagers in the lot. Considering, it’s a 3100 pound SUV its average performance is acceptable.

Ride and Handling

After hearing such horrible things and comparing the Crosstrek to an actual turtle, you might not have high hopes for its handling, but the story is different. As for improvements, the new CVT is a true upgrade and the last year’s inelastic suspension was softened to a point where it absorbs rocky pavements and shocks perfectly. Cornering might not have the zoom effect but it’s easy to maneuver, just don’t try to speed up in a fully loaded Crosstrek you will suffer from a lot of body roll.

The steering feel resembles that of the Impreza which is a great thing for Subaru supporters. The steering is well balanced without any anomaly as the road communication is plenty to judge the SUV’s actions. Further, you have the Subaru’s signature X-mode to take on tricky off-road tracks.

Braking

The Braking dynamics are fair and manageable to endure the city’s on and off traffic. The pedal feels composed and firm with a softness for easy modulation. Front brakes are rated at 11.6 inches and the rear brakes follow with 10.8-inch disc brakes. Compared to the other baby SUVs this one is quite big and heavy. The 3113-pound weight is too much for a car competing in subcompact SUV territory and is expected to hinder hard braking.

Model	Subaru Crosstrek	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Brake Front (in.)	11.6	11.5	11.8	11.8	11.8	11	11.8	11.6
Brake Rear (in.)	10.8	11.1	11.1	9.0 (Drum)	10.6	11.1	9.0	11.9
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3113	2906	3300	2890	3237	2809	2805	3,032
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

No matter how underpowered Subaru’s boxer engine feels it can punch its way to achieve efficiency. The Crosstrek delivers 23 mpg of city and 29 mpg of highway mileage, which is good if you want it as a daily driver. Some would say isn’t the best but hey, it isn’t the worst either, especially when coming from an off-roader. Going in with the CVT transmission spices up the mileage to 27mpg city, 33mpg highway, and 29mpg combined which doesn’t make a lot of difference, so you can stick to the 6-speed automatic if you want.

Model	Subaru Crosstrek	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
MPG (city)	23	28	27	27	26	29	25	24
MPG (highway)	29	34	31	33	31	34	33	30
MPG (combined)	25	30	29	30	28	31	28	27

The 25 mpg combined mileage seems fair till you start comparing. Mazda CX-3 is the most efficient car in the segment so is the Hyundai Kona. In front of that, Subaru’s efficiency seems to undermine, though keep in mind it’s different SUV altogether.

“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”- Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Subaru favored practicality over flashy interior designs and quality with the Crosstrek. The cabin is smartly laid-out with every feature and nobs easy to read and modulate without being distracting. Most SUVs in the segment are plagued with short cabin space, but not the Crosstrek it’s a capacious SUV with enough space and support on the front and rear seats. The headroom and legroom are satisfying and the seating position compliments the driver. You get a good look at the bonnet and the road as visibility is not an issue, thanks to the big windshield and thin front pillars.

Model	Subaru Crosstrek	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Front Headroom (in)	39.4	39.8	39.5	38.1	39.6	39.6	38.4	39.6
Shoulder room (in)	56.7	56.8	49	55.5	54.2	53.5	54.1	56.2
Legroom (in)	43.1	41.2	43.5	41.5	40.8	41.7	40.8	41.6
Rear Headroom (in)	37.9	38	38.3	38.3	37.8	38.8	37.2	38.8
Shoulder room (in)	55.6	54.5	52.5	54.5	52.5	50.4	52.8	55.5
Legroom (in)	36.5	39.3	31.7	34.6	35.8	35	35.7	36.3

With seating for 5, the Subaru Crosstrek was born with strong SUV genes. Compared to other baby SUVs in the segment, Subaru offers a lot of space. The seats sit high above the ground thanks to its good ground clearance. Front seats feature 39.8 inches of headroom and 43.1 inches of legroom. The rear seats are not that bad either, the headroom is nice but the 36.5 inches of legroom is ok-ish but can create a problem for people over 6 feet.

Infotainment System

The Base 2.0 Crosstrek is equipped with a 6.5-inch infotainment screen with Subaru’s STARLINK infotainment system. As you climb up the trim ladder an 8-inch infotainment screen replaces the previous one with more tech-savvy features. Through you still have Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Pandora integration as standard features throughout the trim family. Another standard tech comes sin from a built-in voice-activated navigation system, 4 audio speakers, Aha, SiriusXM and more.

Cargo volume

The Crosstrek might feel like a mediocre vehicle for what’s it offered with. Its cargo capacity is not that much so don’t carry a lot of luggage on your off-road expedition, which actually becomes a dilemma for off-road buyers. The standard cargo volume is rated at 20.8 cubic feet, this could be expanded through the standard 60/40 foldable seats to 55.3 cubics. They had to utilize the empty spaces inside the cabin, so they filled it with door pockets and cubby holes, so there is a lot of cabin utility on the Crosstrek.

Model	Subaru Crosstrek	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Trunk Volume (ft.3)	20.8	24.3	19	19.2	18.8	12.4	18.7	21.7
Cargo Volume with Rear seats folded (ft.3)	55.3	58.8	36.4	45.8	48.4	44.5	48.4	49.5

Subaru’s 20.8 cubics might feel like the best but it's not. Honda surpassed the Crosstrek with its 24.3 cubic feet of cargo. Even with the second seats down, it delivers a tad less cargo space.

“The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek has all the right outdoorsy cues, but you’ll have to add the requisite bike/kayak/canoe/ski/snowboard/tent to the roof and national park stickers to its rear window”- The Car Connection

Design and Dimensions

Let’s be honest everyone loves the idea of a beefed-up wagon, that’s what crafted the subcompact SUV segment in the first place. When the news reached Subaru’s headquarters in 2012 they gave us the Crosstrek and even then it was a blockbuster SUV. Today’s version has been made better, its taller than before with its massive 8.7-inch ground clearance, have a split up tail lights, unpainted fender flairs, and 17/18 inch alloy wheels, everything required to forge a badass off-roader. However, the skin is more practical than magnetic which pays off well in the Crosstrek’s case.

Model	Subaru Crosstrek	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Curb weight (lbs.)	3157	2906	3300	2890	3237	2809	2805	3,032
Length(in)	175.8	170.4	171.2	164.0	168.4	168.3	167.2	171.9
Width(in)	71	69.8	70.7	70.9	70.1	69.6	69.9	71.3
Height(in)	63.6	63.2	61.6	61	65.2	60.7	64.9	64.8
Ground clearance (in)	8.7	5.4	5.9	6.7	6.2	6.1	6.2	8.5
Wheelbase (in)	104.9	102.8	103.9	102.4	100.6	101.2	100.6	105.1
Track width (in) F/R	61/61.2	60.4/60.6	60.6/60.6	60.62/60.62	60/59.5	60.6/60.6	60.6/60.6

This bulky baby SUV was built bigger than the usual subcompact mold. The total front to back length was rated at 175.8 inches, breath at 71 inches, and height at 63.3 inches. Its taller than the rest of its fellow SUVs and features an inspiring 8.7 inches of ground clearance for off-road intentions. The 104.9-inch wheelbase will give is a wider turning radius but it also gives the suspension enough time to soak up the bumps and jerks of rocky terrains.

A great fighter once said, “It ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit”, and Subaru can take hit without any major causality. NHTSA confirms the fact by giving the Crosstrek an all-star rating. Though IIHS has not yet tested the Crosstrek yet last year’s Subaru gained the maximum Good Rating for every aspect which isn’t an easy nut to crack. Going with the CVT version expands your safety feature list with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control. Lane departure warning, and more.

Honda HR-V vs Subaru Crosstrek

Honda HR-V is a typical crossover subcompact that everybody wants, it’s a well-rounded SUV which has got everything right to a certain extent. There is not much to accomplish when you pit a mature car like Honda with the Crosstrek. Subaru’s off-roading capabilities and huge size is the only thing where it has an upper hand over the HR-V, otherwise, in terms of power, practicality, and performance the HR-V beats the Crosstrek bigtime.

We would suggest to only buy the Crosstrek if you have off-reading dreams but don’t want to spend for a full-sized SUV, otherwise, you are better off with Honda.

Mazda CX-3 vs Subaru Crosstrek

Known for its sporty ride quality Mazda CX-3 is the most capable subcompact SUV in the segment. Despite a low horsepower Mazda rockets in like an aggressive bully, it cut corners with ease and handles well for a subcompact. Subaru, on the other hand, is a slowpoke with big muscles and tall stance. The CX-3 will pass by the Subaru in a heartbeat and it will still struggle to cross 60 mph. However, its better on delivering practicality than the CX-3 and can comfortably seat 5 people.

You can say the Crosstrek is a Subaru Impreza in an SUV mystic minus the potent engine. Best suited for off-roading, it’s the rugged subcompact that everyone wants but no one gets. With its high riding nature and better cabin space, Subaru competes in a league of its own. However, that league overlaps with other athletic subcompacts like the Mazda CX-3 and Honda HR-V which outshines the Subaru with their sharp handling. But Crosstrek is more than a buffed up wagon, it’s a practical vehicle altogether and appropriate for people living in the countryside. Furthermore, it’s not all sunshine, the engine feels sluggish and acceleration average.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek is a fulfilling package with decent fuel economy, capacious cabin, and off-roading capabilities. Settle for average handling and you have something more than an image of subcompact SUV.