2018 Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru offers the Crosstrek in three levels of trim: base (2.0i), Premium, and Limited. All three trims feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and all-wheel drive is standard. The Crosstrek 2.0i base and Crosstrek Premium come with either a manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CVT is standard on Crosstrek Limited.

Pricing for the 2018 Crosstrek begins at $21,795 for the base trim and goes up to $26,295 for the range-topping Limited. For the price, Subaru equips the base trim with decent features which includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, 17-inch wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a four-speaker stereo, cloth seats, and a rearview camera.

Moving to the Premium and Limited trims, you can avail of the EyeSight suite of safety features. This includes advanced driver assistance features such as a pre-collision warning and braking system, lane departure warning, lane keeps assist, and adaptive cruise control.

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The Premium is the best value choice in the 2018 Crosstrek lineup. It has about $800 overhead cost than the base trim for which it adds a six-speaker stereo, heated front seats and mirrors, automatic headlights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Premium is also available with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, contrasting interior stitching, and a moonroof.

The CVT is a better option. It keeps the Crosstrek in its sweet spot with less effort, simulates “gears” when you’re standing on it, and takes far less effort. -thecarconnection

2018 Crosstrek Engine and Transmission

The 2018 Crosstrek uses an updated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, similar to the Impreza. The standard I-4 engine delivers 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque through a manual or a CVT to all-wheels. Subaru's Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system is brilliant and this redesigned Crosstrek benefits from a small bump in power from the outgoing 2.0-liter I-4 which was rated at 148 hp.

Even with the power bump the Crosstrek feels underpowered and offers relatively slow acceleration among subcompact crossovers. The continuously variable automatic transmission is good for fuel efficiency and unlike traditional CVTS, it doesn't make the engine noise at higher speeds.

Among the competitors, the updated Crosstrek gets the most power from its four-cylinder engine, but its heavy curb weight offers slow acceleration. However, Corsstrek is an easy entry at such an affordable price point and offers standard all-wheel-drive. The Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-3 are more fun to drive than the Subaru.

2018 Crosstrek 0-60 mph Acceleration

The 152 hp Crosstrek sprints from zero to 0 mph in about 0.3 seconds, which is a below-average performance in the crossover class. The 2018 Honda HR-V does the same run in 9.3 seconds while the CX-3 posted an 8.6 second 0-60 mph time. The transmission works fine but there isn't enough power to work with. On the highways, merging or passing need to be planned beforehand.

The sluggish acceleration in the Crosstrek is only one drawback the vehicle has, however, driving around the town is easy and smooth. Though both the transmissions are responsive, we recommend the CVT for its fuel-efficient performance.

"A slightly revised suspension with added braces upfront and softer damping help the Crosstrek lose some of its more agrarian tendencies, but the result is a predictable head toss inside. In all, it’s a worthwhile trade for most people." - theCarConnection.

2018 Crosstrek Ride, Handling, and Braking

The 2018 Crosstrek impresses with its smooth ride, off-road capabilities, and improves rigidity. The crossover is more athletic than some of its rivals and steers much like Impreza. The tall ride height, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Subaru's intelligent all-wheel-drive system, and off-road calibrated ABS ascertains its off-road prowess. 

 The Crosstrek also benefits from the extra traction and all-weather capability. Though the bare bones are solid but tall ride height results in body rolls when you aggressively drive around the corners. The steering is precise and accurate but the handling is compromised. All CVT-equipped models also get available hill-descent control,

In the emergency stopping test, the Crosstrek needed 118 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is the average stopping distance in the subcompact class. The brake pedals are firm with a linear progression. You will be confident in city traffic and along the highway.

With the manual transmission, the 2018 Crosstrek returns EPA estimated 12 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The CVT-equipped models improve the fuel economy estimates to 27/22 mpg city/highway, which is above average in the subcompact class. Considering Crosstre's standard all-wheel drive, its fuel economy estimates are impressive.

However, if you can make do with FWD, Subaru's competitors offer better gas mileage. The base CX-3 gets 29/34 mpg while the C-HR is rated at 27/31 mpg. 

"2018 Subaru Crosstrek makes its biggest strides from the last generation in refinement and comfort." – thecarconnection

2018 Crosstrek Seating and Comfort

The Crosstrek rides on top of the Impreza hatchback platform and offers class-leading interior and cargo space along with user-friendly technology. The interior design is upscale and stylish. The base trim comes with cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, and a 60/40-split, flat-folding rear seat. The front and rear seats have ample leg- and headroom and seats are reasonably comfortable.

Some critics found the cushion a little thin in both rows. Visibility is great on all sides of the crossover, thanks to Crosstrek's lifted ride height. The cabin has a clean, upscale feeling and available features include leather upholstery, cloth upholstery with contrast stitching, heated front seats, and a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat.

At the top level, Limited trim has a lot of soft-touch surfaces. If you compare the Crosstrek to some class-leading rivals, Crosstrek ranks in the top-half of the subcompact class.

2018 Crosstrek Cargo Capacity

The Crosstrek has 20.8 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The space is impressive but not class-leading as some rivals such as Honda HR-V offer more than 24 cubic feet of space. Even some hatchback including Civic offers more space behind the rear seats. 

For storing small items, Crosstrek offers decent storage spaces including center console storage and medium-sized door pockets. Both rear and front passengers have several cupholders for keeping standard water bottles.

2018 Crosstrek Infotainment System

For 2018, Subaru Crosstrek gets a standard 6.5-inch Starlink infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This Subaru's infotainment system is appreciated for its straightforward menus and crisp graphics. The interior features a lot of physical buttons and knobs that make it easy to use.

You can also equip your Subaru Crosstrek with the available navigation system, a bigger 8-inch touch screen standard on the top trim, a six- or eight-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and satellite radio.

“From the outside, the new Crosstrek is most noticeable by its nose. Its lower front bumper is full of more black plastic, and on some trims, a darker grille.” – theCarConnection

2018 Crosstrek Dimension and Weight

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is all-new this year but there its styling looks similar to the outgoing model, Subaru claims this second-generation Crosstrek is 90 percent changes. the small off-roader attitude is consistent and it has the same athletic profile, highlighted by practical gray body cladding. It also provides rugged contrast to the vibrant colors on offer. 

Upfront, the nose of the Crosstrek is quite noticeable while the lower front bumper is full of more black plastic, and on higher trims, Crosstrek gets a darker grille. The new headlight design can cover LEDs and reaches quickly into the front fenders. Also above average ground clearance also offers the twin benefits of allowing extra suspension travel and higher seat heights. 

The Subaru Crosstrek weighs from 3,113 to 3,230 pounds, depending on the trim configuration you choose. Sharing the bare bones with Impreza, the Crosstrek rides on a 104.9 inches long wheelbase. This practical crossover SUV offers a spacious interior and has above average length, width and height in the subcompact class.

The Subaru Crosstrek received a 2018 Top Safety Pick+ along with the highest rating of Good in all crash tests conducted by the IIHS. The properly equipped Crosstrk Premium and Limited earned the highest rating of Superior for front crash prevention. The NHTSA gave this crossover a five-out-of-five-star overall safety rating.

Subaru offers EyeSight driver-assist technologies including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning with sway warning and lane keep assist. The base trim features a standard rearview camera.

Available advanced safety features:

• blind-spot monitoring
• rear cross-traffic alert
• lane keep assist
• lane departure warning
• forward collision warning
• automatic emergency braking
• automatic high beams
• adaptive cruise control
• reverse automatic braking

2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2018 Honda HR-V

The 2018 Honda HR-V is also a good subcompact SUV, just like the Subaru Crosstrek. The HR-V impresses with its spacious interior with more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than the Subaru. Also, Honda provides extra rear seat configurations for carrying bulkier items. '

On the other hand, the Crosstrek has a bit more off-road capability and better ride height. Overall, the Honda HR-V is a better choice, as it is a more affordable, practical, and dynamics option in comparison to the Subaru.

2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2018 Mazda CX-3

The 2018 Mazda CX-3 is distinctive in its class as it offers spirited driving performance, a good acceleration, and sharp handling. This sporty crossover also has an upscale cabin and better fuel economy than the Crosstrek.

However, Mazda lacks standard all-wheel-drive. Also, Crosstrek's above-average ground clearance allows it to tackle the beaten paths more easily than the CX-3. For budget entry into the segment, going with Mazda CX-3 with standard FWD can save you around $4,200 compared to the Subaru. The Crosstrek has its own benefits including more room for passengers and cargo.

The Subaru Crosstrek is a decent subcompact offering that offers a perfect combination of family needs for space and utility at an affordable price point and ownership cost. Where most other rivals throw better features at lower starting prices or offer more sporting driving dynamics, the Crosstrek is is easier to live with on a daily basis. Thank the redesigned 2018 Crosstrek which features improved cabin tech and smoother ride, and it remains one of the most capable off-road SUVs compared to anything in its price range.