The Subaru Crosstrek Sport of 2021 offers a small SUV that is safe, capable and easy to maneuver. Off-road enthusiasts will also appreciate the many off-road features of the crossover, including an X-Mode and hill-descent controls that help keep you out of trouble in tough terrain.
It's rare that an automaker would put a vehicle as small and light on the road as the Crosstrek, but Subaru does it well. The simple design of the Crosstrek means that it doesn't try too hard to be something it's really not. This gives it its unique appeal and character.
This crossover is rugged, and that's why it's a good choice for families on an adventure. We took the Crosstrek for a short drive in the desert. Its AWD system and hill-descent-control proved indispensable to get us through the rough terrain.
Like any Subaru model, the Crosstrek 2021 is equipped with a number of safety features. These include a standard EyeSight driver assistance system which includes a forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure notification, as well as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistant, and lane-departure detection. Subaru should keep offering it as an option.
Powered by an upgraded 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the Crosstrek sports 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. It's a big improvement over the 2.0-liter in the base model, and we were glad to have this larger engine.
The new engine is not much more powerful than its predecessor, but it reaches the powerband much faster. The engine isn't very powerful, but it can move the crossover through traffic quickly and easily. That's what we would expect from a small vehicle like this.
Also, it's pretty efficient. Crosstrek has a range of up to 100 kilometres per tank, which makes it more efficient than its rivals.
There's ample space inside the crossover for passengers and luggage. The rear seat offers generous headroom (39.8 inches) and legroom (43.1 inches). The seats are very comfortable too thanks to a generous amount of cushioning, and supportive bolstering.
You'll also find a small bin under the center console lid and a pocket ahead of the shifter, but those aren't as spacious as the glovebox. The fold-down rear armrest takes up much of the available space.
Crosstrek's final feature is its standard 11.6 inch touchscreen which runs Starlink, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connections. While we'd prefer to have seen a more expensive touchscreen running a greater number of apps, the Crosstrek offers the best value for money.