Summary
It’s never been a rock-crawling off-roader, but the Subaru Crosstrek has long been an affordable, tough, and fuel-efficient package designed to go a little further off the pavement than the Impreza hatchback. That won’t change as the Crosstrek enters the next generation for the 2024 model year. The styling has changed, but in true Subaru fashion, it hasn’t changed wildly. The same goes for the interior, which should remain as roomy and practical as the 2023 model. It’s possible—albeit a little—that we might see more changes, but so far Subaru hasn’t announced those details for the US-market Crosstrek. Important improvements have been made, however, as Subaru points out, the seats have been redesigned to be more comfortable and reduce head impact. The EyeSight driver assistance package also benefits from an upgraded camera module. We expect to see the Crosstrek 2024 debut soon in a North American guise and go on sale sometime in 2023.
What’s New for 2024?
It may look very similar to the Crosstrek 2023, but the 2024 model has been completely redesigned and is the start of the third generation of subcompact crossovers.
Price and Where to Buy
While Subaru hasn’t said how much the Crosstrek 2024 will cost or how many trims it will offer, we think it will follow the model’s success formula out. Expect a starting price of around $25,000, with higher-end models increasing the price as features are added.
Engine, Transmission and Performance
In Japan, Subaru will offer the Crosstrek with a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor — a powertrain called the e-Boxer — but so far no such setup has been offered in North America. We expect the US-market Crosstreks to offer the same powertrain as before: a 152-hp 2.0-liter four, an 182-hp 2.5-liter engine and a 148-hp plug-in hybrid. Neither of them has delivered what we consider a striking performance. While outgoing models were offered with either a six-speed stick or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), we expect the manual to be dropped this time around. As with most other Subaru models, all-wheel drive will be standard. As we learn more about the Crosstrek powertrain and have a chance to test it ourselves, we’ll update this story with more info and add driving impressions.
Real World Fuel Economy and MPG
The EPA has yet to release a fuel economy estimate for the new Crosstrek, and without knowing exactly which powertrain it will offer, it is difficult to predict its fuel efficiency. The outgoing model is rated as high as 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway for the nonhybrid powertrain. For more information on Crosstrek’s fuel economy, visit EPA website.
Interior, Comfort and Cargo
While we expect the new Crosstrek to be as spacious and cargo-friendly as the previous model, Subaru says it has improved the seat design to make it more comfortable and has added additional sound-absorbing materials to dampen noise and dampen vibrations. Leather upholstery is optional, but most trims will come with fabric upholstery, and high-end models will have patterned inserts with silver stitching. As we learn more about the standard and optional features of Crosstrek 2024, we’ll update this story with details.
Infotainment and Connectivity
From the photos, we can see that the 2024 Crosstrek will offer the same 11.6-inch infotainment screen as other Subaru models such as the Outback station wagon and WRX sports sedan. The big screen is optional in those models, so we expect it to be an upgrade in Crosstrek too. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both expected to be standard.
Safety Features and Driver Assistance
The new Crosstrek will no doubt be offered with a bundle of Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance features, but whether or not it will become standard is unknown. The last generation Crosstrek offers this as standard only on models equipped with an automatic transmission, whereas manual transmission models do so without a package. For more information on Crosstrek crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) website. Key security features include:
- Automatic emergency braking available
- Departure lane warning is available with the help of a lane guard
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Subaru’s warranty coverage is exactly the same as most of its competitors. Like many rival hybrids, the plug-in Crosstrek comes with an extra policy to cover the car’s expensive battery-electric components.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid component warranty covers eight years or 100,000 miles
- No free scheduled maintenance
