2024 Subaru Crosstrek
Safety

Sizing Up a Sought-After Subcompact: The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Auto Journalist and presenter Jeremy Clarkson once remarked: “Subaru stands as a shining beacon of hope that one day, all cars will be made this way.” Going on to talk about the Crosstrek’s sibling in the form of the Outback, he said that it was the finest handling and comfortable SUV “that is not an SUV.” For anyone interested in traveling just a bit further than the pavement, the brand-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek offers the ideal opportunity!

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

The Autoblog team had the chance to take the new 2024 Crosstrek through California’s challenging low desertrecently. They wanted to see how this third-generation model fared as both a daily driver and an adventure-seeking number. The 2024 model rides on the same platform as the second generation, but now offers a 10% increase in structural rigidity. This improves on the brand’s segment-leading comfort, safety, and ride characteristics.

Compared to last year’s model, it keeps the lifted stance but features a bit more rugged aesthetic. Known as a welcoming beacon for Jeep lovers that are branching out or trying something new, there’s also a very nice roof rack that can carry 176 pounds. This is just during the drive, and if you’re stationary, it can withhold up to 700 lbs for an overlanding tent.

How about the powertrains in the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek? I’m already packing my gear!

Both the Base and Limited trims are powered by the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that cranks out 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. The Sport and Limited trims will offer the upgrade to a 2.5-liter engine that’s good for 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. We know that some diehards won’t enjoy the absence of a manual transmission! When they were asked about the plug-in hybrid eventually returning, Subaru wasn’t too generous with details.

The 2.0-liter nails down 27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined, while the 2.5-liter nudges in at 26/33/29 mpg. Pair this with the Crosstrek’s 16.6-gallon gas tank, and it should be easy to get more than 500 miles of highway driving. The Autoblog crew drove the Premium trim with the smaller engine. Many seasoned drivers may not expect agile handling from a lifted SUV like this, but the Crosstrek’s body roll is very slight. Soft suspension tuning and 17-inch wheels do wonders for ride comfort.

So, this thing is super appealing! What’s the ride like?

We mentioned Jeep earlier and wholeheartedly admit that we have tons of love for the brand! However, road noise cancellation could be considered just a bit better in the Crosstrek, with hardly a hint at high speed. Many models will force the driver to compensate a bit regarding features when they have above-average off-road performance. Boasting 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Crosstrek is fully prepped for the rocky stuff.

This testing crew crawled up a steep rocky trail with no issues thanks to the X-Mode drive setting. Offering up traction that is enhanced by the best of modern technology, the driver is poised perfectly for any silt or shake. Hill Descent Control is great for the way down, and much more thorough than just crossing your fingers and manually lowering to 1st. The X-Mode will keep you sturdy and fully in command at speeds up to 22 mph.

Adventure terrain outside, future comforts inside

Once inside the Crosstrek, many of the elements making things more comfortable are much like the 2023 model. There is an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, along with twin 7-inch displays. The driver and front passenger still have their own temperature controls. We’d definitely opt for the wireless charging pad that’s optional on the Base and Premium trims to keep devices properly juiced.

The 2024 model features a wider view on the EyeSight forward-looking cameras. Automatic Emergency Steeringnow takes things a step further, even swerving within the lane to avoid obstructions. Behind everything, there are 19.9 cubic feet of cargo, ideal for blades, boards, or anything else that can fit poised for action off the roof rack. This is not the space inside that a Suburban or Escalade would provide, but still an excellent place to check out the digital video from the adventure or check out the trail map. What some would almost call tiny yet incredibly agile makes the Crosstrek a very unique and sought-after driving experience.

Meticulously made to last:

Did you know that 97% of Subaru Crosstrek models sold in the last decade are still seen on the road? Kelley Blue Book named Subaru the Most Trusted Brand for 8 reliable years in a row! Resale value has also been a huge draw as of late. KBB even named Subaru the best in class for three years as well. The 2023 Crosstrek received the highest rating possible for front crash prevention from IIHS when equipped with EyeSight.

The Edmunds.com team also claimed that “The Crosstrek delivers strong value and hefty all-weather capability.” In 2022, IntelliChoice gave the Crosstrek the honor of its SmartChoice Lowest Ownership Cost accolade. Newsweekclaimed during their 2021 Autos Awards that the Crosstrek was “the best small SUV.” This is truly a choice that is comfortable on road. Yet able to handle what the challenges of off-roading dish out.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Conclusion on the Crosstrek:

We are sold on this thing. To the point we’d like to drive somewhere such as the scenic Oregon Coast or throughYellowstone Park with it! If there are any complaints across the vast network of auto experts we have checked with, it’s about performance: the engine can seem on the weak side. However, the standard all-wheel drive on every trim makes up for it. Do you like the way the Crosstrek evokes the Subaru language? Let us know in the comments below, or check out another article here about the 2022 Subaru Outback.

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Jon Weirman
I am a freelance writer in the Midwest who specializes in vehicles built for expert-level off-roading, and anything with a staggering amount of horsepower. In my first life I worked in broadcasting for Starz Network and Discovery Channel. I also love retro video games and sci-fi movies. Everything from the loud and burly muscle cars of the late 1970s to new crossover SUVs with futuristic tech features have populated my inbox!

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