2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Will Start at $21,995

Despite strong sales in recent years, Subaru has long faced a major challenge in the American marketplace: Because of its commitment to all-wheel drive—standard on all vehicles except the Toyota-fied Subaru BRZ—the brand’s vehicles have struggled to achieve the kind of high fuel-efficiency ratings offered by the front-wheel-drive competition. Things began to change when the all-new Subaru Impreza was engineered to achieve up to 36 mpg, yet that was still a full 6 mpg behind the FWD segment leader.  The next new Subie, however, will mark a notable breakthrough. The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek will be able to reach 33 mpg on the highway, giving it not only the highest marks of any AWD crossover in the nation, but also the exact same EPA grade as high-efficiency FWD choices like the redesigned and EcoBoosted 2013 Ford Escape.

The starting price for the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek? A mere $21,995 for the Premium model and $24,495 for the up-level Limited version.

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: Rugged and Ready for Action

Subaru’s new crossover may be packed with next-gen features, but it takes a distinctly old-school approach to attracting customers by putting its focus on functionality and capability. For example, the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, meaning that it rides just a tenth of an inch lower than a stock Jeep Wrangler. That advantage plus the automaker’s signature all-wheel-drive technology gives the Crosstrek the off-road skills that the Escape and other, more car-like choices simply can’t match.

The Crosstrek also provides a roomy rear cargo area that can hold up to 51.9 cubic feet of gear with the second-row seats folded flat, while a standard cargo cover, waterproof cargo tray, tie-down hooks and grocery-bag hooks allow owners to make the most of all that storage capacity. Naturally, an assortment of other interior storage solutions are thoughtfully placed throughout the Crosstrek’s cabin.

It looks the part, too, thanks to a healthy dose of black cladding, 17-inch wheels shod with all-season rubber, and robust roof rails.

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: Powertrain and Performance

Standard motivation in the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek comes with the same newly engineered 2.0-liter boxer-style engine found in the Impreza. The powerplant is able to derive 148 hp and 145 lb.-ft. of torque from its four horizontally opposed cylinders, and while that leaves the Crosstrek somewhat underpowered compared to most rivals, the Subaru makes up the difference in terms of fuel efficiency. Here’s how the most-efficient Crosstrek matches up to some of its AWD rivals:

Vehicle

Power (hp/torque)

EPA Ratings

Crosstrek

148/145

25/33/28

Escape

173/184

22/30/25

Hyundai Tucson

175/168

21/28/23

Honda CR-V

185/163

22/30/25

Toyota RAV4

179/172

22/30/25

It’s also worth noting that the Subaru provides a significant value advantage against the competition. Because all-wheel drive is a four-figure option on the other entries but standard on the Crosstrek, the Subaru is priced from $1,750 to $4,285 lower than the competing quartet listed here. (Note: The latter figure is the difference between the Crosstrek and the AWD Escape, which has to rely on its more expensive 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine to post its top EPA marks.)

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: Features and Options

On the other hand, customers shouldn’t get the idea that the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek is a stripped-down, bare-bones econobox. The Premium edition—the starting point of the lineup—comes complete with standard heated front seats and outside mirrors, Bluetooth technology for hands-free calling and audio streaming, a multi-function steering wheel, and a six-speaker sound system with USB port. CVT-equipped models also get paddle shifters for manual control of the transmission.

Speaking of that CVT, it’s standard on the Crosstrek Limited, as are upgrades like a leather interior, automatic climate control system, automatic on/off headlights, a rear-seat armrest (with two cupholders), and a display audio system with 4.3-inch screen and integrated rear-vision camera.

Options for both models include a navigation system with a 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen, voice-recognition technology, the rear-vision camera, iTunes tagging, SMS text-messaging capabilities, and XM Satellite Radio/NavTraffic—which do require paid subscriptions. More information on the Subaru XC Crosstrek will be provided closer to the vehicle’s on-sale date this fall.