2024 Subaru Crosstrek Road Test and Review

2024 Subaru Crosstrek ・ Photo by Subaru

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is all-new with a fresh look, new features, and new trim levels. This third generation of the Crosstrek builds on what was already an outdoorsy vehicle with a more comfortable interior and new features from technology to capability. It offers a choice of two engines across a growing trim lineup that includes the Wilderness.

What hasn’t changed is the rugged nature of this compact SUV. All-wheel drive is still a standard feature along with good ground clearance and a series of drive modes designed to make light off-road adventures easier. It has a roomy interior that’s attractive yet still durable enough to handle a little mud and dirt. Let’s take a closer look at the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek to see if it’s the right compact SUV for you.

A Choice of Five Trims

There’s a choice of five trims for the Crosstrek, which means it's easy to find one that’s right for your needs and budget. The Base trim starts at $24,995 with the 2.0-liter engine, all-wheel drive, dual-zone automatic climate control, and 8.7-inches of ground clearance. The Premium at $26,145 adds premium cloth seats, keyless access with push-button start, and paddle shifters. The Sport is priced from $28,995 and has the more powerful 2.5-liter engine, 18-inch wheels, and heated front seats.

The Limited comes in at $30,895 with leather-trimmed seats, power driver’s seat, and orange contrast stitching. New to the lineup is the Wilderness, the most rugged trim of every Subaru model. Priced from $31,995, it offers 9.3 inches of ground clearance with standard all-terrain tires, unique LED fog lights, raised roof rails, and water-repellant upholstery. It’s a well-priced lineup with good features even on the Base trim.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness ・ Photo by Subaru

Two Responsive Engine Options

Although there’s a lot that’s new in the Crosstrek for 2024, its engines are carryovers from the 2023 model year. Base trims are equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. It’s a solid engine that provides adequate power to get the Crosstrek moving and up to highway speeds, but it’s not especially robust.

Top trims get a more powerful 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, slightly more torque than last year for better responsiveness. This is also paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. The extra 30 horsepower over the base engine makes a big difference in how the Crosstrek drives. It’s more engaging and better under hard acceleration. There’s also ample power for passing slower vehicle at highways speeds. Those who put a priority on performance will find the 2.5-liter more appealing.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek ・ Photo by Subaru

Fuel Economy That’s Easy on Your Budget

The Crosstrek is a great choice for adventurers who plan to trek off the beaten path and make fuel economy a priority. Equipped with the base 2.0-liter engine, it gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. Those are great figures for an all-wheel drive SUV, and they make it easy to budget for longer drives and road trips even if gas prices rise.

Choose the 2.5-liter, which is a more responsive and powerful option, and there is a fuel economy hit, but just barely. It gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. That’s a negligible difference between the two engines. If fuel economy is a priority, no matter which engine you choose, the Subaru Crosstrek is easy on your wallet.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek ・ Photo by Subaru

A Surprisingly Comfortable Ride

On the list of improvements for this year’s Crosstrek is ride quality. There’s less vibration going over rough road surfaces and even off road, the Crosstrek is well-mannered and controlled so passengers stay comfortable. There’s also less noise, which was a focus for Subaru during the redesign. Specific frequencies were targeted during the noise reduction process to make the ride as quiet as possible, and the difference is noticeable.

Adding to that comfortable ride are more comfortable front seats. They’re more supportive than the prior generation of the Crosstrek, and especially on long road trips, are less tiring even after hours on the road. The Subaru Crosstrek might be a rugged compact SUV ready for adventure, but it makes sure the trip is a relaxing one.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek ・ Photo by Subaru

Off-Road Capable

The Crosstrek isn’t a heavy duty off-roader ready to climb over rocks, but it is most definitely ready to take you over more rugged terrain that not every SUV can handle. There’s standard all-wheel drive and ground clearance of 8.7 inches, and the new Wilderness trim takes that number up to 9.3 inches. The all-wheel-drive system is enhanced this year so it responds more quickly for better control on challenging surfaces.

There’s also X-Mode with hill descent control, which is a standard feature. It optimizes the all-wheel drive system for better control whether the roads are snowy or there’s nothing but dirt beneath the wheels. Available dual-function mode improves capability even further with a deep snow/mud setting for more challenging driving conditions. No matter which trim of the Crosstrek you choose, it’s a capable compact SUV that’s ready to take you from the pavement to the dirt.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek ・ Photo by Subaru

Room for All Your Cargo

The Crosstrek is a compact SUV, but it has great versatility for cargo with up to 20.0 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The load floor is low so stowing heavy or bulky items is easier and the liftgate has a 41-inch opening, so those big items are more likely to fit. Cargo capacity expands up to 54.9 cubic feet when you fold the rear seats down. If it’s people and cargo along for the ride, the rear seats split-fold 60/40 for added flexibility.

Further enhancing the cargo capacity of the Crosstrek are standard fixed cross bar mounting points with the addition of raised roof rails for the Premium trim and higher. If towing is in your future, the base engine can manage up to 1,500 pounds while the more powerful 2.5-liter more than doubles that figure with up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek ・ Photo by Subaru

Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology

The full Subaru Crosstrek lineup features the latest version of EyeSight driver assistance technology as a standard feature. This safety suite includes advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering, pre-collision braking with throttle management, lane departure warning, and lane keep assist. Improvements include a wider field of view and updated software that can see bikes and pedestrians at intersections sooner. It then alerts the driver and can even apply the brakes if needed to avoid a collision.

Also standard is a rear seat reminder that helps avoid leaving a pet or a child in the rear seats after the driver exits. Additional available features include reverse automatic braking, blind-spot detection with lane change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Those last two features also add automatic emergency steering to help avoid collisions at speeds under 50 mph. It’s a comprehensive offering with key features standard rather than optional.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek ・ Photo by Subaru

An Available 11.6-inch Infotainment Touchscreen

Standard infotainment on the Crosstrek includes dual 7-inch touchscreens. The top screen manages Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the audio system; the lower screen controls the climate and vehicle settings. This is the setup for the Base trim only, with the rest of the lineup getting an upgrade to an 11.6-inch touchscreen mounted vertically on the dashboard – a first for the Crosstrek.

This larger screen is far easier to use and makes the Crosstrek feel more tech savvy. It also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to reduce cord clutter and has the option for navigation. While both setups do the job, the enhanced usability of the larger screen is a big step up, and for many, will be reason enough to skip the Base trim altogether.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness ・ Photo by Subaru

Final Thoughts

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek improves on the prior generation in lots of small ways. Its updated exterior still looks every bit the Crosstrek but with a more modern appeal. Inside, trims are more appealing but maintain the durability for which this compact SUV is known. Improved seats make it more comfortable, and upgraded infotainment options make the Crosstrek look modern.

The improved ride helps improve handling, especially over rough terrain, and makes this a better vehicle for long road trips. Good cargo capacity and standard all-wheel drive add to its versatility for managing all sorts of adventures. The all-new Subaru Crosstrek has an abundance of features combined with style and capability, making it a top pick in the compact SUV segment.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness ・ Photo by Subaru