In Portland, Oregon, if you want to be hip, you have to drive a Subaru.
You see them everywhere. Literally, everyone I know here seems to own at least one. That’s because Subaru appeals to our Portlandia values: “Keep Portland Weird” is a common phrase, and driving a bright green car qualifies. Getting from tight city streets to rugged mountains for a climb is what people do, and Subaru accommodates.
Portlanders love alternative everything, and the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek I drove was a hybrid, which qualifies as an alternative fuel car. And, it’s a good value, with prices starting at just $21,000. Portlanders love a good value.
What exactly is a hybrid?
I had never driven a hybrid and was unsure what to expect when I test drove the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid. I thought I might have to plug it in or something, but this was not the case. A hybrid is not an electric car. I actually looked up the definition of a hybrid and it is: “a car with a gasoline engine and an electric motor, each of which can propel it.”
As I drove it around, the Subaru hybrid would switch back in forth from gas to battery. Sometimes it was noticeable when it switched, but not always.
When a driver delivered the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid, I was a little taken back by the bright lime green color, but hopeful that it would glow in the dark, making it easy to spot at night. I am disappointed to report that it did not glow in the dark. But I’m also sure that this car easily stands out.
The car’s information system told me that I averaged 22 miles to the gallon, but I only used a half a tank of gas while hitting all my normal weekly rounds; I usually go through an entire tank of gas in a week.
At first I was put off by the gas mileage. I hoped I would be getting something like 60 mpg, which maybe when you factor the gas mileage together with the miles driven on electric, I was. Who knows. It was not easy to figure out. What I did understand was that the Crosstrek went twice as far on a tank of gas than my minivan, and I saved about $60-$90 on gas that week.
I also thought that I wouldn’t be able to get all my groceries into the back. With three kids, grocery shopping is a big weekly event and I often fill the back of the minivan. But I was wrong; all our groceries fit nicely in the back (and nothing fell over!).
A Crossover: more rugged than a car, more car-like than an SUV
The Subaru Crosstrek is often referred to as an SUV, but it’s not. It shouldn’t even be considered a small SUV. Others classify it as a wagon, but it’s not long like a wagon, either. It’s a crossover – simply a car that sits a little higher off the ground and has some of the abilities of an SUV, like all wheel drive and the ability to drive over rough road or off road (or curbs and median strips).
I found the car a little cramped in the front, but roomier in the backseat.
What We Loved
- Backup Camera
- Keyless
- Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive-Subaru’s name for all time four wheel drive
- Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)- Subaru’s name for traction control
- Bluetooth hands-free connectivity
- It has a lot of pep and handles well
- I never had to buy gas!
What You Need To Know
- 25 MPG city/33 MPG highway (EPA estimate)
- Basic models starts at $21,995, but has continued to drop in price. The 2015 version we tested: $25,995
- The back is roomier than the front
- The back up camera is just a camera, no sensors.
- You must purchase the upgraded model for better technology
- No climate control in the back (my kids had major issues with this)
Note: Subaru provided me with the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid ; opinions expressed are my own.
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