Subaru Crosstrek – the Fun Sized Candy Bar Car
Don't want or need a big SUV to enjoy your outdoor activities? The Subaru Crosstrek can get you there just as easily, in a smaller, convivial package.
Erica Mueller
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Don’t let its cuteness fool you.
Subarus are pretty fun cars to drive to begin with, but when you pack all of that AWD goodness into the tiny little package that is the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Premium, priced from $26K, you’re in for a lot of fun. I’ve driven a few Subarus, and I have a cousin who won’t own anything else, so my expectations for this little car were pretty high, and it more than met them.
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The Subaru Crosstrek may appear small, but it has great cargo space for all your outdoor gear. Or your guitar. Photo: Erica Mueller
Capability Doesn’t Require King-Size Packaging
We often think of larger SUVs as being the kings of adventure cars, but it really depends on the kind of adventure one wishes to take. My sister, for example, is an avid outdoorswoman. Her favorite activity is climbing cliffs and boulders, but she doesn’t live at the foot of a climbing park. This requires her to drive some distances to get to these massive rocks, so she needs something that offers a comfortable ride, works for her daily commute, but can also handle her weekend passion. An SUV may be too large, use too much fuel, or be a little rough of a ride, but a small Subaru crossover is one of those cars that could check all the boxes, and I think the Crosstrek would be perfect for her.
One of the standout features of the Crosstrek is its standard all-wheel drive, which allows for better handling in all weather conditions. This makes it a popular choice for people who live in wetter or colder climates, like the Pacific Northwest or New England. We don’t see a lot of Subarus in Texas, but I have noticed them gaining popularity here as more people are getting outside!
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The Subaru Crosstrek has a very clean center console; most buttons are on the steering wheel or the multimedia touchscreen. Photo: Erica Mueller
Unwrapping the Subaru Crosstrek
The Crosstrek has a comfortable interior with plenty of headroom and legroom for both the driver and passengers. It really did surprise me because, from the outside, this crossover appears really small. By day two, I was loving it and messaging my sister, who has been Subaru shopping, that this was one she needed to check out.
While there was nothing luxurious about the Crosstrek, we didn’t feel like we were missing anything either. The Premium model we drove had cloth seats, but they felt really good, and I was able to wipe them clean with a damp cloth which is a huge plus when you have a toddler and a dog, and all of you live on a farm. The all-weather mat in the cargo area added to the practicality and the rugged feel of this fun-sized off-road car.
In terms of performance, the Crosstrek has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that provides adequate power for daily driving. It’s not the most powerful engine in its class, but it gets the job done. I took the Crosstrek down some pretty rural dirt and gravel roads, passed with ease on the highway, and had zero complaints about its power.
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The back seat on this fun-sized Subaru crossover is full-sized! Photo by Erica Mueller
Trims and Pricing for the Subaru Crosstrek
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is a great option for those in the market for a compact SUV. With a starting price of around $25,000, it’s an affordable choice for those on a budget.
The Crosstrek comes in five trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Wilderness. The base model starts at $24,995. The Premium starts at $26,145, and the Sport starts at $28,995. Finally, the Limited and Wilderness trims start at around $30,895 and $31,995, respectively. So, even the top-of-the-line Crosstrek is an affordable, capable vehicle that is ready for grand adventures!
The base model comes with standard features like a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a rearview camera. You get 8.7 inches of ground clearance for those off-pavement adventures, and every Crosstrek is all wheel drive.
The Premium trim adds features like a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen display, heated front seats, and a six-speaker audio system. You’ll also get add-ons like roof rails and fog lights and an available power moonroof upgrade.
The Sport edition features a 182-hp 2.5-liter engine, hill descent control, beautiful yellow-finish exterior accents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch dark gray-finish alloy wheels, and an all-weather package with heated front seats for cold mornings.
The Limited trim includes even more features, such as leather upholstery, a power 10-way adjustable driver’s seat, and an available eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. A few more extras for this trim level include safety technology like blind-spot detection/rear cross-traffic alert and reverse automatic braking.
Finally, the Wilderness trim brings it all together with an extra lift, featuring a raised suspension with 9.3 inches of ground clearance, 17-inch matte black-finish wheels and Yokohama Golandar all-terrain tires, water-repellent upholstery, and front and rear bumpers with integrated tow points and extended lower cladding for the hardcore adventurer. Plus, it comes with copper-finish interior accents, unique bumpers, and a 3,500-lb. towing capacity.
Overall, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is a solid choice for those in the market for a compact SUV. It’s affordable, comfortable, and safe, making it a great option for singles, couples, or small families who want a reliable daily driver that can also take them on adventures. I can’t wait for my sister to test-drive one and let me know what she thinks!
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