Almost every car maker today manufactures at least one crossover SUV because they are the most popular segment among potential buyers today. Crossover SUVs are best regarded for their practicality. They are generally easy to drive because of their compact bodies and offer great cargo capacity, decent powertrain, and a spacious cabin that can easily haul a small family.
While most crossover SUVs are pragmatic for families and daily driving, some crossovers stand out when it comes to being versatile. That’s where the Subaru Crosstrek marks its presence in the market. Slotted in a sweet spot between the smaller Subaru Impreza and the larger Subaru Forster, the Crosstrek possesses the qualities of both worlds. The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is available with a starting price of $23,645 and is available in five trims, as well as a hybrid variant.
Although there are plenty of crossover SUVs on the market, very few manage to be capable off-roaders like the Subaru Crosstrek. Not only that, it manages to stand out on other fronts as well. It has a sleek fascia, a spacious and comfortable cabin, and numerous creature comforts and driver assistance programs.
A New Premium Special Edition Trim For The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek
The second generation of the Crosstrek debuted in 2017 and since then, the Crosstrek hasn’t received any significant exterior or interior changes. Hence, before going for the much-needed redesign in the next year, Subaru has introduced the 2023 Crosstrek with a new Premium Special Edition trim, which sits between the Premium and the Sport model.
The Premium Sport Model gets a new Desert Khaki exterior paint, glossy black side mirrors, door handles, and front grille, 17-inch dark gray metallic finish alloy wheels, and a standard CVT gearbox with X-MODE, and the Si-Drive Engine Performance Management System. Inside, black and red cloth seats, low-luster interior trim, a Special Edition instrument cluster, and an 8-inch touchscreen are added to the equipment list.
2023 Subaru Crosstrek Packs A Capable Powertrain
Similar to previous years, for the 2023 model year, Subaru equipped the Crosstrek with two engine choices. The Base, Premium, and Premium Special Edition models are powered by a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a CVT gearbox. The unit makes 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. It offers a decent mileage of 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. The Sport and Limited models are powered by a larger 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine good for 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque.
While some might whine about the naturally-aspirated engine being anemic, we consider it great for daily life. It does daily tasks quite easily and doesn’t complain when you’re trying to haul all five people from one point to another. The 2.0-liter models require around 9.2 seconds to reach 60 mph, while the 2.5-liter models are quicker by 1.4 seconds. The 2.5-liter models also offer decent fuel economy of 27 miles in the city and 34 miles on the highway. Both models can tow up to 1,500 pounds.
2023 Corsstrek Offers Commanding Road Presence And Easy Handling
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Subaru enjoys a remarkable reputation for building vehicles with excellent off-road capability. Like other larger Subarus, the Crosstrek boasts exceptional handling in all conditions. Again, although the market offers many options, the Crosstrek is one of the most versatile subcompact crossovers.
The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek boasts an all-wheel-drive system as standard and an impressive 8.7-inches of ground clearance. The drivetrain also comes equipped with X-Mode and Si-Drive functions for better performance on terrain and B-Roads. As standard, the higher trims offer 18-inch alloy wheels that deliver good ride quality and excellent stability. The Crosstrek gets a pair of 11.6-inch ventilated front disc brakes and a 10.8-inch solid rear disc brake, which helps it stop from 60 mph in just 110 feet, above-average braking performance in the segment.
2023 Subaru Crosstrek Profer An Opulent Cabin
The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek, albeit a great off-roader, comes packed with a comfortable, spacious, and opulent cabin. The Crosstrek might look rugged from the outside, but its interior is a softie. With 100.9 cu. ft. of passenger space, things are quite comfortable and spacious inside. Furthermore, the front seats offer up to 39.8-inches of headroom and 43.1-inches of maximum legroom, which is adequate for taller adults. At the rear, the seats provide 38 inches of headroom and 36.5 inches of legroom, suitable for mostly teens and shorter adults.
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The cabin layout looks rugged and offers great functionality. The cockpit provides a friendly environment for the driver and wide outward visibility. Most interior parts consist of durable plastics, but Subaru has embellished them with soft-touch leatherette materials and metal accents to make them feel upscale. The controls are easy to use and understand, and they are within a comfortable reach of the driver.
For storage, the rear offers a standard cargo capacity of 20.8 cu. ft., sufficient for storing the bags of all the passengers. The cabin provides up to 55.3 cu. ft. of additional cargo space after folding the rear seats. However, the Crosstrek lags behind the Kia Seltos and Toyota Corolla Cross with less cargo space.
The 2023 Crosstrek Features A Lot Of Practical Features
The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek comes equipped with a sufficient number of features. While it’s not the most loaded car in the segment, it comes equipped with a practical set of features and provides decent value for the lower price.
Even the base model comes standard with the Subaru Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, followed by 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, black carbon fiber interior trim, manually-adjustable seats, automatic AC, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen along with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a 4-speaker audio system. The costlier features a six-way power-adjustable front seat, leather seats, a 6.3-inch color MID, heated exterior mirrors, heated front seats, orange-accented sport cloth seats, fog lights, leather steering wheel, automatic headlights, and an 8-inch touchscreen. Additionally, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system and power moonroof are available.
For safety, the 2023 Crosstrek features a crucial set of driver assist programs. Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, steering responsive headlights, and EyeSight Driver Assist Technology.
With all this, the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek looks the most promising in the segment. It looks great, offers a beautiful cabin loaded with features, and has great safety and reliability.
Source: Subaru