The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is a subcompact crossover SUV that has been on sale since early 2012. The top-notch ride quality coupled with unmatched off-road performance made it an excellent proposition of the segment. The driving dynamics are up there with the best of them, and the Subaru Crosstrek even has its own separate fan base.

With the arrival of the 2022 iteration of the Subaru Crosstrek, which is part of the second generation, Subaru has managed to bring forward all the qualities of the older models. The interior comes with all the relevant features and the car offers sure-footed driving dynamics. The Crosstrek also looks handsome with the rugged exterior elements, and the car comes filled with all the necessary driver-assistance features. Competing with the likes of the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona, here are 10 things you need to know before getting the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek.

RELATED: Here's Why The Powertrain Is The Best Feature Of The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

10 Lethargic Performer

Subaru Crosstrek
Via: Subaru

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek comes with a 2-liter naturally aspirated Boxer-4 motor that is capable of producing 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque as standard with most of the trims. There is also a more powerful 2.5-liter naturally aspirated Boxer-4 motor with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. The 2-liter motor can be had with both a 6-speed manual and a CVT automatic, however, the 2.5-liter motor comes mated with the CVT only.

The-New-Subaru-Crosstrek-Hybrid-Engine-1
Via New2022SubaruModels

In comparison to the rivals, such as the Mazda CX-30 and the Hyundai Kona, the Crosstrek turned out to be a mediocre performer when equipped with the base motor. The motor needs to be worked hard to extract decent performance, and hence a quick overtake is not possible without proper planning. The 0-60 mph time of 8.8 seconds is one of the worst of the segment. Even the 2.5-liter motor that comes with the Sport trim wasn't as smooth and refined as the rivals. The performance was just about adequate, too.

9 Ride Quality Is Supreme

Subaru-Crosstrek-2021-1280-0b
Via: NetCarShow

Ever since the second generation of the Subaru Crosstrek came to the United States market, it has been quite synonymous with its pliant ride quality, irrespective of the road conditions. The same is carried forward to this 2022 iteration as well. Take the car slowly through the rough off-road terrains, and you would be happy with the absorption capability of the suspension setup, surpassing all the rivals of the segment.

Yellow 2021 Subaru Crosstrek off-road
Subaru

Being offered as a full-time AWD drivetrain, the car can do mild off-roading all day long and the passengers wouldn't feel nauseous. When driven on the city streets, the car rides flawlessly. However, it is the highway ride quality that impressed us the most. There is no vertical movement on offer, making the ride feel more in line with some of the European offerings that are a segment above.

8 Driving Dynamics Is better Than The Rivals

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid  Roof Rails
Via Subaru

Even though the performance on offer from the Crosstrek has never been very exciting, the excellent driving dynamics more than make up for it. With the suspension setup tuned slightly to the stiffer side and coming with a well-engineered chassis, this subcompact crossover SUV is capable of cornering like some of the similarly sized sedans out there.

Blue 2021 Subaru Crosstrek hybrid
Via: SubaruUSNews

Take the corners fast, and the sharp turning and excellent body control help the car feel very planted on the road. The full-time symmetrical AWD system also works very well and the car never manages to lose its grip, even in the limits. The steering is well-weighted and offers an excellent feel and feedback too. However, the lethargic performance does manage to bog down the driving experience quite a bit.

RELATED: Here's Why The Subaru XV Crosstrek Is The Coolest Cheap Crossover On The Used Market

7 Brakes Are Incredibly Precise

2021 Subaru Crosstrek hybrid Displayed
Via CNET

The braking performance has never been a downside for any of the earlier iterations of the Subaru Crosstrek, and we are happy to report that this 2022 avatar is also no different. The car comes with ventilated front rotors with 11.6" diameter and the rear gets a solid disc setup of 10.8" diameter. The ABS, EBD, hill hold control, etc are standard across the trims as well.

2021-Subaru-Crosstrek-XTI-Premier-Specs
Via SubaruUSANews

Give a light dab on the brake pedal, and you would be impressed with the superb initial bite on offer, similar to the Hyundai Kona. Brake from a high speed, and the superior braking progression and the reasonable curb weight help the car to come to a halt with no drama. The Crosstrek can do 70-0 mph braking in 173 feet, which is on par with many of the rivals.

6 Reasonably Frugal

The New Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Engine.
Via SubaruCrosstrekAndXVForum

If you opt for the least powerful 2-liter motor that comes with the lower trims of the Subaru Crosstrek, the car offers a decent 28 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, which equates to combined gas mileage of 30 mpg. With a fuel tank capacity of 16.6-gallons, the car can do the best-in-class highway range of 548 miles, making it the preferred choice for long road trips.

Subaru Crosstrek lifted off road snow blue
youtube.com

However, if you get the same motor with the 6-speed manual transmission, the fuel efficiency figure does drop down to 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The more powerful 2.5-liter motor is able to do 27 mpg and 34 mpg, which falls in the same ballpark as the less powerful motor. Hence, get the 2.5-liter motor if you want better performance without having a major drop in fuel efficiency figure.

RELATED: 10 Of Our Favorite Features On The New Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

5 Interior Design Is Disappointing

Subaru Crosstrek Driver's Assistance
Via GoldsteinSubaru

Even with the minor facelift that the Subaru Crosstrek received back in 2020, the interior design and quality are still behind the rivals like the Volkswagen Taos and the Mazda CX-30. The interior is very traditional looking and that will not impress the passengers. The black color scheme makes the cabin look a bit drab, too.

White Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Via: Wikipedia

However, Subaru has put in more effort to make the cabin look more uplifting, with the inclusion of contrastive stitching, silver and chrome accents, and the chunky leather-wrapped steering wheel. However, the cabin feels long in the tooth and doesn't hold the same aura as some of the newer models in the segment.

4 Exterior Looks Very Handsome

Blue Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Via CNET

The rugged exterior design language of the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek does make this subcompact SUV look more handsome and purposeful. The blacked-out cladding, sharp-looking LED headlights with neatly integrated LED DRLs, blacked-out grille, and the unmatched ground clearance and height add to the SUV character pretty well. The 9 color palettes make the car looks more youthful.

Subaru Crosstrek
Via carscoops.com

Even though the car has been in continuous production for quite some time, we also loved the minimalist approach to the side and rear profile, with the beautiful 18" dark gray-finish alloy wheels, clean character lines, and aluminum roof rails. The LED taillight, subtle black elements, and a neatly integrated rear spoiler add to the captivating design language too.

3 A Safe Compact SUV

Subaru Crosstrek
Via: subaru.com

Being offered for a base MSRP of $22,445, the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek comes with all the necessary safety and driver-assistance features, even though some of them are optional extras. The safety features like ABS, airbags, traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitoring system, side-impact beams, StarLink safety & security services, etc are standard across the lineup.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Via subaru.com

Some of the driver-assistance features like Eyesight pre-collision braking, front collision mitigation system, front and rear parking sensors with backup camera, and many more are standard for the Limited trim. However, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control are optional extras. Nevertheless, the car managed to get 5-stars in the NHTSA crash test and good ratings in most of the subsections of the IIHS crash test.

RELATED: Here's How The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Compares With Its Rivals

2 Infotainment Offers All The Bells And Whistles

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Infotainment
Via CNET

Like the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, this 2022 iteration also comes with the same 6.5" StarLink touchscreen infotainment system with all the bells and whistles as standard. However, the top-of-the-line Limited trim comes with a bigger 8" touchscreen infotainment system. Both the systems get all the connectivity features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, etc as standard.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Infotainment System
Via YouTube

The entertainment features like SiriusXM radio, Pandora, AMA, satellite radio, and many more are standard too. The user interface of both systems was quite refined, with no major lags or stutters. Everything is where it is supposed to be, and the learning curve is nonexistent. The audio quality through the 6-speaker audio system is brilliant as well.

1 Fit And Finish Is Pretty Decent For The Price

2022 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Handling
Via New2022SubaruModels

Even though the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek is not going to impress many with its bland-looking interior, the fit and finish are not mediocre by any means. When compared to the Buick Encore, which is one of its biggest rivals, the Crosstrek feels well put together with no inconsistent panel gaps and rattling from any parts of the cabin, which is a great USP.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Via subaru.com

Even with the hard-wearing plastics that are used for the construction of the interior, it does feel like it is built to last. None of the outgoing Crosstrek's have been reported panel fitment issues and dashboard and door cards cracking, which is not the case with many of the rivals in this segment. Even the leather inserts and the leather upholstery were of great quality too.