Subaru Crosstrek 2018-2023: what to know before you buy?
The popular Subaru Crosstrek offers a new generation for the 2024 model year. Faithful to the brand's habits, its evolution is rather discreet at first glance, however. There's no doubting the technological improvements, and the addition of a Wilderness version capable of venturing even further off the beaten track.
Overall, the older-generation Crosstrek (2018 to 2023) continues to look great and hold its own against the competition. Here's what you need to know before buying a used Subaru Crosstrek...
It was with the 2016 model year that the company dropped the "XV Crosstrek" appellation, retaining only "Crosstrek". For 2018, the platform has gained in rigidity, favoring better handling and greater driving pleasure than with the original Crosstrek.
The 2.0-liter flat-four engine develops 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, a decent performance, but nothing more. Although Subaru offered it with a six-speed manual gearbox, lowering the base price, the vast majority of buyers opted for the continuously variable automatic (called Lineartronic). This makes the vehicle quite responsive on take-off, but relatively noisy under full acceleration. Above all, it keeps the average fuel consumption under 8 L/100 km in normal driving conditions.
Of course, all power is controlled by Subaru's symmetrical (50-50) constant-mesh all-wheel drive, one of the Crosstrek's strong points. The engine's oil consumption and the CVT's reliability, on the other hand, are things to be wary of. We know of owners who have even had to replace this transmission - fortunately under warranty, but you may not be so lucky.
In terms of capacity, the outgoing Crosstrek's load volume ranges from 589 to 1,566 liters, depending on seat position, which is average for the category. Need more? The raised roof rails come in handy, and up to 680 kilos (1,500 lbs) can be towed.
Let's not forget that Subaru has launched a top-of-the-range Crosstrek with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Very rare to find, the latter is not very interesting because of its high price, its much more limited load capacity and, above all, its short electric range (less than 30 km).
Some versions, such as the Sport and Limited, stand out with EyeSight driver assistance technology, which brings together several safety features. In addition, you should know that the 6.5- or 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto has received an update for 2019 to be more user-friendly and fluid.
For 2020, the Crosstrek has added modernized taillights, automatic temperature control and the new rear seat check reminder to its standard equipment. All automatic models feature EyeSight and STARLINK connectivity technology.
A year later, the Outdoor (new) and Limited versions gained a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, for more convincing acceleration. Definitely worth considering.
Finally, the soundproofing of the old Crosstrek leaves something to be desired. As for recalls, there were six, mainly for early-generation models. The most serious concern the engine, with a control module that may have been incorrectly programmed, and a crankcase gas recirculation valve that could fail and cause engine failure. Make sure the unit you're interested in has been corrected and passes a full inspection.
