The Subaru Crosstrek Sport for 2021 is an efficient, safe and practical compact SUV. It is also very easy to maneuver. For those looking to go off-road the crossover offers plenty of features, such as an X-Mode control system and hill-descent feature that can get you out of tricky terrain.
It's rare that an automaker would put a vehicle as small and light on the road as the Crosstrek, but Subaru does it well. The SUV's simple design means it's not trying to be more than it is, which gives it a unique character and appeal.
This crossover is rugged, and that's why it's a good choice for families on an adventure. We took it on a short loop off-road in the desert. The AWD and X-Mode systems, as well as hill-descent and hill-assist control, proved very useful for the Crosstrek to navigate rough terrain.
Like any Subaru model, the Crosstrek 2021 is equipped with a number of safety features. These include a standard EyeSight driver assistance system which includes a forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure notification, as well as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistant, and lane-departure detection. It's a welcome addition, and we hope to see Subaru continue to offer it as a standard feature.
Crosstrek comes with 182 horsepower, and 176 foot-pounds of torque. It's an improvement on the base model 2.0-liter, and this larger engine was welcomed.
The new engine is not much more powerful than its predecessor, but it reaches the powerband much faster. The engine doesn't have a lot acceleration but is strong enough to get the crossover moving quickly through traffic. This is what you would expect for a small SUV.
It's very efficient. Crosstrek is able to go 100 miles per tank of gasoline, which is more than most rivals.
In the crossover there is plenty of room inside for passengers as well as cargo. The rear seats have generous legroom and headroom, measuring 39.8" in front and 43.12" in back. The seats are very comfortable too thanks to a generous amount of cushioning, and supportive bolstering.
The small bin underneath the center-console lid and the pocket that's located in front of your shifter are also included, but these pockets are not as big as the one found inside the glovebox. There is also a fold-down armrest in the rear, but this takes up quite a bit of space.
Crosstrek's final feature is its standard 11.6 inch touchscreen which runs Starlink, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connections. While we'd prefer to have seen a more expensive touchscreen running a greater number of apps, the Crosstrek offers the best value for money.