Overview & Reviews

The Subaru XV Crosstrek might be marketed as crossover, but that usually implies some sort of SUV with carlike attributes. In actuality, the Crosstrek is more like a car with SUV-like attributes. Much like Subaru has done in the past with its Outback model, the smaller XV Crosstrek hatchback features an elevated ride height, a more off-road-ready suspension and rugged looks.

As it's based on the regular Impreza hatchback, the XV comes with a four-cylinder "boxer" engine mated to an available continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). That combo delivers decent acceleration and above-average fuel economy. Add a nicely equipped passenger cabin and ample cargo capacity and you have a go-anywhere vehicle that should appeal to active outdoorsy types who might find Subaru's other offerings too pricey or thirsty.

Current Subaru XV Crosstrek Specs
The Subaru XV Crosstrek is an all-new model for 2013. While Subaru's all-wheel-drive lineup has developed a reputation for being unflappable in the face of some truly nasty driving conditions, this variation of the Impreza takes things to another level in dicey situations both on- and off-road.

The XV Crosstrek is offered in two trim levels, the entry-level Premium and top-of-the-line Limited. The base model comes standard with a number of desirable features including 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rack side rails, heated front seats, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and an iPod interface. The Limited adds automatic climate control, leather upholstery, rearview camera and a premium audio system with an upgraded touchscreen interface. Major options include a sunroof and a touchscreen navigation system.

Under the hood, the Subaru Crosstrek gets a 2.0-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that produces 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual and a CVT. All-wheel drive is standard.

The interior is pretty minimalist in terms of design, but the overall quality of the materials is high. Front and rear passengers enjoy a good amount of head- and legroom, and the standard heated seats are a nice touch given Subaru's popularity in cold-weather states. Folding down both sides of the 60/40-split rear seatbacks creates a flat load floor and 51.9 cubic feet of cargo space, a number that's on par with compact hatchbacks rather than small SUVs.

On the road, the Crosstrek's 2.0-liter engine delivers decent acceleration both around town and on the highway. When equipped with the CVT, however, the engine suffers from a noisy, droning tone that gets tiresome, especially when climbing hills. The CVT's true benefit shows up at the gas pump in the form of excellent fuel economy.

Despite the Crosstrek's increased ride height compared to the regular Impreza, handling is still fairly respectable on the pavement. And when the going gets tough, that extra amount of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive makes it possible to handle light-duty trails without issue. Overall, we like the Subaru XV Crosstrek and think it's a solid pick for someone wanting a hatchback that can serve as a daily driver but also make it easy to access outdoor recreational activities.

User Reviews:

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  Wish I had bought something else - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By gypsygal - June 4 - 11:13 am

  I dont buy cars often and keep them 10+ years, until I get tired of them. Past cars were 2 Nissan trucks, and a CRV, all which served me very well. So I was excited last year to try a new Subaru CrossTrek. The excitement wore off within several months of driving it. Bought it specifically for the gas mileage. It is a city commuter car for me, and it was barely getting 18 mpg. Called the service dept twice and explained the problem, they said its probably my driving habits, and the car needs to be broken in. Oh really? Never had that problem with the other cars. Here we are a year later, and the city MPG is down to 15. Also, the car takes forever to warm up on these Colorado winter days.

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  Interior options - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By carscientious - January 20 - 3:03 pm

  The Crosstrek "limited" offers only two stereo head units-the standard unit w/o Satellite capability and the NAV system with SAT. As satellite users for several years, we made a dreadful mistake in buying this SUV without making sure the "Limited" version had SAT. Adding a mobile car unit is "cheesy" and takes up more room especially if you have a "Garmin" on the dash. An aftermarket unit can be quite pricey and can range $500-$1800 including installation. Our local Subaru dealer quoted $4500 for a new Subaru factory NAV system if available and requiring a new antenna if wiring is possible. Would have given up leather seats for cloth in order to get SAT. :-(

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  I guess it hit or miss with these cars! - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By cdhttlr - March 18 - 5:07 pm

  I bought my Crosstrek in August and since than have never been able to achieve anything near the EPA fuel mileage of 25 city/33 highway. Best ever was 30 highway and 22 city and its been slowly dropping since new. I now have 3800 miles on it and the last highway trip 100% highway other than 4 on/off ramps. cruise set on 63 the whole time was 26mpg. I struggle now to get 18mpg around town. I even removed the spare tire and jack and rear cargo and floor mats to reduce weight. The dealer says there is nothing wrong with it and is probably my driving. Really than why did every other car that Ive owned get better then advertised MPGs? A total of 12 cars total beaters to brand new.

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  Crosstrek Problems - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By catskhiker - December 28 - 7:03 pm

  I have a 2013 Crosstrek with 35,000mi purchased in 2012. It eats a qt of oil aprx every 12-1500 mi. The manual says this is normal for a boxer engine. Ive had many boxer engines & NONE of the others ate oil. It also eats the right rear tire. You have to buy AWD tires in groups of 4, so this is expensive. I sorta like the car & love the look, but my old vw bug had more pep. Both have manual trans. Seriously considering trading it in.

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  2014 crostrek review - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By Fred Cook - November 1 - 7:54 am

  Car ate tires like mad and all any of subarus representatives would say is nothing wrong with car its driving style. Original tires lasted 15000 miles second set were rated at 100000 miles but were 20% gone in 5000 miles

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  Lack of power/ CVT, delayed acceleration - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By av98 - May 13 - 6:37 pm

  If possible they need to add more power, and subaru need to fix CVT delayed acceleration I guess engine has to be 2.5L or 3.0L or more.. And last thing is the noise!!!!! Its annoying. Everthing else on the car is good..

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  wind noise - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By rondo320 - April 9 - 9:51 pm

  Do not buy this vehicle if you plan to drive on highways at 75 mph or above. At that speed with a headwind or crosswind you will get a horrendous noise that seems to be coming from the headliner. Listening to this for several hours on the highway will require you to reassess the wisdom of driving a Crosstrek on a road trip. The dealer cant duplicate it because the speed limit in the vicinity is 65 mph and the noise is at 75 or above. Thanks a lot Subaru! Nothing but Subarus since 1982 but that is going to change.

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  We call it our Subaru Rattle - 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By weflybye - September 8 - 9:40 am

  We purchased our Crosstrek new in 2013 and from the moment we brought it home we have had issues with interior rattles. The dealership first put extra foam in the A Pillars. The rattles continued. Next they put extra foam in our speakers grills. The rattles continued. These were rattles that passengers in our back seat could hear and were extremely annoying. After taking the car in several times we had a technician find a bolt in the dash area was rattling against the car frame. More padding put in place. As of today (December 2014) we still have an annoying rattle in the dash. We enjoy this car for all other purposes but we would not purchase a Crosstrek again.

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  Wish I had considered this purchase more carefully - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By CC - June 27 - 3:40 pm

  While I liked the appearance and style of this small crossover, it is not nearly at the level I expect from a car so well considered by so many. What do they see in this car that I do not? Far from spacious, there is not much room in here. It is not very comfortable to drive, even with the premium leather interior, no where to rest your elbows really. There is a very flimsy layer of carpet in the trunk area, carries over when you fold the seats down, the carpet actually sags on the support bars. The leather is also paper thin on the arm rest and already ripped. The loud ungodly blowers of the heating/air climate control system are terrible and I cant make business calls when I am driving because of the background noise. I wind up saying what?? the whole time. This is a hard pill to swallow. The 33 MPG highway...sounds super inflated and I have never see milage that good, even though 80% of my driving is on the highway. The worst thing about this car is how I work out of my trunk and I can not see anything at night...never even gave it a thought about how important A LIGHT WOULD BE in a trunk, nor did I ever think to check really when I bought it...a hatchback with no light in the back!!! Its a bizarre shortcut. It annoys me to no end that I need a flashlight to prepare for my day/bring product for work in and out of the car. Why did Subaru make a car with no interior hatch lighting? It is not going to win any races, but I could live with that if it had great gas milage. I had a Volvo XC previously, so when other reviews said this car is great in the snow...I believed them. Not so, I have had more white knuckled trips in this feather weight...not to mention you need running speed to make it up hills since it is so light. My Volvo could have pushed this little guy up the hills! It ate snowstorms and spit them out. Bottom line: Im not a big believer in reviews after reading this cars. Did I mention the paint will come off if you lean against it? It had 2 large rust spots on the roof already before it hit 40k, and chips all over it that I had a detailer fill. He said he filled 55 chip marks, pebbles on the road take the paint off this car. So disappointing. Cant wait to unload it. Sorry Subaru, this is a fail.

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  My wish list for the Crosstrek - 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
  By doraflood - April 23 - 11:17 am

  Bought Crosstrek Feb2013 --wish I had waited for the 2014 Forrester. While an initial test drive MIGHT convince you to buy the Crosstrek -- you get bored and frustrated will quickly as you drive around your neighborhood. While you might enjoy the 8.7" ground clearance-try wearing a baseball cap and putting the visor down. If the seat is forward or up, it cant be done. Same goes for tall people. Taking the head rest off the passenger side - even with an open moonroof, cant be done. They need to add 3" to height - which might also help with cooling the car: the angle of the windshield causes higher heat from sun buildup-making AC less efficient.