Unveiled in Geneva today, Subaru’s Crosstrek undergoes a top-down revamp for 2018, bringing the compact, lifted five-door in line with its Impreza stablemate.
Called the XV overseas, the Crosstrek soldiered on with its old bodystyle and platform in 2017, even after the model it shares its body and mechanics with went in for a makeover. With new skin, bones, and a thoroughly reworked powerplant, the model no longer has to live in the new Impreza’s shadow.
The biggest news for 2018, besides the updated looks, is the Subaru Global Platform borrowed from its compact sibling. Like with the 2017 Impreza, the new modular platform has increased the vehicle’s torsional rigidity by at least 70 percent. Less vibration and noise is Subaru’s goal.
While the new Crosstrek maintains the body cladding and 8.7 inches of ground clearance found on its predecessor, structural improvements aim for improved handling. Rear stabilizer bars are now mounted to the body, reducing body roll by 50 percent. The steering gear ratio drops from 14:1 to 13:1, aiding responsiveness.
Another form of comfort benefits from the new platform: piece of mind. Because of the increased stiffness and boosted use of high-tensile steel plates, impact energy absorption has increased by 40 percent.
Clearly, Subaru wasn’t waiting to spring brand-new all-wheel-drive advancements on the model, but it does gain a couple of extra features. The Crosstrek now offers improved bad-road performance and traction thanks to the availability of X-Mode, which optimizes the functioning of the engine, drive wheels and brakes to keep the journey under control. When shortcuts beckon, Hill Descent Control is on tap to keep momentum down.
The 2017 Crosstrek we tested recently felt low on power, and winter weather made it extra thirsty. For 2018, the automaker claims that 80 percent of the model’s 2.0-liter flat-four engine is revamped, reducing the unit’s weight by 26 pounds and improving fuel economy (though we don’t know by how much). While torque, regrettably, remains the same at 145 lb-ft, horsepower rises by six horses to 154 hp. Subaru also claims improvements to the Lineartronic continuously variable transmission.
Inside, a restyled dash, breathable fabric seats and an eight-inch infotainment screen await. The new model’s longer wheelbase means rear-seat passengers will gain extra legroom, though rear cargo space hasn’t improved.
Subaru plans to release more details on the U.S.-spec version of the Crosstrek at next month’s New York Auto Show.
[Images: Subaru]
Is this another one of those “Dust in the Wind” commercials? Subaru needs to play on its strengths rather than trying to play in other OEMs’ ball parks. Go back to the old sandlot field where you were the best there was (and are just about the only team in the game.)
I know everyone thinks of it as a crossover, but to me and everyone I’ve ever talked to about it, the Crosstrek is in a class of one. It actually had usable ground clearance for starters. There aren’t any other unpretentious lifted hatchbacks with cladding on the market nowadays (other than maybe the QX30 and GLA, but I’d call them pretentious by virtue of their badges and prices), it’s like a throwback to the 80’s and 90’s. It’s a hatchback version of the outback and alltrack, neither of which appeal to conventional crossover shoppers either.
Yes, a nicely lifted hatchback. A great form factor that only the boxer and the mandatory AWD put on my B-list.
Jeep will sell you a FWD Renegade if you want a worse Kia Soul.
Hey, yeah! Renegades are supposed to be really nice. Thanks.
I already have an AWD Renegade that probably makes this thing look sick.
Sick like the barf splatter on the Renegades tach? The only Renegade I have the remotest interest in is the Trailhawk, and at $27K that ain’t ever happening. At the $22K price point I’ll take the Subaru every time, and I don’t like it much either.
Did you know they have a Dawn of Justice special edition Renegade to whore off of the Batman Vs Superman movie? I thought the Star Wars Rogue was sad.
Meh.. who looks at the tach?
_I_ do. I can drive without one, but the tach to me is a good indicator of how much power the engine is putting out and lets you have more precise shift points when accelerating.
It also lets me know if the automatic is hanging onto a gear longer than I want.
Huh? This vehicle sticks to Subaru’s core strengths about as much as anything they make. Good AWD, space inside, low price.
This. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but the Crosstek is exactly as dal20402 characterizes it. A relative has the outgoing gen (a ’13, I think), and so far it’s holding up nicely. I’m curious about the long-term durability of the CVT.
105k miles on my 2010 Outback CVT. No noises, modulates up and down the speed/load range same as when new – this CVT doesn’t have the simulated shift points of the newer models. My wife drives it – pedal to the metal is the norm for her and she’s not one to baby a vehicle. Did a drain/fill at 65k (replaces around 60% of the fluid)just to see what drained out – still clean at that point.
It’s the same AWD everyone else has. No better, no worse. The old Subaru AWD was only available in XV/Crosstrek with a manual gearbox. Nobody knows yet what’s going on with it in this generation.
Not everybody has the same AWD system. If they did, there’d be no competition between brands.
o_O
If this isn’t a replacement for the old GL and Loyale wagons I don’t know what is.
They sold 96K of these things last year, half of them in my neighborhood alone from the looks of it. This is in the ballpark of the Renegade for which a far stronger argument could be made is out of its brand’s ballpark.
Should compete well with the HondaRunt-Vehicle.
The HRV has better usable, maneuverable space than any other small CUV out there… this thing can’t compete… I previously owned the hybrid version,… it was Suck Gas City
Hey, they moved the awful placement of the handbrake, and went to an electric parking brake!
The old Crosstrek was one of the few cars I couldn’t wait to get out of, solely because of that handbrake placement fail. I digs right into my thigh, and I’m not… wide.
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/crosstrek/crosstrek16-interior15.jpg
The lack of a real handbrake lowers this vehicle on my list of possibles and probably portends the death of stick shift availability in this model. I find it very difficult to do proper hill starts (as taught all those years ago), where you balance the feel of the clutch biting with the feel of the brake releasing.
If this thing comes purely with a CVT/electronic-brake then it hits the back of the prospective-next-car pack as I can get many other sluggish driver cocoons for less money with more refinement. Unless Subaru hurry out with a new 5 door WRX then they’ve probably lost my money for the next car cycle.
You realize that just about every new manual vehicle comes with hill start assist now right? There is no need to use the hand brake to start off on a hill in a modern manual vehicle. The car basically holds the brake for you and prevents it from rolling back.
Should have put in a brz motor to give thing some pep. 154hp is not enough needs like 185-200hp.
Subaru will sell every one of them at full MSRP.
A taller Subaru…why? Because there weren’t enough of these damn things blocking the left lane on every Denver freeway as it is.
MOAR HEIGHT!!!
“MOAR HEIGHT!!!”
My Brother!
I think you got me twisted, homes…
They’re trying as hard as they can, but with only 145hp, a tall profile, and a golden retriever,yoga mat, and climbing gym bag all bouncing around in the cabin distracting the driver, you can’t expect brisk left lane etiquette.
You forgot the trail bikes and assorted ski stuff on the roof, and the 20 stickers for various political causes and running events on the back window…
RAGNAR! 26.2! Dog is my copilot!
The Crosstrek is the pure marriage of vehicle and intended audience.
Around here, though, the Crosstrek drivers tend to be on the aggressive side rather than left lane bandits.
The Crosstrek has effectively taken over the slot(s) previously occupied by the older Outbacks (Legacy and Impreza/Outback Sport). The current Outback has moved too far up-market and is no longer the same as it once was. Subaru needs a thumbs-up for still offering a manual trans in the Crosstrek.
“the new modular platform has increased the vehicle’s torsional rigidity by at least 70 percent.”
These press release numbers always astound me. This would imply the former version was like a rusty Vega.
I’m very reassured by the look and description of the new model, as there seems to be little more than a few incremental improvements over the current version. I have a 2015 Crosstrek, it is very competent and does everything I need in a vehicle (although it’s admittedly rather dull to drive), and there is nothing I see here that makes me feel the need to upgrade. So the wallet’s safe for now…
God I wish they’d do a Crosstrek XT, now that we’re sans WRX hatch. Drop in the FA20DIT mill and call it a day. I had to buy used last year to get a WRX hatch, but I would’ve taken a new turbo Crosstrek in an instant.
That’s what I’ve been saying, it’s such a no brainer for Subaru I don’t get why they don’t.
Ever notice how Subaru has for 40 years followed a good design with a bad design? Time for the bad design Crosstrek.
Another year and no BRAT.
6 extra horsepower and no extra torque, that’s quite a feat. Sign me up for one of them slow ‘n thirsty Crosstreks.
Piece of mind?
I think you were going for “peace of mind”.
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/peace-of-mind-and-a-piece-of-ones-mind/