It’s good to be the Subaru Crosstrek. This plucky little SUV is Subaru’s strongest-selling model, having posted record sales in 2022. In fact, the Crosstrek’s best sales month ever was February—like, last month—despite the 2023 model being essentially five years old and right at the end of its lifecycle. That all bodes well for the updated 2024 Crosstrek, which rolls into dealers this spring.
That’s especially true because the 2024 Crosstrek doesn’t try to fix what isn’t broken. Rather than a clean-sheet redesign, the new Crosstrek is more of a big refresh, sprucing up a few features and putting a greater focus on refinement to keep its buyers happy. Owners absolutely love their Crosstreks, and Subaru’s brand loyalty overall is some of the highest in the automotive industry.
What’s New for 2024?
The Crosstrek keeps the same form factor as before, with redesigned headlights and cladding that match those of the sporty WRX sedan. (No, Subaru will not be doing a WRX-ish version of the Crosstrek. Stop asking.) All Crosstrek models have 8.7 inches of ground clearance, with Base and Premium models riding on 17-inch wheels, and this gives the tall hatchback a tiny-tough appearance. It’s butch, but also kind of cute, you know?
The other major changes are found inside, where Premium, Sport and Limited Crosstreks come with a portrait-oriented 11.6-inch infotainment display—just like you’ll find in Subaru’s other cars. The EyeSight driver-assistance suite gets a wide-angle camera this year, which improves the functionality of things like the standard adaptive cruise control and optional lane-keeping assist.
One Engine Now, Another Coming Soon
At launch, Subaru will offer the 2024 Crosstrek with just one powertrain: a 2.0-liter flat four producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). That’s right, Subaru will no longer offer a manual gearbox in the Crosstrek, which might sound sad, but honestly makes sense, considering the stick only accounted for a super-small percentage of overall sales.
The 2.0-liter engine is … fine. Not great, just fine. It delivers adequate thrust for driving around town and strong initial power delivery helps you pull away from stoplights with authority. However, this engine shows its weaknesses when you need to pass slower-moving traffic on the highway, and you’ll need a heavy right foot for climbing steep hills. Don’t be a leadfoot and Subaru estimates you’ll see fuel economy ratings of 29 miles per gallon combined (27 mpg city, 34 highway), which is pretty good as far as compact SUVs go.
Similarly, the CVT is well matched for this engine, but nothing to write home about. Subaru worked hard to refine the operation of its Lineartronic CVT, and while it’ll drone at higher engine revs if you lay into the throttle, the transmission largely behaves itself and operates smoothly in the background. Subaru fits the Crosstrek with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, so you can fake shift through your fake gears, but these are better left alone.
In a few months, Subaru will introduce the higher-end Crosstrek Sport and Limited models, which come with a larger 2.5-liter naturally aspirated flat four. With 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, this will be the engine you’ll want if passing power is key, and these trims step up to larger 18-inch wheels, as well. Yes, fuel economy takes a slight hit, but it isn’t too bad; the 2.5-liter Crosstrek is still estimated to return 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and 29 mpg combined.
Easy to Drive and Pleasantly Quiet
All Crosstreks come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), and Subaru tweaked the center differential to react quicker with its power delivery, better transferring torque between the front and rear axles. With light steering and noticeable body motions, the Crosstrek isn’t exactly a thrill to drive, but there’s nothing to really complain about, either. For 2024, the Crosstrek rides on softer springs that help make the ride more comfortable, and increased sound deadening does a great job of keeping wind and road noise out of the cabin.
The Crosstrek’s generous ground clearance means it’s pretty darn capable should you venture off the beaten path. Approach, departure and breakover angles of 18.0, 30.1 and 19.7 degrees, respectively, let the Subaru crest steep peaks and handle rutted sections of two-track road without scraping precious underbody hardware. The softer springs also help make trail work a little more gentle on passengers.
The standard X-Mode off-road system can shuffle power laterally at each axle to send torque to the wheels with the most grip, helping the Crosstrek climb steep rock-strewn hills.
Subaru says nearly one in four owners take their Crosstreks off-road, which might have you wondering: Why not build a Crosstrek Wilderness? Subaru’s found great success with these more purpose-built variants of its Forester and Outback, and while the company won’t officially comment on future product plans, it also knows a Crosstrek Wilderness would surely be a hit.
Function Over Form
Nothing inside the Crosstrek will get you particularly excited; there are no quirky design details or fancy trimmings, though props to Subaru for making the seat heaters hotter than before. Instead, the Crosstrek is designed to be used and abused, with high-quality plastic surfaces and comfortable cloth seats. You can even option rubber cargo and rear seat-back guards that make it easier to clean out mud and grime. Spend a day in the Crosstrek, and you can genuinely sense that it’s designed to last over the long haul.
The front seats have enough support to keep you from getting achy on long drives, and all but the tallest of passengers will be able to get comfortable in the back. There are cubbies and cup holders all over the Crosstrek’s interior, with several specifically designed to hold giant water bottles. You know, for all those hikes you’re going to take.
Fold the rear seats flat and you’ll find 54.7 cubic-feet of cargo space, which is more than enough for a long camping trip or expensive Ikea run. Curiously, though, the Crosstrek doesn’t offer a power liftgate on any trim level. Seems like a weird omission.
Decent-ish Multimedia, but Lots of Safety Tech
Base Crosstreks come with a pair of 7-inch central displays: one for multimedia functions and another for climate controls and driver-assistance functions. But every other Crosstrek comes with the same 11.6-inch portrait-oriented display you’ll find across the Subaru lineup, complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Great as the big screen is, the underlying software is rudimentary. The graphics are somewhat low-resolution, the system isn’t always quick to respond to inputs and the menu structure is a little convoluted. Subaru also locks out a good number of its infotainment functions while the car is in motion, meaning even your passenger can’t access them, which is annoying.
The aforementioned wide-angle camera means the Crosstrek’s EyeSight driver-assistance suite works more consistently in more situations, and an electronic brake booster helps to smooth out the operation of the adaptive cruise control. Lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring are optional, and the former is a little heavy-handed in its operation, nudging you back to the center of a lane when you haven’t quite reached the edge.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek: Still a Solid Buy
At $26,290, including a $1,295 destination fee, the 2024 Crosstrek is only $70 more expensive than its predecessor—and in fact, it’s only because the delivery fee went up. The Premium model tested here comes in at $27,440, while the forthcoming 2.5-liter Sport and Limited models cost $30,290 and $32,190, respectively.
The 2024 Crosstrek won’t set the world on fire with its hot styling, great performance or world-beating tech. But in a segment where buyers prioritize daily driving comfort, lots of cargo space and—in Subaru’s case—the ability to venture into nature, the somewhat boring-seeming Crosstrek is exactly the SUV it needs to be, just like it’s always been.
Subaru provided lodging and meals to enable Forbes Wheels to bring you this first-person drive report. Although Forbes Wheels sometimes participates in manufacturer-hosted events, our coverage is independent, unbiased and aimed at offering consumers an objective view of every vehicle we test.