In 1995, Subaru became one of the first manufacturers to jump into the emerging
crossover SUV market when it introduced the Forester, which was essentially an
Impreza with a new, taller body. Fast-forward to 2012, and Subaru has once again
called upon the Impreza to be the bones for an-all new compact crossover, this
one called the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek. The interior of the Crosstrek is nearly
identical to that of Impreza, save a few minor differences: the instrument
cluster, a plastic cargo tray, and privacy glass. This similarity is hardly
surprising -- it's both easy and cost effective to use as much as you can from
what you have on hand. You sit in, not on, the firm yet comfortable seats, which
have just enough bolstering keep you in place. For such a relatively small
vehicle, the Crosstrek has a surprising amount of room inside. I could easily
sit behind myself with plenty of headroom. Being 6'2", that's not something I
can say about every vehicle.
We got to sample both transmissions our drive, which consisted of both
on- and off-road driving, and found that the five-speed made the Crosstrek much
more enjoyable to drive. Being able to row your own makes a big difference in
how lively it feels. Since it is neither a hardcore SUV nor a completely on-road
vehicle, Subaru had to balance on-road feel with off-road capabilities, a job it
accomplished very well. On the highway, the Crosstrek had a smooth feel, and
when we hit broken road, the suspension absorbed the bumps nicely -- not too
firm, not too soft. We couldn't get a feel for more spirited driving feel,
specifically how the Crosstrek felt going through a corner hard, partly because
the two-lane roads of Oahu often are clogged with slow-moving vehicles.
We're
guessing it will be similar to the behavior of other Subarus, exhibiting a
little bit of body roll with the AWD system pulling you nicely through the
corner.
According to Subaru, its customers are active individuals who are four
times more likely to hike and 3.5 times more likely to bike compared to your
average customer. The target buyer is what Subaru calls a "youthful explorer,"
someone who seeks particular attributes in their vehicle. They want something
that can handle all-around adventure, has flexible capabilities, is equipped for
fun, and, of course, is safe. Subaru feels it has hit the nail on the head with
the XV Crosstrek, and we agree. It's not a sports car by any means, but it is a
sporty, capable, and fun CUV that will definitely fill a void in Subaru's
lineup.
Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door CUV 2.0L/148-hp/145-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4 147/112-135/102 kW-hrs/100 miles
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