@@jima7925It has timing chains (2 timing chains) so, likely, they may not need replacement at 100k, but you should replace serpentine belt, if you did not do it yet (along with tensioner).
@@cheapmodI fear you may be correct, but I was hoping the e-CVT by Toyota was better in terms of longevity- is it not? Regular CVTs seems to be made to keep fuel consumption down only transfering that cost to that of the transmission as it fails and hence to the first or the secondary owner with a frugal appearance... Car manufacturers strive to make cars last for say a decade and then they start to fail.... EV batteries have about a 8 year/160000 km guarantee and a new battery is so expensive then the car is writ-off by the insurance company... insurance costs will skyrocket.
Man, this is the first time I'm watching this channel, and you know what? It's been a long time I don't discover a non nonsense car review. That man knows what he's talking about, and it shows. Punctuating needed and interesting information, without being weird about the things the doesn't like or think could be different. And simple as it may sound, this is something rare nowadays. You see all kind of crazy reviews, that look like some Japanese crazy run show, with people whining about such trivial things, and forgetting useful information. Kudos, man! Great technical knowledge, great review, great guy! 10/10.
Yeah he is knowledgable but he brings up a lot of stuff that "could" be a problem but in actuality it never is. He brings up things like water pumps ect. I drive 40k miles a year and have not had a water pump ever fail on my cars. Now you have to worry about interior tech issues the most. Mechanical issues are not really much of an issue if you stick to the severe service intervals
Bought a new Crosstrek for my wife who commutes to/from work totalling 80 miles a day in 2018. It now has 115,000 miles on it. It has been an incredible vehicle. 33 mpg highway and has had zero repairs. Nothing but oil and tire changes. We are sticking with another Crosstrek in 2024 when we replace the 2018.
Thank you for finally reviewing a Subaru, your channel is one of the few I actually trust because you actually put in the effort to evaluate the mechanical engineering aspect. Most modern car journalists are either bought by a few companies or they are just completely out of touch with a regular buyer. The Crosstrek did not receive many awards but their sales are so strong, people vote with their wallets! In my area they are marked up ~$1000-2000 and completely sold out. Just placed by order yesterday and am waiting to receive mine!
@@michaelnoah3795 2024 they sold out of 2023 Crosstreks one or two month ago. Some other models they have both model years and for the newer one the discount is much less.
@@thatguylookingI have a ‘24 and it’s actually a great car. A lot of people want to complain because it has a CVT or the touchscreen. I also have a ‘20 Forester, no issues so far (knock on wood). The touchscreen on the ‘24 is responsive, mind you, it’s not an iPad. The 2.5l has no problem getting to speed. I babied it a little bit to break it in but it’s fine. I understand it’s not a sports car.
@@thatguylooking I have one and I love it. My dad drove mine and bought one himself. Screen can be a little annoying sometimes but its rare and everything else is great so far. Had it since July
I have a Crosstrek and an outback wilderness. Here’s my two cents cut the chase. The Crosstrek has the best awd system hands down. You’ll never get stuck in a snowstorm period. It’s very reliable. Period. If when something goes wrong it doesn’t cost an arm and leg to fix like a bmw or Audi as example. They hold their value as well. Subaru as mentioned here does do things differently than other car company’s. They actually listen to the consumer and they integrate what the consumers want in their cars. For all the things I loved about my old bmw x5 I can give many others I hated such as reliability and cost of ownership. The Crosstrek is a get up and go no nonsense suv that is really really good which is why you see more and more on the road. Good review here
@@barrybarnes96 Haters got to hate I guess. The primary competitors are the Corolla Cross, HRV, and Kona/Seltos. All three have CVTs, except for the upper trim levels of the Kona/Seltos.
Unfortunately, I have to disagree with you. I had a 2020 Forester Sport with dual X-mode and a Crosstrek 2.0 loaner, and the Crosstrek became stuck in a foot of snow and couldn't free itself. To make a long story short, there was a lot of tire spinning and transmission fluid heating smells coming from this thing and a lot of side-to-side motions to no avail, after nearly 5-7 minutes of trying. The Forester, on the other hand, had a similar if not same snow situation, and it not only pulled out, but it pulled out without so much as a hiccup. To be fair, I don't think it's a matter of the all wheel drive system, as Subaru has a good system; I think it's a matter of the CVT not being the most direct drivetrain, and the 2.0 having too little torque. If you don't get that motor to a certain RPM level, it ain't moving. It will rise and then fall to protect the transmission. Again, the Forester, with its 2.5L had absolutely no problem. Also, to be fair, upon reflection, I think it's actually a number of things that could have caused my issue: I think it had something to do with the motor and transmission, like I mentioned above, but perhaps it was the OEM all-season tires.:-) I know...I know... However, despite the all-seasons, I think it could have done it easily if it weighed more. I was driving the car with half-a-tank of fuel and no passengers or luggage, so it likely didn't weigh enough to get traction. The Forester was heavier, so it probably helped it too. Again, it pulled out like a champ. But weight matters just as much as AWD competence.
In December 2023 I test drove a new 2024 Crosstrek Limited. It was nicely appointed, having the 2.5 liter. It was FUN to drive. I really like how well the drivers seat was bolstered keeping you in the seat in corning. The downside for me was the rear seating headroom as I'm 6'2"; No power rear deck lid;No Heated Steering Wheel option. Instead I chose a 2024 Forester Touring that offered those amenities not available on this Crosstrek.
At my work we have 3 Subarus for delivery. Two Foresters, and an Impreza. They are all so durable, and fun to drive, and two have over 200,000 miles. I've talked the boss into a new Crosstrek soon. 11 months later, I'm still waiting
First time viewing the channel. If there was ever a "car guy" I'd take my vehicles to, it's this guy. Any day. I can't stress enough how much I appreciate this guy's point of view. Straight forward, honest, easy to understand. Thank you for this review.
I thought he only worked with Toyota/Lexus products? I went to his shop yesterday. He is a very nice person to deal with. I am taking my car there for some service. He showed me all of my little glitches with my 20 year old Toyota Solara.
I wish I lived close to his shop. I have a 2002 Lexus ES300 and he would’ve done all my service since I bought it 2 years ago. Extremely rare breed of a mechanic. Extremely passionate and honest.
When you have his level of skill and attention to detail, any car he fixes will be done at a very high level. He would embarrass a lot if Subaru dealer mechanics
I drove a 2024 Crosstrek as a loaner for a few weeks, and I just want to say the 2.0 engine isn't fast but it's not as gutless as you make it out to be. Like any naturally-aspirated engine it'll wheeze at high altitudes, and it's not a good choice if you like to drive pretending you're Vin Diesel, but it has plenty of power to safely pass slow traffic and merge onto highways. I've driven cars that were so gutless I couldn't keep my speed up on a mountain pass, and this isn't it.
Thanks for your input. As I haven’t test ridden any of these sub compact suvs that I’m contemplating. This crosstrek and say the Chevy trek, this guys opinionated review was a little over the top. It made me feel like it was so slow it wasn’t even worth testing it! I don’t get it, this car is priced very close to the Chevy treks and trailblazer and on paper it should be better then the chevys, and it’s a Subaru. But this review kind of makes it sound like it’s just OK.
@@michaelrieser9928I just bought a new crosstrek 2.0 based At 25 thousand out of the door The car 🚘 is extremely slow to pass other cars 🚗 that is 100 % True / but the car is confortable and solid and extremely safe No wonder 💭 have a good test crash 💥 and the resale value of the car 🚘 is great 👍 I don’t remorse to bought it / but I will keep it and sale it when is paid off I do like my car and at the end I’m happy 😃
I totally agree. Like I said in my post above, even the 2.0L is perfectly fine for normal driving. No problem entering freeways, merging, or keeping up with freeway traffic. The non-hybrid Corolla Cross, Honda HRV and base models of the Seltos/Kona are very similar in performance. The reviewer in this video definitely is a bit over the top in his criticism of the powertrain.
My son just test drove one and said it was very slow so maybe the guy knows what he is talking about. My son id going with the 2.5 turbo in the Outback Wilderness instead@@michaelrieser9928
First-time Aussie viewer here, and long time Subaru owner. Currently on our third Forester (2019 2.5i with 125,000km), which my missus drives while I also have a supercheap '02 Outback (255,000km) for my daily commute. As a long time Subi owner I've always been "aware" of the commonly feared issues with headgaskets, oil/coolant leaks and CVTs. That said I've not had any problems with any of ours - but that may partly be because we always trade up before they get to 150,000km (excluding the outback, which cost almost nothing, is manual, had headgaskets & timing belt done and I service it myself). Hence I have just finalised the trade-in of our 2019 for a brand new Crosstrek for the missus. So this review is actually pretty reassuring.
Aussie here also. 2019 Forester has been great so far. Fanstatic kayak/ski horse. I also trade @ 125,000-150,000k Going to try the Crosstrek after the Forester this year either mid June or at the end of the year.
@@RadarAustralia best of luck, seems we have similar habits. Once I get over the step down in "oomph" I'm sure I'll be happy with the Crosstrek - we simply don't need anything as big as the Foz anymore. Might have to 'lock' the Crosstrek in "S" mode though...
I bought a 2023 Crosstrek Sport 2.5L for my daughter's first car. It is our family's first Subaru. I am very particular when it comes to serviceability and longevity. This vehicle hit it out of the park at the price they sell for. It has so many safety, driver, and comfort features that you would never expect in a car at this price. Luckily the 2023 model still has a mechanical parking brake, and physical climate controls. It is a shame they went away from that. You could also still get a manual transmission in 2023 on the 2.0L. However I have to say the Subaru CVT is very nice, actually fun to drive. And I say that as someone who swore he would never, ever buy a CVT. But the Subaru CVT besides being fun, also has a great reputation for reliability. The extra ground clearance, high sidewall tires, and good visibility are perfect for our new driver. She is coming up on the one year mark of driving and she still loves this car, and I love the feeling knowing she is driving something safe and reliable. I also looked at Civics and Corollas but the dealers were just too insane with the market price adjustments (aka markups over msrp) and other pricing insanity. Subaru played none of those games. We could not be happier with the selection we made.
Recently purchased a cross trek and I also left a Toyota dealership because they wilder negotiate as much for the price. The salesman really tried to be pushy. Subaru did none of that and it was honestly the best car buying experience I’ve ever had.
My 2008 Outback refuses to freakin’ die. I just put new CV joints in at 140,000 miles and that was the only thing besides I ever had to do besides normal maintenance. That was a dirt cheap investment, especially considering the prices of new AND used cars these days.
The 2024 Crosstrek is a great vehicle. That said, I bought a 2023 Crosstrek Limited 2.5L in January after seeing the redesigned 2024 model. Mechanically, they are virtually identical, but I prefer the looks of the previous gen inside and outside, and the 2024 not having physical knobs and buttons for HVAC was a deal breaker for me. I absolutely love my '23 Limited. The 182hp 2.5L engine has plenty of power for regular driving, and the CVT is super smooth, quiet, and efficient. Just a great package overall. I've also worked on cars for over 20 years, and really appreciate how easy Subarus are to work on. They're just well thought out in that regard.
@@miniaddict4534 literally straight from subaru - The Impreza and Crosstrek are both highly fuel-efficient vehicles. Because of their similarities, the two models have identical gas mileage, up to 34/27 MPG highway/city depending on which trim level you select (except for the Crosstrek Wilderness which has a slightly lower MPG rating).
This is one of the best car reviews I've ever seen. I'd love to see 2024 Outback review as I have to decide between Crosstrek or Outback for myself. I hope it will come in the future!
Love your review on the 24 Crosstrek! I had purchased many Honda products in the past! My wife had her 2020 Ex-l CR-V stolen in September 22! There were no cars available except for a 22 CR-V Touring model so I purchased that car! I sold my 2010CR-V to my friend at the same time ! I subsequently purchased a 2023 Crosstrek Limited! I find it to be very comfortable and fun to drive! It is great driving in the winter months when we can get heavy snowfalls here in Quebec! The 2.5 L engine is adequate and I find no problem when accelerating to pass cars on the highway! Another plus is that I got 34 mpg (US gal.) while averaging a speed of 115/km.
I just picked up a 2024 Sport. The drivability is outstanding! Easily drives as smooth as my Lexus. Got the bigger engine and power is not a problem. Really a fun car to drive!
I have a 21 sport & power is definitely not a problem, even tow a 14ft boat often, great driving vehicle. Im a 34 year dodge,jeep,Chrysler tech & love the shifting, ride quality, fuel mileage & performance.
How do you compare the road noise to a Lexus? Totaled my Lexus RX300 a bit ago and I'm considering getting a Subaru Crosstrek, but I don't know if it's as quiet as the Lexus.
I had a Crosstrek l. Favorite car ever. I put a receiver on it for a bike rack and other accessories. Perfect for everyday and for light adventures. Does everything and never lets you down.
I just bought my first Subaru. 24 Subaru Crosstrek Sport. I drive about 5,000 miles a year or less. I hope this car will still be reliable and last me without any serious problems.
I just purchased the 2024 CrossTrek with the 2.5 litre engine. So far, this vehicle has exceeded my expectation. Just for a reference point, my last 5 vehicles have been BMWs.
Bragging you've owned "5 bmws" and now own a 35k car that does 0-60 in 9 seconds that somehow that exceeds your expectations leads me to believe you are just gaslighting yourself because you bought an overpriced pile of crap that is built worse with less features and slower than a Hyundai that sells for 18k
@@TexasStormChaser you're saying every 2024 model would be this compact and would work as an offroader and have the same if not better off-road features?
@@franktheballer23 Subaru is not an off-roader. It does not have any off road features such as low range or locking differentials. It does however share exactly the same features as a Hyundai Kona, the base model (4cly, cvt, awd) however the N-Line Kona does have a superior engine and transmission over a Wilderness (Turbo 4cly, 8spd auto, awd) and costs less too.
Worse, some people think it "looks cool" for the brake light to go off and be the blinker. No dedicated lights. These people are currently sitting in a body shop puffing a vape pen. But auto makers know those people spend a lot of money.
I've owned 3 Subarus. An 04 Forester manual with 250k miles. An 09 legacy manual with 115k miles sold. And now an 19 outback with 88k miles. Never had an issue other than proper maintenance. It helps that I build them as well. Take care of them and they will take care of you
@@Claroboy911 the CVT in my 2013 Outback went 220k miles before a problem. I have a 2023 Outback and 2024 Crosstrek. These are now “lifetime fluid” units. I don’t believe anything is for life, but drain and fill voids the warranty. Some say you can use cash to buy 5gal of CVT-3 from Subaru. You can monitor and manipulate all electronic controls used for drain and fills on the new units with an inexpensive bidirectional scantool because Subaru calls for servicing these units every 45-60k km in other markets. I don’t plan on experiencing any problems with the newer CVT unit. Do with this information what you will.
Thank you so much! I bought a 2.5 Sport. Even that guy is slow. But you know what? Perfect for me! Keep doing amazing work and thank you. A million times over.
Most people finding value in the all wheel drive system are those living in a snow climate where it makes a tremendous difference. Essentially any day can be an off road experience driving to work. At an intersection on a snowy/icy road waiting for your turn to make a left (in n. America) turn through traffic, its really nice when the cars just powers forward instead of spinning front tires lingering in the oncoming lane. Ive been a Subaru owner for 20 years and not changing anytime soon.
I’ve never had a problem with Subaru CVTs. We drove our 2011 Outback 255,000 km with no issues. Our 2018 Crosstrek has 145,000 km on and it’s been flawless. Our 2022 Forester only has about 26,000 km on it but I full expect it to run flawlessly for the time we keep it. That’s usually 10 years or more. Our cars get regular service which includes transmission fluid changes at least every 100,000 km. Look after it and it will look after you.
Just got the limited version of the 2024 crosstrek and so far am really impressed. I agree with the criticism of the screen. But it gets better acceleration than it gets credit for. I’ve had no issues whatsoever with getting in and out of traffic or passing, merging, etc.
Love your attention to detail and completeness of the review. Most car guys could take lessons from you. I’ve had 2 Subaru’s, a Forester (2001), had it for 10 years and a Crosstrek 6MT (2018), that I sold with 65K miles on it, last month. Zero maintenance on the crosstrek, only oil changes every 6K and new tires at 60K. Ran, so well with zero issues. Great in inclement weather and off-road in the mountains. A bonus, I could sleep in it comfortably, if I didn’t want to set up my tent or it was raining/snowing. I read, that the 2018 had a lot of problems and was one of the worst crosstrek’s to own. Again, I experienced zero problems, but mine was relatively low mileage. Who knows if they were coming? I sold my crosstrek because I wanted a hybrid and better mileage. I consistently got 34 mpg on the highway, but 20-22 in the city, and that’s horrible for such a small car. Would I buy a Subaru again? Yes, looking at the upcoming Baja. Good review, I’ll be checking more out
@@blackbearranchcanada I'm guessing the volume knob is digital though. Mine is digital, and sometimes there is a long delay while the head unit is booting up or switching to backup camera or whatever. It's super annoying.
@@BradHebert - volume knob on ours is a rotary knob and if you push it in, the radio turns off. There is also a + / - volume control on the steering wheel button cluster.
The 2.5 liter engine is very sufficient for this car - not slow. In addition, the car is not noisy with the 2.5 L. It's very quiet in stop and go traffic. The point about the AVH button is valid. It should be in a fixed, always available location.
It is super easy to customize the default button locations and drag the AVH button from the 2nd screen onto the first, Home screen and place it right above the fixed ASS button so it’s always available immediately upon turning on the car.
I have both Crosstrek 2019 and 2024 Sport and can confidently say that the older one is a lot slower compared to the newer one, but with the paddle shifters, you can get a little snappier response from the engine. The Sport 2.5L is a godsend, but it does sip more gas than the 2.0L. I'm still trying to learn the best way to drive it to maximize efficiency. It's pretty fun!
I have heard/read repeatedly how sluggish these engines are. We have 1 '21 Forester Touring with the 2.5 and it performs just fine, cruises easily at 80+ mph, has adequate get up and go to pass easily on the Interstate. We took it into the mountains in Arkansas and it handled them beautifully, did not seem stressed at all. So far, the car has been stellar. Not a single issue with 42K miles on the odometer. I've had a number of different vehicles in my 72 years and this is one of the best. I like the design, quality, fit and finish and, yes, I even like driving it. I'm considering the Crosstrek as a replacement for my 2014 VW Jetta.
It's always great and reassuring when an actual mechanic reviews a car that you're shortlisting, as opposed to car enthusiasts or amateur youtubers.. i'm happy to have stumbled upon this channel! you've set it all straight, incl. my doubts about CVT. Thank You!
What a great review! I'm picking up my 2024 Crosstrek Onyx (Sport in the US) in a few days. I like to work on my own cars, and this video has more useful technical information in it than all the other 2024 Crosstrek reviews combined. Excellent presentation!
@@antonfernando8409 I love our Crosstrek. For the money, it's an extremely capable car, especially in winter. We did a 6,000 mi (10,000 km) road trip in January, mostly along I-80. There were cars and trucks in the ditch everywhere, but the Crosstrek handled the conditions like a champ. For that trip, I had Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires... they make the Crosstrek amazing in snow.
We checked out a Crosstrek about 6 months ago. We liked it, but it was a bit too small for what we wanted. We ended up taking a Forester out after and it was perfect so bought it. The Wilderness model (they had one on the lot, which was perfect). We love it. It's great to drive and I am fine with CVTs as my Venza has one too (although, an eCVT). Subaru's CVT is an inhouse unit that is better than the JATCO units out there. From what I've read, the key to minimizing issues with Subarus is staying on top of regular maintenance. We always do that anyway so I'm sure we'll be fine. CVT and diff fluid changes every 60,000 miles/5 years. Oil changes every 5,000 miles/6 months. There is also some coolant changes and brake fluid flushes periodically as well. Regarding the power output, I was worried it might be "slow", especially since the turbo engine option is no longer available on the Forester. Honestly, after the break in period, it has plenty of zip to it. The Wilderness model has a taller gear ratio in the CVT (for more torque off road), which may help a bit (at the expense of a bit of fuel economy), but overall, I don't miss the turbo at all. It's not slow around town at all, and on the highways, it's not really behind other vehicles in its class (most are around 180-200 HP), unless they have an optional engine option (like Mazda's 2.5T, for example).
Agree with you 100%. Have a ‘17 Outback with around 190,000 km. I do my maintenance similar to yours . Have had the transmission fluid changed twice. Hope to get many more years of service from it.
@@vipvip-tf9rw Well there was a choice before. You didn't have to get a turbo. The normal engine was available. I read somewhere that the turbo made up only a small % of sales
Good points .Agree 100% with you. I am on my 3rd Subaru. All have had the 2.5. Enough power for me. Learned to drive on an original Mini. Had a couple of beetles, a Vega and a couple of K cars. Compared to them, 175hp is plenty.
Loved your honest review. All of them. We just bought a 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness. We have 2 Lectric bicycles that we use with a hitch rack, and needed the capacity of a Class III hitch with a 2 inch reciever. Coming from an RV based on a RAM Promaster chassis, the Crosstrek has more than enough power for this 73 year old. The buttonless dash seems to work OK. My wife has an MKX with capacitive touch buttons. The Subaru screen is more sensitive. We added the 4D Tech module to be able to lock the Stop/Start feature to off by default. That was my main complaint.
it's very similar to this vehicle in many ways like motor, transmission, ride height, center display panel.... The pros of the Forester, it's cabin space is bigger and more useful than Crosstrek or Outback, the best visibility I ever had on a vehicle (to the point you feel like you have owned the vehicle for many years on the test drive), the tall cabin space provides plenty of clearance for the taller riders and the thing I love the most about it is the panoramic sunroof. The cons of the Forester are it doesn't get the great gas mpg (25mpg~) you'll get on a Crosstrek (33mpg~) (or even the Outback 30mpg~) due to aerodynamics, it's noisier than the Outback, it's taller cabin space is also susceptive to much more sunlight exposure than a normal vehicle, which makes the cabin warmer during summer (A/C on blast and tinted windows for the rescue) and blocking the sun meanwhile driving is a bit more challenging. My wife managed to crack the windshield several times on the Forester, I kept asking her how and she never knew how or why. If you ask me, I prefer the Forester based on looks and the inside cargo space, but the Outback is the one I'll buy. We bought two Forester (2015 & 2016) and both of them had a rattle noise that came from the dash upper display. The Outback (2016) came with a bunch of upgrades for not much more and it has been bulletproof.
What a great detailed review. I just picked the 2024 Crosstrek Premium last month. Thank you for all your hard work in putting together this video. Keep up the great work! 👍 From a fellow Chicagoan
Yay! Thank you for finally reviewing a subaru, I used to own a 2011 Subaru STI and I sold it with 270,000km (~160,000 miles) and it still had its original engine, transmission and turbo. I was surprised by how reliable it was for an older high mileage Subaru STI. Keep up the great work Car Care Nut!!
I still have a 2005 WRX with the last of the 2.0L EJs with 136k miles. It has been very reliable and fun to drive. I would only sell it to upgrade to a new WRX wagon if Subaru ever brings it back or for a GR Corolla.
That shouldn’t be impressive. My 2015 Lincoln has 330,000kms on it and the engine and transmission are original and run like new. I’m about to sell it and get a new car but if people are surprised to still have the original engine at only 270,000kms maybe I should look at other brands. Even if they require more frequent mild maintenance, my ford/Lincoln’s have always lasted me 324,000km/200,000 miles or longer on all original drivetrain. And I then sell it to someone else who usually drives them another 1-200,000 kms before they blow up
@@nerdsunscripted624 is your Lincoln abused regularly and tuned? My old Sti had 5 prev owners and it was originally a lease. I agree that we shouldn’t be surprised by 270k on the original engine but people keep pretending like these cars blow up every other year.
@@SF.Automotive my Lincoln has a 60 mile commute every day in which I’m usually going around 90mph the entire time. I gas on it a lot and brake hard. Hard enough that a set of brake rotors don’t last me very long as they warp. I don’t have it tuned for performance as it’s fast enough for me after the first tune giving me 370hp. Nothing crazy but can embarrass v6 mustangs sometimes. Looking at an outback since I’m moving to a new city where I need to have all wheel drive as the city basically doesn’t plow the snow off of half the roads in town and it’s pretty for northern US so I need good snow capability. Recently we got roughly 40cm of snow in a single storm. But in fair weather I intend on still going 90mph/145kmh for most of my interstate commuting and I want something that’s going to last as I drive 48,000 km per year.
@@SF.Automotive Agreed, that dickhead was retarded AF, and definitely doesn't know jack shit if a) he doesn't think that 270k is impressive, and b) he drives a fuckin Lincoln 😂😂😂😂
I had a 2012 Impreza Sport Limited Hatchback, really liked it, and could go anywhere like a mountain goat but it had some problems. Oil consumption but not enough to be covered under warranty Seat design flaw, squeaks developed quickly Very slow with a cvt never reached the advertised mpgs went through multiple wheel bearings I really hope they made some quality improvements over the years.
I've owned Imprezas and a Crosstrek with 5 and 6 speed manuals for years, bullet proof little things with 30+ mpg's that will go through a foot of snow without flinching and make you fell like a rally driver when you're flying down a dirt road. But when I heard they're going to CVT's only, I dropped off the Subaru bandwagon and bought a 6 speed Tacoma. It hurts too because that symmetrical AWD system is a beautiful thing to drive and my little Imprezas were so well balanced and the center of gravity was nice and low, once you got them up to speed, they felt so good to drive in the corners. I miss my Subies
Was looking forward for a Subaru review on this channel. I own two Subarus The biggest complain I have with my 2023 model is the lack of physical hvac, heated seats and brake hold controls. I wish they made the screen 25-30% smaller but put the actual buttons.
Are you referring to the Outback? The 2023 Crosstrek is the last model year that has physical HVAC buttons. I have it and I'm so glad the physical buttons are there. The 2024 model Crosstrek as shown in this video is brand new.
@@matt.canada In my case I was referring to the Ascent, 2022 had physical buttons but 2023 did not any more. The Outback started using this large screen earlier I think in 2020. Looks like Subaru is switching all it's models to the same infotainment system with touchscreen HVAC controls, probably to save a few bucks, witch is sad.
@@bohdanked I don't mind this screen at all. With all the important "buttons" moved to the first screen and the physical warmer/cooler buttons that are there I find it a delight to use. Now, if we could permanently disable the Auto Start-Stop...
@@michaelostrowski8630 They sell a work around for $100 that turns off the stop/start feature every time you turn the ignition on. It’s simple to install. They have a permanent soft key to turn it off on the infotainment system though.
I've loved your Toyota Lexus content for a long time so it was great to see you do a subaru. Knowing the Toyota reliability and not being able to afford a 4runner, I bought a 23 Crosstrek sport because the Corolla cross was just too boring and I've seen too many RAV4 stuck in the snow plus the dealers just want to rake you over the coals for a RAV4 like they're solid gold or something. As far as the speed and power, I find it completely adequate as I can easily merge 60 to 80 on an on-ramp and can Cruise 80-90 + on the highway and pass at 100 plus if need be. I wasn't looking for a performance car. I won't lie though, I'm keeping my fingers crossed on the CVT and the overall longevity of the car lol.
Thanks for picking the Crosstrek to review--a direct competitor to the Corolla Cross. More competitors to review: the Honda HR-V and the new Hyundai Kona. Keep up the good work!
We purchased a '24 Crosstrek Limited (2.5L engine) in September. I'm 6'4" and I fit into it pretty nicely. We live 8km (5 mi) down a decent gravel road, and the car absolutely soaks up bumps and washboard (better than my F150 or older Sierra 2500). The LED headlights are fantastic. The 2.5L engine is quite zippy and we have had no issues wanting more speed on the freeway. While I would agree that the infotainment screen needs a bit of improvement, it's pretty good. It should be noted that the temp controls for the dual zone climate control ARE physical buttons, which is nice. Heated seat buttons are great. The "low" is a bit warmer than I'd like but not bad. We put studded Nokian tires on it this winter and the thing is unstoppable! We had about 18" of snow this winter, but lots of icy hard-pack and even on our windy gravel road (uphill to our house), it NEVER slipped. I could not have been more impressed. The AVH button can be put on the main screen of the Infotainment screen (shortcuts). You don't have to go to the vehicle setup screen each time you want to turn it on. The AVH defaults to "Off" each time you start the car ( I assume a safety choice by Subaru?) so you do have to hit the button each time you start driving (if you want to use AVH) , so that's a bit of a pain. I agree that, while the "Auto" button for climate control is customizable (each driver can have their own setting) , it would certainly be nice to be able to customize at least one or two other buttons in that button group. Hopefully a future software update would resolve this. I am really not a fan of the interior lighting. They've used halogen or incandescent lights inside and they're marginal at best, and in the back cargo area they have one small incandescent bulb which is absolutely useless. The lack of ability to change the "X Mode" driving mode while moving is also disappointing. We had a trip last week where, when we left home there was no snow, but at the top of the mountain pass 2 hours later - lots of snow on a steep downhill. It would have been great to change to the Snow mode while driving, but instead we had to pull over, press the X Mode button, then pull back onto the highway. Maybe it's a physical or safety limitation - I don't know. Overall we've been quite happy with our Crosstrek. Fuel economy is quite good, it's remarkably zippy, comfortable, and quite a pleasure to drive. Thanks for doing such an excellent review!
It's good you completely disagree with him about it being slow especially from someone that actually drives and owns one .... I guess he thinks it's suppose to be a race car.
Overall good video, was listening for comments about safety, which many people buy Subarus for but didn't hear. For instance, the construction used to stop collision intrusion into the cabin and many more features even Japanese cars at their price point cheap out on. Also didn't see a drive test to comment on handling. Subarus experience with rally racing shows when driving with tight turns and slick roads. Even timid drivers will relax after experiencing the predictable response.
Hi, I totally respect your opinion on your videos, keep up this good work. It's getting harder to find a goog video on RUclips, by people who know what they are TALKING about! I have a 2023 tacomba, piece of Junk, no power, below 3500 RPM, 18 L/100km, on & & on & on. I want to trade, because of you, now I know what I want, SUBARU. THANKS again. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
I think you hit this right on the mark, especially about the engine and potential seal issues. My daughter's 2016 Crosstrek, the only seal that doesn't leak is the head gasket. Although very well maintained, Subaru dealer says it's very normal for the liquid sealer to fail on all components and no fault of the owner. A $5200 repair! She will just keep an eye on the oil level between changes. Your knowledge is really quite impressive.
Just bought a Crosstrek Wilderness and yes it is not fast but I went from a 600 hp car to it and I really don't mind it. Yes I can't 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and no I can't rip off 10 second quarter miles and 100 mph comes in never but I also get 30 mpg and don't pay an extra dollar a gallon for gas. Also I can drive on wet pavement, go through a pot hole and not worry about road debris destroying my rear fascia or front air dam. I can now turn off road and this impeding snow storm is actually something to look forward to. All things consider I think I'll keep the Crosstrek.
I have driven my Subaru Crostrek 2024 Base for more than a month now, and I like it, it is true that it is a noisy engine, but with the cruise control, and the brake that stays fixed, it is wonderful, you don't get tired driving it .
By noisy how noisy do you mean. Like if I had a radio going at just a normal volume, let's say 1/4 of the actual volume. Would it still be overpowering. ? I'm really looking into a Subaru. I live in a pretty crappy area with snowstorms. I drive an old Ford and it is really loud. I hate it. I just need to know the level to see if I'm used to the abuse lol.
I owned a 2014 and a 2016 of this model. The CVT is like no other CVT I’ve driven. And the flappy paddles give you a traditional auto trans experience if you like that. This is a great car!
Idk about now but outbacks used to give you stainless steel exhaust. .they are awesome all climate cars. But I am not a fan of the tablet controls and CVT. Great in-depth review, good you make people aware of the difference in AWD systems
Head gasket problems were an issue native to EJ series engines. It was based on the gaskets that Subaru used, and has nothing to with being a boxer. If you have an older EJ series engine, the best way to avoid it is to change the gaskets to a multi layer metal gasket (usually used in WRX and XT series) when you do your 100k service. Much of the work on a 100k is easier if you pull the whole engine, which makes the gasket change easy. It's never been a regular issue on FA and FB series engine. In general, the EJ series engines are pretty solid, with that exception. Great rundown on the newer Subaru systems.
Subaru makes good cars you gotta remember they’re not four-wheel trucks nice review is always . Just keep in mind with all-wheel-drive when tires need to be replaced. Specially, on a Subaru you’re gonna need to replace all four. That goes for any wheel.
@@ericripley9739 that’s a Subaru thing not something that people are making up all the rest of the tires are new Yes, you can put one tire on. They recommend the same tire brand .
@@gregs3153 Thanks for the reply. It was a front tire and I drove for several days on the temporary spare. Only read later that it should have been moved to the back. But I got away with it. Not easy to get winter tires in SC!
I have this model, and it’s NOT slow. The CVT makes acceleration very nice. Subaru used to be slow, the new ones are very peppy. True, the brakes are excellent. This car does great on an icy roads too. I have had mustangs and this is quicker
Great Review! I have a 2024 Crosstrek Limited with the 2.5L engine. 4 months and 3.2K miles. I feel it's acceleration is adequate. Yes, you can't keep up with a Mustang or a Tesla, but it is not meant to. I have been driving FWD cars for 40yrs. I was surprised at how much I really noticed how the lack of torque steer made driving the car so much more enjoyable. Both front drive shafts are equal in length, so there is no torque steer pulling you to one side or the other when you accelerate. Another things I like about the car is, when driving it around town, there is very little road noise for a small car. It is quieter than my wife's 2021 Rav4 Hybrid. Yes the engine is noisy when accelerating but when you are cruising, it is very quiet. On the highway, it is almost as loud as our RAV4. Wagons, SUV's etc seem to always be louder on the highway than a sedan.
Amazing that you and I pretty much have the same experience. Just bought a 24 Limited after years of owning Toyotas. It does seem that my new Crosstrek is quieter than my wife's 21 Rav Hybrid!
I like your unbiased review laying out the good the bad the ugly and letting us make the decision. For this reason, I am now a subscriber. Thank you sir
Moved out to the Canadian Rockies this past summer and got a brand new Crosstrek base model, I definitely recommend the base since I prefer the split touchscreen with more physical buttons. Very happy with the car overall!
It's funny you say that, when I went to test drive the sales guy kept looking at me funny bc I said I prefer the split screen and turn key of the base model. Subaru is the first I drove where I like the base better than any of the bells and whistles.
@@ijohnson190 agreed, the key was also a big factor for me. Luckily, my sales person was of the same mind and had told me to just get the base since the higher trims touchscreen was awful haha.
Nobody was buying manual Crosstreks and the manual was only available for the cheap Base model. Also every Crosstrek comes with paddle shifters, which is the closest thing to a manual if you want a manual Crosstrek.
@@eddiethewhale3268 paddle shifters on a CVT transmission are not the same as a manual. Manual transmission is a lot cheaper to maintain and operate and simpler. CVT has a lot more failure points. And is more fun.
My daughter just bought her first car, a 2021 Crosstrek with the 2.5L. The AWD system was the biggest selling point as she is stationed in Wyoming so this will help in the snow. We've never owned a Subaru so hopefully it is a good car for her.
I have bought a MY 24 crosstrek for general family use. Three boys of driving age. The car is well made, has everything required in a modern vehicle and has all the modern safety equipment. Full time 4wd is a great bonus. It might be slow but thats great if my kids are driving. Dont buy it if you want rapid acceleration. It is not for those people I CC Nut is spot on-"you get a lot of car for the price"
I use a Crosstrek Sport 2.5i for work in the Michigan woods and the AWD, short wheelbase, 8.5" ground clearance, and approach and departure angles are perfect for Michigan State Forest jeep trails (I replaced the stock, all-season tires with the A/T TOYO tires that come with the Wilderness trim.) Fuel economy averages 30 mpg. Power driver seat will accomodate up to a 5'10" driver.
Thanks AMD, finally a Subaru review, though I was hoping for a Forester one. Regardless, the engine is 2.5L, so it’s identical to what’s available here. My Forester doesn’t suffer from the lack of physical buttons, especially the HVC and AVH. Also, I can operate any physical button while driving without looking, they’re big and laid out perfectly. I don’t find them slow tbh, they’re not fast yet adequate, and highway passing is no issue at all. While the looks are subjective, Subarus have distinctive classic designs, that can be viewed as either timeless or lacks modernity, but the more you live with them, the more you love them.
Own a '16 Crosstrek that was my commute vehicle. It has the pre '18 2.0L (148hp) was okay when I was commuting as I did not need to take the freeway to work. I am now retired, but still will keep this Subaru. I thought of upgrading but don't care for the direct injection only engines, my Subaru has port injection which helps to keep the back of the intake valves cleaner, wished Subaru offered dual injection engines. My '16 Subaru hasn't had any issues, keep it maintained, no leaks anywhere, and doesn't burn oil.
Love my cladding on my Crosstrek!! I also am liking the temperature controls on the screen because I can adjust the temperature settings and actually run a specific temperature vs having a dial temperature setting. Whoever set my computer screen in my 2024 Crosstrek did a great job!! I'm not having the situation you had in the car you reviewed. Also when you look up Subaru it does say that Toyota does have "a small stake in Subaru".
Great review. I purchased a 2013 Crosstrek new. It now has 110,000 trouble free miles. Simple, reliable, great on dirt roads and in ice and snow -- a great value, a great, honest car.
I have a '22 Limited. As someone else mentioned, the pre '24's have manual HVAC controls. Also, FWIW, all Crosstreks have roof rails standard. (edit: 2024 base does not. Thanks for the correction.) With the bulk of my driving being rural, I routinely exceed the stated fuel economy numbers published. For anybody out there considering one, the 2.5 is the way to go! Keep in mind the new Wilderness edition has a lower final drive ratio which will reduce your fuel economy, so if you're not serious about off roading, I would suggest the Sport or Limited. I routinely average 36 or 37 mpg. Thanks for your in depth review.
I have the 2024 LT and didn't notice any acceleration/power issues where the speed limits are 75-85. Actually no issues with the vehicle at all except have to fight the wife to drive it. ;)
Thanks for mentioning fuel stats and the wilderness gear ratio effecting gas mileage . I really like this car but hate the stupid looking side body cladding very Toyota esk ugliness and the Soletera really ugly cladding . If you want to sell an EV dont`t make it ugly .
Minor correction to your comment: For 2024, the base model no longer comes with roof rails. So, most but not all Crosstreks come with roof rails standard now. Used to be that all trim levels had roof rails, but not anymore for 24. There are a number of cost cutting measures Subaru undertook with the 24 model compared to the previous gen, and this is one of them.
Driving my 2008 Subaru Outback, 172,000 miles and zero issues. I am 63 and this car is the best car I have ever owned.
everything changed after cvt. even toyota breaking down now
I am 70 and have a 2008 Outback with 100,000 been a great car. I never did the timing belt (yet?) have you ?
@@jima7925It has timing chains (2 timing chains) so, likely, they may not need replacement at 100k, but you should replace serpentine belt, if you did not do it yet (along with tensioner).
@@spol1622 Nope. The 2008 2.5 i 4 has a timing belt. I wish it was chains. Yes I did the accessory belt at about 80k.
@@cheapmodI fear you may be correct, but I was hoping the e-CVT by Toyota was better in terms of longevity- is it not?
Regular CVTs seems to be made to keep fuel consumption down only transfering that cost to that of the transmission as it fails and hence to the first or the secondary owner with a frugal appearance... Car manufacturers strive to make cars last for say a decade and then they start to fail.... EV batteries have about a 8 year/160000 km guarantee and a new battery is so expensive then the car is writ-off by the insurance company... insurance costs will skyrocket.
Man, this is the first time I'm watching this channel, and you know what? It's been a long time I don't discover a non nonsense car review. That man knows what he's talking about, and it shows. Punctuating needed and interesting information, without being weird about the things the doesn't like or think could be different. And simple as it may sound, this is something rare nowadays. You see all kind of crazy reviews, that look like some Japanese crazy run show, with people whining about such trivial things, and forgetting useful information. Kudos, man! Great technical knowledge, great review, great guy! 10/10.
Agree! This channel is different
Ditto. Brilliant all round reviews 😉
Yes he knows his S
@@Thickercarton Go watch the one on the second opinion of a blown motor. He tracks down the issue like Sherlock Holmes
Yeah he is knowledgable but he brings up a lot of stuff that "could" be a problem but in actuality it never is. He brings up things like water pumps ect. I drive 40k miles a year and have not had a water pump ever fail on my cars. Now you have to worry about interior tech issues the most. Mechanical issues are not really much of an issue if you stick to the severe service intervals
The "slowness" of this car is perfect for my just started driving teenager! :)
It is a little spunky with the CVT keeping torque high. I would get the 2.5 though. You will thank me if you did not buy one already.
Bought a new Crosstrek for my wife who commutes to/from work totalling 80 miles a day in 2018. It now has 115,000 miles on it. It has been an incredible vehicle. 33 mpg highway and has had zero repairs. Nothing but oil and tire changes. We are sticking with another Crosstrek in 2024 when we replace the 2018.
Did you do CVT fluid change my dealer said after 100k miles.
@@danek893 no, i tried, they told me its lifetime non serviceable cvt
The cvt is fully serviceable. Put up on a lift with the car in the drive, you can change the fluid.
@@dietmdew845Good Lord, there's no such thing as lifetime fluids. All fluids break down due to thermal cycling, particle retention, etc..
Does it consume any oil between changes?
Thank you for finally reviewing a Subaru, your channel is one of the few I actually trust because you actually put in the effort to evaluate the mechanical engineering aspect. Most modern car journalists are either bought by a few companies or they are just completely out of touch with a regular buyer. The Crosstrek did not receive many awards but their sales are so strong, people vote with their wallets! In my area they are marked up ~$1000-2000 and completely sold out. Just placed by order yesterday and am waiting to receive mine!
My local Subaru dealer here in PA advertises Crosstreks $1250 off MSRP. I guess depends on the area.
I think you are talking about the 2023 crosstrek. In my area the 2023 models are also discounted because the 2024 is such a major refresh@@bohdanked
@@michaelnoah3795 2024 they sold out of 2023 Crosstreks one or two month ago. Some other models they have both model years and for the newer one the discount is much less.
LOL, they're not journalists, they're just people with a RUclips account and a lot of time on their hands.
Don't know where you are but here in CT atdan perkins subaru is msrp and have some availability like a few weeks out
Three Subarus in my family: Crosstrek, Forester, Legacy. All with 2.5 engines. No issues with acceleration or “slow”
it's normal, but for some reason, people want FAST
I am 78, South African, and never miss your shows. In fact you have the best car channel on RUclips. Thank you. 🇿🇦🇿🇦
South Africa's got one of the best designed flag
🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
this and @savagegeese are the only automotive channels anyone needs to watch. They're technical, and provide deep insight. Great work as usual!
Agree. Every one that I've watched has been great.
What no Motortrend reviews? 😂😂
Scottie Kilmer has a good automotive channel.
They are both in Illinois, a collaboration would be really cool.
@@pauldichtel6410Kilmer is a bottom of the barrel garbage car review channel
Getting my new Crosstrek tomorrow!!!
How's it been? Thinking of getting one soon maybe!
My condolences. Bad car.
@@cw4623 In point form can you give 3 reasons? Would help, thanks. Seems to be a pretty decent car
@@thatguylookingI have a ‘24 and it’s actually a great car. A lot of people want to complain because it has a CVT or the touchscreen. I also have a ‘20 Forester, no issues so far (knock on wood). The touchscreen on the ‘24 is responsive, mind you, it’s not an iPad. The 2.5l has no problem getting to speed. I babied it a little bit to break it in but it’s fine. I understand it’s not a sports car.
@@thatguylooking I have one and I love it. My dad drove mine and bought one himself. Screen can be a little annoying sometimes but its rare and everything else is great so far. Had it since July
I am 68, bought the last of the manual crosstreks in 2023....Love it...
Take care of it. Manuals are rare and one day yours will be very valuable.
The cvt is a dog. Good choice
2021 Crosstrek with the 6MT here. Don’t hate the CVT (we have a 2024 too) but I definitely prefer the manual. 😎👍🏼
Jealous. They are so expensive used!
I have a Crosstrek and an outback wilderness. Here’s my two cents cut the chase. The Crosstrek has the best awd system hands down. You’ll never get stuck in a snowstorm period. It’s very reliable. Period. If when something goes wrong it doesn’t cost an arm and leg to fix like a bmw or Audi as example. They hold their value as well. Subaru as mentioned here does do things differently than other car company’s. They actually listen to the consumer and they integrate what the consumers want in their cars. For all the things I loved about my old bmw x5 I can give many others I hated such as reliability and cost of ownership. The Crosstrek is a get up and go no nonsense suv that is really really good which is why you see more and more on the road. Good review here
Sounds like a whole bunch of cope becuase you bought a subie😂
I'm thinking that if they did indeed listen to their customers they wouldn't have made it with a CVT.
@@barrybarnes96 Haters got to hate I guess. The primary competitors are the Corolla Cross, HRV, and Kona/Seltos. All three have CVTs, except for the upper trim levels of the Kona/Seltos.
I thumbs down
Unfortunately, I have to disagree with you. I had a 2020 Forester Sport with dual X-mode and a Crosstrek 2.0 loaner, and the Crosstrek became stuck in a foot of snow and couldn't free itself. To make a long story short, there was a lot of tire spinning and transmission fluid heating smells coming from this thing and a lot of side-to-side motions to no avail, after nearly 5-7 minutes of trying. The Forester, on the other hand, had a similar if not same snow situation, and it not only pulled out, but it pulled out without so much as a hiccup. To be fair, I don't think it's a matter of the all wheel drive system, as Subaru has a good system; I think it's a matter of the CVT not being the most direct drivetrain, and the 2.0 having too little torque. If you don't get that motor to a certain RPM level, it ain't moving. It will rise and then fall to protect the transmission. Again, the Forester, with its 2.5L had absolutely no problem. Also, to be fair, upon reflection, I think it's actually a number of things that could have caused my issue: I think it had something to do with the motor and transmission, like I mentioned above, but perhaps it was the OEM all-season tires.:-) I know...I know... However, despite the all-seasons, I think it could have done it easily if it weighed more. I was driving the car with half-a-tank of fuel and no passengers or luggage, so it likely didn't weigh enough to get traction. The Forester was heavier, so it probably helped it too. Again, it pulled out like a champ. But weight matters just as much as AWD competence.
In December 2023 I test drove a new 2024 Crosstrek Limited. It was nicely appointed, having the 2.5 liter. It was FUN to drive. I really like how well the drivers seat was bolstered keeping you in the seat in corning. The downside for me was the rear seating headroom as I'm 6'2"; No power rear deck lid;No Heated Steering Wheel option. Instead I chose a 2024
Forester Touring that offered those amenities not available on this Crosstrek.
At my work we have 3 Subarus for delivery. Two Foresters, and an Impreza. They are all so durable, and fun to drive, and two have over 200,000 miles. I've talked the boss into a new Crosstrek soon. 11 months later, I'm still waiting
I leased the car today, and I couldnt be happier with the decision. I think it's an amazing value for the money .
First time viewing the channel. If there was ever a "car guy" I'd take my vehicles to, it's this guy. Any day. I can't stress enough how much I appreciate this guy's point of view. Straight forward, honest, easy to understand. Thank you for this review.
I thought he only worked with Toyota/Lexus products? I went to his shop yesterday. He is a very nice person to deal with. I am taking my car there for some service. He showed me all of my little glitches with my 20 year old Toyota Solara.
I was thinking because the Toyota 86 uses the Subaru boxer engine (for the last 10yrs approx) he's an experienced Subaru mechanic also 🤔
He does review other brands, but his shop is Toyota and Lexus. I so visited his shop, super nice mant
I wish I lived close to his shop. I have a 2002 Lexus ES300 and he would’ve done all my service since I bought it 2 years ago. Extremely rare breed of a mechanic. Extremely passionate and honest.
Toyota owns like 25% of Subaru's parent company or something
When you have his level of skill and attention to detail, any car he fixes will be done at a very high level. He would embarrass a lot if Subaru dealer mechanics
I drove a 2024 Crosstrek as a loaner for a few weeks, and I just want to say the 2.0 engine isn't fast but it's not as gutless as you make it out to be. Like any naturally-aspirated engine it'll wheeze at high altitudes, and it's not a good choice if you like to drive pretending you're Vin Diesel, but it has plenty of power to safely pass slow traffic and merge onto highways. I've driven cars that were so gutless I couldn't keep my speed up on a mountain pass, and this isn't it.
29:18 🤣
Thanks for your input. As I haven’t test ridden any of these sub compact suvs that I’m contemplating. This crosstrek and say the Chevy trek, this guys opinionated review was a little over the top. It made me feel like it was so slow it wasn’t even worth testing it! I don’t get it, this car is priced very close to the Chevy treks and trailblazer and on paper it should be better then the chevys, and it’s a Subaru. But this review kind of makes it sound like it’s just OK.
@@michaelrieser9928I just bought a new crosstrek 2.0 based
At 25 thousand out of the door
The car 🚘 is extremely slow to pass other cars 🚗 that is 100 %
True / but the car is confortable and solid and extremely safe
No wonder 💭 have a good test crash 💥 and the resale value of the car 🚘 is great 👍 I don’t remorse to bought it / but I will keep it and sale it when is paid off
I do like my car and at the end I’m happy 😃
I totally agree. Like I said in my post above, even the 2.0L is perfectly fine for normal driving. No problem entering freeways, merging, or keeping up with freeway traffic. The non-hybrid Corolla Cross, Honda HRV and base models of the Seltos/Kona are very similar in performance. The reviewer in this video definitely is a bit over the top in his criticism of the powertrain.
My son just test drove one and said it was very slow so maybe the guy knows what he is talking about. My son id going with the 2.5 turbo in the Outback Wilderness instead@@michaelrieser9928
First-time Aussie viewer here, and long time Subaru owner. Currently on our third Forester (2019 2.5i with 125,000km), which my missus drives while I also have a supercheap '02 Outback (255,000km) for my daily commute. As a long time Subi owner I've always been "aware" of the commonly feared issues with headgaskets, oil/coolant leaks and CVTs. That said I've not had any problems with any of ours - but that may partly be because we always trade up before they get to 150,000km (excluding the outback, which cost almost nothing, is manual, had headgaskets & timing belt done and I service it myself). Hence I have just finalised the trade-in of our 2019 for a brand new Crosstrek for the missus. So this review is actually pretty reassuring.
Aussie here also. 2019 Forester has been great so far. Fanstatic kayak/ski horse. I also trade @ 125,000-150,000k Going to try the Crosstrek after the Forester this year either mid June or at the end of the year.
@@RadarAustralia best of luck, seems we have similar habits. Once I get over the step down in "oomph" I'm sure I'll be happy with the Crosstrek - we simply don't need anything as big as the Foz anymore. Might have to 'lock' the Crosstrek in "S" mode though...
I bought a 2023 Crosstrek Sport 2.5L for my daughter's first car. It is our family's first Subaru. I am very particular when it comes to serviceability and longevity. This vehicle hit it out of the park at the price they sell for. It has so many safety, driver, and comfort features that you would never expect in a car at this price.
Luckily the 2023 model still has a mechanical parking brake, and physical climate controls. It is a shame they went away from that. You could also still get a manual transmission in 2023 on the 2.0L. However I have to say the Subaru CVT is very nice, actually fun to drive. And I say that as someone who swore he would never, ever buy a CVT. But the Subaru CVT besides being fun, also has a great reputation for reliability.
The extra ground clearance, high sidewall tires, and good visibility are perfect for our new driver. She is coming up on the one year mark of driving and she still loves this car, and I love the feeling knowing she is driving something safe and reliable. I also looked at Civics and Corollas but the dealers were just too insane with the market price adjustments (aka markups over msrp) and other pricing insanity. Subaru played none of those games. We could not be happier with the selection we made.
I have both 2023 Sports 2.5L (for my daughter) and 2.0L manual (I was told one of the last in the US) for myself.
Where did you buy? Please give me dealer name. I want to buy a new car. Thanks.
Recently purchased a cross trek and I also left a Toyota dealership because they wilder negotiate as much for the price. The salesman really tried to be pushy. Subaru did none of that and it was honestly the best car buying experience I’ve ever had.
Toyota is crazy pricey. Not a comfortable ride for long drives.
My 2008 Outback refuses to freakin’ die. I just put new CV joints in at 140,000 miles and that was the only thing besides I ever had to do besides normal maintenance. That was a dirt cheap investment, especially considering the prices of new AND used cars these days.
At only 140k I sure hope it refuses to die 😭
I Had one for 2 months now.still love to drive it.fabulous...
The 2024 Crosstrek is a great vehicle. That said, I bought a 2023 Crosstrek Limited 2.5L in January after seeing the redesigned 2024 model. Mechanically, they are virtually identical, but I prefer the looks of the previous gen inside and outside, and the 2024 not having physical knobs and buttons for HVAC was a deal breaker for me. I absolutely love my '23 Limited. The 182hp 2.5L engine has plenty of power for regular driving, and the CVT is super smooth, quiet, and efficient. Just a great package overall. I've also worked on cars for over 20 years, and really appreciate how easy Subarus are to work on. They're just well thought out in that regard.
I test drive the Crosstrek and Impreza Wagon. And the Crosstrek is 100% a waste of money. It’s a taller Impreza with worse fuel economy.
The HVAC thing sucks
esp the oil filter 😁
@@miniaddict4534 literally straight from subaru - The Impreza and Crosstrek are both highly fuel-efficient vehicles. Because of their similarities, the two models have identical gas mileage, up to 34/27 MPG highway/city depending on which trim level you select (except for the Crosstrek Wilderness which has a slightly lower MPG rating).
QUESTION: IF I AM TRYING TO BUY A SUBURA WITH 2.5L, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND A 2024 OR 2023..?
I appreciate learning what's under the hood by someone who is knowledgeable. Thanks
I just bought a 2.0 L. Very nice car Fast enought for me /Good braking / handling / TOP EyeSight system, better than my Kia & Honda / Quiet
I love your channel, and from the world of Subaru enthusiasts, we thank you for reviewing this car and its components.
This is one of the best car reviews I've ever seen. I'd love to see 2024 Outback review as I have to decide between Crosstrek or Outback for myself. I hope it will come in the future!
Shut up
Love your review on the 24 Crosstrek! I had purchased many Honda products in the past! My wife had her 2020 Ex-l CR-V stolen in September 22! There were no cars available except for a 22 CR-V Touring model so I purchased that car! I sold my 2010CR-V to my friend at the same time ! I subsequently purchased a 2023 Crosstrek Limited! I find it to be very comfortable and fun to drive! It is great driving in the winter months when we can get heavy snowfalls here in Quebec! The 2.5 L engine is adequate and I find no problem when accelerating to pass cars on the highway! Another plus is that I got 34 mpg (US gal.) while averaging a speed of 115/km.
I just picked up a 2024 Sport. The drivability is outstanding! Easily drives as smooth as my Lexus. Got the bigger engine and power is not a problem. Really a fun car to drive!
I have a 21 sport & power is definitely not a problem, even tow a 14ft boat often, great driving vehicle. Im a 34 year dodge,jeep,Chrysler tech & love the shifting, ride quality, fuel mileage & performance.
How do you compare the road noise to a Lexus? Totaled my Lexus RX300 a bit ago and I'm considering getting a Subaru Crosstrek, but I don't know if it's as quiet as the Lexus.
@HidInMistProductions its damn close but you can't expect that type of noise for 27k
I had a Crosstrek l. Favorite car ever. I put a receiver on it for a bike rack and other accessories. Perfect for everyday and for light adventures. Does everything and never lets you down.
My new favorite YT mechanic 10/10
I really enjoy your reviews. When discussing taste it's subjective. When discussing facts it's objective.
Happy to see Subaru content since my vehicles are Toyota and Subaru. Now that they are teamed up and sharing technology, they will be hard to beat.
I just bought my first Subaru. 24 Subaru Crosstrek Sport. I drive about 5,000 miles a year or less. I hope this car will still be reliable and last me without any serious problems.
I just purchased the 2024 CrossTrek with the 2.5 litre engine. So far, this vehicle has exceeded my expectation. Just for a reference point, my last 5 vehicles have been BMWs.
Bragging you've owned "5 bmws" and now own a 35k car that does 0-60 in 9 seconds that somehow that exceeds your expectations leads me to believe you are just gaslighting yourself because you bought an overpriced pile of crap that is built worse with less features and slower than a Hyundai that sells for 18k
@@TexasStormChaserwhat Hyundai are you referring to?
@@franktheballer23 Every 2024 model sold.
@@TexasStormChaser you're saying every 2024 model would be this compact and would work as an offroader and have the same if not better off-road features?
@@franktheballer23 Subaru is not an off-roader. It does not have any off road features such as low range or locking differentials. It does however share exactly the same features as a Hyundai Kona, the base model (4cly, cvt, awd) however the N-Line Kona does have a superior engine and transmission over a Wilderness (Turbo 4cly, 8spd auto, awd) and costs less too.
Amber turn signals, red brake lights. Love it. Worth pointing out.
American moment red turn signal
I recall reading something that said this was made mandatory on all new vehicles at some point.
Not in the States. Both colors are allowed, but I guess red only is slightly cheaper.@@bigbean78
Worse, some people think it "looks cool" for the brake light to go off and be the blinker. No dedicated lights. These people are currently sitting in a body shop puffing a vape pen. But auto makers know those people spend a lot of money.
@KevinJDildonik dude how you gonna do me like that. I'm currently in a body shop puffing a vape pen but I don't subscribe to that madness!!
Great point about physical buttons. They are much easier to find and use when your on the move.
Remember the Blackberry.
I have a 2018 Crosstrek and it has exactly that :) ... smaller screen but physical ventilation controls.
I bought a 2023 Crosstrek Limited back in April. It's my first Subaru. I honestly love driving it.
I've had two Subaru Outbacks with the CVT transmission. Both cars perform flawlessly (including in severe ice and snow). Zero issues.
What’s the farthest you’ve reached in miles?
Year? What are your yearly maintenance if more than 10 years old
I've owned 3 Subarus. An 04 Forester manual with 250k miles. An 09 legacy manual with 115k miles sold. And now an 19 outback with 88k miles. Never had an issue other than proper maintenance. It helps that I build them as well. Take care of them and they will take care of you
@@Claroboy911 the CVT in my 2013 Outback went 220k miles before a problem.
I have a 2023 Outback and 2024 Crosstrek. These are now “lifetime fluid” units.
I don’t believe anything is for life, but drain and fill voids the warranty.
Some say you can use cash to buy 5gal of CVT-3 from Subaru.
You can monitor and manipulate all electronic controls used for drain and fills on the new units with an inexpensive bidirectional scantool because Subaru calls for servicing these units every 45-60k km in other markets.
I don’t plan on experiencing any problems with the newer CVT unit.
Do with this information what you will.
@@buttsexandbananapeels how would you describe your driving?
Thank you so much! I bought a 2.5 Sport. Even that guy is slow. But you know what? Perfect for me! Keep doing amazing work and thank you. A million times over.
Most people finding value in the all wheel drive system are those living in a snow climate where it makes a tremendous difference. Essentially any day can be an off road experience driving to work. At an intersection on a snowy/icy road waiting for your turn to make a left (in n. America) turn through traffic, its really nice when the cars just powers forward instead of spinning front tires lingering in the oncoming lane. Ive been a Subaru owner for 20 years and not changing anytime soon.
I’ve never had a problem with Subaru CVTs. We drove our 2011 Outback 255,000 km with no issues. Our 2018 Crosstrek has 145,000 km on and it’s been flawless. Our 2022 Forester only has about 26,000 km on it but I full expect it to run flawlessly for the time we keep it. That’s usually 10 years or more. Our cars get regular service which includes transmission fluid changes at least every 100,000 km. Look after it and it will look after you.
Just got the limited version of the 2024 crosstrek and so far am really impressed. I agree with the criticism of the screen. But it gets better acceleration than it gets credit for. I’ve had no issues whatsoever with getting in and out of traffic or passing, merging, etc.
Love your attention to detail and completeness of the review. Most car guys could take lessons from you. I’ve had 2 Subaru’s, a Forester (2001), had it for 10 years and a Crosstrek 6MT (2018), that I sold with 65K miles on it, last month. Zero maintenance on the crosstrek, only oil changes every 6K and new tires at 60K. Ran, so well with zero issues. Great in inclement weather and off-road in the mountains. A bonus, I could sleep in it comfortably, if I didn’t want to set up my tent or it was raining/snowing. I read, that the 2018 had a lot of problems and was one of the worst crosstrek’s to own. Again, I experienced zero problems, but mine was relatively low mileage. Who knows if they were coming? I sold my crosstrek because I wanted a hybrid and better mileage. I consistently got 34 mpg on the highway, but 20-22 in the city, and that’s horrible for such a small car. Would I buy a Subaru again? Yes, looking at the upcoming Baja. Good review, I’ll be checking more out
Totally agree about the lack of physical buttons. I want analog volume knobs and AC control knobs.
The '24 Crosstrek has a physical knob for the radio volume, and for temp controls for driver and passenger climate control.
@@blackbearranchcanada I'm guessing the volume knob is digital though. Mine is digital, and sometimes there is a long delay while the head unit is booting up or switching to backup camera or whatever. It's super annoying.
@@BradHebert - volume knob on ours is a rotary knob and if you push it in, the radio turns off. There is also a + / - volume control on the steering wheel button cluster.
@@blackbearranchcanada rotary knobs are often digital.
The 2.5 liter engine is very sufficient for this car - not slow. In addition, the car is not noisy with the 2.5 L. It's very quiet in stop and go traffic. The point about the AVH button is valid. It should be in a fixed, always available location.
That depends on what car you came from, if you drive other in the same year you’ll know
It is super easy to customize the default button locations and drag the AVH button from the 2nd screen onto the first, Home screen and place it right above the fixed ASS button so it’s always available immediately upon turning on the car.
@@tpolerex7282That's what I have done in my 2023 Outback.
I have both Crosstrek 2019 and 2024 Sport and can confidently say that the older one is a lot slower compared to the newer one, but with the paddle shifters, you can get a little snappier response from the engine. The Sport 2.5L is a godsend, but it does sip more gas than the 2.0L. I'm still trying to learn the best way to drive it to maximize efficiency. It's pretty fun!
I have heard/read repeatedly how sluggish these engines are. We have 1 '21 Forester Touring with the 2.5 and it performs just fine, cruises easily at 80+ mph, has adequate get up and go to pass easily on the Interstate. We took it into the mountains in Arkansas and it handled them beautifully, did not seem stressed at all. So far, the car has been stellar. Not a single issue with 42K miles on the odometer. I've had a number of different vehicles in my 72 years and this is one of the best. I like the design, quality, fit and finish and, yes, I even like driving it. I'm considering the Crosstrek as a replacement for my 2014 VW Jetta.
It's always great and reassuring when an actual mechanic reviews a car that you're shortlisting, as opposed to car enthusiasts or amateur youtubers..
i'm happy to have stumbled upon this channel! you've set it all straight, incl. my doubts about CVT. Thank You!
What a great review! I'm picking up my 2024 Crosstrek Onyx (Sport in the US) in a few days. I like to work on my own cars, and this video has more useful technical information in it than all the other 2024 Crosstrek reviews combined. Excellent presentation!
How do you like your crosstrek so far?
@@antonfernando8409 I love our Crosstrek. For the money, it's an extremely capable car, especially in winter. We did a 6,000 mi (10,000 km) road trip in January, mostly along I-80. There were cars and trucks in the ditch everywhere, but the Crosstrek handled the conditions like a champ. For that trip, I had Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires... they make the Crosstrek amazing in snow.
X2
Just bought a 2024 Crosstrek sport. Love it so far!
We checked out a Crosstrek about 6 months ago. We liked it, but it was a bit too small for what we wanted. We ended up taking a Forester out after and it was perfect so bought it. The Wilderness model (they had one on the lot, which was perfect). We love it. It's great to drive and I am fine with CVTs as my Venza has one too (although, an eCVT). Subaru's CVT is an inhouse unit that is better than the JATCO units out there. From what I've read, the key to minimizing issues with Subarus is staying on top of regular maintenance. We always do that anyway so I'm sure we'll be fine. CVT and diff fluid changes every 60,000 miles/5 years. Oil changes every 5,000 miles/6 months. There is also some coolant changes and brake fluid flushes periodically as well. Regarding the power output, I was worried it might be "slow", especially since the turbo engine option is no longer available on the Forester. Honestly, after the break in period, it has plenty of zip to it. The Wilderness model has a taller gear ratio in the CVT (for more torque off road), which may help a bit (at the expense of a bit of fuel economy), but overall, I don't miss the turbo at all. It's not slow around town at all, and on the highways, it's not really behind other vehicles in its class (most are around 180-200 HP), unless they have an optional engine option (like Mazda's 2.5T, for example).
Agree with you 100%. Have a ‘17 Outback with around 190,000 km. I do my maintenance similar to yours . Have had the transmission fluid changed twice. Hope to get many more years of service from it.
the thing is, more people buy low hp cars, that's why turbo forester is no more, it was good, but people want less power
@@vipvip-tf9rw Well there was a choice before. You didn't have to get a turbo. The normal engine was available. I read somewhere that the turbo made up only a small % of sales
Good points .Agree 100% with you. I am on my 3rd Subaru. All have had the 2.5. Enough power for me. Learned to drive on an original Mini. Had a couple of beetles, a Vega and a couple of K cars. Compared to them, 175hp is plenty.
@@ericripley9739 yeah, eco thing destroyed that car
Loved your honest review. All of them. We just bought a 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness. We have 2 Lectric bicycles that we use with a hitch rack, and needed the capacity of a Class III hitch with a 2 inch reciever. Coming from an RV based on a RAM Promaster chassis, the Crosstrek has more than enough power for this 73 year old. The buttonless dash seems to work OK. My wife has an MKX with capacitive touch buttons. The Subaru screen is more sensitive. We added the 4D Tech module to be able to lock the Stop/Start feature to off by default. That was my main complaint.
How about a review of the 2024 Forrester? Thank you for your reviews.
it's very similar to this vehicle in many ways like motor, transmission, ride height, center display panel....
The pros of the Forester, it's cabin space is bigger and more useful than Crosstrek or Outback, the best visibility I ever had on a vehicle (to the point you feel like you have owned the vehicle for many years on the test drive), the tall cabin space provides plenty of clearance for the taller riders and the thing I love the most about it is the panoramic sunroof.
The cons of the Forester are it doesn't get the great gas mpg (25mpg~) you'll get on a Crosstrek (33mpg~) (or even the Outback 30mpg~) due to aerodynamics, it's noisier than the Outback, it's taller cabin space is also susceptive to much more sunlight exposure than a normal vehicle, which makes the cabin warmer during summer (A/C on blast and tinted windows for the rescue) and blocking the sun meanwhile driving is a bit more challenging. My wife managed to crack the windshield several times on the Forester, I kept asking her how and she never knew how or why.
If you ask me, I prefer the Forester based on looks and the inside cargo space, but the Outback is the one I'll buy. We bought two Forester (2015 & 2016) and both of them had a rattle noise that came from the dash upper display. The Outback (2016) came with a bunch of upgrades for not much more and it has been bulletproof.
What a great detailed review. I just picked the 2024 Crosstrek Premium last month. Thank you for all your hard work in putting together this video. Keep up the great work! 👍 From a fellow Chicagoan
Thanks for the review. My wife drives a 2024 Crosstec, and she absolutely loves the car.
i use the sport mode quite a bit. drives much better
Which engine do you have?
Yay! Thank you for finally reviewing a subaru, I used to own a 2011 Subaru STI and I sold it with 270,000km (~160,000 miles) and it still had its original engine, transmission and turbo. I was surprised by how reliable it was for an older high mileage Subaru STI. Keep up the great work Car Care Nut!!
I still have a 2005 WRX with the last of the 2.0L EJs with 136k miles. It has been very reliable and fun to drive. I would only sell it to upgrade to a new WRX wagon if Subaru ever brings it back or for a GR Corolla.
That shouldn’t be impressive. My 2015 Lincoln has 330,000kms on it and the engine and transmission are original and run like new. I’m about to sell it and get a new car but if people are surprised to still have the original engine at only 270,000kms maybe I should look at other brands. Even if they require more frequent mild maintenance, my ford/Lincoln’s have always lasted me 324,000km/200,000 miles or longer on all original drivetrain. And I then sell it to someone else who usually drives them another 1-200,000 kms before they blow up
@@nerdsunscripted624 is your Lincoln abused regularly and tuned? My old Sti had 5 prev owners and it was originally a lease. I agree that we shouldn’t be surprised by 270k on the original engine but people keep pretending like these cars blow up every other year.
@@SF.Automotive my Lincoln has a 60 mile commute every day in which I’m usually going around 90mph the entire time. I gas on it a lot and brake hard. Hard enough that a set of brake rotors don’t last me very long as they warp.
I don’t have it tuned for performance as it’s fast enough for me after the first tune giving me 370hp. Nothing crazy but can embarrass v6 mustangs sometimes.
Looking at an outback since I’m moving to a new city where I need to have all wheel drive as the city basically doesn’t plow the snow off of half the roads in town and it’s pretty for northern US so I need good snow capability. Recently we got roughly 40cm of snow in a single storm. But in fair weather I intend on still going 90mph/145kmh for most of my interstate commuting and I want something that’s going to last as I drive 48,000 km per year.
@@SF.Automotive Agreed, that dickhead was retarded AF, and definitely doesn't know jack shit if a) he doesn't think that 270k is impressive, and b) he drives a fuckin Lincoln 😂😂😂😂
The vents on the wheel archers are to reduce air pressure on the highway at high speeds. I believe not to cool the brakes.
I had a 2012 Impreza Sport Limited Hatchback, really liked it, and could go anywhere like a mountain goat but it had some problems.
Oil consumption but not enough to be covered under warranty
Seat design flaw, squeaks developed quickly
Very slow with a cvt
never reached the advertised mpgs
went through multiple wheel bearings
I really hope they made some quality improvements over the years.
I’d love to see a review on a turbo engine (Outback or Ascent).
+1 vote!
I've owned Imprezas and a Crosstrek with 5 and 6 speed manuals for years, bullet proof little things with 30+ mpg's that will go through a foot of snow without flinching and make you fell like a rally driver when you're flying down a dirt road. But when I heard they're going to CVT's only, I dropped off the Subaru bandwagon and bought a 6 speed Tacoma. It hurts too because that symmetrical AWD system is a beautiful thing to drive and my little Imprezas were so well balanced and the center of gravity was nice and low, once you got them up to speed, they felt so good to drive in the corners.
I miss my Subies
Why not just get a WRX?
Thank you for reviewing the Crosstrek. I really like my Forester and I am looking forward to purchasing a Crosstrek soon!
Was looking forward for a Subaru review on this channel. I own two Subarus The biggest complain I have with my 2023 model is the lack of physical hvac, heated seats and brake hold controls. I wish they made the screen 25-30% smaller but put the actual buttons.
This is the exact reason I got a '22 in '23
Are you referring to the Outback?
The 2023 Crosstrek is the last model year that has physical HVAC buttons. I have it and I'm so glad the physical buttons are there.
The 2024 model Crosstrek as shown in this video is brand new.
@@matt.canada In my case I was referring to the Ascent, 2022 had physical buttons but 2023 did not any more. The Outback started using this large screen earlier I think in 2020. Looks like Subaru is switching all it's models to the same infotainment system with touchscreen HVAC controls, probably to save a few bucks, witch is sad.
@@bohdanked I don't mind this screen at all. With all the important "buttons" moved to the first screen and the physical warmer/cooler buttons that are there I find it a delight to use.
Now, if we could permanently disable the Auto Start-Stop...
@@michaelostrowski8630
They sell a work around for $100 that turns off the stop/start feature every time you turn the ignition on. It’s simple to install. They have a permanent soft key to turn it off on the infotainment system though.
I've loved your Toyota Lexus content for a long time so it was great to see you do a subaru. Knowing the Toyota reliability and not being able to afford a 4runner, I bought a 23 Crosstrek sport because the Corolla cross was just too boring and I've seen too many RAV4 stuck in the snow plus the dealers just want to rake you over the coals for a RAV4 like they're solid gold or something. As far as the speed and power, I find it completely adequate as I can easily merge 60 to 80 on an on-ramp and can Cruise 80-90 + on the highway and pass at 100 plus if need be. I wasn't looking for a performance car. I won't lie though, I'm keeping my fingers crossed on the CVT and the overall longevity of the car lol.
I live in Canada, and my Rav4 compete with some of truck in snow, and we getting alot of snow.
As a Minnesotan, in my experience Rav 4 s are slightly behind Honda and Mazda and way behind Subaru when it comes to AWD performance.
Thanks for picking the Crosstrek to review--a direct competitor to the Corolla Cross. More competitors to review: the Honda HR-V and the new Hyundai Kona. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for reviewing a Subaru. You give us the technical perspective we are looking for.
We purchased a '24 Crosstrek Limited (2.5L engine) in September. I'm 6'4" and I fit into it pretty nicely. We live 8km (5 mi) down a decent gravel road, and the car absolutely soaks up bumps and washboard (better than my F150 or older Sierra 2500). The LED headlights are fantastic. The 2.5L engine is quite zippy and we have had no issues wanting more speed on the freeway.
While I would agree that the infotainment screen needs a bit of improvement, it's pretty good. It should be noted that the temp controls for the dual zone climate control ARE physical buttons, which is nice. Heated seat buttons are great. The "low" is a bit warmer than I'd like but not bad.
We put studded Nokian tires on it this winter and the thing is unstoppable! We had about 18" of snow this winter, but lots of icy hard-pack and even on our windy gravel road (uphill to our house), it NEVER slipped. I could not have been more impressed.
The AVH button can be put on the main screen of the Infotainment screen (shortcuts). You don't have to go to the vehicle setup screen each time you want to turn it on. The AVH defaults to "Off" each time you start the car ( I assume a safety choice by Subaru?) so you do have to hit the button each time you start driving (if you want to use AVH) , so that's a bit of a pain.
I agree that, while the "Auto" button for climate control is customizable (each driver can have their own setting) , it would certainly be nice to be able to customize at least one or two other buttons in that button group. Hopefully a future software update would resolve this.
I am really not a fan of the interior lighting. They've used halogen or incandescent lights inside and they're marginal at best, and in the back cargo area they have one small incandescent bulb which is absolutely useless.
The lack of ability to change the "X Mode" driving mode while moving is also disappointing. We had a trip last week where, when we left home there was no snow, but at the top of the mountain pass 2 hours later - lots of snow on a steep downhill. It would have been great to change to the Snow mode while driving, but instead we had to pull over, press the X Mode button, then pull back onto the highway. Maybe it's a physical or safety limitation - I don't know.
Overall we've been quite happy with our Crosstrek. Fuel economy is quite good, it's remarkably zippy, comfortable, and quite a pleasure to drive.
Thanks for doing such an excellent review!
You should put in some LED bulbs. It's pretty easy to do as the covers just pop off. My friend did that on his WRX
If driving a lot on gravel, keep an eye on the CV&DOJ boots.
It's good you completely disagree with him about it being slow especially from someone that actually drives and owns one .... I guess he thinks it's suppose to be a race car.
I bought a 2024 Crosstrek Sport & love it. I do wish - due to price - that it had more bells & whistles. However, I still love it
how much did you end up getting it for? just bought a wilderness
Love the video. I just got my 2024 crosstrek limited. I love it. I find it more than adequate for getting on the highway and passing other vehicles.
I agree. '21 Forester with 2.5 and it has plenty of power.
I have the 2021 model and I love my 2.5 engine + actual physical climate controls. Love it!
Part of the reason I love my 23 Prius. Physical climate buttons.
Thanks
Overall good video, was listening for comments about safety, which many people buy Subarus for but didn't hear. For instance, the construction used to stop collision intrusion into the cabin and many more features even Japanese cars at their price point cheap out on. Also didn't see a drive test to comment on handling. Subarus experience with rally racing shows when driving with tight turns and slick roads. Even timid drivers will relax after experiencing the predictable response.
Hi, I totally respect your opinion on your videos, keep up this good work. It's getting harder to find a goog video on RUclips, by people who know what they are TALKING about! I have a 2023 tacomba, piece of Junk, no power, below 3500 RPM, 18 L/100km, on & & on & on. I want to trade, because of you, now I know what I want, SUBARU. THANKS again. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
I think you hit this right on the mark, especially about the engine and potential seal issues. My daughter's 2016 Crosstrek, the only seal that doesn't leak is the head gasket. Although very well maintained, Subaru dealer says it's very normal for the liquid sealer to fail on all components and no fault of the owner. A $5200 repair! She will just keep an eye on the oil level between changes. Your knowledge is really quite impressive.
Just bought a Crosstrek Wilderness and yes it is not fast but I went from a 600 hp car to it and I really don't mind it. Yes I can't 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and no I can't rip off 10 second quarter miles and 100 mph comes in never but I also get 30 mpg and don't pay an extra dollar a gallon for gas. Also I can drive on wet pavement, go through a pot hole and not worry about road debris destroying my rear fascia or front air dam. I can now turn off road and this impeding snow storm is actually something to look forward to. All things consider I think I'll keep the Crosstrek.
I have driven my Subaru Crostrek 2024 Base for more than a month now, and I like it, it is true that it is a noisy engine, but with the cruise control, and the brake that stays fixed, it is wonderful, you don't get tired driving it .
By noisy how noisy do you mean. Like if I had a radio going at just a normal volume, let's say 1/4 of the actual volume. Would it still be overpowering. ? I'm really looking into a Subaru. I live in a pretty crappy area with snowstorms. I drive an old Ford and it is really loud. I hate it. I just need to know the level to see if I'm used to the abuse lol.
@@tom24865 It's buzzy like the Corolla powertrain if you drive with a heavy foot. If you drive with a light foot, it's fine.
It’s a Subaru is basically saying I’m not here to win no beauty pageants but it will do the job and serve the purpose
yea kind of bore car
@@Charlee-w1u bore = functional, safe and reliable car then sign me up.
@@Charlee-w1u Well you got the WRX and BRZ if you want a fun car.
Best car review videos on RUclips!!!
Gives all the info u need.
Thanx
I just bought this car today and he is spot on! Love the car even with the squirrel under the hood running as hard as they can.
lol I would as well.
Your videos blow every other car review channel away. Please keep it up.
I owned a 2014 and a 2016 of this model. The CVT is like no other CVT I’ve driven. And the flappy paddles give you a traditional auto trans experience if you like that. This is a great car!
Idk about now but outbacks used to give you stainless steel exhaust. .they are awesome all climate cars. But I am not a fan of the tablet controls and CVT. Great in-depth review, good you make people aware of the difference in AWD systems
Just subscribed. Wow you are a heaven sent to the RUclips space.
Love my Subaru and love this channel.
Head gasket problems were an issue native to EJ series engines. It was based on the gaskets that Subaru used, and has nothing to with being a boxer. If you have an older EJ series engine, the best way to avoid it is to change the gaskets to a multi layer metal gasket (usually used in WRX and XT series) when you do your 100k service. Much of the work on a 100k is easier if you pull the whole engine, which makes the gasket change easy. It's never been a regular issue on FA and FB series engine.
In general, the EJ series engines are pretty solid, with that exception.
Great rundown on the newer Subaru systems.
Most of the problems have been the EJs. Lol Especially when people try to mod them.
Subaru makes good cars you gotta remember they’re not four-wheel trucks nice review is always . Just keep in mind with all-wheel-drive when tires need to be replaced. Specially, on a Subaru you’re gonna need to replace all four. That goes for any wheel.
Had a 2011 Forester. Ruined a winter tire while vacationing inSouth Carolina . The other 3 were half worn. Only replaced the one tire. No problem.
@@ericripley9739 that’s a Subaru thing not something that people are making up all the rest of the tires are new Yes, you can put one tire on. They recommend the same tire brand .
@@gregs3153 Thanks for the reply. It was a front tire and I drove for several days on the temporary spare. Only read later that it should have been moved to the back. But I got away with it. Not easy to get winter tires in SC!
I have this model, and it’s NOT slow. The CVT makes acceleration very nice. Subaru used to be slow, the new ones are very peppy. True, the brakes are excellent. This car does great on an icy roads too. I have had mustangs and this is quicker
Great Review! I have a 2024 Crosstrek Limited with the 2.5L engine. 4 months and 3.2K miles. I feel it's acceleration is adequate. Yes, you can't keep up with a Mustang or a Tesla, but it is not meant to. I have been driving FWD cars for 40yrs. I was surprised at how much I really noticed how the lack of torque steer made driving the car so much more enjoyable. Both front drive shafts are equal in length, so there is no torque steer pulling you to one side or the other when you accelerate. Another things I like about the car is, when driving it around town, there is very little road noise for a small car. It is quieter than my wife's 2021 Rav4 Hybrid. Yes the engine is noisy when accelerating but when you are cruising, it is very quiet. On the highway, it is almost as loud as our RAV4. Wagons, SUV's etc seem to always be louder on the highway than a sedan.
I agree about the sound level. The CT is soooo quiet in town.
Amazing that you and I pretty much have the same experience. Just bought a 24 Limited after years of owning Toyotas. It does seem that my new Crosstrek is quieter than my wife's 21 Rav Hybrid!
I like your unbiased review laying out the good the bad the ugly and letting us make the decision. For this reason, I am now a subscriber. Thank you sir
Moved out to the Canadian Rockies this past summer and got a brand new Crosstrek base model, I definitely recommend the base since I prefer the split touchscreen with more physical buttons. Very happy with the car overall!
It's funny you say that, when I went to test drive the sales guy kept looking at me funny bc I said I prefer the split screen and turn key of the base model. Subaru is the first I drove where I like the base better than any of the bells and whistles.
@@ijohnson190 agreed, the key was also a big factor for me. Luckily, my sales person was of the same mind and had told me to just get the base since the higher trims touchscreen was awful haha.
You are great at doing this job! excellent thorough, unbiased reviews!
Could not believe they kept the same engines yet eliminated the manual, such a shame. Great overview of the new model.
Automatic gets better gas mileage. Regulations are getting more strict each year. It's a no brainer to kill off the less fuel efficient transmission.
Nobody was buying manual Crosstreks and the manual was only available for the cheap Base model. Also every Crosstrek comes with paddle shifters, which is the closest thing to a manual if you want a manual Crosstrek.
@@eddiethewhale3268 paddle shifters on a CVT transmission are not the same as a manual.
Manual transmission is a lot cheaper to maintain and operate and simpler. CVT has a lot more failure points. And is more fun.
Take rate on manuals are extremely low and continuing lower. Unless it's an enthusiast car they're all gone or will be very soon.
@@omarpulido8502 which is precisely why I said it’s the closest thing to a manual in a car that doesn’t offer a manual transmission anymore.
My daughter just bought her first car, a 2021 Crosstrek with the 2.5L. The AWD system was the biggest selling point as she is stationed in Wyoming so this will help in the snow. We've never owned a Subaru so hopefully it is a good car for her.
Great video like always! I was waiting for you to review a Subaru😃
I have bought a MY 24 crosstrek for general family use. Three boys of driving age. The car is well made, has everything required in a modern vehicle and has all the modern safety equipment. Full time 4wd is a great bonus. It might be slow but thats great if my kids are driving. Dont buy it if you want rapid acceleration. It is not for those people
I CC Nut is spot on-"you get a lot of car for the price"
I use a Crosstrek Sport 2.5i for work in the Michigan woods and the AWD, short wheelbase, 8.5" ground clearance, and approach and departure angles are perfect for Michigan State Forest jeep trails (I replaced the stock, all-season tires with the A/T TOYO tires that come with the Wilderness trim.) Fuel economy averages 30 mpg. Power driver seat will accomodate up to a 5'10" driver.
Thanks AMD, finally a Subaru review, though I was hoping for a Forester one. Regardless, the engine is 2.5L, so it’s identical to what’s available here. My Forester doesn’t suffer from the lack of physical buttons, especially the HVC and AVH. Also, I can operate any physical button while driving without looking, they’re big and laid out perfectly. I don’t find them slow tbh, they’re not fast yet adequate, and highway passing is no issue at all. While the looks are subjective, Subarus have distinctive classic designs, that can be viewed as either timeless or lacks modernity, but the more you live with them, the more you love them.
I wish you were my mechanic. Worth all the money. Thanks for another great video and good explanation.
Great. Think Mazda also has that thing of doing things the way they should be done, not the way they are being done.
Own a '16 Crosstrek that was my commute vehicle. It has the pre '18 2.0L (148hp) was okay when I was commuting as I did not need to take the freeway to work. I am now retired, but still will keep this Subaru. I thought of upgrading but don't care for the direct injection only engines, my Subaru has port injection which helps to keep the back of the intake valves cleaner, wished Subaru offered dual injection engines.
My '16 Subaru hasn't had any issues, keep it maintained, no leaks anywhere, and doesn't burn oil.
Love my cladding on my Crosstrek!! I also am liking the temperature controls on the screen because I can adjust the temperature settings and actually run a specific temperature vs having a dial temperature setting. Whoever set my computer screen in my 2024 Crosstrek did a great job!! I'm not having the situation you had in the car you reviewed. Also when you look up Subaru it does say that Toyota does have "a small stake in Subaru".
Great review. I purchased a 2013 Crosstrek new. It now has 110,000 trouble free miles. Simple, reliable, great on dirt roads and in ice and snow -- a great value, a great, honest car.
I have a '22 Limited. As someone else mentioned, the pre '24's have manual HVAC controls. Also, FWIW, all Crosstreks have roof rails standard. (edit: 2024 base does not. Thanks for the correction.) With the bulk of my driving being rural, I routinely exceed the stated fuel economy numbers published. For anybody out there considering one, the 2.5 is the way to go! Keep in mind the new Wilderness edition has a lower final drive ratio which will reduce your fuel economy, so if you're not serious about off roading, I would suggest the Sport or Limited. I routinely average 36 or 37 mpg. Thanks for your in depth review.
I have the 2024 LT and didn't notice any acceleration/power issues where the speed limits are 75-85. Actually no issues with the vehicle at all except have to fight the wife to drive it. ;)
You tube too many commercials 😮
Thanks for mentioning fuel stats and the wilderness gear ratio effecting gas mileage . I really like this car but hate the stupid looking side body cladding very Toyota esk ugliness and the Soletera really ugly cladding . If you want to sell an EV dont`t make it ugly .
I was happy with my Impreza with the 2.0, but I appreciate the extra ponies.@@matt_SurfaceOfTheSunPhx
Minor correction to your comment: For 2024, the base model no longer comes with roof rails. So, most but not all Crosstreks come with roof rails standard now. Used to be that all trim levels had roof rails, but not anymore for 24. There are a number of cost cutting measures Subaru undertook with the 24 model compared to the previous gen, and this is one of them.