Most cars don't allow recirculation when using defrost, or at the very least they recommend against it. Many (if not most) cars also force the AC to turn on when defrosting whether you want it or not. I have also never accidentally pressed the hazard button, and I have a phone mount set even lower than your GPS. Lift your elbows. I do find the rear wiper interval to be annoying. It's actually based on your speed. As for the ticking sound, that's the relay. I'm sure you can find a replacement model that is quieter if you really wanted to. I personally did a mod to make the fogs run semi-independently. They still require the parking lights to be on, but they're really dim anyway. Doing this involves wire splicing. Many places have laws against a certain total amount of wattage, which is why the high beams turn off the fogs. Laws are also why you have DRLs (which I also disabled). Also, you can adjust the pitch of the steering wheel if you can't see the dials...
The splicing you mention is on my to-do list, because I really want those fogs to run without the main lights on. Thanks for the encouragement! We clearly don't see eye-to-eye on all of this things, so I appreciate seeing your perspective. Take care!
I'm looking at the Crosstrek and currently driving an Accord, and despite the fancy "automatic climate control" both of those can be overridden with the press of a button. The only quirk that bothers me is that the state of the ac is only displayed after it's manually switched on or off. When it's on auto, you have to listen for the clutch to engage to tell when it's on:)
Quirky indeed. I think you'll find the AWD Crosstrek handles very differently from the Accord ... and is less satisfying to drive at high speed on dry pavement
Peter Schmidt I was absolutely confused when I went from my '99 Impreza to my '99 Legacy Outback SUS Limited. The Impreza allows recirc all the time, while the SUS will turn it off depending on defrost setting. Thought it was broken at first, but its a feature.
the fuel meter will not register until you drive 1 mile. Fog lights will turn off on almost every car when you turn on the high beams. the pocket in the door is for a map. ..
I have a 2013, and love it. I like being able to see my taillights at night because it does let me know if a bulb goes out between when I regularly check them in reflections anyway.
The hazard button is that big because it's covering the place where the on board computer switch will be on the premium (it used to be on the steering wheel previously), my hazard is a smaller square button.
New 2017 Crosstrek January 2017 here on the coast in Delaware was driving down a back road with a small tidal bridge coming up during a wicked NorEaster. Was very happy the Flasher button was not hidden behind the steering wheel or on the column because the cars behind me (going too fast) could not see the two foot deep water overflowing the road. I was able to hit the flasher in time to slow down and stop!
That really suck for you. I have the auto and it rev a lot less than that. I don't mind seeing the rear lights on the mirrors. Its nice to always know when its working or not.
Engineering Explained has a video that talks in detail about the final drive ratios on the Crosstrek. He also goes into detail about other features of the Crosstrek as well. I'd check it out for sure.
We too have a 2016 Crosstrek, and have the exact same Garmin GPS. What I have done is fabricated a mount out of plexiglass (4"L x4"W x 1" thick), and placed that into the compartment located below the dash and in front of the shifter. My GPS with the suction cup is designed so that it will attach and adhere on to that plexiglass piece for stability, and then I plug into the cigarette lighter. The entire unit is set out of site and not on the windshield. It really isn't a problem seeing it as you drive, as you only need to glance down. I listen mainly to the voice audio instructions, and only look down when it's a confusing message, or a road situation that doesn't make sense. I also use the open compartment under the armrest to store the entire unit out of site when not using it as many a GPS have been stolen via a break-in due to jerks looking for the round suction cup "stain" evidence on the windsheilds of cars. Just a thought. Both my wife and I love our 5 speed Crosstrek, quirks and all... It just needs a little bit more "pony power".
I like the idea of a plex unit like you describe! Our car definitely has the "suction cup evidence" from our GPS, which (now that you mention it) is a sure give away. On another vein: I read a post by a dude who routed his Garmin wire back through the dash to keep it out of the way. That seemed pretty clever, though clearly solved another problem. We also love our manual Crosstrek -- super fun, punchy, and great in the snow!
hey, subaru tech here. the recirc not working with defrost is intentional. defrost is all about putting *dry* air on your windshield; outside air, when it's cold, will almost always be drier than the more humid air in the cabin (from the snow on your boots evaporating, your breath, etc.) Note that most cars don't actually let you use recirc with defrost, they just turn the light on. Not sure about the 1 hour thing, actually. I'll have to look that one up. I've never had to take a car for an hour test drive. Fog lights are supposed to only be used in tandem with headlights. Also, fog lights are only supposed to be used in inclimate weather.... The seat belt chime i've noticed on customer cars as being so loud it distorts the poor little speaker. If I recall there's a way to change the volume for alert chimes in the user settings but i'd need to look in a manual. The "MPG" gauge is actually a vacuum gauge, which is why it's so snappy. I think even uhaul trucks have these now... same idea. It really just tells you how open your throttle is. Like you state, the upper display will show either calculated average MPG or instantaneous MPG. Those run off the fuel injection system. I'm about 6' tall and find a lot of customers' cars have the steering wheel set really low (or the seat high) - same with Foresters - anyway it might be worth finding some videos about proper seat positioning. (might help with your tail light in the mirror as well.) Anyway, you might try setting the wheel higher and moving the seat to accommodate. The front "A" window is a design thing on most modern cars. Want to correct you on busting it out though - replacing that glass means taking the whole door apart, whereas the bigger pane can be removed by removing the interior panel and 2 bolts.
Hey, great comment from an actual Subaru Tech! Very cool. Thanks for all the tidbits of insider information. Super interesting and helpful. I'll try to tweak that alert chime volume and see where it gets me. Take care! :)
question for you: I have a 2011 Impreza 2.5i Premium, did these older generations have an instantaneous mpg readout that I can activate? All I have ever been able to figure out is the average mpg for trip meters. I would love to know my instantaneous MPG if possible.
The MPG gauge on the dash picks up after you drive a mile exactly. Before that, it just stays low because all of the gas you have used has given you less than a mile for fuel economy, and that particular gauge doesn't read tenths of a mile.
horn issue is common to all subies also, the fog lights must comply with US law which states they must be tied directly to the headlamps as you mentioned. they cannot be on when high beams are engaged per safety regs. Please don't bypass that. good video overall tho. love these things cuz is always stuff you never think of while test driving anything.
metaspencer I only know this cuz I used to get paid to install all forms of electronics into vehicles and this was something numerous customers asked me to bypass, of which I politely refused.
I might have an answer on that mpg gauge issue. I have a 16 Outback and noticed that when I get to 1.0 miles after resetting the trip odometer, then the gauge starts to register mpg. I'm thinking the computer calculates the mpg on a per mile basis so it doesn't necessarily register anything until you get to at least 1.0 on the trip odometer. You can see your gauge do the same as it moves off of the "-" when you got to 1.0. Is it a quirk? For sure. But it makes sense from a mathematical perspective.
To disable the crazy seatbelt chime follow the steps below. (Borrowed from Good Dog on the XV Forum) 20 click method: 1.Turn the key to On position, do not start it. (2 clicks forward) 2. Wait till the first set of chimes starts. 3 .Quickly take your drivers side seatbelt buckle and insert and remove into latch exactly 20 times within 30 seconds. Don't rush it, just make sure to fully insert the tab all the way into the latch each time. You should end with the seatbelt unbuckled. 4. After 20 times, turn key to off, and remove key, then try turning back on and starting vehicle.
I love your way of speaking, this was very amusing to watch. Just bought a Crosstrek (my dad had one, so I had some experience), cool car, but you do bring up some odd design choices. Thanks for pointing this stuff out in an entertaining way.
I had a 2014 Crosstrek, put 45K miles on it and traded it in (before lease was up dealer bought me out in full + a few hundred) for a 2016 Crosstrek Limited with navigation and eyesight. The bluetooth mic was weak in both of them, but more so on the 2016. Almost everyone complains that they can't hear me and there is too much road/wind noise. My 2014 didn't have a door chime, but my 2016 has the most aggressive and loud door chime ever. Shut car off and open driver's door and ping ping ping ping...... I wish I could fix the bluetooth mic, but other than that, I have 17K+ miles on the 2016 now, and never had any issues with the Crosstreks I had, and got 62K+ miles worth of driving time between the two of them. I do wish I had the money to get a set of 15" Method Rally wheels for the Crosstrek and a set of BF Goodrich Grabber AT2 to change it up a little bit.
My wife has a 2015 Crosstrek and I have a 2009 Outback. Some of the information panel flashing at 1 hour intervals is a feature on both our vehicles it is just meant as a reminder that you have been driving for an hour maybe it would a good time to take a little break. As far as the MPG gauge that just give you an instant reading of how you are using the "gas" pedal. "Super Milers" will know what I'm talking about. You can use this gauge to help you regulate the gas pedal for optimum mileage. Not a new idea but new technology involved to make it work. I remember a friend had a 1969 Impala that had one. It ran off intake manifold vacuum. The harder you pressed the gas pedal the more intake vacuum created and the gauge reflected that. At the time I thought it was pretty cool. As far as the triangle front door window goes on a full frame door this is the easiest design to allow the window to go up and down. My Outback has a frameless windows and the whole window window goes up and down. The draw back to this is that there is more wind noise and a lot more weather stripping to go bad over time. I would much rather have a full frame door and small triangle design. Bottom line both my wife and I really like our Subarus.
wow, that 1969 Impala had one! I had no idea. Thanks for the other tips and insights -- what you say makes good sense. I'm with you: the Subaru is a great car, especially in the snow!
I asked the dealer techs about the triangle window and was told that it was due to respositioning the mirrors. The Crosstrek is based on the Impreza hatchback which originally had smaller mirrors mounted in the "triangle". Starting in 2012 Subaru went with larger mirrors as a safety feature but had to move the mounting point lower, which put it on the door body instead of in the triangle. The Impreza wasn't due for a full redesign so they just kept the same door layout and put glass in the old mirror-mount location. 2011 Impreza: www.cstatic-images.com/stock/900x600/257572.jpg
Interesting on the defrost and recirc. My 2016 Crosstrek Limited allows you to do recirc on defrost, which I thought was a little odd, but really is nice when first starting out to get the window clear a little faster.
The rear windshield wiper sound you hear isn't a timer, it's an electric relay. Basically using an electromagnet to flip a switch (which is why you hear it). It's loud and quirky though for sure!
Perfect video! I was laughing the whole way as its the same things I've noticed and thought "how weird" Although your missing one of the weirdest quirks! The rear wiper, as over zealous as it is to wipe, when it is set to intermittent, and the car is put into reverse, it goes to full on, then goes back to intermittent as soon as you take it out of reverse. I thought I was going nuts when I started noticing that! Oh and the MPG gauge, it takes one mile for it to re-registerer once you hit the trip reset. Try it while driving :) And the center of the MPG gauge is always what the center display says as your current MPG. Plus and minus would be deviation from the average. I actually really like that gauge. It makes it really easy to hyper mile as it's basically saying are you doing better or worse than you have been. My old lancer had one similar, but it was digital.
Hey Aaron, thanks for the comments/thoughts. I had noticed that crazy action with the rear wiper, but hadn't noticed what is going on with the 1-mile-feature on the gauge. Very perceptive of you! I had not idea that the needle-mpg-gauge was linked to the reading on the center console ... thanks for the info! That makes me like the system more
So I now notice exactly what you mean about the big, easy press hazard button. I recently added a radar detector to my dash, and 3 times on the way to work, I set off the hazards. It really only takes a graze across to activate it.
We set ours off all the time when fiddling with the GPS. It's just too touchy of a button -- a simple thing to fix with some more attention to user testing. I'm glad, in an odd way, to hear that I'm not the only one! Take care :)
The purpose of the wiper going into full speed mode is that when you're backing up, the rain that normally is deflected by your spoiler is likely to hit your back window because you're now moving the window toward the rain drops as they fall. In this case it's a purposeful good quirk.
We have a '13 Crosstrek w/ auto & paddle shifters. My only serious safety complaint is that you have to be VERRRYYY careful to avoid hitting a paddle while turning the wheel, or you'll get one heck of a surprise. After accidentally bumping one of them at 45 mph and almost causing an rear-ender, I decided to disable the paddles by gluing a stiff rubber shim between the back of the steering wheel and each paddle arm. Two minor quibbles: - The location of the seat-heater switches between the brake lever and the console tray makes it hard to tell whether they're on or off when you leave the car. - OK, maybe not everyone shares my fondness for visiting Canada but why can't the digital gauges be toggled between US & international units? Even the low-end Chevy Cruze that I had for a business trip had that feature.
Yeah, I think putting the paddles on the wheel might have been a bad idea. I used to have a stick-shift-on-the-wheel shifter (very old Volvo), and it was easy to knock out of gear. Wheels are for steering, I say.
Thanks for the props. My 2¢ is that the paddles are overly sensitive; I just brushed one and almost paid for it with an accident. My wife - not a car geek - has recently become the car's primary driver. I'm thinking that for her safety I should block the paddles by gluing a piece of stiff rubber between the levers and the steering wheel spoke.
I was a math & physics major and can juggle both systems in my head w/o problems, but it would just be easier if the gauges did it for me. We took our old analog-gauge Volvo across Ontario and it was annoying to have to translate speed limits, distances, and fuel. Toggling digital gauges is a trivial enhancement, so I don't understand why Subaru doesn't offer the option.
2015 crosstrek and I've put 75000 miles in 3 years. Multiple trips from akron Ohio to Miami Florida. This cars a subtle beast. Leaving akron we had a bad snow storm with at least 3-5in of snow on the highways. I was doing 70 and sideways at many times. It was 3 am nobody was on the road! But when there was I was able to pass in the snow covered lane 😎 just dont do over 75 for more than like 3 or so hours. My engine just lost all power 1 time on 2 separate trips that were months apart. Pulled to the shoulder. Shut it off and back on and it was fine.
I completely agree about this car in the snow: it's awesome, particularly with good tires on it. As for high speeds, I also know what you mean ... it simply over-revs the engine to go fast ... but then, I always do :)
I live in Canada and have a 2013 Crosstrek. I too have noticed some of the quirks you mentioned. The flaw that most annoys me is the placement of the speakers on each corner of the dash. Up here, on long stretches of cold winter weather, the hot defrosting air from the blower does not reach the corners and the two spots are constantly foggy and sometimes even ice forms in those corners.
Interesting! We ended up buying a second Crosstrek, the 2019 I think it is, and they did iron out some of the quirks. I still think they're the absolute BEST snow cars I've driven. I be you're enjoying the warmer weather :)
ImpliedConsent the small window is so the main one can roll down. The small one wasn't probably connected with the main one because there wasn't space for it to go down
@@KT-lp8qz My dealer told me the small front window is due to a late-stage decision to make the rear-view mirrors larger, which necessitated moving them from the window level down to the beltline. Rather than hold up everything while the entire door was redesigned they just replaced the mirror mount with a piece of glass. In any case the mini-window provides better visibility so it's stayed in later models.
We have the premium model and it doesn't have some of the things that bother you. In the old days, they called those little windows "vents." That was back when everyone had 4/60 air conditioning (you open the four windows and drive 60). Also, watch out with the capacious, or someone might accuse you of being verbificent.
Oh how I loved those old vents, as they scooped so much air and cleaned out the dusty car. (Maybe I shouldn't have been so cheap and should have sprung for the Premium!)
I have a 2016 I bought with 8k on it in September 2016. I have 28k now. my peeve is that the passengers seat sensor for seatbelt is way too sensitive. I put my phone and a notebook on it the thing freaks out. have to drive with the seatbelt clicked in. I like the tray. I thought mine was missing.
Oh man, I've had the same problem with that seatbelt sensor! Mine goes off if I just have a backpack in that seat. Good idea on clicking in the seatbelt ... I hadn't thought of that. Take care
That storage at the door is for folders or paperwork for people who need it =). I am a field rep and use that for my files and paperwork. Pretty awesome that they actually included that for us =D The window thing is probably because if the window opens all the way, wind would come hitting your face in a way that is undesirable and massive wind noise. Most cars have the side mirrors mounted there. Subaru and other car brands mount the mirror on the door and include a small piece of glass there for improved visibility. It's actually great when making turns because pedestrians wont get lost behind the mirror and pillar. I think the older Honda Civic (2012?) also had the same design.
Great explanations that make good sense. Every oddity has some rationale or justification behind it, I suppose. Thanks for taking the time to comment. :)
On the RPM issue, you can get lower RPMs by doing one of two things: 1) hit the paddle again. The gauge will tell you if you can go up another gear and there's usually at least 6-speeds, 2) put it in Automatic. I get 2600 rpms at 80 mph.
Oh man, those RPMs are much better than what I'm getting. I think it's because you are driving the automatic transmission version of the car. Mine is a stick, so no 6th gear is available. I test drove the automatic transmission and thought it was pretty sweet! :)
Oh wow. Yeah I have the 2016 automatic with paddle shifters, but I generally just leave it in automatic. It's the funnest car I've owned, and I've had a Honda, Jeep, Maxima, Cadillac and a van. :^) I love my Crosstrek!
If you read the owners manual, you will know that the MPG gauge displays your current MPG vs your average MPG. That means,: 1) It is a relative scale, so no number mark (if you need to know your instance MPG in exact number, it's in the center console display screen. 2) It need at least a mile to register your average MPG to compare with, and the scale will start to work.
Great video and info. Really appreciate it. Even though you were a bit picky. I loved some of the comments. Btw the slot on the door, it's meant for mail.
I was surprised how high it revs with the manual. I have a '15 with the CVT auto and it runs around 2,200 rpm at 70 mph. I have been really happy with the CVT. No jerky downshifting like other 4cyl autos of the past. If you go up a hill it just revs a little higher.
2:20 1st) typically u will only be adjusting / programming when the car is in park so even if u turn on flashers u can just turn it off. 2nd) u will not be programming ur clock frequently so is not a big deal regardless. 3rd) none of the quirks u mentioned bothered me much
A lot of these "quirks" are normal for modern cars sold in North America. I can use recirc with defroster though, by selecting partway between...on most of my cars. Turning A/C on will also reduce moisture in the air. I miss having wing windows. My Jeep YJ hard doors and our '79 Cherokee had them. Many of my other vehicles with window frames had the triangular windows there that don't open.
Every subaru flashes the E/T at one hour intervals ...plus that hazard button is smaller in the WRX/STI since the upper info panel is a color multi-function LCD screen and you have a toggle button for that. (the dash board is the same )
I have a 2015 limited and the center console slides forward. Don't know why yours doesn't. Also I can have a digital MPH between the guages by toggling for it by pushing the button in the upper right of the cluster. I've never hit the flasher button. What does annoy me is that I am tall and the rear view mirror blocks my vision when looking off to the right like at an intersection. Subaru could have mounted it higher on the windshield. Plenty of room for it.
Oh man, that low rearview mirror is something I didn't put in my video ... but it's really annoying me! I'm thinking that I'm going to scrape it off and move it up on the glass. I've seen strong adhesive for mirrors at my auto parts store. I'm glad I'm not the only one!
metaspencer I was able to adjust the mirror upward by pushing the arm that the mirror is attached to upwards. It is very stiff but it will rotate up. I also miss stated the location for toggling the center display It is the little rod just to the right of the right guage.It says select. push it and you can select I think from 4 displays.
Hey 7islander! I'm going to have to play with that mirror ... because it's always getting in my way! As for the gauge toggling: I think I have a different spec level than you (I'm cheap so got the basic trim), because I don't have that option. Doh! Should have got a better trim level, but I was trying to keep things basic. :)
They have fixed a few things that you mentioned. Mine says how fast you are going in the digital display. One quirky thing that happens in mine though is at 3 degrees Celsius it reminds you that the roads might be icy. Only at exactly 3 degrees! Not below that. Also the washer fluid low warning will go on and off on and off up and down hills and stop and go. maybe if you use a bit more it will always stay on.
The instantaneous MPG gauge starts working, not randomly, but after exactly 1 mile of driving. It needs an entire mile the recalculate your MILES per gallon...
The instantaneous MPG gauge is actually extremely helpful when you learn how to use it. It tells you your current MPGs in relation to your average MPGs. So if you're on the + side, you are increasing your average MPGs, and if you are on the - side, you are worsening your average MPGs.
Okay, I think I get it now Adam. That makes sense. I suppose we all have different taste and preferences when it comes to gauges and dials. I find the many hash marks on that MPH +/- gauge to point toward a precision that is simply lacking in the gauge. It seems to be saying just three things "higher, same, or lower" and yet attempts to break that down with much more precision. So it's not my favorite info providing readout.
Nice video. The hourly elapsed time display is to remind you how long you've been driving continuously. My husband got DVT (deep vein thrombosis) from a long drive in another car. He was in his 40s and in excellent health but was in the hospital for a week. The timer in the Crosstrek is a godsend for him to remember to get out of the car and stretch his legs. By the way, can you adjust your stereo (bass, treble, etc.) while the car is moving?
It's good to know that the hourly reminder is helpful! I hadn't thought of that use and value. Regarding stereo adjustment: yes, it can be adjusted on the unit itself while driving (by the passenger, of course).
The main quirky thing about this Subaru is the owner. I have a 2018 Crosstrek, and about the only quirk is that the engine's "harmonics" make it a little louder at 2500 rpm. This may be only because I got the base model, which has less sound insulation. The car has far exceeded my expectations.
Not when there is an airbag under the arm. In an accident, not only will you slug yourself in the face you may have your arm broken by the airbag. My kid learned in drivers ed that the "new" recommended hand position is 4 & 8 o'clock not the 10 & 2 I learned.
Wouldn't be the first time I got slugged in the face? I drive with the intention off not setting of any airbags so I can put my arms anywhere I choose... ;)
Odd my crosstrek has a digital speed, just tap the arrow behind the steering wheel. Mine also came with the tray in the center😀. My odd feature is the steering wheel control of the radio is disabled when the rear view camera is on.
Wanted one of these at one time, went to test drive wanted a manual transmission. Took it for a test drive loved the way it drove until i took it up to 80 on the highway and that cruising rpm was actually the deal breaker, really felt like it i was in the wrong gear like there should have been a sixth gear. Long story short kept my 2005 legacy and rebuilt the heads. PS: those small windows cost more to replace then the main ones; harder to install too, at least on an audi and a vw don't ask how i know.
If you wanna do 80mph all the time, this isn't the car for you, 6 gears makes no difference, it isn't a sports car and by driving 80mph you're destroying what the car was designed for, low fuel consumption, get a Suburban and call it a day. I however cruise along at 95-100kph at 26-2700RPM and get 6.8L/100km... Nothing wrong with the car, it's the driver.
See attached for further details. Concerning as first comment was about a 2017 !! Always good to check the oil level regularly www.consumeraffairs.com/news/subaru-owners-complain-of-engine-failure-high-oil-consumption-092315.html
metaspencer On Boxer engines, the oil is meant to be checked cold. If it reads full after freshly turning it off, you are likely overfilled by a quart.
there is a subaru option for an extending armrest, I have it on my 2011 Impreza and saw it while building a Crosstrek on the Subaru website. you get an extra little grab thing under the front of it and it will swing up and forward to make it much more useful as an actual armrest.
Recirculate often times pulls air in from the vents used to defrost the windshield. If this is the case it's impossible to have recirculate on and defrost at the same time.
I think the idea behind the tail light is so that you can see it in the mirror as to weather they have gone out, in the hope that you can get it fixed before you get nicked for not having one, in my opinion, also the fog lights, i think you will find, in some countries like here in England, you are not aloud to have orange fog lights to the front, also you would not need your fog lights on if you put you main beam lights on as your visablity would be good to turn them off, regarding the steering wheel, I have the same problem with my car blocking the dials, but can I ask, why did you buy it?? it seems it is full of bells and whistles that don't seem to work, there are better crosstrek cars on the market in my opinion, but thanks for the reveiw.
The only one that would bother me is the door pocket going back so far, if stuff slid back there it could be a pain to get out. As for the view of the gauge being partially blocked it varies with driver height and how steering wheel is adjusted. i would rather see a video of the positives and negatives of taking a trip in the Crosstrek, things like seat comfort, ride, driver fatigue, etc. You learn a lot more after spending a few hours driving than the 15 minute test drive a dealer lets you have.
We have a Forester with cloth seats and while seat comfort might be normal for the class, they do get uncomfortable after a couple hours. cars we had in the past had more comfortable seats, but they were also larger. I have not looked at many new cars, but I'm getting the feeling seats is one area where they are cutting cost on many of them. I've also seen a few post of people complaining their leather seats feel like fake leather and not just Subaru.
Thank you so much for posting. I have a premium 2016 with the same temperature and cabin controls. I recently added some additional DC outlets with an additional fuse block. I thought I had screwed something up somehow when the air recirculation would not turn on. I have had my knob turned to defrost since it first got under 40 degrees. I just checked it and confirmed this weird quirk. However from further investigating this might have been a "feature" in Subarus since possibly 2009. One other weird thing is if your listening to an "adult" satellite channel like raw dog comedy, and you turn off the car, when you come back and restart you the station is changed to channel one.
Oh man, that auto-change to channel one is crazy and funny at the same time! I'd love to hear more about those DC outlets you added (I haven't done that but would love to).
Are you on subaruxvforums.com at all? I have posted some questions and have gotten answers over there. I also have a wiring digram of what my outlets eventually came to. It is has given me a lot of help. At some point I will post a blog or video about all my customizations I have added to my Crosstrek.
my 2011 wrx hatch had the same issues with short intermittent rear windshield wiper and the ticking associated with it. Seems like some things don't change.
It's 2020 and I just bought a used 2016 Crosstrek three days ago. I'm the kind of guy who will drive the car at night on some far road away from civilization to be able to pick up any weird noise if there's one, and boy let me tell you that rear wiper ticking had me going nuts for hours until I figured it out what it was. Now that I know what it is, my brain kinda muffles that clicking out.
Well, that makes two of us ... and possibly ONLY two of us. I am happy to report that a few years later I don't notice it. You're gonna love that car in the snow! great snow car
Definitely a quirky car...I have a 2014 5 speed that I bought about 3 months ago. I also wish they had a temp gauge! Its nice to know if you are getting close. I do love it though, even with some of these oddities. And I also agree with you on the foglights. I would like to run mine with parking lights...I'm sure you could install a switch if you wanted to.
I've found the acceleration to be fine for passing -- you just have to plan ahead a bit. In a turbo, you can pass at any time (like uphill and at low revs). In the Crosstrek, I've found you have to time it a bit if you want to pass on a two-lane highway. It's not super-powered, but I haven't found it to be underpowered. As for fuel economy, I get about 30 mpg when I average 70 mph. Over that, the fuel efficiency drops to around 25 mpg on the highway.
How's the road noise/ride on the highway? Any reliability issues? I love the idea of a compact wagon that can go off road. Efficient enough to be a daily but also high enough where it won't gut itself off road. I wish Subaru could offer EyeSight as standard equipment like Toyota offers TSS(radar cruise, lane departure, auto braking, steering assist).
Regarding the sound/noise: As a point of comparison, our VW Jetta wagon is much quieter. I haven't done a dB check yet, but I should. The Crosstrek isn't noisy like my old convertible Fiat or anything, but it's also not as quiet as my old Lexus. As for the offroad capability, that is the best part about this car!
I read on oil issues until my eyes bled before buying my 2016 Hyper Blue CVT Crosstrek in Dec 2015. My honest assessment of all the feedback was that a good portion of the issues people reported were self-inflicted by using cheap oil and crappy filters, knowingly or not. Could be tire/lube shops claiming they did a premium service for a foreign car, but actually doing the standard service (conventional oil). This car *demands* full synthetic. The others were legit engineering problems from letting QA slide some to make production - it is an insanely popular model! Bottom line: I have and will get all oil changes, while under warranty, done at a Subaru dealership. Once the warranty is expired, I plan to buy the Subaru branded oil/filter. If there's any doubt as to what/who is at fault, I want it to be theirs. I accepted the fact that I would be paying a little more for oil changes before I bought mine. When you get down to it, though, oil is still ultimately cheaper than replacing an engine.
Hey, dig the video! The MPG gauge drives me nuts, too, I wish it was something more functional! My only other complaint about my 2017 is the behaviour of the OEM remote starter (engine shuts off when door is opened, then you need to insert your key and re-start). I'm sure there's a reason they chose to make it work that way, but I'd much rather just be able to just insert the key in the ignition and go, like in my wife's Chevy Equinox.
Oh man, I didn't know that about the remote starter! I think the general trend here is that the engineers are trying to make equipment/machines that are smarter than us for when we make human mistakes ... but then, in doing so, the "fixes" are annoying for all the times when we're not making mistakes. It's crazy that opening the door shuts off the engine. You've gotta leave the window open over night and crawl in. :)
I thought something was wrong with my car because the mpg was stuck to the left then would shoot back to the right . I’ve only noticed it twice and after watching I realized i only noticed after I got gas lol thank you!
hey, good spotting! I was wondering if anyone would recognize it! yes, it's in Nebraska. I went through another arch, though a more simple one, in Ohio. :)
I think that slim pocket is for the handle of an ice scraper, but anything loose would become lost in the rear of that pocket. Thus the plastic bag for change!
1:24 but then again, there's no point in keeping window defrost on, because once the interior of the car is at a relatively hot temperature, might aswell say it's defrosting itself. 7:05 once again, what's the point of keeping them on?
subtle variation in air flow (from defrost) results, in my experience, in fewer little pockets of condensation forming on windows in sub 10 degree temps ... also a more generally radiated warmth around the car, as opposed to other settings.
For the display (between the clock and temperature); how do you get the information about mileage and trip distance to work/change? I have a 2015 and I cannot figure it out.
I think you'd be mildly shocked on how many people don't understand when and when not to re-circulating air, I'd assume Subaru was just trying to help. When I lived in Seattle I had a coworker that was so frustrated with his Toyota that he was going to sell it because it constantly fogged up ... one day riding with him I reached over and turned the re-circulating air off and the car cleared up! He was dumbfounded. Lastly, this isn't their premium car, so they tend not over think/engineer the lower models, they want you to pay more for the more expensive models. Being on my fourth Subaru I can better understand where they have come from and where they might be going ... but at some point it's just a Subaru (insert car manufacture name) thing!
I've seen plenty of those "fogged up cars" you're talking about. True: sometimes it's nice if a car takes care of you, especially if you can't take care of yourself! I'm loving the Subaru ... it just has it's own personality :)
seriously, you have not read the manual. the eco garage does not give you anything for the first mile so after you reset the trip meter it has nothing to do with how much gas is in the tank, the deep side pocket is for a map. liked a trail map if you are off-road.
Over all a pretty cool car i think! Maybe you can fix the emergency button "problem" with a piece of black plastic "blend" witch is kind of fixed on the upperside so you can reach the button if you want to but do´nt hit him "axcidently" while handling otherwise. By the way....do you know the town Clifton Park-New York? A good friend of mine is living there. He´s has a shop in his garage too and i could imagine that if you want to sale/give away some tools and such from the shop witch you´re goint to "clean up" he would be quiet interestet into buying some stuff. Keep on keeping on and greets from Berlin Germany
What kinda MPGs are you getting on the highway with cruise at 70-80? RPMs are kinda high but it is a little 4 cylinder so I would think still gets decent numbers. Great review by the way, looking into these at the moment.
metaspencer yes my wife and I already test drove the Crosstrek and really like it. she drove the CVT while I drove a manual and we seemed to like both, the manual was very easy, especially compared to my 2007 Wrangler. very nice cars
we also drove the Wrangler. While I LOVE the look of it, I found the suspension a bit rough and the inside a bit cramped. Plus, you can't beat the price tag of the Crosstrek.
You maybe the only crosstrek owner to push the emergency button when you're reaching for something since no one really complained about it any on reviews.. On my crosstrek, the button isn't rectangle, its actually a triangle. And other crosstrek models actually have different gauges and displays. Mine as a 2 inch monitor where your clock bar is that display engine temp, mpg, and whole lot of other useful info including your AWD control being able to see which wheel is getting power. You also get the speed readout which you don't. Have you tried pushing the little button on your left side of the steering. There should be 3 buttons with arrow up/down and a info button.
Exactly why I didn't get the manual - my 02 Outback was the same way! 5 speed and if you were going 70mph+ on the highway it was roaring. Apparently the newer models have 6 speeds now so maybe that remedied it? Hope you're enjoying yours nonetheless.
you said it: insanely high RPMs on the highway. I also heard about that 6-speed coming out in the newer model. I have heard that 6 speeds have already been available outside the US.
Is your XV 1.6? Or 2.0 5 speed? It revs to hight. Mi center console slides foward and backwards, the fog lampas turns on just with the position lights on
Mine has the 2 liter engine and a 5-speed manual. Revs are definitely high on the highway. Your console sounds great -- you must have gotten a higher, more expensive trim level. Or maybe you're not stuck in North America like I am? Here it seems fogs are always tied to lights
I have the 2.0i cvt and I dont live in North America, I'm from Chile (South America) here we got the 1.6 liter 5 speed with low range, the 2.0i 6 speed and the 2.0i cvt
Yeah, it sounds like they sell different configurations of the car in different countries, due to regulations and markets. Chile is a place I'd love to visit!
I really love my stick shift CrossTrek, but the problem I have is that if I change gears lower than 3k I will always hear the engine knocking... yes, cruising on a flat road is not problem after getting momentum... the problem is when lifting and getting to the cruising speed. The dealer said to change gas or to change gears at a higher RPM, around 2.5 to 3.5... I've been doing that and I don't hear the knocking, but this is the first stick shift I ever drove that requires that. Has any one else encounter this problem?
Ze Za I don't know about knocking but I know that in mine, the higher rpm I shift at, the more smooth and faster the transitions are. Call me crazy but I shift at 4k rpm lol. it seems like all the power is in the 3-4k range.
YES... I noticed that... if I shift below 3k, then I hear engine knocking... always. I shift at least at 3,500 but usually around 4k or higher and the car is smooth, fast, peppy...
I have a 2015 Impreza 5-door, Looks like they haven't updated the interior appointments at all since then. I agree about the MPG gauge, much rather a temp. The foglight deal is the government, not Subaru, and it really does defeat the purpose. I stash napkins in the goofy door pocket. I keep my sidw mirrors pivoted out more and so don't see the taillights unless i go out of my way to look for them. Other annoyances: My 2002 had a change drawer on the left of the dash, it's just a fuse cover in the '15, I really miss that. Also, the stock Clarion radio/in-dash whatever sucks balls.
I guess they're all small concerns, because (overall) I really like the car -- but I see what you mean and like your fixes ... like stashing napkins in that door pocket! Take care
the small triangular glass on the door is for visibility & design since the mirror is not there. also, the door glass probably can not retract all the way down the door since the shape of the door does not accommodate it. or it's cheaper to produce square shaped glass. like who cares about the glass.
3100rpm at 70 mph is directly related to the lack of hp this 2.0 liter produces. 148hp is not enough for a vehicle weighing over 3000 pounds. If Subaru were to place the 2.5 liter 175hp engine in it.....I would actually be very interested in this vehicle. I am sure they won't do that as it would cut into the Outback/Forrester sales.
That makes sense, and I suppose it's also why they haven't added a 6th gear to the manual transmission. I hear their turbo diesel version, for sale in Europe, has more power
I've got a '17 crosstrek and am curious what mileage you got on your 1800 mile road trip. Noticed your starting mileage is about the same as what I have now.
I've been calculating it at every fill-up, and it has been ranging (on the highway) between 24 and 31. The faster I go, obviously, the lower the mileage. 80 mph is about the fastest (Wyoming/Nebraska) I averaged
the crosstrek is a awesome driving vehicle mine was the hybrid version which offer lot more goodies vs standard But the electronics are like in the 80 s ! stereo system with sub is the worst 3 ×2 backup screen ? paint is so thin! nice video pointing out many problems subaru needs to address!
I find the stereo interface to be ... so ... slow ... to ... respond! It's too bad about the paint. I've heard it easily scratches from a few others. Take care!
Are you satisfied with its snow/ice driving performance, namely on paved roads/blacktop? I just purchased a 2017 Premium and happened to come across a very long & discouraging thread at subaruxvforum.com, contributed to by many people with identical issues, describing extremely squirrely (ie: fishtailing) characteristics of the Crosstrek on snow, slush and ice. The general consensus was that premium snow tires are a must as well as an alignment check by a reputable mechanic. However, you seem to be driving quite comfortably/confidently. And, according to one of your prior videos, you're still on the OEM Yokohama all-season tires! Thanks for any input
I'm very surprised that people have had trouble on snow, slush, and ice on paved roads. I've driven through some serious weather in the car, often at high speeds, and find it handles very well. It's better than any other vehicle I've driven in the snow, including several 4x4 trucks and Jeeps. And that is my report with the stock tires. Now, when I get new tires around 50k miles I"m going to get more aggressive snowtires, but I'm completely happy with the stock tires.
I can't believe how many people praise the Yokos and in some markets where they're not standard fit people are changing to them....I thought they were absolutly awful, I've never had an suv aquaplane on and after the 3rd time in less than 2000miles the Yokos got binned! The XV will never handle on road like most SUVs because of it's permanent AWD system, this just takes a little adapting to, like switching from front to rear wheel drive, slightly different style required.
I'm just speculating here, but maybe some of the different impressions of the same tires comes down to driving skill and experience. Some people slip/slide and panic. Others are comfortable with some movement and recover.
Well we were talking about on road rather than off-road, tyres are supposed to stick rather than move.... If the tyre can't be relied upon then there's no point in doing any other suspension work or changes to the brakes etc... I don't do serious off-roading anymore, I just wanted the XV for snow and open fields. Having raced cars and been a race engineer to a number of teams I now have the on road handling that I always thought the XV was capable of, but as I said there would have been no acceptable way forward on the grip levels of the yokos, they're just too hard.
@@metaspencer I haven't had the chance to use mine much yet, I just picked up a 2019 last tuesday and I put my dealer paperwork in the door and thought the slot was pretty handy, so I sorta chuckled a bit when I saw that section in your video. Good video by the way, you have a new subscriber!
I've been driving Subarus for about 12 years now, first I had an Outback with a manual transmission, and then a Tribeca with an auto. The high-RPM at highway speeds on a manual has been around for a long long time. It's only a problem with the manual transmissions, not the autos. I think these days there really is no reason to be going with a manual transmission anymore. It used to be that you got better gas mileage with a manual, but as you can see, even in 5th, it's doing over 3000 RPM at regular highway speeds. It's probably because it's got a lower final drive ratio with the manuals than with the autos. This gives it better acceleration, at the cost of fuel economy, so that makes the manual's greater fuel economy moot vs. the autos.
Well, I used to be one of those, "Real men drive manual transmissions" types, but one has to really examine the validity of any of that nowadays. Dual-clutch and even CVT's are getting better acceleration than manuals, as well as better fuel economy. Why all of this nostalgia for stirring your own gears? For greater control? What kind of control can you possibly need of your transmission that much? And if you're going to be nostalgic for outdated technology, why isn't there a yearning for manual chokes, or hand-cranked starters anymore? :)
You know what the one time is when I really prefer a manual? When I'm stuck and rocking the car (1st/rev/1st/rev) -- but since that never happens to me in the Crosstrek, it's really not even a good reason. I think you nailed it when you described having a stick as nostalgic: it's a way of thinking of driving as more hands on. You're absolutely right: auto trans has taken over and gotten so much better
bbbl67 I drive a stick and recently had to drive a rental automatic. I was bored to death driving that thing! I don't drive a manual so much for gas mileage but simply because I just love the hell out of the control and the fact that I feel more engaged with my car. Also automatic engines are noisy as hell. You can't beat the quiet of a manual
Yea I find these things odd but I love the car so much that none of that stuff bothers me. I just wish I had a coolant temp gauge. Other than that I plan on driving for a long long time.
I like the crosstrek, it seems like a practical car. I like that its a wagon, has a manual transmission, all wheel drive and heightened ground clearance. However having the rpm at 3200 while cruising at 70mph is enough to make me not want one.
dont start car but turn ignition to run, click the seat belt in and out 20 times then turn car off then back on, seat belt warning will be off until you repeat process.
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Most cars don't allow recirculation when using defrost, or at the very least they recommend against it. Many (if not most) cars also force the AC to turn on when defrosting whether you want it or not.
I have also never accidentally pressed the hazard button, and I have a phone mount set even lower than your GPS. Lift your elbows.
I do find the rear wiper interval to be annoying. It's actually based on your speed. As for the ticking sound, that's the relay. I'm sure you can find a replacement model that is quieter if you really wanted to.
I personally did a mod to make the fogs run semi-independently. They still require the parking lights to be on, but they're really dim anyway. Doing this involves wire splicing. Many places have laws against a certain total amount of wattage, which is why the high beams turn off the fogs. Laws are also why you have DRLs (which I also disabled).
Also, you can adjust the pitch of the steering wheel if you can't see the dials...
The splicing you mention is on my to-do list, because I really want those fogs to run without the main lights on. Thanks for the encouragement! We clearly don't see eye-to-eye on all of this things, so I appreciate seeing your perspective. Take care!
I'm looking at the Crosstrek and currently driving an Accord, and despite the fancy "automatic climate control" both of those can be overridden with the press of a button. The only quirk that bothers me is that the state of the ac is only displayed after it's manually switched on or off. When it's on auto, you have to listen for the clutch to engage to tell when it's on:)
Quirky indeed. I think you'll find the AWD Crosstrek handles very differently from the Accord ... and is less satisfying to drive at high speed on dry pavement
Peter Schmidt I was absolutely confused when I went from my '99 Impreza to my '99 Legacy Outback SUS Limited. The Impreza allows recirc all the time, while the SUS will turn it off depending on defrost setting. Thought it was broken at first, but its a feature.
the fuel meter will not register until you drive 1 mile. Fog lights will turn off on almost every car when you turn on the high beams. the pocket in the door is for a map. ..
The display flashing up elapsed travel time every hour is just a reminder about taking breaks. My Suby does it every 2 hours.
I have a 2013, and love it. I like being able to see my taillights at night because it does let me know if a bulb goes out between when I regularly check them in reflections anyway.
You know, I've gotten used to the tail light thing -- and it is reassuring to see them back there. Yeah, I really love driving the car!
The hazzard button is big and easy to find in an emergency situation where you are panicking or hurt I'd assume.
The hazard button is that big because it's covering the place where the on board computer switch will be on the premium (it used to be on the steering wheel previously), my hazard is a smaller square button.
so that explains it! that makes perfect sense
I’m pretty sure the reason you can’t recirculate the air on defrost mode is because defrost pushes air out the top vent, circulate pulls air out that
New 2017 Crosstrek January 2017 here on the coast in Delaware was driving down a back road with a small tidal bridge coming up during a wicked NorEaster. Was very happy the Flasher button was not hidden behind the steering wheel or on the column because the cars behind me (going too fast) could not see the two foot deep water overflowing the road. I was able to hit the flasher in time to slow down and stop!
Boom! Saved by the flasher. I'm glad it worked out ... it's been a great car for snow and wet driving, in my experience
That really suck for you. I have the auto and it rev a lot less than that. I don't mind seeing the rear lights on the mirrors. Its nice to always know when its working or not.
I've heard that the auto-transmission revs lower ... that's great for you! I guess I should just drive more slowwwwwwly
Now that you mention it....I would love to see my rear lights in the mirrors. I just got ticketed for that a few months ago. That's a plus.
Engineering Explained has a video that talks in detail about the final drive ratios on the Crosstrek. He also goes into detail about other features of the Crosstrek as well. I'd check it out for sure.
We too have a 2016 Crosstrek, and have the exact same Garmin GPS. What I have done is fabricated a mount out of plexiglass (4"L x4"W x 1" thick), and placed that into the compartment located below the dash and in front of the shifter. My GPS with the suction cup is designed so that it will attach and adhere on to that plexiglass piece for stability, and then I plug into the cigarette lighter. The entire unit is set out of site and not on the windshield. It really isn't a problem seeing it as you drive, as you only need to glance down. I listen mainly to the voice audio instructions, and only look down when it's a confusing message, or a road situation that doesn't make sense. I also use the open compartment under the armrest to store the entire unit out of site when not using it as many a GPS have been stolen via a break-in due to jerks looking for the round suction cup "stain" evidence on the windsheilds of cars. Just a thought. Both my wife and I love our 5 speed Crosstrek, quirks and all... It just needs a little bit more "pony power".
I like the idea of a plex unit like you describe! Our car definitely has the "suction cup evidence" from our GPS, which (now that you mention it) is a sure give away.
On another vein: I read a post by a dude who routed his Garmin wire back through the dash to keep it out of the way. That seemed pretty clever, though clearly solved another problem.
We also love our manual Crosstrek -- super fun, punchy, and great in the snow!
Good idea, but I am not that motivated...Yet.
hey, subaru tech here. the recirc not working with defrost is intentional. defrost is all about putting *dry* air on your windshield; outside air, when it's cold, will almost always be drier than the more humid air in the cabin (from the snow on your boots evaporating, your breath, etc.) Note that most cars don't actually let you use recirc with defrost, they just turn the light on.
Not sure about the 1 hour thing, actually. I'll have to look that one up. I've never had to take a car for an hour test drive.
Fog lights are supposed to only be used in tandem with headlights. Also, fog lights are only supposed to be used in inclimate weather....
The seat belt chime i've noticed on customer cars as being so loud it distorts the poor little speaker. If I recall there's a way to change the volume for alert chimes in the user settings but i'd need to look in a manual.
The "MPG" gauge is actually a vacuum gauge, which is why it's so snappy. I think even uhaul trucks have these now... same idea. It really just tells you how open your throttle is. Like you state, the upper display will show either calculated average MPG or instantaneous MPG. Those run off the fuel injection system.
I'm about 6' tall and find a lot of customers' cars have the steering wheel set really low (or the seat high) - same with Foresters - anyway it might be worth finding some videos about proper seat positioning. (might help with your tail light in the mirror as well.) Anyway, you might try setting the wheel higher and moving the seat to accommodate.
The front "A" window is a design thing on most modern cars. Want to correct you on busting it out though - replacing that glass means taking the whole door apart, whereas the bigger pane can be removed by removing the interior panel and 2 bolts.
Hey, great comment from an actual Subaru Tech! Very cool. Thanks for all the tidbits of insider information. Super interesting and helpful. I'll try to tweak that alert chime volume and see where it gets me. Take care! :)
question for you: I have a 2011 Impreza 2.5i Premium, did these older generations have an instantaneous mpg readout that I can activate? All I have ever been able to figure out is the average mpg for trip meters. I would love to know my instantaneous MPG if possible.
The MPG gauge on the dash picks up after you drive a mile exactly. Before that, it just stays low because all of the gas you have used has given you less than a mile for fuel economy, and that particular gauge doesn't read tenths of a mile.
Okay, I see that now. Thanks. I'm still not crazy about the imprecision of that gauge, though.
metaspencer I'm not a fan of it either. I've had my '16 since October. I find that gauge useless and distracting.
horn issue is common to all subies also, the fog lights must comply with US law which states they must be tied directly to the headlamps as you mentioned. they cannot be on when high beams are engaged per safety regs. Please don't bypass that. good video overall tho. love these things cuz is always stuff you never think of while test driving anything.
I wasn't aware that law governed the headlight/foglight issue, so thanks! that makes perfect sense
metaspencer I only know this cuz I used to get paid to install all forms of electronics into vehicles and this was something numerous customers asked me to bypass, of which I politely refused.
try driving in fog with high beams on, thats why your fog lights dont work with high beam.
something I like about my 05 ford explorer sport trac is I can have just my parking lights on and run fogs also.looks cool at dusk.
+henry ford .... that is super reasonable and great
Just a heads up......DONT break the fly window .."little window" it cost more then a driver's side window.
Thanks for the tip
Almost all cars don't allow for recurc on windows defrost.
I might have an answer on that mpg gauge issue. I have a 16 Outback and noticed that when I get to 1.0 miles after resetting the trip odometer, then the gauge starts to register mpg. I'm thinking the computer calculates the mpg on a per mile basis so it doesn't necessarily register anything until you get to at least 1.0 on the trip odometer. You can see your gauge do the same as it moves off of the "-" when you got to 1.0. Is it a quirk? For sure. But it makes sense from a mathematical perspective.
That makes perfect sense -- it's clearly per/mile. Thanks for solving that one!
That gauge that goes from - to + is comparing your current consumption to your average. Average is only set after 1 mile (or KM in my case)
+Nick Clark .... that makes sense. I find it a crude measure
The centre mark on the mpg gauge is the current average fuel mileage. As stated it allows a mile or kilometre before it calculates the average.
+Scott Brownlie ... got it
To disable the crazy seatbelt chime follow the steps below. (Borrowed from Good Dog on the XV Forum)
20 click method:
1.Turn the key to On position, do not start it. (2 clicks forward)
2. Wait till the first set of chimes starts.
3 .Quickly take your drivers side seatbelt buckle and insert and remove into latch exactly 20 times within 30 seconds. Don't rush it, just make sure to fully insert the tab all the way into the latch each time. You should end with the seatbelt unbuckled.
4. After 20 times, turn key to off, and remove key, then try turning back on and starting vehicle.
+freewayRode ... gonna try that today!
I did that on my '06 and it worked, never have heard it again which is nice
+Awharry36 ... awesome
Is that for all seats or just one?
I love your way of speaking, this was very amusing to watch. Just bought a Crosstrek (my dad had one, so I had some experience), cool car, but you do bring up some odd design choices. Thanks for pointing this stuff out in an entertaining way.
haha ... I'm glad you appreciate the humor in it all
I had a 2014 Crosstrek, put 45K miles on it and traded it in (before lease was up dealer bought me out in full + a few hundred) for a 2016 Crosstrek Limited with navigation and eyesight. The bluetooth mic was weak in both of them, but more so on the 2016. Almost everyone complains that they can't hear me and there is too much road/wind noise. My 2014 didn't have a door chime, but my 2016 has the most aggressive and loud door chime ever. Shut car off and open driver's door and ping ping ping ping...... I wish I could fix the bluetooth mic, but other than that, I have 17K+ miles on the 2016 now, and never had any issues with the Crosstreks I had, and got 62K+ miles worth of driving time between the two of them. I do wish I had the money to get a set of 15" Method Rally wheels for the Crosstrek and a set of BF Goodrich Grabber AT2 to change it up a little bit.
My wife has a 2015 Crosstrek and I have a 2009 Outback. Some of the information panel flashing at 1 hour intervals is a feature on both our vehicles it is just meant as a reminder that you have been driving for an hour maybe it would a good time to take a little break.
As far as the MPG gauge that just give you an instant reading of how you are using the "gas" pedal. "Super Milers" will know what I'm talking about. You can use this gauge to help you regulate the gas pedal for optimum mileage. Not a new idea but new technology involved to make it work. I remember a friend had a 1969 Impala that had one. It ran off intake manifold vacuum. The harder you pressed the gas pedal the more intake vacuum created and the gauge reflected that. At the time I thought it was pretty cool.
As far as the triangle front door window goes on a full frame door this is the easiest design to allow the window to go up and down. My Outback has a frameless windows and the whole window window goes up and down. The draw back to this is that there is more wind noise and a lot more weather stripping to go bad over time. I would much rather have a full frame door and small triangle design.
Bottom line both my wife and I really like our Subarus.
wow, that 1969 Impala had one! I had no idea. Thanks for the other tips and insights -- what you say makes good sense. I'm with you: the Subaru is a great car, especially in the snow!
I asked the dealer techs about the triangle window and was told that it was due to respositioning the mirrors. The Crosstrek is based on the Impreza hatchback which originally had smaller mirrors mounted in the "triangle". Starting in 2012 Subaru went with larger mirrors as a safety feature but had to move the mounting point lower, which put it on the door body instead of in the triangle. The Impreza wasn't due for a full redesign so they just kept the same door layout and put glass in the old mirror-mount location. 2011 Impreza: www.cstatic-images.com/stock/900x600/257572.jpg
super interesting! thanks for sharing that info!
the recirculation thing is not a subaru quirk a lot of cars do that including a 2012 malibu.
Interesting on the defrost and recirc. My 2016 Crosstrek Limited allows you to do recirc on defrost, which I thought was a little odd, but really is nice when first starting out to get the window clear a little faster.
+bj20715 ... great to know! So it must be a new so-called innovation
The rear windshield wiper sound you hear isn't a timer, it's an electric relay. Basically using an electromagnet to flip a switch (which is why you hear it). It's loud and quirky though for sure!
+Eric Goldberg ... I see. Well, it's certainly a very small detail. Thanks for the info
Perfect video! I was laughing the whole way as its the same things I've noticed and thought "how weird"
Although your missing one of the weirdest quirks! The rear wiper, as over zealous as it is to wipe, when it is set to intermittent, and the car is put into reverse, it goes to full on, then goes back to intermittent as soon as you take it out of reverse. I thought I was going nuts when I started noticing that!
Oh and the MPG gauge, it takes one mile for it to re-registerer once you hit the trip reset. Try it while driving :) And the center of the MPG gauge is always what the center display says as your current MPG. Plus and minus would be deviation from the average. I actually really like that gauge. It makes it really easy to hyper mile as it's basically saying are you doing better or worse than you have been. My old lancer had one similar, but it was digital.
Hey Aaron, thanks for the comments/thoughts. I had noticed that crazy action with the rear wiper, but hadn't noticed what is going on with the 1-mile-feature on the gauge. Very perceptive of you! I had not idea that the needle-mpg-gauge was linked to the reading on the center console ... thanks for the info! That makes me like the system more
So I now notice exactly what you mean about the big, easy press hazard button. I recently added a radar detector to my dash, and 3 times on the way to work, I set off the hazards. It really only takes a graze across to activate it.
We set ours off all the time when fiddling with the GPS. It's just too touchy of a button -- a simple thing to fix with some more attention to user testing. I'm glad, in an odd way, to hear that I'm not the only one! Take care :)
The purpose of the wiper going into full speed mode is that when you're backing up, the rain that normally is deflected by your spoiler is likely to hit your back window because you're now moving the window toward the rain drops as they fall. In this case it's a purposeful good quirk.
actually makes sense, thanks
We have a '13 Crosstrek w/ auto & paddle shifters. My only serious safety complaint is that you have to be VERRRYYY careful to avoid hitting a paddle while turning the wheel, or you'll get one heck of a surprise. After accidentally bumping one of them at 45 mph and almost causing an rear-ender, I decided to disable the paddles by gluing a stiff rubber shim between the back of the steering wheel and each paddle arm.
Two minor quibbles:
- The location of the seat-heater switches between the brake lever and the console tray makes it hard to tell whether they're on or off when you leave the car.
- OK, maybe not everyone shares my fondness for visiting Canada but why can't the digital gauges be toggled between US & international units? Even the low-end Chevy Cruze that I had for a business trip had that feature.
Yeah, I think putting the paddles on the wheel might have been a bad idea. I used to have a stick-shift-on-the-wheel shifter (very old Volvo), and it was easy to knock out of gear. Wheels are for steering, I say.
being able to toggle the gauges would be so great!
Thanks for the props. My 2¢ is that the paddles are overly sensitive; I just brushed one and almost paid for it with an accident.
My wife - not a car geek - has recently become the car's primary driver. I'm thinking that for her safety I should block the paddles by gluing a piece of stiff rubber between the levers and the steering wheel spoke.
I was a math & physics major and can juggle both systems in my head w/o problems, but it would just be easier if the gauges did it for me. We took our old analog-gauge Volvo across Ontario and it was annoying to have to translate speed limits, distances, and fuel. Toggling digital gauges is a trivial enhancement, so I don't understand why Subaru doesn't offer the option.
Good idea! Some small rubber blocks would render the paddles un-useable.
2015 crosstrek and I've put 75000 miles in 3 years. Multiple trips from akron Ohio to Miami Florida. This cars a subtle beast. Leaving akron we had a bad snow storm with at least 3-5in of snow on the highways. I was doing 70 and sideways at many times. It was 3 am nobody was on the road! But when there was I was able to pass in the snow covered lane 😎 just dont do over 75 for more than like 3 or so hours. My engine just lost all power 1 time on 2 separate trips that were months apart. Pulled to the shoulder. Shut it off and back on and it was fine.
I completely agree about this car in the snow: it's awesome, particularly with good tires on it. As for high speeds, I also know what you mean ... it simply over-revs the engine to go fast ... but then, I always do :)
I live in Canada and have a 2013 Crosstrek. I too have noticed some of the quirks you mentioned. The flaw that most annoys me is the placement of the speakers on each corner of the dash. Up here, on long stretches of cold winter weather, the hot defrosting air from the blower does not reach the corners and the two spots are constantly foggy and sometimes even ice forms in those corners.
Interesting! We ended up buying a second Crosstrek, the 2019 I think it is, and they did iron out some of the quirks. I still think they're the absolute BEST snow cars I've driven. I be you're enjoying the warmer weather :)
Not being a jerk, but many of these quirks are explained in the OM...except that tiny window.
ImpliedConsent the small window is so the main one can roll down. The small one wasn't probably connected with the main one because there wasn't space for it to go down
@@KT-lp8qz My dealer told me the small front window is due to a late-stage decision to make the rear-view mirrors larger, which necessitated moving them from the window level down to the beltline. Rather than hold up everything while the entire door was redesigned they just replaced the mirror mount with a piece of glass. In any case the mini-window provides better visibility so it's stayed in later models.
Interesting!
We have the premium model and it doesn't have some of the things that bother you. In the old days, they called those little windows "vents." That was back when everyone had 4/60 air conditioning (you open the four windows and drive 60). Also, watch out with the capacious, or someone might accuse you of being verbificent.
Oh how I loved those old vents, as they scooped so much air and cleaned out the dusty car. (Maybe I shouldn't have been so cheap and should have sprung for the Premium!)
I have a 2016 I bought with 8k on it in September 2016. I have 28k now. my peeve is that the passengers seat sensor for seatbelt is way too sensitive. I put my phone and a notebook on it the thing freaks out. have to drive with the seatbelt clicked in. I like the tray. I thought mine was missing.
Oh man, I've had the same problem with that seatbelt sensor! Mine goes off if I just have a backpack in that seat. Good idea on clicking in the seatbelt ... I hadn't thought of that. Take care
metaspencer I can't take credit for the idea. my 7 year old son told me to do it.
That storage at the door is for folders or paperwork for people who need it =). I am a field rep and use that for my files and paperwork. Pretty awesome that they actually included that for us =D The window thing is probably because if the window opens all the way, wind would come hitting your face in a way that is undesirable and massive wind noise. Most cars have the side mirrors mounted there. Subaru and other car brands mount the mirror on the door and include a small piece of glass there for improved visibility. It's actually great when making turns because pedestrians wont get lost behind the mirror and pillar. I think the older Honda Civic (2012?) also had the same design.
Great explanations that make good sense. Every oddity has some rationale or justification behind it, I suppose. Thanks for taking the time to comment. :)
On the RPM issue, you can get lower RPMs by doing one of two things: 1) hit the paddle again. The gauge will tell you if you can go up another gear and there's usually at least 6-speeds, 2) put it in Automatic. I get 2600 rpms at 80 mph.
Oh man, those RPMs are much better than what I'm getting. I think it's because you are driving the automatic transmission version of the car. Mine is a stick, so no 6th gear is available. I test drove the automatic transmission and thought it was pretty sweet! :)
Oh wow. Yeah I have the 2016 automatic with paddle shifters, but I generally just leave it in automatic. It's the funnest car I've owned, and I've had a Honda, Jeep, Maxima, Cadillac and a van. :^) I love my Crosstrek!
If you read the owners manual, you will know that the MPG gauge displays your current MPG vs your average MPG. That means,:
1) It is a relative scale, so no number mark (if you need to know your instance MPG in exact number, it's in the center console display screen.
2) It need at least a mile to register your average MPG to compare with, and the scale will start to work.
Thanks for the clarification. I still think it's a very crude measure of MPG
Great video and info. Really appreciate it. Even though you were a bit picky. I loved some of the comments. Btw the slot on the door, it's meant for mail.
I'm very picky, that's true. Thanks for checking it out
I was surprised how high it revs with the manual. I have a '15 with the CVT auto and it runs around 2,200 rpm at 70 mph. I have been really happy with the CVT. No jerky downshifting like other 4cyl autos of the past. If you go up a hill it just revs a little higher.
Yeah, that manual is pretty sweet. It's crazy how different they are in terms of gear ratios!
Mine's a 3spd, I use 2nd 3rd and 5th.
2:20 1st) typically u will only be adjusting / programming when the car is in park so even if u turn on flashers u can just turn it off.
2nd) u will not be programming ur clock frequently so is not a big deal regardless.
3rd) none of the quirks u mentioned bothered me much
A lot of these "quirks" are normal for modern cars sold in North America.
I can use recirc with defroster though, by selecting partway between...on most of my cars. Turning A/C on will also reduce moisture in the air.
I miss having wing windows. My Jeep YJ hard doors and our '79 Cherokee had them. Many of my other vehicles with window frames had the triangular windows there that don't open.
Those old wing window were great! thanks man
Every subaru flashes the E/T at one hour intervals ...plus that hazard button is smaller in the WRX/STI since the upper info panel is a color multi-function LCD screen and you have a toggle button for that. (the dash board is the same )
Oooo, now I'm even more jealous of the WRX!
I have a 2015 limited and the center console slides forward. Don't know why yours doesn't. Also I can have a digital MPH between the guages by toggling for it by pushing the button in the upper right of the cluster. I've never hit the flasher button. What does annoy me is that I am tall and the rear view mirror blocks my vision when looking off to the right like at an intersection. Subaru could have mounted it higher on the windshield. Plenty of room for it.
Oh man, that low rearview mirror is something I didn't put in my video ... but it's really annoying me! I'm thinking that I'm going to scrape it off and move it up on the glass. I've seen strong adhesive for mirrors at my auto parts store. I'm glad I'm not the only one!
metaspencer I was able to adjust the mirror upward by pushing the arm that the mirror is attached to upwards. It is very stiff but it will rotate up. I also miss stated the location for toggling the center display
It is the little rod just to the right of the right guage.It says select. push it and you can select I think from 4 displays.
Hey 7islander! I'm going to have to play with that mirror ... because it's always getting in my way! As for the gauge toggling: I think I have a different spec level than you (I'm cheap so got the basic trim), because I don't have that option. Doh! Should have got a better trim level, but I was trying to keep things basic. :)
metaspencer Yep that arm is a ball and socket where it attaches to the windshield. Made a huge difference.
oh man, thank you!
They have fixed a few things that you mentioned. Mine says how fast you are going in the digital display.
One quirky thing that happens in mine though is at 3 degrees Celsius it reminds you that the roads might be icy. Only at exactly 3 degrees! Not below that. Also the washer fluid low warning will go on and off on and off up and down hills and stop and go. maybe if you use a bit more it will always stay on.
Oh man, I haven't noticed the washer-level doing that ... crazy. They're all small things for sure. Thanks for the comment!
The instantaneous MPG gauge starts working, not randomly, but after exactly 1 mile of driving. It needs an entire mile the recalculate your MILES per gallon...
The instantaneous MPG gauge is actually extremely helpful when you learn how to use it. It tells you your current MPGs in relation to your average MPGs. So if you're on the + side, you are increasing your average MPGs, and if you are on the - side, you are worsening your average MPGs.
Okay, I think I get it now Adam. That makes sense. I suppose we all have different taste and preferences when it comes to gauges and dials. I find the many hash marks on that MPH +/- gauge to point toward a precision that is simply lacking in the gauge. It seems to be saying just three things "higher, same, or lower" and yet attempts to break that down with much more precision. So it's not my favorite info providing readout.
Nice video. The hourly elapsed time display is to remind you how long you've been driving continuously. My husband got DVT (deep vein thrombosis) from a long drive in another car. He was in his 40s and in excellent health but was in the hospital for a week. The timer in the Crosstrek is a godsend for him to remember to get out of the car and stretch his legs. By the way, can you adjust your stereo (bass, treble, etc.) while the car is moving?
It's good to know that the hourly reminder is helpful! I hadn't thought of that use and value. Regarding stereo adjustment: yes, it can be adjusted on the unit itself while driving (by the passenger, of course).
Good to know. The audio controls are disabled when the car is moving in '14. I think their lawyers made it so.
The main quirky thing about this Subaru is the owner. I have a 2018 Crosstrek, and about the only quirk is that the engine's "harmonics" make it a little louder at 2500 rpm. This may be only because I got the base model, which has less sound insulation. The car has far exceeded my expectations.
I’m glad you like it. At 50k miles now I still laugh at underpowered it is in the Rockies
why is hand at 12 on steering wheel is that the cool way of driving,,
Not when there is an airbag under the arm. In an accident, not only will you slug yourself in the face you may have your arm broken by the airbag. My kid learned in drivers ed that the "new" recommended hand position is 4 & 8 o'clock not the 10 & 2 I learned.
hard to teach this old dog new tricks! 10 & 2 got ingrained in me so hard
Thats how I've always driven, one hand at 12 and the other shifting.
Wouldn't be the first time I got slugged in the face? I drive with the intention off not setting of any airbags so I can put my arms anywhere I choose... ;)
Thanks, I'm glad I bought a Toyota Rav4 AWD instead, a much better vehicle without the quirks.
sounds like you made a good choice!
Odd my crosstrek has a digital speed, just tap the arrow behind the steering wheel. Mine also came with the tray in the center😀. My odd feature is the steering wheel control of the radio is disabled when the rear view camera is on.
Maybe you have a different spec level. I also hate that the radio is not controllable in reverse ... super annoying
Wanted one of these at one time, went to test drive wanted a manual transmission. Took it for a test drive loved the way it drove until i took it up to 80 on the highway and that cruising rpm was actually the deal breaker, really felt like it i was in the wrong gear like there should have been a sixth gear. Long story short kept my 2005 legacy and rebuilt the heads.
PS: those small windows cost more to replace then the main ones; harder to install too, at least on an audi and a vw don't ask how i know.
you were right about the decision, I think: just not geared for actual highway driving
If you wanna do 80mph all the time, this isn't the car for you, 6 gears makes no difference, it isn't a sports car and by driving 80mph you're destroying what the car was designed for, low fuel consumption, get a Suburban and call it a day. I however cruise along at 95-100kph at 26-2700RPM and get 6.8L/100km... Nothing wrong with the car, it's the driver.
Good point but 80 in Wyoming sure is fun
How about oil consumption? There was a class action lawsuit over engine issues IE piston rings & pistons.
Mine has been consuming no oil at all, as I believe that problem has been rectified and was pre 2016 ... but I keep checking that dipstick!
See attached for further details. Concerning as first comment was about a 2017 !! Always good to check the oil level regularly
www.consumeraffairs.com/news/subaru-owners-complain-of-engine-failure-high-oil-consumption-092315.html
Oh yeah, checking the oil every fill up is the way to go. Nothing diminished on mine, yet, but I've heard some horror stories on other forums.
metaspencer On Boxer engines, the oil is meant to be checked cold. If it reads full after freshly turning it off, you are likely overfilled by a quart.
that makes good sense!
there is a subaru option for an extending armrest, I have it on my 2011 Impreza and saw it while building a Crosstrek on the Subaru website. you get an extra little grab thing under the front of it and it will swing up and forward to make it much more useful as an actual armrest.
Oh cool ... that would be nice!!
Recirculate often times pulls air in from the vents used to defrost the windshield. If this is the case it's impossible to have recirculate on and defrost at the same time.
I think the idea behind the tail light is so that you can see it in the mirror as to weather they have gone out, in the hope that you can get it fixed before you get nicked for not having one, in my opinion, also the fog lights, i think you will find, in some countries like here in England, you are not aloud to have orange fog lights to the front, also you would not need your fog lights on if you put you main beam lights on as your visablity would be good to turn them off, regarding the steering wheel, I have the same problem with my car blocking the dials, but can I ask, why did you buy it?? it seems it is full of bells and whistles that don't seem to work, there are better crosstrek cars on the market in my opinion, but thanks for the reveiw.
+CharlieTango 1 ... that makes sense! It's definitely visible
The visible tail light also serves as a handy visual reference whether you can cut in front of the other car. (Not that I use it often). :)
+funnydognv .. haha. So true!
The only one that would bother me is the door pocket going back so far, if stuff slid back there it could be a pain to get out. As for the view of the gauge being partially blocked it varies with driver height and how steering wheel is adjusted. i would rather see a video of the positives and negatives of taking a trip in the Crosstrek, things like seat comfort, ride, driver fatigue, etc. You learn a lot more after spending a few hours driving than the 15 minute test drive a dealer lets you have.
Seat comfort is another complaint we have and is why At 50k miles we’re looking for another car
We have a Forester with cloth seats and while seat comfort might be normal for the class, they do get uncomfortable after a couple hours. cars we had in the past had more comfortable seats, but they were also larger. I have not looked at many new cars, but I'm getting the feeling seats is one area where they are cutting cost on many of them. I've also seen a few post of people complaining their leather seats feel like fake leather and not just Subaru.
The best seats we had were in a VW ...
Thank you so much for posting. I have a premium 2016 with the same temperature and cabin controls. I recently added some additional DC outlets with an additional fuse block. I thought I had screwed something up somehow when the air recirculation would not turn on. I have had my knob turned to defrost since it first got under 40 degrees. I just checked it and confirmed this weird quirk. However from further investigating this might have been a "feature" in Subarus since possibly 2009.
One other weird thing is if your listening to an "adult" satellite channel like raw dog comedy, and you turn off the car, when you come back and restart you the station is changed to channel one.
Oh man, that auto-change to channel one is crazy and funny at the same time! I'd love to hear more about those DC outlets you added (I haven't done that but would love to).
Are you on subaruxvforums.com at all? I have posted some questions and have gotten answers over there. I also have a wiring digram of what my outlets eventually came to. It is has given me a lot of help. At some point I will post a blog or video about all my customizations I have added to my Crosstrek.
I have to get back over there -- I lurked on the site for a while, but have kind of forgotten about it. Thanks for the link!
my 2011 wrx hatch had the same issues with short intermittent rear windshield wiper and the ticking associated with it. Seems like some things don't change.
It would be nice to see a bit more time between wipes ... but oh well
It's 2020 and I just bought a used 2016 Crosstrek three days ago. I'm the kind of guy who will drive the car at night on some far road away from civilization to be able to pick up any weird noise if there's one, and boy let me tell you that rear wiper ticking had me going nuts for hours until I figured it out what it was. Now that I know what it is, my brain kinda muffles that clicking out.
Well, that makes two of us ... and possibly ONLY two of us. I am happy to report that a few years later I don't notice it. You're gonna love that car in the snow! great snow car
metaspencer Too bad it doesn’t snow down here in South Florida... 🤣🤣
Definitely a quirky car...I have a 2014 5 speed that I bought about 3 months ago. I also wish they had a temp gauge! Its nice to know if you are getting close. I do love it though, even with some of these oddities. And I also agree with you on the foglights. I would like to run mine with parking lights...I'm sure you could install a switch if you wanted to.
Yep, but great in snow
@@metaspencer I can't wait for it snow around here so I can try it out. I'm sure it will be no trouble getting around.
a lot of these features you find quirky were on my 2005 Audi. the spot on the door would hold your wallet or insurance/registration pretty well.
It's funny how the features keep repeating themselves -- shared design team?
How do you find acceleration on the highway, to pass semi tractor trailers? How is the fuel economy?
I've found the acceleration to be fine for passing -- you just have to plan ahead a bit. In a turbo, you can pass at any time (like uphill and at low revs). In the Crosstrek, I've found you have to time it a bit if you want to pass on a two-lane highway. It's not super-powered, but I haven't found it to be underpowered. As for fuel economy, I get about 30 mpg when I average 70 mph. Over that, the fuel efficiency drops to around 25 mpg on the highway.
How's the road noise/ride on the highway? Any reliability issues? I love the idea of a compact wagon that can go off road. Efficient enough to be a daily but also high enough where it won't gut itself off road.
I wish Subaru could offer EyeSight as standard equipment like Toyota offers TSS(radar cruise, lane departure, auto braking, steering assist).
Regarding the sound/noise: As a point of comparison, our VW Jetta wagon is much quieter. I haven't done a dB check yet, but I should. The Crosstrek isn't noisy like my old convertible Fiat or anything, but it's also not as quiet as my old Lexus.
As for the offroad capability, that is the best part about this car!
metaspencer Did your Subaru boxter engine burn much oil on that trip?
Not a drop lower than when I left. I've been checking it, given the problems some have had
Drive your own car damn it. Don't let the car drive you.
I read on oil issues until my eyes bled before buying my 2016 Hyper Blue CVT Crosstrek in Dec 2015. My honest assessment of all the feedback was that a good portion of the issues people reported were self-inflicted by using cheap oil and crappy filters, knowingly or not. Could be tire/lube shops claiming they did a premium service for a foreign car, but actually doing the standard service (conventional oil). This car *demands* full synthetic. The others were legit engineering problems from letting QA slide some to make production - it is an insanely popular model! Bottom line: I have and will get all oil changes, while under warranty, done at a Subaru dealership. Once the warranty is expired, I plan to buy the Subaru branded oil/filter. If there's any doubt as to what/who is at fault, I want it to be theirs. I accepted the fact that I would be paying a little more for oil changes before I bought mine. When you get down to it, though, oil is still ultimately cheaper than replacing an engine.
Hey, dig the video! The MPG gauge drives me nuts, too, I wish it was something more functional! My only other complaint about my 2017 is the behaviour of the OEM remote starter (engine shuts off when door is opened, then you need to insert your key and re-start). I'm sure there's a reason they chose to make it work that way, but I'd much rather just be able to just insert the key in the ignition and go, like in my wife's Chevy Equinox.
Oh man, I didn't know that about the remote starter! I think the general trend here is that the engineers are trying to make equipment/machines that are smarter than us for when we make human mistakes ... but then, in doing so, the "fixes" are annoying for all the times when we're not making mistakes. It's crazy that opening the door shuts off the engine. You've gotta leave the window open over night and crawl in. :)
Regarding the recirculated air, my 98 OBS and 07 outback do the same thing.
Good to know. So it's a longstanding thing. Not a big deal for sure, but mildly annoying
Also my 07 outback flashes E/T every hour. My first roadtrip in it. I thought it was showing me a code.
+Brian Patrick ... it's a funny little thing for sure
I thought something was wrong with my car because the mpg was stuck to the left then would shoot back to the right . I’ve only noticed it twice and after watching I realized i only noticed after I got gas lol thank you!
haha, I've thought the same thing! just those computers playing tricks on us. :0
2:15 Thats in Nebraska Right? I remember going through her when i went to California this summer.
hey, good spotting! I was wondering if anyone would recognize it! yes, it's in Nebraska. I went through another arch, though a more simple one, in Ohio. :)
For the door stowage, I slide a compact umbrella back there; although I have an Outback, you could probably do that. Nice video!
+Steve S ... cool idea! Thanks...I'm gonna try that. Might as well use it!
I think that slim pocket is for the handle of an ice scraper, but anything loose would become lost in the rear of that pocket. Thus the plastic bag for change!
1:24 but then again, there's no point in keeping window defrost on, because once the interior of the car is at a relatively hot temperature, might aswell say it's defrosting itself.
7:05 once again, what's the point of keeping them on?
+fred renault ... I prefer defrost for airflow reasons
what does it change? (im not saying that with sarcasm, i literally dont know how)
subtle variation in air flow (from defrost) results, in my experience, in fewer little pockets of condensation forming on windows in sub 10 degree temps ... also a more generally radiated warmth around the car, as opposed to other settings.
For the display (between the clock and temperature); how do you get the information about mileage and trip distance to work/change? I have a 2015 and I cannot figure it out.
On ours, there is a little black stem to the right of the speedometer that you push. T'hat may be different on your trim level
I think you'd be mildly shocked on how many people don't understand when and when not to re-circulating air, I'd assume Subaru was just trying to help. When I lived in Seattle I had a coworker that was so frustrated with his Toyota that he was going to sell it because it constantly fogged up ... one day riding with him I reached over and turned the re-circulating air off and the car cleared up! He was dumbfounded. Lastly, this isn't their premium car, so they tend not over think/engineer the lower models, they want you to pay more for the more expensive models. Being on my fourth Subaru I can better understand where they have come from and where they might be going ... but at some point it's just a Subaru (insert car manufacture name) thing!
I've seen plenty of those "fogged up cars" you're talking about. True: sometimes it's nice if a car takes care of you, especially if you can't take care of yourself! I'm loving the Subaru ... it just has it's own personality :)
the Guage for mpg doesn't come on until you have traveled 1 mile on a fresh reset trip. and have you tried adjusting your steering wheel lol
+Max Berry ... haha, yeah I've moved the wheel around. You're right about that gauge!
you have your mirrors adjusted wrong if you see the side of the car.
seriously, you have not read the manual. the eco garage does not give you anything for the first mile so after you reset the trip meter it has nothing to do with how much gas is in the tank, the deep side pocket is for a map. liked a trail map if you are off-road.
the temp guage will also blink at 37 degrees
I find this funny and only mildly annoying when the temp is moving up and down in that region, as the blinking will go on over and over again
Over all a pretty cool car i think!
Maybe you can fix the emergency button "problem" with a piece of black plastic "blend" witch is kind of fixed on the upperside so you can reach the button if you want to but do´nt hit him "axcidently" while handling otherwise.
By the way....do you know the town Clifton Park-New York?
A good friend of mine is living there. He´s has a shop in his garage too and i could imagine that if you want to sale/give away some tools and such from the shop witch you´re goint to "clean up" he would be quiet interestet into buying some stuff.
Keep on keeping on and greets from Berlin Germany
hey, thanks for the tip about covering up the emergency button. I'm going to give it a try and see if it still looks cool. take care!
What kinda MPGs are you getting on the highway with cruise at 70-80? RPMs are kinda high but it is a little 4 cylinder so I would think still gets decent numbers. Great review by the way, looking into these at the moment.
70-80 highway driving I'm getting between 25 and 30 mpg. I'm really loving the car, it is just a bit quirky (like all cars, I guess)
metaspencer yes my wife and I already test drove the Crosstrek and really like it. she drove the CVT while I drove a manual and we seemed to like both, the manual was very easy, especially compared to my 2007 Wrangler. very nice cars
we also drove the Wrangler. While I LOVE the look of it, I found the suspension a bit rough and the inside a bit cramped. Plus, you can't beat the price tag of the Crosstrek.
You maybe the only crosstrek owner to push the emergency button when you're reaching for something since no one really complained about it any on reviews.. On my crosstrek, the button isn't rectangle, its actually a triangle.
And other crosstrek models actually have different gauges and displays. Mine as a 2 inch monitor where your clock bar is that display engine temp, mpg, and whole lot of other useful info including your AWD control being able to see which wheel is getting power. You also get the speed readout which you don't. Have you tried pushing the little button on your left side of the steering. There should be 3 buttons with arrow up/down and a info button.
+Aoru ... haha, I guess I'm clumsy when it comes to that flasher button! Nice that you get the AWD info and temp. I'm jealous!
Exactly why I didn't get the manual - my 02 Outback was the same way! 5 speed and if you were going 70mph+ on the highway it was roaring. Apparently the newer models have 6 speeds now so maybe that remedied it? Hope you're enjoying yours nonetheless.
you said it: insanely high RPMs on the highway. I also heard about that 6-speed coming out in the newer model. I have heard that 6 speeds have already been available outside the US.
These are a 6 speed manual in the UK, so not sure why you have it in 5th at 80 mph. Are they only 5 speed manual in America?
Oh, if only there was a 6th speed in the North American version! There are, sadly, only 5 speeds on the manual sold over here
Is your XV 1.6? Or 2.0 5 speed? It revs to hight. Mi center console slides foward and backwards, the fog lampas turns on just with the position lights on
Mine has the 2 liter engine and a 5-speed manual. Revs are definitely high on the highway. Your console sounds great -- you must have gotten a higher, more expensive trim level. Or maybe you're not stuck in North America like I am? Here it seems fogs are always tied to lights
I have the 2.0i cvt and I dont live in North America, I'm from Chile (South America) here we got the 1.6 liter 5 speed with low range, the 2.0i 6 speed and the 2.0i cvt
Yeah, it sounds like they sell different configurations of the car in different countries, due to regulations and markets. Chile is a place I'd love to visit!
I really love my stick shift CrossTrek, but the problem I have is that if I change gears lower than 3k I will always hear the engine knocking... yes, cruising on a flat road is not problem after getting momentum... the problem is when lifting and getting to the cruising speed. The dealer said to change gas or to change gears at a higher RPM, around 2.5 to 3.5... I've been doing that and I don't hear the knocking, but this is the first stick shift I ever drove that requires that. Has any one else encounter this problem?
Ze Za I don't know about knocking but I know that in mine, the higher rpm I shift at, the more smooth and faster the transitions are. Call me crazy but I shift at 4k rpm lol. it seems like all the power is in the 3-4k range.
+Caden Nguyen ...agreed. it likes the high revs
YES... I noticed that... if I shift below 3k, then I hear engine knocking... always. I shift at least at 3,500 but usually around 4k or higher and the car is smooth, fast, peppy...
I have a 2015 Impreza 5-door, Looks like they haven't updated the interior appointments at all since then. I agree about the MPG gauge, much rather a temp. The foglight deal is the government, not Subaru, and it really does defeat the purpose. I stash napkins in the goofy door pocket. I keep my sidw mirrors pivoted out more and so don't see the taillights unless i go out of my way to look for them. Other annoyances: My 2002 had a change drawer on the left of the dash, it's just a fuse cover in the '15, I really miss that. Also, the stock Clarion radio/in-dash whatever sucks balls.
I guess they're all small concerns, because (overall) I really like the car -- but I see what you mean and like your fixes ... like stashing napkins in that door pocket! Take care
the small triangular glass on the door is for visibility & design since the mirror is not there. also, the door glass probably can not retract all the way down the door since the shape of the door does not accommodate it. or it's cheaper to produce square shaped glass. like who cares about the glass.
makes sense. I've never seen such a thing on another car, but it's all good
lmao i dont want to breath in all that diesel exhaust. did you not know semis have stacks blowing it over the trailer into the air? lmao
the mpg dial is a classic BMW knock-off.
waclosh which sucks because BMW has been sucking lately.
3100rpm at 70 mph is directly related to the lack of hp this 2.0 liter produces. 148hp is not enough for a vehicle weighing over 3000 pounds. If Subaru were to place the 2.5 liter 175hp engine in it.....I would actually be very interested in this vehicle. I am sure they won't do that as it would cut into the Outback/Forrester sales.
That makes sense, and I suppose it's also why they haven't added a 6th gear to the manual transmission. I hear their turbo diesel version, for sale in Europe, has more power
I've got a '17 crosstrek and am curious what mileage you got on your 1800 mile road trip.
Noticed your starting mileage is about the same as what I have now.
I've been calculating it at every fill-up, and it has been ranging (on
the highway) between 24 and 31. The faster I go, obviously, the lower
the mileage. 80 mph is about the fastest (Wyoming/Nebraska) I averaged
do you have the manual transmission?
yes, the manual: it gets lower MPG I've read and heard
the crosstrek is a awesome driving vehicle mine was the hybrid version which offer lot more goodies vs standard But the electronics are like in the 80 s ! stereo system with sub is the worst 3 ×2 backup screen ? paint is so thin! nice video pointing out many problems subaru needs to address!
I find the stereo interface to be ... so ... slow ... to ... respond! It's too bad about the paint. I've heard it easily scratches from a few others. Take care!
Try putting a couple maps in the narrow back part of the door cup compartment, maybe that would make it useful. ;)
Something has gotta fit in there!
I put rags or plastic shopping bags in that little space
good thinking! I guess there's a use for it if you're clever
Are you satisfied with its snow/ice driving performance, namely on paved roads/blacktop? I just purchased a 2017 Premium and happened to come across a very long & discouraging thread at subaruxvforum.com, contributed to by many people with identical issues, describing extremely squirrely (ie: fishtailing) characteristics of the Crosstrek on snow, slush and ice.
The general consensus was that premium snow tires are a must as well as an alignment check by a reputable mechanic. However, you seem to be driving quite comfortably/confidently. And, according to one of your prior videos, you're still on the OEM Yokohama all-season tires!
Thanks for any input
I'm very surprised that people have had trouble on snow, slush, and ice on paved roads. I've driven through some serious weather in the car, often at high speeds, and find it handles very well. It's better than any other vehicle I've driven in the snow, including several 4x4 trucks and Jeeps. And that is my report with the stock tires. Now, when I get new tires around 50k miles I"m going to get more aggressive snowtires, but I'm completely happy with the stock tires.
I can't believe how many people praise the Yokos and in some markets where they're not standard fit people are changing to them....I thought they were absolutly awful, I've never had an suv aquaplane on and after the 3rd time in less than 2000miles the Yokos got binned!
The XV will never handle on road like most SUVs because of it's permanent AWD system, this just takes a little adapting to, like switching from front to rear wheel drive, slightly different style required.
I'm just speculating here, but maybe some of the different impressions of the same tires comes down to driving skill and experience. Some people slip/slide and panic. Others are comfortable with some movement and recover.
Well we were talking about on road rather than off-road, tyres are supposed to stick rather than move.... If the tyre can't be relied upon then there's no point in doing any other suspension work or changes to the brakes etc...
I don't do serious off-roading anymore, I just wanted the XV for snow and open fields.
Having raced cars and been a race engineer to a number of teams I now have the on road handling that I always thought the XV was capable of, but as I said there would have been no acceptable way forward on the grip levels of the yokos, they're just too hard.
That all makes perfect sense. You clearly know what you're talking about!
were you going uphill or something or is that normal to hit 3500rpm at 80mph? I dont know. I mostly drive v6 and v8s
the high RPMs are entirely due to the gear ratios on the manul ... very high revs at high speeds cannot be avoided
The weird tiny slot thing on the door cargo area lets you put full sized papers there
That makes good sense. My slot tends to capture things like pens and chapstick, never letting them free :)
@@metaspencer I haven't had the chance to use mine much yet, I just picked up a 2019 last tuesday and I put my dealer paperwork in the door and thought the slot was pretty handy, so I sorta chuckled a bit when I saw that section in your video. Good video by the way, you have a new subscriber!
@@majormunky new subscriber! thanks man :)
the horn is never a problem for me as i never use it. HAHAa
+Juan Ng ... nice! You're nice then
metaspencer i rather not give warning when i run them over. haha kidding!!!!
I've been driving Subarus for about 12 years now, first I had an Outback with a manual transmission, and then a Tribeca with an auto. The high-RPM at highway speeds on a manual has been around for a long long time. It's only a problem with the manual transmissions, not the autos. I think these days there really is no reason to be going with a manual transmission anymore. It used to be that you got better gas mileage with a manual, but as you can see, even in 5th, it's doing over 3000 RPM at regular highway speeds. It's probably because it's got a lower final drive ratio with the manuals than with the autos. This gives it better acceleration, at the cost of fuel economy, so that makes the manual's greater fuel economy moot vs. the autos.
I guess I'm slow to adopt your point of view, but I can see it now: this will surely be the last manual transmission car I will buy.
Well, I used to be one of those, "Real men drive manual transmissions"
types, but one has to really examine the validity of any of that
nowadays. Dual-clutch and even CVT's are getting better acceleration
than manuals, as well as better fuel economy. Why all of this nostalgia
for stirring your own gears? For greater control? What kind of control
can you possibly need of your transmission that much? And if you're
going to be nostalgic for outdated technology, why isn't there a
yearning for manual chokes, or hand-cranked starters anymore? :)
You know what the one time is when I really prefer a manual? When I'm stuck and rocking the car (1st/rev/1st/rev) -- but since that never happens to me in the Crosstrek, it's really not even a good reason. I think you nailed it when you described having a stick as nostalgic: it's a way of thinking of driving as more hands on. You're absolutely right: auto trans has taken over and gotten so much better
Yeah, that was somewhat useful when I used to drive 2WD manual transmission cars, but in an AWD car, you rarely get into those situations.
bbbl67 I drive a stick and recently had to drive a rental automatic. I was bored to death driving that thing! I don't drive a manual so much for gas mileage but simply because I just love the hell out of the control and the fact that I feel more engaged with my car. Also automatic engines are noisy as hell. You can't beat the quiet of a manual
The flasher button on my Miata is in a similar spot.
I agree, that pluss/minus fuel economy gauge is dumb. Temp gauge for sure.
Cool video! What mpg did you get on that road trip?
+Marc LeBlanc ... I’m averaging about 32mpg with no trailer on the highway
Yea I find these things odd but I love the car so much that none of that stuff bothers me. I just wish I had a coolant temp gauge. Other than that I plan on driving for a long long time.
+J A ... that lack of a temp gauge drives me nuts, but I also love the car
Wow the noise is really high, did not expect that for this kind of car
+Bandit .... it's louder in the video I think, but certainly not as quiet as VW and Lexus I've owned
they are surprisingly loud cars, even with the limited package
I like the crosstrek, it seems like a practical car. I like that its a wagon, has a manual transmission, all wheel drive and heightened ground clearance.
However having the rpm at 3200 while cruising at 70mph is enough to make me not want one.
+Cliff Barry ... totally agree ... lots of fun to drive but a bit small and not great at high speed
Cliff Barry In the UK it has 6 speed manual, so would rev far lower at 70. Why does the US not have the same gearbox?
Your side view mirrors are adjusted incorrectly, you should not be able to see any part of your car in your driving position.
+Walter Black ... noted. Thanks
Walter Black You should be able to just see a slight bit of your cars side, as a reference marker.
that's the way I've always situated them ... but many like a wider view
www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots
just look up "adjusting mirrors for no blind spots"; you should NOT be able to see ANY part of your car at all.
dont start car but turn ignition to run, click the seat belt in and out 20 times then turn car off then back on, seat belt warning will be off until you repeat process.
Awesome! totally worked
My 2016 console slides forward to a more comfortable position.
Oh that's awesome. Upgrade!