2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review

Subaru’s Crosstrek, a subcompact crossover SUV, was the automaker’s second-best-selling vehicle in 2023 and has been in production since 2012. Drivers gravitate toward subcompact SUVs for their versatility, affordable pricing, higher seating position than a sedan, and performance perks like all-wheel drive (AWD). However, downsides associated with this vehicle class include less interior and storage space, lower towing capacities, and fewer off-road capabilities than some larger SUVs.

MotoPickers Rating: 8.3/10

Our review will highlight which boxes the 2024 Crosstrek checks regarding these upsides and drawbacks to give you a better idea of its position within the increasingly crowded subcompact SUV segment. The 2024 Crosstrek starts at $25,195 and is redesigned to begin its third generation. Additions to the Crosstrek include a new Wilderness trim level with more features geared toward off-roading and updated infotainment/safety tech.

Essential perks of this Subaru are:

• Quality fuel economy
• Standard all-wheel drive (AWD)
• Good passenger space

Its primary downsides are the need for a more powerful base engine, excess road noise at highway speeds, limited storage space, and thin tech offerings. Comparable rivals of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek include Honda’s HR-V, Toyota’s Corolla Cross, Mazda’s CX-30, Kia’s Seltos, Hyundai’s Kona, Jeep’s Compass, and Nissan’s Rogue Sport. Learn more about how the 2024 Crosstrek stacks up against these competitors with the rest of our review below.

Exterior spotlight

The 2024 Crosstrek’s new Wilderness trim features elevated ground clearance measuring 9.3”, a front skid plate, and bumpers optimizing approach and departure angles for more off-road capability.

Separate exterior features on the Crosstrek Wilderness include:

• 17” matte black-finish alloy off-road wheels
• All-terrain tires
• Protective cladding
• Copper-finish accents
• Distinct hexagonal-style LED fog lights
• Trim-exclusive Geyser Blue paint
• Roof rails with 700-lb. Capacity
• Matte-black hood decal reducing glare

Other 2024 Crosstrek grades, like the Sport trim, contain yellow-finish exterior accents and dark gray-finish 18” alloy wheels. The base Crosstrek variant receives protective cladding, an 8.7” ground clearance, and a larger honeycomb-design grille. LED headlights are also standard along with the new kinetic-appearance wheels, but you’ll have to select a Premium, Sport, or Limited trim to receive non-hexagonal LED fog lights.

You’ll find a roof spoiler on every 2024 Crosstrek, and side mirror colors vary between dark gray, gloss black, and low-luster black. A power moonroof is available on all trims except the base version. While the 2024 Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV and not a subcompact SUV such as the Crosstrek, it shares rugged exterior design principles with its Adventure grade, except the wheels are 19” instead of its Subaru counterpart’s 18” set.

Drivers won’t receive as high of ground clearance with the 2024 Honda HR-V’s 7.3” and get fewer rugged features. Still, you can expect a smoother ride and slightly higher fuel economy. Toyota’s Corolla Cross has somewhat better ground clearance than the HR-V at 8.1”, but lacks off-road-ready exterior features like skid plates. If you’re seeking a 2024 Crosstrek alternative with competitive off-road capabilities, Jeep’s Compass can meet your needs with its Trailhawk trim designed for off-road use.

Interior close-up

A 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness trim contains distinct interior features like an LED cargo lamp for easier loading and unloading, StarTex water-repellent synthetic leather upholstery with contrast stitching, and Anodized Copper-finish accents. The Crosstrek Sport trim offers yellow-contrast stitching against two-tone sport cloth upholstery. Separate upholstery options include standard cloth and premium cloth. All Crosstrek models contain seating for five passengers.

Cargo volume and seats

The rear cargo volume isn’t the largest at 19.9-20 cubic feet (cu. ft.). Folding down the rear seats increases this cargo capacity to 54.7 cubic feet (cu. ft.) via 60/40-split flat-folding rear seatbacks. A power driver’s seat is available, and heated front seats are unfortunately not offered within the base trim and are optional in the Premium, which exists one tier above the entry-level Crosstrek.

Interior colors include:

• Gray Cloth
• Premium Gray Cloth
• Premium Black Cloth,
• Sport Cloth (black, tan, gray)
• Wilderness StarTex
• Gray Leather with orange stitch
• Black Leather with orange stitch

Subaru offers a standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather-wrapped shifter handle in Sport, Limited, and Wilderness grades. The following is a list of competitors with a larger rear cargo space than the Crosstrek:

• Honda HR-V
• Toyota Corolla Cross
• Kia Seltos
• Hyundai Kona
• Jeep Compass
• Nissan Rogue Sport
• Mazda CX-30 (barely at 20.2 cu. ft.)

StarTex upholstery and anodized copper accents in the Wilderness Crosstrek help form a rugged interior aesthetic, but if you’re a fan of this look, you won’t find similar offerings within Toyota’s Corolla Cross, Mazda’s CX-30, Kia’s Seltos, Hyundai’s Kona, and Nissan’s Rogue Sport.

While the Crosstrek’s interior design appears cohesive, the central infotainment display, which we’ll cover more in our review’s tech section, contains a somewhat awkward look with its flanking vertical air vents. Dashboard trim elements appear refined, but the cabin could use more physical controls instead of haptic touch feedback buttons.

Power and performance

The 2024 Crosstrek offers two engine options: an available 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer engine with 182 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft. of torque, and a standard motor producing 152 horsepower and 145 lb.-ft. of torque.

Selecting an optional Subaru Boxer engine gives you a lower final-drive ratio and stronger rear differential, which optimizes low-speed climbing to help you handle up to a 38-degree grade. This Boxer engine also has a horizontal layout for more efficient power transfers. Mileage ranges from 25-27 MPG in the city and 29-34 MPG on the highway. Standard symmetrical AWD within the 2024 Crosstrek monitors factors like acceleration, braking, and cornering to make real-time adjustments for continuous power delivery to all four wheels.

This Subaru’s towing capacity is moderate-to-good at 1,500 lbs. to 3,500 lbs. Available X-mode with Hill Descent Control provides additional traction on slippery terrain and optional dual-function X-mode features dedicated snow, mud, and dirt settings. If you’re going to buy a 2024 Crosstrek, we highly recommend opting for the available 2.5-liter Boxer engine, as the base motor lacks power and may leave some second-guessing common maneuvers like highway overtakes.

If you don’t feel like the 2024 Crosstrek produces enough horsepower, the competing 2024 Honda HR-V comes with one engine producing 158 horsepower. Gas mileage is also slightly worse in the 2024 HR-V, and AWD is optional instead of standard.

Toyota’s Corolla Cross offers slightly more competitive horsepower at up to 169, but its optional AWD isn’t as capable in off-road settings as its Crosstrek counterpart. Those seeking higher power might find that the 2024 Mazda CX-30 is a quality match with 191-227 horsepower, complemented by standard AWD. Jeep’s Compass is another quality option for drivers prioritizing quality standard horsepower at 200.

Tech overview

Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging are three newly available features within the 2024 Crosstrek, standard in trims like the Wilderness. These wireless features are complemented by Bluetooth and USB-A/USB-C charging ports. The optional display measures 11.6”, while the base grade’s version spans 7”. Subaru’s 11.6” display within this SUV offers cloud-based navigation, voice command compatibility, and updates on factors like weather.

Audio and other base trim observations

Drivers wanting to optimize the Crosstrek’s audio system can select the Harman Kardon upgrade with 10 speakers, an eight-channel amplifier, and Clari-Fi tech for more transparent sound. The standard audio systems are far less capable, with four and six speakers. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, but keyless access with push-button start isn’t present within the base grade. Other features that you won’t find within the base trim include paddle shifters and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

Like most automakers, Subaru has a dedicated app for connected services, MySubaru, which allows you to complete wireless vehicle commands such as remote engine start. Overall, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek’s tech is one of its less competitive elements, as the newly available wireless features have been in several rivals’ models for some time now. While the Crosstrek’s available audio system is decent at 10 speakers, you’ll find 12 speakers in the Mazda CX-30.

Honda’s HR-V matches the 2024 Crosstrek’s standard display size of 7” but trails with its optional central infotainment screen measuring 9”. Toyota’s Corolla Cross has an 8” display for every trim, and Mazda’s CX-30’s standard infotainment screen is larger at 8.8”. The CX-30’s available display within the Turbo trim is slightly smaller than the Crosstrek at 10.25”. Kia’s Seltos offers a standard 8” and available 10.25” display. Jeep’s Compass has the most impressive standard central infotainment display size measuring 10.1”.

Safety capabilities

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek received the NHTSA’s (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) highest-possible passenger crash protection score of five stars and the IIHS’ (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) second-best rating in this area of Top Safety Pick behind Top Safety Pick+.

Standard safety features

Subaru groups many of its standard driver-assist safety features under its EyeSight Driver Assist suite. This suite includes:

• Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering
• Pre-collision Braking
• Lane Departure and Sway Warning
• Lane Keep Assist
• Automatic Emergency Steering

Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering is a significant safety feature because it automatically brakes and accelerates to help you maintain a safe pre-set distance from a car you’re following and keeps you in your lane with assistive steering inputs.

The Lane Departure and Sway Warning feature will provide audible and visual alerts to help prevent this drifting. The primary difference between Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering and Lane Keep Assist is that the former is a proactive system continually working to keep you within your lane, while the latter is a reactive feature that activates upon a lane departure.

Automatic Emergency Steering and Pre-collision Braking mirror these features’ functionality but help drivers avoid obstacles instead of lane drifting. High Beam Assist is another standard feature offering automatic assistance so you don’t have to manually toggle your brights during night drives for oncoming cars. Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and a Rear-Vision Camera increase the visibility of the Crosstrek for other drivers and elevate your environmental awareness behind the wheel.

Available safety features

The 2024 Crosstrek’s optional active driver-assist safety features include Blind-Spot Detection/Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Reverse Automatic Braking. While this Subaru has plenty of capable standard safety systems, we’d like to see blind-spot detection as standard within future iterations.

Trim guide and owner considerations

Below is a list of starting prices and highlight-worthy features distinguishing each of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek’s five trims.

Base – $25,195

In addition to a starting price well under $25,195, the 2024 Crosstrek’s entry-level grade offers AWD, a fuel economy of 27/34 city/highway, and 17” dark gray-finish alloy wheels.

Premium – $26,345

Entering Premium trim territory gives you raised roof rails, LED fog lights, and the larger 11.6” central infotainment display.

Sport – $29,195

Sport drivers get the available engine with a higher horsepower rating of 182, 18” dark gray-finish alloy wheels, and yellow-finish exterior accents.

Limited – $31,095

Leather-trimmed upholstery, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and Blind-Spot Detection/Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Reverse Automatic Braking help justify the Limited trims starting cost that’s above $30,000.

Wilderness – $32,195

The peak Wilderness grade is the most off-road-ready with all-terrain tires, raised suspension, and unique front and rear bumpers with integrated tow points and extended lower cladding.

Warranty info

Purchasers of the 2024 Crosstrek receive three years or 36,000 miles of basic coverage, whichever comes first, and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain protection.

Final verdict

The subcompact SUV segment can present value at the expense of capability. However, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek balances value and capability via several trim options with starting prices below $30,000, a new grade designed specifically with off-roading in mind, and thorough safety offerings. Mazda’s CX-30 is a strong competitor, but it doesn’t have the Crosstrek’s off-road prowess.

The Crosstrek’s tech offerings are somewhat slim, but Subaru checks the essential boxes with wireless features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging. This Subaru’s design is also tasteful with its use of contrasting color schemes on the exterior and interior alike. The 2024 Crosstrek is one of its segment’s best choices, which is why we’re giving it an 8.3/10.