The outgoing vehicle’s rugged looks and genuine all-terrain ability have been retained, with Subaru’s all-wheel drive system providing a sure-footed feel in all weathers.
The Crosstrek is available in two trim levels, Limited and Touring – and we had the chance to test the latter during a family camping holiday to north Norfolk.
With the vehicle being designed around the concept of utility and sportiness, lending itself to an active lifestyle, it proved to be a suitable companion for our trip to East Anglia.
The eye-catching Crosstrek catches the sun at a campsite near Weybourne, Norfolk
Standard across the model line is a revised Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, offering a faster response time, more agile handling, and better control both on and off road.
Meanwhile, the chassis is now 10 per cent stiffer for improved dynamic performance. This was noticeable on the long jaunt east, as the vehicle handled nicely, with body roll and lean well contained when cornering briskly.
Despite improvements, the on-road ride quality still felt a little unsettled and busy on undulating roads, but nothing too much to worry about.
The Crosstrek is powered by a horizontally-opposed, 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre petrol mild hybrid powerplant. The engine’s 136ps output feels about right for a vehicle in this segment and is sufficient for everyday driving conditions.
The 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds won’t set the pulse racing, but most buyers won’t be attracted to the Crosstrek for out-and-out on-road driving pleasure, more for its all-round abilities. That said, the well-weighted steering makes it more fun to drive than many SUVs once you’re up to speed.
The CVT automatic gearbox does a nice job of keeping progress smooth, but can lead to the engine sounding quite loud under heavy acceleration.
Cruise control helped to keep the Crosstrek’s thirst for petrol to a minimum, but overall fuel economy wasn’t great generally speaking.
On various occasions during the week, we needed to travel along rutted tracks, which is when we were thankful for the vehicle’s 220mm ground clearance, which is better than many SUVs.
You might expect that to come at the expense of ease-of-use when clambering into the Crosstrek, but far from it, as the vehicle maintains a comfortably low step-in height for both front and rear passenger entry.
After some careful arrangement of bags and the tent, we managed to get all our camping gear into the boot of the Crosstrek, but it was a tight squeeze. At 315 litres, its capacity is not as big as some rivals, but at least the space is flat and sensibly-shaped.
The nicely-laid out interior comes with plenty of creature comforts, including leather-trimmed upholstery, a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, and heated front seats.
The 11.6-inch multifunction colour touchscreen was clear and intuitive to use, although it doesn’t quite match the very best in class.
On the long journeys, we came to appreciate the excellent six-speaker sound system, which provided crisp and full-bodied audio.
Our test car came with impressive levels of kit, including DAB Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satnav, a voice recognition system, steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls, and Bluetooth. There’s also a huge raft of safety equipment, including EyeSight 4.0, which is Subaru’s latest iteration of its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
In terms of looks, the Crosstrek has a purposeful and rugged appearance, with the new frameless, hexagonal grille and slimmer headlights giving the front end a very contemporary appearance. The body is more sculptured, with broad shoulders and extra body cladding.
Although designed for a different purpose, the Crosstrek’s looks still have a faint hint of the Impreza that wowed rally fans for years. For anyone who was lucky enough to see legends like Colin McRae or Richard Burns blasting along a forest stage in Wales, that resemblance is enough to bring a smile to the face!
The Lowdown
Subaru Crosstrek Touring
PRICE: £36,290 on the road
ENGINE: 2.0-litre petrol mild hybrid
BATTERY: Lithium Ion
TRANSMISSION: CVT auto, with permanent AWD
NET POWER: 136ps at 5,600rpm
TORQUE: 184Nm
ECONOMY: 36.8mpg and emissions of 174 g/km
