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2025 Car Mileage with the Best Gas MileageNew vs Used: Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek has standard AWD, impressive safety tech and loads of modern amenities, but is it better to buy new or used?
Standing Out from the Crowd
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The Subaru Crosstrek is a unique option within the growing subcompact crossover segment. Thought it’s the smallest of Subaru’s crossover offerings, the Crosstrek hasn’t been given short shrift. Its standard all-wheel drive means fire roads and snowy commutes fail to intimidate. The thoughtfully constructed and high-quality interior puts it in league with segment leaders, even if it lacks a bit of their pizzaz. And of course, the Crosstrek continues Subaru’s excellent safety record with top notch safety ratings and loads of active driver assistance features.
As with most automotive buying decisions, the first question to be asked once you’ve narrowed down your options is whether to buy new or used. Below we outline the difference between the 2018 and 2022 model year Crosstreks to determine which is the better option.
Specs
The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek offers just one engine, a 2.0L flat-four making 152 horsepower and 145 lb.-ft. of torque. You do get the option of either a six-speed manual or a CVT. As with (most) of the rest of Subaru’s lineup, the Crosstrek comes with standard torque vectoring all-wheel drive. Fuel economy comes in at 27 city and 28 highway mpg with the manual equipped and 29/33 with the CVT.
For 2022 Subaru has seen fit to fix the Crosstrek’s one glaring weakness, a lack of power. In addition to the same standard 2.0L base, they’ve added a new 2.5L flat-four making 182 horsepower and 176 lb.-ft. of torque paired exclusively to a CVT. Fuel economy remains impressive at 27 city and 34 highway mpg. There’s also a plug-in hybrid powertrain that pairs the 2.0L with two electric motors for 148 horsepower, 90 MPGe or 35 mpg on gas alone. The plug-in hybrid offers up to 17 miles of electric only driving and 480 miles of total range.
Driving & Performance
While the 2018 Crosstrek slots into the subcompact crossover category, it offers a few items that most others in the segment do not. First is standard all-wheel drive, which is either absent or s significant upcharge on most segment competitors. The same goes for the 8.7 inches of ground clearance. To top it off, Subaru still offers a six-speed manual option if you’re so inclined. The Crosstrek is arguably the most capable off-road subcompact on the market, combining its torque vectoring all-wheel drive with impressive approach and departure angles, 18° and 29° respectively.
The 2018 Crosstrek is also adept on tarmac. Steering is impressive. It’s almost perfectly weighted and offers razor sharp precision that’s hard to come by in any crossover. The suspension is also well-tuned, capable of handling bumps and potholes with ease. Its one great weakness is that 2.0L boxer-four that feels rather anemic even in such a small vehicle. Passing in the 2018 Crosstrek is a test of one’s patience and planning.
As we noted above, the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek solves for the 2018’s deficiency by adding a new 2.5L engine that significantly ups the power. The 2022 Crosstrek shines where the 2018 had lagged behind. The extra pep elevates the Crosstrek from good-but-not-great to near the top of the segment. The addition of a plug-in hybrid is even more cause for celebration, with great fuel economy and up to 17 miles of EV only driving. That might not cover your whole commute, but it will save you significantly in both gas and emissions.
Comfort & Interior
The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek has a pleasant and well-built cabin. Material quality is good, with plentiful soft touchpoints. While not as boldly styled as some of its competition, the Crosstrek has a function forward design that’s in keeping with its practical, off-road pretentions. Space is ample in both the front and back seats (the latter can be hard to find in a subcompact crossover). Seats offer good bolstering but are a little firmer than average, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. The infotainment system is logically configured and supplemented by physical dials and buttons for HVAC and stereo controls. While response time is good, some examples have been known to experience lag in cold temperatures (something largely solved in the new 2022). The cabin is well insulated from road and wind noise, though the boxer’s signature note can be noticeable under hard throttle.
The 2022 Crosstrek doesn’t make any major changes to the interior. That is, aside from the new Sport trim which adds orange contrast stitching and other “sporty” visual touches. The plug-in hybrid does take a sizable hit to cargo, dropping from a standard 20.8 cu. ft. in back and 55.3 cu. ft. with the seats down to just 15.9 cu. ft. in back and 43.1 cu. ft. in total.
Trims & Features
The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek comes in three trim levels: the base, Premium, and Limited. The base comes standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a USB port, auxiliary jack, and a rearview camera. The Premium trim adds fog lights, heated front seats, a six-speaker stereo, wiper de-icer and heated side mirrors. The Limited trim gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen satellite radio, active safety features, navigation, and a premium Harman Kardon stereo. Additional options include a moonroof, proximity keyless entry, and cruise control. The optional active safety suite includes blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking.
The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek gets four trims with the addition of the new Sport trim. The base 2022 Crosstrek also gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as well as Bluetooth, automatic climate control, and a rearview camera. A major difference between the 2018 and 2022, the new Crosstrek, when equipped with the CVT transmission, also gets Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite that includes forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and a new rear seat reminder.
The Premium trim tacks on a six-speaker stereo, fog lights, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and HD and satellite radio. Options include a moonroof, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, proximity keyless entry, and a power driver’s seat. The Sport trim adds the 2.5L engine and accompany trim flourishes along with options for an 8.0-inch touchscreen as well as the options on the Premium trim. The top Limited gets leather upholstery, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, power driver’s seat, LED adaptive headlights, 18-inch wheels, push-button start, two additional USB ports, blind spot monitoring, rear collision warning, and options for a moonroof, navigation, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon stereo.
Closing the Gap
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Given the current state of the used car market, the typical gap between new and used cars has shrunk considerably. The silver lining is that makes our recommendation here a bit easier. Today, you’ll typically find a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek listed for between $25,000 and $30,000, with some nudging both above and below those two poles. A new 2022 Crosstrek equipped with smaller 2.0L engine runs between $28,000 and $30,000. That’s on the high end for your typical subcompact crossover. But then, the Crosstrek is far from typical for the segment. The 2.5L equipped 2022 Crosstrek will cost you between $30,000 and $35,000. If you’re fine foregoing the 2.5L, the choice of a 2022 comes with a number of benefits not least of which is the EyeSight safety package as standard with the CVT transmission. If you’re patient and diligent in your shopping, your can probably find a 2022 Crosstrek Sport for about the same price as a five-year-old Limited trim. With nearly the same options and the more powerful 2.5L, the choice is pretty simple.
