Used 2020 Subaru Crosstrek

#2 in Best Subcompact SUVs of 2020

The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek qualifies as both a compact SUV and economical 5-door hatchback. However, with the exception of the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk, no other small-crossover SUV offers the Crosstrek’s combination of safety, off-road ability and standard all-wheel drive. Sharing its platform and interior with the excellent Subaru Impreza, the Crosstrek takes it up a notch, adding more body cladding, 8.7 inches of ground clearance and flashier wheels.

There’s also a plug-in hybrid model that increases fuel economy and acceleration, but gives up a significant portion of cargo space to accommodate the battery pack. While not the fastest or most powerful in its class, the truth is most small SUVs in this price range are not terribly powerful, the turbocharged Kia Sportage being the one exception.

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If we’re just talking about general day-to-day activity, the 2020 Crosstrek is a perfectly acceptable drive. Comfortable yet controlled, fairly quiet and easy-going. The biggest gripe, which also afflicted the previous generation, is that engine output (152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque) is barely adequate. Those situations when joining the freeway flow or planning an overtaking move involves a foot to the floor and a prayer for a following wind.

The standard transmission in the lower trims is a 6-speed manual, which doesn’t really help get the most out of the engine. The automatic alternative is a continuously variable transmission (CVT), known for being slow to respond but cheaper than a conventional planetary-gear setup.

At least the new Crosstrek has useful off-road chops (with 8.7 inches of ground clearance). In our test, the standard all-wheel drive and torque-vectoring system coped easily with miles of unpaved roads.

While the new Crosstrek Hybrid is heavier and less powerful than the non-hybrid, it’s actually a bit quicker, though both can boast only moderate — though adequate — power production. The Hybrid is also quieter, thanks to extra sound insulation. And when the road turns rotten, the Subaru Hybrid’s all-wheel drive and off-road instincts come to the fore, and standard X-Mode with Hill Descent Control masterfully tames slippery downhill crawls.

When it comes to interior room, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek impresses with its generous front- and rear-seat head- and legroom, as well as its easily expandable cargo hold (folding the rear seat expands space from 20.8 to 55.3 cubic feet). The Crosstrek’s side pillars are narrow and the glass expansive, creating excellent 360-degree outward vision.

Although it sits high, the Crosstrek’s driver’s seat is lower to the floor, as in a standard compact car. Seat comfort is good, but we really wish the driver’ s seat offered some type of adjustable lumbar. A simple and uncluttered dash contains easy-to-use knobs and switches for most functions. Interior materials are top-rate, especially the available black and gray seats with orange stitching.

Every beholder will have his or her own notion of beauty, but Subaru has never really been a company to place much emphasis on exterior design. On top of that, the current Crosstrek isn’t a departure from its predecessor. Hardly a concern, since this vehicle has other virtues and sells pretty well. Nice to know Subaru fans aren’t shallow.

They’ll appreciate the fact that the 2020 Crosstrek’s tailgate is four inches wider than the first generation’s, creating a larger aperture through which to load luggage and things like sports equipment. Roof rails are also standard. The Crosstrek Hybrid gets its own exterior color schemes and a gloss-black rear roof spoiler to set it apart.

X-MODE WITH HILL DESCENT CONTROL
Should you happen upon a steep or slippery hill, simply push the X-Mode button and, along with the car’s Hill Descent Control, the Crosstrek will ease its way slowly downward. You needn’t touch the brake or gas, but rather concentrate solely on steering until it’s safe to resume normal driving.

APPLE CARPLAY & ANDROID AUTO
With Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration, you can use your smartphone to hear and send message, listen to music or access navigation. Your smartphone’s screen is mirrored on the Crosstrek’s touch screen, allowing full access to apps. Best of all, both CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim.

The 2020 Crosstrek range starts with 17-inch alloy wheels, rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, automatic climate control, auto door locks, smartphone integration, all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, driver-knee airbag, and a 6.5-inch touch screen.

Nice, but for an extra $1,000, the Premium trim brings a leather-wrapped steering wheel, sound-insulated windshield, heated front seats and side mirrors, fog lights, and an upgraded infotainment setup that includes satellite radio and Subaru’s Starlink system (featuring emergency assistance, remote lock/unlock, stolen-vehicle recovery service and automatic collision notification). It’s also eligible for more options.

The Limited trim includes the CVT, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, 8-inch touch screen, auto high beams, steering-responsive headlights, reverse automatic braking, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert. All models equipped with the CVT automatic also get the EyeSight suite of driver assists (adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist) as standard equipment, along with Si Drive, rear-seat reminder and auto stop/start.

Standard pluses on the bountifully equipped Crosstrek Hybrid include leather upholstery in exclusive colors, power driver’s seat, heated front seats, keyless entry and push-button start, 18-inch wheels, and the EyeSight suite of safety features, plus blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking.

The 2.0i base version can be fitted with the CVT automatic and a number of dealer-installed options including a Rockford Fosgate speaker and amp upgrade. Premium trims may also include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a power moonroof, keyless access with push-button start and a power driver’s seat. The Limited trim can be equipped with a power moonroof, navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s only option is a $2,500 package that includes the moonroof, nav and Harman Kardon audio, plus a heated steering wheel.

Power for Subaru’s 2020 Crosstrek SUV comes from a rather demure 2.0-liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder rated at 152 horsepower. That’s not a lot of power, especially when one considers the added weight created by the all-wheel-drive system. The Crosstrek’s “boxer engine” places the cylinders on their sides, permitting the engine to sit lower in the bay and thus creating a lower center of gravity. This is an important element in the Crosstrek’s ability to ride so high and yet handle like a standard compact car.

We love that you can still get a manual and AWD, but the Crosstrek’s 6-speed doesn’t do much to improve acceleration and it saddles the car with a less sophisticated mechanical AWD system. We suggest going with the CVT. The fuel economy is better, and you’ll get much more in the way of electronic stability and traction aids, as well as the EyeSight system. Unlike some subcompact-crossover SUVs, the Crosstrek is rated to tow, albeit a humble 1,500 pounds.

Rated to tow 1,000 pounds, the Crosstrek Hybrid combines a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with an 8.8-kWh battery to run 148 horsepower to all four wheels via a CVT. The battery charges in five hours if you use your 120-volt household outlet, and just two hours if you install a 240-volt system. That full charge will get you 17 miles of pure electric travel up to 65 mph.

2.0-liter flat-4
152 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
145 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 mpg (manual), 27/33 mpg (automatic)

2.0-liter flat-4 + 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery
Engine only: 137 horsepower, 134 lb-ft of torque
Total combined system horsepower: 148 horsepower
EPA city/highway (combined) fuel economy: 35 mpg, 90 MPGe
Electric-only range with a full charge: 17 miles