Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek a good buy in the competitive subcompact crossover category? The competition is steep in this segment that includes the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Nissan Rogue Sport, and the Honda HR-V. I will discuss pricing, drivetrain, size, pros and cons, reliability, and resale value of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek.

Price
Basics
Size
Pros
Cons
Reliability
Depreciation
Recommendation


Price - Crosstrek starts at $22,245 for the base model, $23,295 for the Premium, $26,495 for the Sport, and $27,995 for the Limited model.
Premium model adds body colored mirrors, heated front seats, heated side mirrors and windshield, leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto headlights, satellite radio, and 6 speaker stereo. All that for $1000. Not bad.
The Sport is new for 2021 and it adds the larger engine with more power, X-Mode enhanced traction management, hill descent control, extra cladding, water-repellent seats, and push button start.
The Limited adds leather seats, 18” wheels, LED headlights and fog lights, power driver’s seat, color multifunction display, 8” infotainment screen, automatic reverse braking, and blind spot detection.


Drivetrain - The base engine is a 2 L 4 cylinder boxer engine with 152 hp & 145 lb-ft of torque for the Base and Premium. The Sport and the Limited Models get the upgraded 2.5L 4 cylinder boxer engine with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque.
The Crosstrek Base & Premium models are available with either a 6 speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission or CVT.

Maximum towing is 1500 lbs for all models.

Fuel economy for the 2L engine with the CVT is 33 miles per gallon on the highway while the larger 2.5L engine models get 34 mpg on the highway which is a nice surprise.

Ground clearance is 8.7 inches for all models.

Size

Cargo volume with the seats up is 20.8 cubic feet. With the rear seats down, there is 55.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Pros -
One big advantage of buying the Crosstrek over its competition is the standard all wheel drive that you get with the Crosstrek. For example, Honda will charge $1,500 additional for AWD on the HRV and Hyundai will charge $1,400 extra for the AWD option on its Kona. The all wheel drive system on the Subaru is great since it’s always on instead of the on demand systems on competitors which are front wheel drive until slip is detected. You are going to feel more confident in adverse weather with the Subaru system.
Interior volume - The Crosstrek is based on the Impreza which is a compact sedan and not a subcompact so it has more room than the competition. It has 121.6 cubic feet of interior volume which bests the Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona, and the Nissan Rogue Sport.
Ground clearance - The Crosstrek has the most standard ground clearance in its class with 8.7”. That is more than the HR-V’s 7.3” and the Kona’s 6.7”. This extra clearance is useful if you take your Crosstrek off of the pavement and into some light trails and dirt roads. The Suspension in the Subaru has more give to provide a cushier ride in rougher terrain as well.
All CVT models get standard Eyesight which is Subaru’s driver assistance system. These are the automatic emergency braking, pre-collision throttle management, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control with lane centering.

Cons
Because the Crosstrek is a large vehicle in this subcompact crossover segment, it is a longer vehicle. This means if you live in the city and want a shorter vehicle, the others will be easier to park. The Crosstrek is 12.5” longer than the Kona and 5.6 inches longer than the HR-V.

Like most vehicles in this class, the standard engine is only adequate. The upgraded 2.5l engine will improve that to around 8 seconds.

Reliability - Consumer Reports’ predicted reliability for the Crosstrek is much better than average. It is also the highest rated SUV under $25,000 according to their tests.

Resale Value- The Subaru Crosstrek has excellent resale value. According to Real Car Tips, the Hyundai Kona has an expected value of 44% of the original price after 3 years of ownership. The Crosstrek has an expected value of 58% of the original price after the same period of ownership. The Honda HR-V is even better with an expected value of 62% after 3 years.

Recommendation - The Subaru Crosstrek is an easy crossover to recommend as it's priced right, has a lot of room for its class, comes standard with all wheel drive, and all CVT models come with the Eyesight driver assistance package. The biggest advantage for the Crosstrek is the renowned all wheel system. If you live in a snowy climate or like to go light offroading, the Subaru AWD is hard to beat.

I think the Premium model is the one offering the best value for your money. If you want that extra power, the Sport model is worthy of the extra $2000 over the Premium model with the CVT. If you want the works, then the Limited will give you everything for $$.
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