Subaru refused to take the traditional route here, and this unique philosophy has worked for them.
Subarus are quite popular and have been setting sales records year after year, and they have won numerous awards for their safety features. The Japanese automobile giant is known for its rally ready style sports cars too.
The plan
Instead of hurrying to build a small crossover, Subaru built a small AWD (All Wheel Drive) wagon which they named the Crosstrek. This replicated the ride height from crossovers but was still a car that offered better gas mileage and the opportunity to go off road if required. It may not be the perfect off-road vehicle, but it is pretty good in the field. It has excellent ground clearance as well.
So if you are trying to get out of a flooded area, an area with some debris on the ground from a storm or perhaps even a wreck, you stand a better chance of doing so with a crossover such as Crosstrek compared to a car that sits lower to the ground.
A durable ride
The AWD exudes confidence even on wet roads and in terms of handling, it is more than firm when compared with other crossovers in the same segment. There may be a little more engine noise as compared to other crossovers, but the ride is still suitable and solid. It comes with a 2 L engine which has moderate power.
It does have the typical and now famous boxer engine. But you have to be gentle with the acceleration, or you will jolt everyone in the car. It does well in terms of mileage with the CVT transmission. The sticker quotes a mileage of 29 mpg which pretty decent for the category.
Exterior
On the outside, the Subaru looks like a real crossover with a tall stance. It has some large 17-inch wheels which set it apart from the rest and give it an off-road appearance. There is a cargo rack on the rear end and on top of the roof. The hatch tapers off like a traditional crossover. This styling gives it a larger appearance. Still, its smaller size means it can easily fit in small spaces and is easy to drive on narrow streets.
Interior
Just because it is not big from the outside does not mean there is not enough space on the inside. Adults can easily fit in the front and the back seats. There is enough head and leg room. There is a lot of space for cargo. The top trim comes with heated seats in the front and a shifter and steering wheel that is wrapped in leather.
The seats are comfortable for long drives and the materials used inside the cabin are an improvement from previous versions. The car also comes with the EyeSight driver assist system and adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, and so on.
The Crosstrek is one small wagon that is capable of doing much more than the ever so humble station wagon from the yesteryears. With the high ground clearance and AWD, it is one of the best alternatives for the crossover movement that has gripped the nation, with improved safety features, better mileage, and a number of other options are available at an alluring price. There are no reasons why you shouldn't consider it.
Categories:
Fleet
