Throughout the recession, Subaru was one of the lone automakers that continued to post sales gains. Subaru’s have a quirkiness about them that results in a loyal following. For one, they are one of the few manufacturers to still offer wagons. Subaru is now applying the Outback’s formula to the Impreza. The result is the XV CrossTrek, which first debuted internationally. Now, the car is coming to the United States.
The XV CrossTrek marks a significant reworking of the Impreza. Underneath the skin, Subaru’s Symmetrical All-wheel drive system is standard, tuned for a 50/50 split front to back. Opting for the car’s Continuously Variable Transmission adds Active Torque Split, which will automatically transfer power where it is needed. Ground clearance is up to an impressive 8.7 inches. Subaru says that is higher than most crossovers and even “dedicated SUVs.”
The boosted height really helps the car look the part. An interesting question is how much development work they really put in making the XV CrossTrek suitable for off-road duty. Is there any shielding down there to protect some of the components?Black plastic cladding, more aggressive fender flares and new front and rear fascias form the bulk of the exterior changes. The XV CrossTrek also adds roof rails, 17-inch wheels and standard privacy glass. Under the hood the XV Crosstrek is less impressive.
A 2.0-liter Boxer making four-cylinder 148 horsepower is your only choice, mated to either a six-speed manual or CVT. We know that every Subaru can’t be a WRX or STI (what a shame….) but 148 hp is pretty weak. Hopefully a more powerful unit will be available later down the line.
Subaru’s estimates have the XV CrossTrek pegged at 25 mpg, 33 mpg highway, enough to make it the most efficient all- wheel crossover out there. This could be a potent combination for racking up sales in certain areas of the country. We’ll have to see how those numbers hold up after EPA testing though. We’ve been there before…
