It might be love that makes a Subaru a Subaru, but I suspect that a good deal of research and engineering went into the design, development and manufacturing of the new Crosstrek.
Featuring some key upgrades for the 2018 model year, this capable car could be an ideal vehicle for buyers who want a compact SUV that drives like a sedan but also offers SUV sturdiness and cargo capacity.
Subaru was smart enough, or got lucky enough, to catch the early wave of interest in crossover vehicles that turned into the tidal flood of our current SUV obsession. The Outback of the early 2000s foreshadowed the light-duty adventure vehicles that now dominate the American road.
All three are powered by the same four-cylinder 鈥渂oxer鈥� engine, which makes a reported 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. This engine, new for 2018, is lighter than earlier power plants and is fuel-injected, which produces a few more horsepower and offers improved fuel economy.
Energy is delivered to the road through a continuously variable transmission (a six-speed manual is available on the base Touring and Sport models) and Subaru鈥檚 excellent all-wheel-drive system.
That鈥檚 not a lot of horses under the hood, but the CVT manages the power well, and the continuous all-wheel-drive system, paired with Subaru鈥檚 active torque vectoring and traction control, gives the car an extremely planted feel.
Around the city, the Crosstrek benefited from tremendous visibility, sporty corner-to-corner acceleration and nimble handling. Parking was eased, too, by the very good backup camera. The steering and suspension felt tight and well-tuned, though the braking seemed a little mushy at times.
It also felt safe. Though it seemed relatively light in the body, and not as sturdy as the higher-end Outbacks 鈥� full disclosure, I liked the one I drove for 10 years 鈥� the 2018 model was named a Top Safety Pick by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and scored in the top category in all the IIHS鈥檚 crash tests.
I enjoyed the drive experience more when I did my own gear selection, via the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, standard on the Limited and an available option on the Sport. This put the horsepower and torque to maximum use and increased the car鈥檚 spunky feel.
On the freeway, in manual or automatic mode, the Crosstrek felt comfortable and capable, even at higher speeds.
It鈥檚 not quite as quiet as one might like, despite an improved 鈥渁coustic鈥� windshield, and suffers from the same wind and tire noise that plagues a lot of four-wheel-drive SUVs. A daylong drive might get tedious, but a run to Malibu and back, enjoying the Harman Kardon optional audio system, was perfectly pleasant.
Subaru鈥檚 version of adaptive cruise control 鈥� part of Subaru鈥檚 EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which includes pre-collision braking, lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warnings 鈥� impressed me as well above average.
The EyeSight system is an optional upgrade on the Sport and Limited Crosstreks. When set to moderate freeway speed, it helped the model I drove slow gradually when the traffic slowed, and speed up gently as the traffic returned to normal, without any of the 鈥淗ey, look out!鈥� jerkiness that seems baked into some manufacturers鈥� ACC systems.
Subaru鈥檚 onboard infotainment system comes in two versions and includes a 6.5-inch screen on some models and an eight-inch screen on the Limited. In that formulation, it comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, along with voice-activated controls, a CD player, dual USB ports and an easy-to-initiate Bluetooth system.
The model I drove also had standard front seat heaters, a reminder of how well Subaru has done with its four-wheel-drive, four-season cars that function so admirably in rough-weather regions. (According to a Kelley Blue Book report from last year, the Outback was the No. 1 selling vehicle in Washington, Oregon and Colorado in 2016.)
Of the three trim lines, only the top Limited model comes standard with Subaru鈥檚 X-mode and hill-descent control.
I didn鈥檛 spend enough time off-road to take advantage of these features, but when paired with the Crosstrek鈥檚 advertised 22.1 centimetres of ground clearance, increased cargo space and standard roof rails, they should enable some of the kind of backcountry adventuring that Subaru highlights in its advertising campaigns.
How many will test the Crosstrek鈥檚 off-road mettle? Folks in icy, snowy climes will find the all-wheel drive useful, and will use that roof rack for skis and snowboards. Southern California drivers may want to spin some sand in Joshua Tree or hit the slopes once the snow starts falling again..
