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By Jonathan Crouch

Subaru has repackaged its previous XV model as this car, the Crosstrek. It's still powered by a self-charging full-Hybrid engine. And it's still more capable off road than you might expect a car in the family-sized Qashqai segment to be. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 62

The Crosstrek represents Subaru's concession to electrification to suit the needs of the current market. Like its predecessor the XV, this self-charging full-Hybrid mid-size crossover takes on segment models like Toyota's C-HR, Kia's Niro and Hyundai's Kona Hybrid, cars that also have this technology. For a little more money, this Subaru offers more space, much more capability but a little less efficiency.

Backgroundword count: 220

Want a more seriously capable kind of compact lower-mid-sized family SUV? Here Subaru provides it in the form of this car, the Crosstrek. If you think you've seen this model somewhere before, you have: this Crosstrek model is a lightly facelifted version of the third generation XV model that was launched here back in 2022. The predecessor MK2 XV design was re-badged 'Crosstrek' in the US and Canada back in 2015 and in early 2024, Subaru decided to rename the European versions of this MK3 XV design 'Crosstrek' too. At the same time, there was a light visual makeover, but the Fuji Heavy Industries brand's rather unique engineering for this car - a gruff e-BOXER engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive - was carried over unchanged. The Crosstrek's e-BOXER unit can't be plugged in, but it is a proper self-charging Hybrid. In contrast to the mild hybrid engines being currently marketed by Ford and Volkswagen Group brands which feature powerplants that can't at any time run independently on battery power. So Subaru has done the job properly - and married that electrified tech to a car that can do a good deal more off-tarmac than your usual family SUV would be able to manage. But of course that all means extra weight - and efficiency cost. Are the pay-offs here worthwhile?

Driving Experienceword count: 265

No engineering changes featured in this model's transmission from XV to 'Crosstrek' branding so, as before, the sole engine offered here is the brand's familiar normally aspirated 136PS 2.0-litre Boxer petrol unit, sending power to all four wheels via a CVT belt-driven auto transmission. Subaru's e-BOXER tech sees this powerplant assisted by a 16bhp electric motor built into that Lineartronic gearbox, the motor powered by small battery under the boot floor. That's enough for all electric driving at speeds of up to 25mph. The electric assistance doesn't have much impact on the fairly leisurely levels of performance - rest to 62mph takes 10.8s on the way to a top speed of 123mph. More significantly, peak pulling power (just 182Nm) isn't delivered until 4,000rpm, so the already rather gruff-sounding flat four engine needs to be stretched quite a lot outside its comfort zone if you want to make really significant progress. If you're to achieve that, then you'll have to engage the more urgent of the two provided 'SI-Drive' 'Subaru Intelligent Drive' modes - 'S' for 'Sport' (the other option is 'I' for 'Intelligent' drive). Still, all will be forgiven when you get this car off road. There's a very decent 221mm of ground clearance (an unusually high stance by class standards) and as usual with Subaru, a Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system's included that'll get you to places other volume brand four-wheel drive mid-sized crossovers would struggle to reach. Subaru provides two additional separated 'X-Mode' drive settings for this kind of terrain - on the centre screen, you can select either 'Snow/Dirt' or 'Deep Snow/Mud'.

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