2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review: Making a Great Crossover Even Better
A long list of small yet substantive updates make the new Crosstrek the best compact car for anyone with an adventurous spirit.
Subaru has long been a bit of an off-beat carmaker. Peer into its past, and you'll find all sorts of wacky, think-outside-the-box vehicles: the Brat, the Baja, the SVX, the B9 Tribeca. For the last few decades, though, here in America, it's been largely defined by what might be called the Stereotypical Subaru: an all-wheel-drive, body-cladded and lifted car designed to offer much of what people like in a sport-utility vehicle (off-road /all-weather capability, specifically) without all the annoying parts (truck-like handling, poor fuel economy.)
The Outback, of course, was the first to lead this charge; then came the Forester, a half-size smaller but a bit quirkier; and then, finally, the Crosstrek, the smallest size of the Stereotypical Subaru. First introduced in 2012 as a high-riding fraternal twin of the fourth-generation Impreza, it's now on its third generation — but still twinned with the latest Impreza. The changes have hardly been revolutionary, but then again, they don't need to be; the Crosstrek has racked up best-in-class sales and accolades from consumers and independent experts alike over the years. Why mess with success was largely the mantra for the new 2024 model ... but that didn't stop Subaru from fiddling around at the edges.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek: What We Think
The Crosstrek has long excelled at offering what buyers want in an affordable package, and the third-generation model that's hitting the streets for the 2024 model year only builds on that success, maintaining the charm and character that defines the brand's best products. Thanks to an arsenal of well-thought-out evolutionary changes — everything from smoothing out the design to improving the steering to adding subtle features meant to enhance its utility, like fold-flat seats and wide opening doors with fatter sills for standing on — the Crosstrek gives Subaru's loyal customers all the more reason to re-up when the time comes for a new car, while also serving as a more tempting alternative than ever for everyone else in the market for an affordable, adventurous family vehicle.