By Ian Strachan.
Subaru might not be a brand which automatically makes it onto buyers’ choice lists. And that’s a shame because the manufacturer has a very attractive range of vehicles offering solid and dependable alternatives to the more obvious choices from mainstream manufacturers.
Subaru has launched well-made, high-spec cars into a variety of sectors at competitive prices and the all-wheel-drive Crosstrek, which replaced its XV model, is certainly worth a second look.
I always liked the XV, but the Crosstrek moves things on considerably, with sharp styling, a better ride and a range of safety features.
The Crosstrek is pitched into the somewhat crowded all-wheel-drive SUV market. But the Crosstrek is priced to be competitive. I tested the top-of-the-range 2.0i Touring spec which comes at £36,345 on the road.
The Crosstrek is powered by the excellent 136 PS two-litre Boxer engine which becomes the e-Boxer with an electric leg-up from a lithium ion battery to help fuel consumption.
More streamlined than Subaru’s other all-wheel drive offering – the Forester – the Crosstrek has a quality feel to it inside and out. Despite being a relatively inexpensive SUV it feels substantial.
The Crosstrek is also a looker. It has a smart, well-proportioned and rugged appearance, without looking too functional. Roof rails, smart 18-inch alloys and wheel arch and lower body cladding give it a purposeful look.
Inside the car has a lot of class about it. It’s roomy, with attractive upholstery – synthetic leather trimmed in Touring spec. The dash is simple and uncluttered, with sensibly placed, easily accessible controls and a host of environmental and other information on its large 11.6 inch multi-function colour touchscreen. This gives you a good, easy-to-see satnav and controls for its infotainment system which includes six-speaker DAB radio with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and voice recognition.
Interior space is very good, with plenty of load carrying capacity. Split folding rear seats increase its load lugging capabilities from 315 litres to 922 litres.
I drove the 2.0 petrol version with an eight-ratio CVT automatic transmission. This is a very good unit, offering more than enough power while never feeling overworked.
As you’d expect you get bags of extras as standard on the Touring specification, including dual-zone automatic air conditioning, rear parking camera, headlights with high beam assist, electric heated door mirrors, heated and powered front seats, powered sunroof and all round electric windows.
Subaru’s “EyeSight” safety package includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure assist, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitor, intelligent speed limiter, driver attention monitor and rear cross traffic alert.
It’s difficult to fault this Subaru. It’s a roomy SUV with a high specification and a keen price, and certainly worth considering.
