2020 Subaru Crosstrek

No changes have been made to the trim structure of the 2020 Subaru crosstrek and it is still available in three different trims as earlier. Prices for the 2020 Crosstrek starts at $22,145, for the base 4dr model, $23,195 for the Premium and $27,395 for the limited. All-wheel drive is standard across all trims, however you do have the option of picking between an automatic or a manual transmission in the base and premium models. The top Limited trim can be had only with a CVT automatic transmission. There's also a Crosstrek Hybrid model available, that we have reviewed separately.

Trims	4dr SUV	Premium	Limited
MSRP	$22,145	$23,195	$27,395
Engine	2.0 Liter Flat 4	2.0 Liter Flat 4	2.0 Liter Flat 4
Features	4-wheel ABS	Adds to 4dr SUV -	Adds to Premium -
	Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes	Emergency braking preparation	Blind spot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system
	Daytime running lights	Front fog/driving lights	Turn signal mirrors
	Multi-reflector halogen headlights	Dusk sensing headlamps	Adaptive LED headlights
	Post-collision safety system	Auto delay off headlamps	Pre-collision safety system
	STARLINK 6.5-inch Multimedia Infotainment	STARLINK 6.5-inch Multimedia Plus Infotainment	STARLINK 8.0-inch Multimedia Plus Infotainment
	4 Speakers	6 Speakers	Lineartronic CVT paddle shifters
	electric power steering	leather steering wheel	Transmission, cruise and audio controls on steering wheel
	Interior air filtration	Windshield wiper de-icer and heated side mirrors	Adaptive cruise control
			Hands free entry
	Cloth upholstery	Cloth upholstery with orange stitching	Leather-trimmed upholstery with orange contrast stitching
	6- way manual driver and 4- way manual passenger seat adjustment	Multi- level heated front seats	6- way power driver's seat

We Recommend

The Premium trim with the CVT transmission makes the most sense to us. At the price point, the Crosstrek Premium provides complete value and is aptly loaded with stuff that you would generally look for, on a daily basis. The optional automatic transmission, not only makes daily-driveability, a hassle-free task, but also churns more miles per gallon than the manual.

Power delivery from the 2.0 liter boxer engine is smooth and fine, whereas the engine seems adequately powered for a car this size. However, at times you do end up craving for a bit more power, but thats because of the CVT transmission. There is also a 6-speed manual transmission available, but since the CVT makes the Crosstrek more fuel efficient, its very likely to be the common choice.

The CVT is smooth in its operation, but nonetheless, it is CVT and it acts like one. Floor the Crosstrek from a start, and the transmission delivers a very healthy power supply. However, once you are cruising on highway speeds and preparing for an overtake, you hit the throttle and you suddenly feel there's not much power being catered to the wheels.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek Premium	Mazda CX-30 Preferred	Hyundai Kona Limited	Buick Encore Sport Touring
MSRP	$24,545	$26,200	$25,900	$25,800
Engine	2.0 Liter Flat 4	2.0 Liter Inline-4	1.6 Liter Turbo Inline-4	1.4 Liter Turbo Inline-4
Transmission	Continuously variable-speed automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic	7-speed automated manual	6-speed shiftable automatic
Horsepower (hp)	152	186	175	138
Torque (ft-lbs)	145	186	195	148

The powertrain of the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek ic definitely not as muscular and smooth as the Mazda CX-30 or the Hyundai Kona, but that's not much of a complaint at this price. The Crosstrek tries to deliver on all fronts and it is certainly livable and fine for day-to-day driving.

Acceleration

Well, a sub-compact SUV with 152 hp engine and a CVT is certainly not going to ace any sprint test. However, for the sake of numbers, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek takes 9.0 seconds to gear up from 0-60, which is quite fair for its class and size.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek Premium	Mazda CX-30 Preferred	Hyundai Kona Limited	Buick Encore Sport Touring
0-60 MPH	9.0	7.5 (est)	6.8	9.5 (est)
Quarter mile	16.9	NA	15.4	17.0 (est)
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 emissions @ 15k mi/yr)	7.1	6.4	5.9	6.5

Among the class though, the Hyundai Kona turns out to be the quickest with 6.8 seconds run from 0-60. Thanks to its more refined and powerful powertrain that comes handy for the Korean.

Ride and Handling

In contrast to its rugged and sporty appeal on the outside, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek offers a fairly complacent ride. The ride quality is not as good as the Mazda CX-30, but it's aptly comfortable for a vehicle with such diverse character. The suspension soaks up bumps pretty well and the steering has a good response as well.

Around town, the Crosstrek feels very calm and composed and the high seating position and large glasses, provide great outward visibility as well. However, while cornering, there is a bit of noticeable body roll, and the steering response gets slightly diluted as well. Let these small giggles, the 2020 Cross trek is a perfect daily driver that you can live with. Not the perfect though, but what's good about the 2020 Crosstrek is the fact that it has got a little bit of everything.

Braking

Subaru has always been extremely concerned regarding the safety of their vehicles, of which braking is always an essential part of. The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek comes equipped with ventilated discs at the front and solids at the rear along with 4-wheel ABS. The brakes in the Crosstrek feel very solid with strong responses, bringing it to a halt from 60 mph in just 120 feet.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek Premium	Mazda CX-30 Preferred	Hyundai Kona Limited	Buick Encore Sport Touring
Brake Front (in.)	11.6	11.6	12.0	11.8
Brake Rear (in.)	10.8	11.9	11.2	10.6
60-0 MPH (ft)	120	NA	130	119 (est)

The braking figure of the Mazda CX-30 and Buick Encore is not available yet, but among the competition, the Buick encore seems the most promising in terms of braking apparatus. The 2017 Buick Encore on which the 2020 Encore is based, had a stopping distance of 119 ft from 60-0. In the subsequent years though, the Encore had shed some of its weight, with no changes in the braking mechanism. We expect the 2020 Encore’s stopping distance to be somewhat identical to its 2017 model. Which is still far better than its competition.

A handsome fuel economy is expected from a daily drivable car and the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek doesn't disappoint. With the 6-speed manual transmission, the Crosstrek delivers 22, 29 and 29 mpg in city, highway and combined respectively. However, with the CVT, those figures surge up to 27, 33 and 30, which is overwhelming enough for its class.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek Premium	Mazda CX-30 Preferred	Hyundai Kona Limited	Buick Encore Sport Touring
MPG (city)	27	25 (est)	28	25
MPG (highway)	33	33 (est)	32	30
MPG (combined)	30	NA	30	27

EPA estimates as well are not yet available for the Mazda CX-30, but from the data we have, the Crosstrek and the Kona share the top spot on the fuel economy charts with their 30 mpg combined. The Buick Encore trails the two Asians by a small margin though, with its 27 mpg combined figures. The Buick’s heavier mass which is indeed the heaviest among the lot, ruins the Encore’s mpg party.

On the inside, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek keeps things very clean and simple. The cabin has a neat arrangement with a minimalistic dashboard that does look outdated, compared to its rivals, but is very convenient and thoughtful. The lower trims get cloth upholstery along with a 6-way power driver's seat and 4-way manual front passengers seat. The Limited trim gets leather upholstery that also extends to the door panels and also unlocks a 6-way powered front passengers seats.

The front seats also get heated functionality and offer best in class all-around space as well. The seats are not the most comfortable chairs out there, but for the class and price, they offer pretty good support and comfort. The rear bench too has nice padding and offers best in segment rear shoulder and legroom.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek Premium	Mazda CX-30 Preferred	Hyundai Kona Limited	Buick Encore Sport Touring
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.8/56.7/43.1	38.1/55.6/41.7	38.0/55.5/41.5	39.6/54.2/40.8
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.0/55.6/36.5	38.3/53.6/36.3	37.8/54.5/34.6	38.8/52.5/35.8

The Crosstrek might not have the most comfortable seats, but it outshines its rivals in terms of passenger space around both the benches. Another area where the Crosstrek disappoints, is the absence of vents and USB ports at the rear, which is quite surprising, since even today’s entry-level hatchbacks offer these features.

Infotainment

The infotainment system in the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek is a union of three different screens together. There is a tiny digital drivers information display in the instrument cluster that sits between the analogue gauges, and can control various vehicle settings. The lower trims get a 6.5 inch StarLink touchscreen infotainment, while the Limited gets a 8.0 inch unit. The upper screen serves as an information panel and displays various information like range, weather, etc.

The 8.0 inch Starlink infotainment comes standard with Apple Carplay, Android Auto and Satellite Radio. The graphics are not the best in the market, and at times, the system does take some time to respond to driver inputs. However, the infotainment system has a very clean layout with bigger graphics, making it very easy to operate. What most buyers would find very convenient is the physical shortcut buttons for volume control and various apps along with climate control knobs.

Infotainment features

• Upto 8.0 inch Subaru StarLink infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite Radio
• 4 USB Ports
• Upto 6 total speakers
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi capability

Cargo

Apart from ample cabin space, another area where the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek’s long body plays a handy role, is its cargo area. Behind the second row, the Crosstrek opens up 20.8 cu-ft of cargo space which is the best in class.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek Premium	Mazda CX-30 Preferred	Hyundai Kona Limited	Buick Encore Sport Touring
Cargo Volume (cu.-ft)	20.8	20.2	19.2	18.8

Among the competition, the CX-30 and Kona too are not far behind the Crosstrek, with their 20.2 and 19.2 cu-ft of cargo space respectively. Noteworthy is the fact that, both these crossovers have shorter body length than the Crosstrek. Unsurprising though, the Buick Encore, which has the most compact proportions among all, has the most cramped cargo bay of just 18.8 cu-ft.

Interior Features

• Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
• Leather steering wheel
• Climate control
• Front seatback storage
• Front and rear cupholders
• Interior air filtration
• Transmission, cruise and audio controls on steering wheel
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Available Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Upto 6-way power front seats

The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek lets you know of its motivated character, the moment you look at it. As part of its sport moniker, it gets black cladding throughout its body. Be it the simplistic Subaru grille at the front, followed by a lower bumper, side body cladding, large wheel arches or the rear side bumpers, everything is wrapped in black cladding.

To further accentuate its raw vibe, the Crosstrek also gets black roof rails, which can also be had with cross bars.The lighting units though remain similar as the earlier model. The lower trims get halogen headlights and fog lamps, whereas the Limited trim gets a full LED adaptive headlights.

Models	Subaru Crosstrek Premium	Mazda CX-30 Preferred	Hyundai Kona Limited	Buick Encore Sport Touring
Length (in)	175.8	173.0	164.0	168.4
Width (in)	71.0	70.7	70.9	70.1
Height (in)	63.6	61.7	61.6	65.3
Ground clearance (in)	8.7	6.9	6.7	6.2
Wheelbase (in)	104.9	104.5	102.4	100.6
Track width (in) F/R	61.0/61.2	61.6/61.6	61.5/61.9	60.7/60.6
Curb weight (lbs)	3117	3232	3042	3237

Overall, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek has a fairly balanced exterior appeal. It neither looks too humble as a mild crossover like the Kona or CX-30, nor is it overly done like the Encore. Adding further to the Crosstrek’s balanced visuals is its long body that is actually an Impreza underneath and is indeed the longest in the segment.

Exterior features

• Daytime running lights
• Front fog/driving lights
• LED headlamp
• turn signal in mirrors
• Heated mirrors
• Roof rails
• Blacked out front and rear bumpers
• Blacked out side body cladding and wheel arches
• Two-speed windshield wipers with variable-intermittent mode and mist feature
• Rear roof spoiler

Subaru’s are known to adhere to top-class safety standards and the 2020 Crosstrek is no exception. The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek received 5 stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick + from the IIHS. The 2020 Crosstrek comes loaded with a bunch of modern safety features, and at a very affordable price. Some of the Crosstrek’s safety features are listed below.

Safety Features

• Stability control
• Dusk sensing headlamps
• Adaptive headlights
• Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
• Emergency braking assist
• Blind spot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system
• 4-wheel ABS
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Remote anti-theft alarm system
• Pre and Post- Collision safety system
• Rear view camera
• Dual-stage deployment driver and front-passenger front airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Driver's knee airbag

2020 Subaru Crosstrek vs Mazda CX-30

 The Mazda CX-30 is indeed one of the best products in the sub-compact SUV territory. The humble CX-30 gets a more powerful and refined power train than the Crosstrek and is an absolute fun to drive. The Mazda also offers sporty handling and a very responsive steering. It also has a more premium and modern interior and is also more rich in features and amenities. The Crosstrek on the other hand, offers better interior and cargo space along with some very strong offroading DNA.

 2020 Subaru Crosstrek vs Hyundai Kona

 The Hyundai Kona too is a better driving car than the Subaru Crosstrek. It gets a more energetic power train and an actively communicative steering as well. The Kona offers a more comfortable ride than the Crosstrek, has more premium interiors and a similar features chart as well. Unlike the bit orthodoxical Crosstrek, the Kona flaunts a more modern and stylish exterior profile. Were the Crosstrek aces ahead of the Kona, is its enhanced sense of practicality and rugged offroading skills.

 2020 Subaru Crosstrek vs Buick Encore

 The Buick ENcore is a kind of old school chap in the competition and gets completely washed away by its competition. The only area where the Encore topples the Crosstrek is its more premium and upscale cabin. Apart from this the Crossstrek turns out to be a more preferred choice by every means. The Crosstrek is more comfortable than the Buick, it drives and handles well, is more spacious and is also more fuel efficient. Above all, the Crosstrek gets some extra muscle to tackle some wilderness, that the Encore misses upon.

 

If you are looking for a daily driving subcompact SUV within $25-$28K budget, with the occasional hill station trips in mind, there's barely any other product in that price range and segment that can check your boxes as precisely as the Subaru Crosstrek. The Crosstrek offers a perfect blend of comfort, handling, safety and utility at an affordable price along with the prerequisite skills to make your wild trips easier and hassle-free.