2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport Review

Written By: Jerry Reynolds | Aug 27, 2024 10:00:00 AM

I know it is going to be a great week when I have a Subaru SUV. Whether it is the Forester, the Outback, the Ascent, or a Crosstrek like I have currently, it doesn’t matter, you can bet I am a fan. I have great respect for the little Subaru company, not just their vehicles, but what Subaru stands for. It gives to great causes, it takes good care of the Subaru dealers, and the love they have for dogs.

So, I spent a very nice week with the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport, a compact SUV. The Sport falls smack in the middle of the 5-trim Crosstrek lineup. My two favorite features that come as standard equipment on Subi SUVs are the full-time Symmetrical all-wheel drive system, and the EyeSight safety system, two features I think are best-in-class in the auto industry and that I talk about on the Car Pro Show often.

Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel drive system continually keeps the power to all four wheels, ensuring outstanding grip in snow, rain, or rough terrain and that includes the Sport package. It is all part of a new trend I am seeing: It is called Overlanding. The ability to go off-road anywhere you want to, but also a pleasurable vehicle to drive on a daily basis.

EyeSight monitors traffic movement from two cameras mounted high on the windshield. It optimizes cruise control, and if you stray out of your lane it will center the vehicle back in the lane. The pre-collision braking feature can even apply full braking force in emergency situations. It works incredibly well and one show listener in Cleveland is convinced it saved his wife’s life. I don’t doubt that for a minute.

Exterior

The 2024 is sleeker than previous versions and is actually quite attractive. The Sport adds a lot of cladding on the outside, not for looks necessarily, but for protecting the vehicle from obstacles.

The 18” black alloy wheels and all-season tires look super, and you’ll notice the yellow Sport accents on the exterior as well as the interior. There is a nice spoiler in the rear, and a functional roof rack on top.

Powertrain

Under the hood is the larger of two available engines, the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Boxer engine, that provides 182-horses and 178 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a CVT (continuously variable transmission) that is shiftable from paddles on the steering wheel. Through the paddles, the transmission will shift like a regular 8-speed. While not normally a fan of CVTs, this one is smooth, doesn’t feel like it is laboring, and the shift paddles actually make a huge difference. As an aside, the first Subaru CVT I ever drove was in 1985, so the Subaru folks have it perfected.

Interior

The interior is nicely done with cloth and StarTex seats that are bolstered and stitched, and they have the yellowish-gold accents that run throughout the Sport motif. The seats are heated, but not cooled, and they are very comfortable. The analog gauges are easy to see, and there is a driver info center between the tach and speedometer that operates from the steering wheel.

Stitching runs through the door panels and along the edges of the seats. There is a soft center console that your arm rests on. Forward of the gear shifter is a cubbyhole with two USBs, a wireless phone charger, and a power outlet.

High on the dash is a terrific 11.6” touchscreen that houses the Subaru Starlink System. From there, you operate the sound system, Bluetooth, apps, Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the vehicle settings. This system works great, and it’s easy to figure out. From the screen, you can go into X Modes, which includes snow/dirt, normal, and deep snow/mud. Also from there, you can set the Auto Hold and not have to turn it on every time you start the SUV, and there is a button on the screen to turn off the start/stop system.

Back seat leg and head and room are really good. I wish there were A/C vents but there are USB-C and USB-A ports back there, and a pulldown armrest. Cargo area is also plentiful with plenty of storage with the back seats up. The back seats fold down quite easily to give you 55 cubic feet of cargo area and they fold flat with the cargo area.

Standard Equipment and Options

Important standard features include rearview camera, heated seats, tilt steering wheel, power windows and door locks, automatic headlights, fog lights, dual-zone climate control, and keyless entry system.

My tester has the $1,920 option package 22 which is: a power moon roof, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert, and a 10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support. It also has the $141 all-weather floor liners.

MPG

Fuel economy is really good at 26 in town, and 33 on the highway for a 29 MPG rating combined.

Safety

Safety features besides the Eyesight system are adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, collision detected power door unlock function, and rear seat reminder.

Ride and Drive

The CrossTrek is a lot of fun to drive, the visibility is great, and the acceleration is actually quite good. It really shines when you venture off the pavement but is a super enjoyable SUV at all times. One big change to all the 2024 Crosstreks is more insulation for a much quieter cabin and the difference is noticeable.

What You'll Pay

MSRP is a very reasonable $32,801, which is right in line with other compact SUVs that don’t have EyeSight and it’s really hard to put a price tag on your safety.

Verdict

This is truly one of my favorite compact SUVs on the market, and if you are shopping in this segment, this one should be high on your list.

To view larger photos see the slideshow below on CarPro.com.