It’s easy enough for the driver to be comfortable in a vehicle. If you never have to transport anyone else, then that’s fine. Drivers who do need to travel with adult passengers in the rear seats will be interested in how well their friends fit back there. No one likes banging their knees inside the vehicle.

This size concern is especially important for people with subcompact cars and SUVs. Luckily for owners of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, this SUV can comfortably seat passengers in the rear seats.

Riding in the rear in the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Consumer Reports recommends the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek as the compact SUV with the best rear-seat comfort. There’s plenty of legroom and headroom in the rear seats.

The seats themselves have a good shape and provide good thigh support, says Consumer Reports. The doors on the Crosstrek open wide, which makes it easy to get in and out of the SUV. The rear seats are a comfortable space for two adults, even for a long period of time.

Riding in other subcompact SUVs

As second choices to the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek and its roomy rear seats, Consumer Reports recommends the Honda HR-V, Subaru Forester, and Honda CR-V.

The Subaru Crosstrek and Honda HR-V are smaller SUVs than their larger counterparts, the Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V. However, the Crosstrek offers the most hip room in the rear seats of all four SUVs, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The Crosstrek also has slightly more shoulder room than the similarly sized HR-V, although it has less headroom and legroom than the HR-V, says U.S. News & World Report. Consumer Reports recommends skipping the Mazda CX-3, Lexus UX, Mercedes-Benz GLB for their small rear seats.

Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek a good car?

In addition to its sizable rear seat, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek also earned Consumer Reports’ recommendation. That means the Crosstrek has good road-test scores and crash-test results, has good reliability, and provides important active safety features. It’s also ranked number one by Consumer Reports among subcompact SUVs.

While Consumer Reports picked out the 2021 Hyundai Kona as the compact SUV with the best usability and controls, the Subaru Crosstrek is listed as one of three other good choices. The Crosstrek is also a runner-up for best cabin quietness, behind the 2021 Mazda CX-5.

Based on the Subaru Impreza, the Crosstrek similarly has an excellent ride and good fuel efficiency, along with its spacious interior, says Consumer Reports. The Crosstrek has a 152-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but a 182-hp, 2.5-liter engine is also available. They are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a manual transmission. The Crosstrek is also available as a plug-in hybrid, although that doesn’t improve the mileage much.

All-wheel drive is standard. The Crosstrek is rated for 20 MPG in the city, 39 MPG on the highway, and 29 MPG overall, making it one of the best in the class and especially good for an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

The user-friendly controls include a touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For advanced safety features, the Crosstrek with automatic transmission and the Crosstrek Hybrid comes standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.

As Consumer Reports’ top recommended subcompact SUV, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek has a lot going for it. In addition to its roomy rear seats, it also has a great ride, quiet interior, easy-to-use controls, and good fuel efficiency.