The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is one of the best-selling subcompact SUVs on the market. It has good fuel economy and off-road capabilities, and it comes with Subaru’s signature AWD. Subaru gets a lot of things wrong on the Crosstrek, but it gets enough things right to make this SUV a best seller. 

Overview of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek SUV

The base model of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek costs $24,995. This starting model includes a 2.0-liter DOHC engine with 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. It has a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with adaptive control and incline start assist. Of course, it’s a Subaru, so it has a symmetrical AWD. 

The fuel economy of the Crosstrek is 34 MPG on the highway and 27 MPG in the city. It has a 16.6-gallon fuel tank and takes regular, unleaded gasoline. This makes it an affordable option for trekking across the countryside. It’s not surprising that it’s a best-seller in Subaru’s lineup. 

The 2024 Crosstrek comes in five trim level options: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Wilderness. The top trim level starts at $31,995. With the Wilderness trim level, drivers get a raised suspension that has 9.3 inches of clearance. They also get the 2.5-liter Subaru Boxer engine with 182 HP. The Wilderness trim is highly capable of traveling on rough roads and trails. It can also tow up to a 3,500-lb. trailer for your camping or ATV needs. 

What the Subaru 2024 Crosstrek does wrong

While the top-level trim option has a decent motor, Subaru misses the mark when it comes to the weak engine on its base model. While it has enough power to get you up a hill or safely on the freeway, drivers will wish it had more to offer. It’s just plain sluggish, and it leaves drivers wanting more. 

The off-road capability of the Crosstrek is nice, but the road noise isn’t. This vehicle is loud on the highway, which limits the experience on long road trips. Many people don’t want to trade off-road capabilities for road noise. 

Cargo capacity on the 2024 Crosstrek is lacking at 19.9 cubic feet, but this can be expanded to 54.7 cubic feet by lowering the rear seats. A family of four isn’t likely to have enough room for themselves and gear without making use of the roof rails, which aren’t standard on the base model. These rails can hold 700 lbs when included on higher trim levels. For the base model, a crossbar set is available as an accessory for $252. 

The infotainment system on the Subaru Crosstrek is frustrating, to say the least. Subaru may have an update to make the infotainment system work better, but they aren’t known for their tech features on any of their models. Sound is not great on most trim levels, according to Edmunds, but the Limited trim does have a Harman Kardon upgrade. 

Lackluster interior design finishes off the list of what the Subaru Crosstrek does wrong. The base model is very basic, but the upper trim levels do have leather-trimmed upholstery or StarTex. 

Everything the 2024 Crosstrek does right

Subaru does do plenty of things right with its 2024 Crosstrek. Its AWD comes standard on all of the trim levels, and it is a highly capable off-road vehicle. It doesn’t have a lot of cargo space, but it does have enough cabin room. Drivers and passengers will have a comfortable journey despite road noise. 

Overall, Subaru offers the Crosstrek as a small, agile SUV that can perform in the outdoors but is also small and economical enough to be a daily driver. It looks sporty, and many Subaru lovers enjoy the Crosstrek in its higher-level trims.