Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Worth the Luxury Price?
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has been out for a while now. The 2021 model has a few updates from the 2020 model, including a small price bump. But is the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid worth that price bump? What makes it worth a luxury price?
Is the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid a good SUV?
Yes, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid should definitely be considered on your list of compact SUV possibilities. It’s nimble, can dominate the snow, has a great fuel economy, and more. However, it’s a little expensive.
The 2021 Crosstrek Hybrid has a starting price of about $36,395. According to Motor Trend, this is an increase of $240 than the 2020 model. You might be thinking that $240 isn’t bad, but the gasoline-powered Crosstrek has an MSRP of about $22,245. So, now to upgrade to the Hybrid, you’re looking at an extra $12,000 or so to go hybrid??
Well, what is new for the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid? It got a slightly updated face to differentiate it from gas options, and it looks more confident. Also, it got recalibrated springs and dampers to improve its ride. That’s about it!
2021 Crosstrek Hybrid performance
The 2021 Crosstrek Hybrid gets an estimated 17 miles of electric driving range and 90 mpg. The gas-powered Crosstrek gets about 28 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. But this rating could be for its base engine.
With the gas-powered base model, you get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 154 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. This is a little lackluster. The Hybrid comes with the more powerful 2.5-liter engine option that provides 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. So, the increase in power is necessary, and the enhanced fuel economy is exciting.
According to Car and Driver, the Crosstrek Hybrid can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.2 seconds with the 2.0-liter engine. Track times haven’t been released for the Crosstrek with the 2.5-liter engine, but hopefully, it will be a little faster.
One major plus is that the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid comes with standard all-wheel-drive. Sometimes AWD can cost about $1,500 to add. Also, some rivals don’t offer AWD at all, leaving drivers at home if it snows.
2021 Crosstrek Hybrid features
Car and Driver also mentioned that the interior is a bit disappointing. They used the words drab, dark, and dull to describe it, so that’s a little worrisome.
The Crosstrek has a durable interior for function instead of form, meaning it lacks a luxurious feel. The faux carbon-fiber trim and orange stitching do their best to spice things up.
Space in the Subaru Crosstrek is limited, and the seats don’t fold completely flat. Also, the high load floor can make putting items in the back a little difficult. Car and Driver fit 22 suitcases in the Honda HR-V, but only 17 in the Crosstrek Hybrid. Nineteen suitcases fit in the gas-powered Crosstrek because it has more space without the hybrid battery pack.
A large 8-inch touchscreen comes with the Hybrid model, plus it’s a Top Safety Pick+. However, safety features don’t come standard on each model. Available safety features include the eyesight driver assist technology, pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, and more.
So, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, doesn’t seem worth such a high price tag. Perhaps a tax incentive could help. Unless you want the estimated 90 MPGe, other hybrids may have a more comfortable interior and more power.
