The 2023 Crosstrek Hybrid came swinging out of the gates. While it’s lived somewhat under the radar for a few years, the last couple of years have been pretty good for the little sedan. Sales for the Crosstrek have been booming, as they should, considering it’s the best subcompact SUV, according to Consumer Reports.
Is the Crosstrek Hybrid a good car?
I found a lot to love about the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. However, it only scored one point higher than the conventional Crosstrek and has a premium of $7,350. Let’s take a closer look at this.
What engine is in the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid?
The hybrid model features a 148-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid engine. While this motor is quite efficient and can go 17 miles on battery power alone, it is quite slow. Meanwhile, the 2023 Crosstrek Conventional comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 182 hp and, again, gets just four mpg less than the hybrid.
Consumer Reports notes that while you can drive up to 17 miles on just the battery in the hybrid, keeping the gas engine from starting is tough. If you have a heavy foot, Subaru will choose to use the gas. It also takes about 2 hours to charge the PHEV with a 240-volt charger and over five hours with a regular 110-volt charger.
Is the Subaru interior beautiful?
Subaru isn’t exactly known for its fancy interiors. The brand prides itself on supporting a rugged and adventurous lifestyle for families. Those marketing words often don’t match classy dating. That said, the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid only comes in the Limited trim, which is pretty high on the trim list.
CR says the interior has a mix of soft-touch interior pieces along with hard plastics. Some of the dashboard controls can feel a bit cheap and plasticky. The limited trim gets leather upholstery, Bluetooth, navigation, heated seats and an optional sunroof.
How safe is the Subaru Crosstrek?
The Crosstrek Hybrid, with its standard frontal avoidance systems, received an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus. Subaru’s suite of safety and convenience features, EyeSight, is standard on the hybrid and on all transmission-equipped Crosstrek grades automatic. EyeSight includes forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning (LDW), lane keep assist (LKA) and adaptive cruise control (ACC).
Subaru is one of the safest automakers on the road today. This is one of the most important factors that has caused the brand to explode in recent years.
