The All New Next-Generation Crosstrek And What Subaru Didn't Tell You

Would you buy the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek if it didn't come with an all-wheel-drive? Subaru Corporation will now offer the next-generation Crosstrek subcompact SUV with front-wheel-drive for urban dwellers who drive in the city. We found the information in an article from Oceans in Tokyo, Japan.

We scoured the Subaru Corporation announcement for information on the third-generation Subaru Crosstrek. They should have told the automotive press that Crosstrek will now be offered with either all-wheel-drive or front-drive configurations, but they still need to clarify this.

It's not unprecedented that Subaru has two-wheel-drive vehicles. They have offered the Impreza compact car with front-wheel drive (FWD) in Japan for years. But to bring the more rugged Crosstrek with only two-wheel-drive is almost unthinkable.

The Crosstrek name is a combination of Crossover and Trekking. The Crosstrek is designed for active customers who use the subcompact SUV for outdoor adventures. It could be going off-road to trek through the mountains for hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, or going to the beach and driving through deep sand.

Why is Subaru offering Crosstrek with front-wheel-drive?

Subaru is trying to appeal to a broader audience of urban dwellers who use the vehicle for commuting and won't take the Crosstrek on a steep mountain trail. The Crosstrek with FWD will get better fuel mileage than the all-wheel-drive trim level. It gives buyers an option according to their lifestyle. Like, Impreza, the FWD Crosstrek will likely only be offered in Japan.

The next-generation Subaru Crosstrek is lower to the ground

Subaru announced the all-new 2024 Crosstrek would come with less ground clearance than the outgoing model. Subaru took away nearly one inch of ground clearance on the new model. Subaru Corporation says the next-generation model comes with 200 mm of ground clearance which is now 7.9 inches compared with 8.7 inches in the previous generation model.

Our take

The new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek will be more aerodynamic, and the FWD trim level will get improved fuel mileage even though it's heavier than the outgoing model. But Subaru sacrificed extra ground clearance in the new Crosstrek to reach the goal.

By offering a front-wheel-drive Crosstrek, the subcompact SUV will appeal to those with active lifestyles who will use the subcompact SUV for a commuter during the week and occasional "soft-road" (unpaved roads that are not challenging) excursions on the weekend.

Will Subaru offer the FWD trim level to its U.S. customers?

We would be surprised if Subaru of America brought the FWD Crosstrek to North America. The Crosstrek is the number one selling model in SOA's lineup, and they likely won't ruin its success.

Customers in the U.S. will have more 2024 Crosstrek trim levels to choose from

The standard 2024 Crosstrek will have less ground clearance, but Subaru of America will offer the rugged 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness trim level with more ground clearance than the standard model. Like the Forester Wilderness, look for the Crosstrek Wilderness to have about 9.2 inches of stump-clearing ground clearance. The Crosstrek Wilderness will be the new model for active customers who want to get further off the grid.

Customers will have to wait longer for the Crosstrek Wilderness. Planet Subaru says, "We expect Subaru will wait until the 2025 model year to release the Wilderness. The Outback and Forester Wilderness editions did not come out the first year of their new generations, probably because the variants are different enough that they take additional time to develop."

When will the new 2024 Crosstrek be available for U.S. customers?

Subaru of America has yet to announce the next-generation 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. There are rumors from Planet Subaru that the new Crosstrek will be available in late spring of 2023. That's wishful thinking and will likely arrive in the fall of 2023. Stay tuned.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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