CR’s 7 Quietest Compact SUVs - Subaru Crosstrek Drops To 7th

Consumers who buy a compact SUV are looking for a comfortable, quiet cabin, and you don't have to buy a luxury car. Which automaker makes the quietest compact SUVs? An updated study from Consumer Reports (by subscription) identifies the seven quietest mainstream compact SUVs. The newly-arriving 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is among the best in class.

Because it's hard for car shoppers to determine how quiet a car is in a short test drive, Consumer Reports tests all models to assess the new compact SUVs with the most serene cabin. The models listed below are ranked according to the results of CR's interior noise tests. All seven models also scored well in road tests, have good reliability, have active safety features, and scored the best in crash tests.

The seven quietest compact SUVs

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is ranked the quietest compact SUV. It is followed by the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, Chevrolet Equinox, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue Sport, and Subaru Crosstrek which was in fifth place last year and is now seventh.

Note: The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek arrives this summer with no changes except for a new Special Edition trim level. The 2023 Crosstrek will rank among the quietest compact SUVs for small SUV shoppers.

Why Crosstrek ranks among the seven best compact SUVs

Consumer Reports says, "The Crosstrek delivers good fuel economy with impressive ride comfort and competent, enjoyable handling. It has low road and wind noise levels, which contribute to a solid and substantial feel. The only time the Crosstrek gets loud is under hard acceleration when the engine becomes gruff."

Subaru retailers and customers asked for more power in the Crosstrek; Subaru Corporation listened and gave it more pep with a new 2.5-liter engine with an additional 30 horsepower, and it's more fuel-efficient. Even with the more powerful engine option, CR still rates it one of the quietest compact SUVs.

What is the price of the 2023 Crosstrek?

All 2023 Subaru Crosstrek trim levels get a $600 price increase, including destination and delivery fees. Dealer fees increased by $50 for 2023 Crosstrek trims.

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek now comes in six trim levels for U.S. customers. The base trim is priced from $24,870, Premium, ($26,020), Special Edition ($27,970), Sport ($29,220), Limited ($30,720) and Crosstrek Hybrid ($38.070). Prices include destination and delivery fees ($1,225).

What is the 2023 Crosstrek fuel mileage?

According to the latest Consumer Reports study, the Crosstrek is one of the twelve most fuel-efficient SUVs you can buy now. CR says the Crosstrek is ranked number one of fourteen subcompact SUVs overall based on reliability, safety scores, road tests, fuel mileage, and owner satisfaction.

With gas prices now averaging $5.00 per gallon, Crosstrek is fuel-efficient, uses direct injection on its new 2.5-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine, and gets 27/34 city/highway and 29 combined mpg.

The 2.0-liter engine gets 28/33 mpg and 30 combined mpg with the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) automatic, contributing to better mileage.

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek hybrid gets even better fuel mileage. In Consumer Reports testing, the plug-in hybrid gets 38/45 city/highway MPGe and 42 combined MPGe. Note that the Crosstrek Hybrid is not available in all states.

Consumer Reports says the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek has one of the quietest cabins among all compact SUVs. Even with the more powerful 2.5-liter engine option, CR rates it one of the easiest on your ears and ranks it the number one of fifteen subcompact SUVs in all categories.

You Might Also Like: The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is here. Check out the new Special Edition trim and why the next-generation Crosstrek is on hold for another year.

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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