I Was Just 3 Months Away From Paying Off My Subaru Crosstrek, Then I Had A Terrifying Accident, I Never Thought My Car Would Be Put to This Test

The car Ian thought he would keep forever is now in the junkyard. 

Ian purchased his 2018 Subaru Crosstrek from Faulkner Subaru in Harrisburg, PA, and loved the small SUV. He was going to keep it forever, he says. However, his plans changed when he was rear-ended in a terrifying accident that ended the life of his Crosstrek. 

However, the Crosstrek kept him safe in what could have been a potentially life-threatening crash. Here is what all Subaru buyers need to know. 

Ian says,   

"I was only 3 months away from making the last payment on my 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. Then, I had my first accident that totaled the car. I never thought my Crosstrek would be put to such a scary test that ended its life."

Here is Ian's story.  

"The photos I have shared are from a terrifying accident I had with my 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. Before this accident, I have never been involved in any other vehicular accidents." 

"This Crosstrek was the first vehicle I bought after graduating college due to Subaru's affordability, reliability, and safety. Like most people, I never thought that the safety aspect of the car would need to be put to the test." 

Ian's fiancé also owns a Subaru 

"Unfortunately, I experienced it. My Crosstrek was deemed a total loss. However, I am so thankful that my Subaru kept me safe. My fiancé and I recently bought a 2022 Subaru Impreza for her for the same reasons why I had originally bought my Crosstrek." 

"My Crosstrek was three payments away from being completely paid off. My odometer read 126,000 miles at the accident. If I had not been in the accident, my fiancé and I were making bets on how long the car would last."

Is the Subaru Crosstrek the best vehicle for small SUV buyers? 

I recently wrote a report on the 2018-2020 Subaru Crosstrek. The Crosstrek is ranked the best, used small SUV for its above-average reliability. The Crosstrek also gets good fuel mileage and has the highest safety scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 

Consumer Reports says you should consider buying a certified preowned Crosstrek.

"The data clearly shows that owners of CPO cars have fewer problems with them and are more satisfied than owners of traditional used cars," says Steve Elek, automotive data analyst at Consumer Reports.

CR says, "Essentially an Impreza hatchback with a raised ride height (8.7 inches), the 2018-2020 Crosstrek benefits from a smooth ride, simple controls, a roomy rear seat, and good fuel economy. Minor updates were made for 2020."

I wrote this report in 2017 when the 2018 model year Crosstrek was introduced.

The Subaru Crosstrek is known for its sporty "go-anywhere" all-wheel-drive attitude; now, it's rated the safest crossover with the highest resale value of any car in America. According to a report from Forbes, the Subaru Crosstrek is #1 in providing the highest levels of occupant protection in a crash and will retain the highest percentages of its original value at trade-in time.

Forbes listed the top 19 new vehicles among a broad range of size, price, and market segment classifications, and Subaru had four cars in the top 11 new vehicles that made the list. The Subaru Forester, Impreza, and Legacy also scored high in the Forbes study. That's impressive for the small Japanese automaker.

Crosstrek gets the highest IIHS safety score.

The Subaru brand has always scored high in safety from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and many models have been singled out for retaining their resale value. 

All vehicles on the Forbes list scored the highest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5 stars and IIHS Top Safety Pick+ ratings. These vehicles can also be expected to do the best job of helping their drivers avoid getting into collisions altogether.

More Subaru Crosstrek Upgrades

The 2018 Crosstrek had the latest version of Subaru's EyeSight driver assist system and new LED Steering Responsive Headlights, which helped it earn the top safety honor, providing reassurance and protection to the driver and passengers. 

But what about the new Subaru Global Platform architecture on which the new crossover rides? Here are the significant changes the Japanese automaker made to keep its occupants even safer.

Subaru's Global Platform

For 2018, Subaru said the new platform offered 90 percent more chassis front lateral flexural rigidity and 70 percent chassis torsional rigidity, 70 percent more front suspension rigidity, and 100 percent rear subframe rigidity. Without getting too technical, Subaru used more high-strength steel in the new-generation Crosstrek to accomplish its mission of making the crossover safer.

Subaru says it wants to be the global leader in overall auto safety.

Subaru Corporation has been developing its EyeSight driver assist safety technology since 1999, and they have used stereo cameras as safety devices ever since.

While the EyeSight safety tech and cameras will not prevent the Crosstrek from being rear-ended, it will keep you from rear-ending the vehicle in front of you. 

Ian concludes, "My Subaru has always been safe and reliable, and I will continue to be a Subaru customer!"

Conclusion:

If you are looking for the best small SUV with the top safety scores, the Subaru Crosstrek is an excellent choice. 

How About You?

Tell us about your Subaru Crosstrek. Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know about your experiences with the small SUV.

Check out my Subaru Crosstrek story: My Son Needed a Car, So Grandma Buys Him a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, Only Problem, Grandma Loves It More Than Her Toyota Camry and Takes It Back

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Ian and Subaru