New Subaru Crosstrek - 7 Journalists Give First Impressions, The Good And Bad

Subaru invited journalists last week to Palm Springs, California, to drive the all-new third-generation 2024 Subaru Crosstrek in southern California's deserts and Joshua Tree National Park. Automotive News (by subscription) collected some early reviews. So here is the next-generation 2024 Subaru Crosstrek driving report: the good and the bad.

The Bad

"On the road, the Crosstrek rolls into the corners and takes a second to power out of them. Unfortunately, the 2.0-liter has never been a performance star, and with no change in horsepower and a slight bump in weight, it's unlikely the new Crosstrek will improve much on the 9.2-second 60-mph time we recorded with a 2018 model."

"The Crosstrek rides wonderfully on pavement and cushions vibration on dirt, but it's easy to reach full compression with an enthusiastic approach to even a small rise or pothole, resulting in the uninspiring thud and scrape of a tire at the top of a wheel well."

— Elena Scherr, Car and Driver

"The low-speed lock-to-lock resistance is where Subaru needs to spend slightly more time. Subaru touted that it retuned the steering system to make low-speed maneuvering easier and require less force. But I found that in situations like turning around in parking lots or turning onto a road from a stop sign or traffic light, the steering wheel wants to snap back to center after that initial decrease in resistance."

"The switch between the loose low-speed turning and tighter on-center is slightly jarring, and I was never quite sure when it would occur. It's an odd quirk in an otherwise fine system."

— Jonathon Klein, The Drive

"Merging onto a highway or passing slower traffic with the base engine requires patience and planning. We floored the pedal to get up to speed, and the CVT kept the engine from sounding overly taxed by simulating a few shifts. Otherwise, there was enough power for ascending moderately steep grades and typical city driving. Considering the Sport trim costs only a bit more and gets virtually the same fuel economy, we'd suggest waiting for summer to get the more powerful 2.5-liter."

"The Crosstrek tends to freewheel without decelerating much when letting off the accelerator. The brake pedal has an appropriate amount of effort to instill confidence and is easy to modulate for smooth stops."

— Mark Takahashi, Autoblog

"The base engine does fine around town, but ask it to climb a big hill or merge onto a freeway, and you'll soon learn the value of patience. Although the Crosstrek 2.0 isn't dangerously slow, it's far from athletic. At least the CVT goes about its business smoothly, with simulated gear changes and no tendency to drone."

— Brett T. Evans, Motor1

"Subaru says nearly one in four owners take their Crosstreks off-road, which might have you wondering: Why not build a Crosstrek Wilderness? Subaru found great success with these more purpose-built variants of its Forester and Outback. While the company won't officially comment on future product plans, it also knows a Crosstrek Wilderness would surely be a hit."

— Steven Ewing, Forbes

"The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is neither the most efficient compact crossover nor the quickest or cheapest. On the contrary, it is a vehicle that seems entirely unconcerned with what the other players in its segment are trying in an attempt to win over buyers."

— Lucas Bell, Road & Track

The Good

"The new Crosstrek will, however, get there with much less cacophony than before. We've previously lamented the drone of the Crosstrek's CVT and the howl of the overworked boxer engine. The improvement for 2024 is noticeable. The faux shifts of the CVT are softer, both physically and aurally, and while the engine still uses all of its 152 horses and 145 pound-feet of torque to reach freeway speed, it's now possible to have a conversation inside while this is happening."

— Elena Scherr, Car and Driver

"The electrically-assisted dual-pinion steering has pretty solid feedback when you begin driving livelier through twisty roads. Better yet, there's still a healthy amount of pressure on the wheel when you're just puttering straight down the interstate, which helps you stay more centered in your lane. This reduces wander from line to line and kills something I've taken issue with in my parent's current 2021 Subaru Forester."

— Jonathon Klein, The Drive

"The comfortable ride is impressive when you consider the Crosstrek's off-road abilities, as there's usually a compromise required. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Crosstrek can tackle much more than a dirt road. We clambered up a steep rocky trail with no drama once we engaged the X-Mode drive setting that maximizes available traction at all four corners. Dropping down the other side, hill-descent control ably kept speeds manageable."

— Mark Takahashi, Autoblog

"Subaru representatives said the car isn't intended for folks who love off-roading itself, instead serving as a tool to get them to their hobbies of hiking, camping, biking, etc. But despite that tepid vote of confidence, I was very impressed with the Crosstrek's capabilities on a rough, tank-trapped stretch of dirt and loose rock."

— Brett T. Evans, Motor1

"The new 11.6-inch touchscreen is the most obvious tech update to the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. It makes it easier to operate and see maps on vehicles equipped with onboard navigation. It's also got more features built into the automaker's Starlink infotainment system."

"But buyers, especially parents, will likely appreciate the upgrades to Subaru's now-familiar EyeSight suite of advanced driver assistance systems. The third-generation Crossstrek gets a new stereo camera system with a broader field of view. That's useful in various ways, notably spotting a vehicle that might run a red light as you enter an intersection."

— Paul Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau

"The Crosstrek's generous ground clearance means it's pretty capable should you venture off the beaten path. Approach, departure, and break-over angles of 18.0, 30.1, and 19.7 degrees let the Subaru crest steep peaks and handle rutted sections of the two-track road without scraping special underbody hardware. The softer springs also help make trail work more gentle on passengers."

— Steven Ewing, Forbes

"Subaru is not building a car it hopes people will choose over the Kia Seltos or Honda HRV. Those buyers would never be in a Crosstrek, to begin with. Instead, Subaru builds this for the folks who care about getting out there and going places. This new example is the most refined and comfortable one yet."

— Lucas Bell, Road & Track

These are the automotive journalist "experts" who are the first to test drive the remodeled 2024 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV. The new Crosstrek Base and Premium trims arrive this spring; the Sport and Limited trim levels arrive this summer. We will update you when we get behind the wheel of the all-new Crosstrek.

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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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