New Subaru Crosstrek Takes Home The Best Small SUV Of The Year Trophy

Which is the best small SUV? The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was just named the best small SUV. See what sets it apart.

Which is the best small SUV for shoppers? With the list of choices growing, which one is the best choice? The compact SUV segment is one of the fastest-growing segments as buyers look for fuel-efficient, urban commuters that also offer utility. The Subaru Crosstrek should be on your shopping list.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek just picked up another new award. According to AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada), the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is the Best Small SUV of 2021. The refreshed Crosstrek takes home the best-in-class (Small Utility Vehicle) trophy to add to its cabinet.

Yasushi Enami, CEO of Subaru Canada accepts the award

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was one of eight new models to be chosen from over 250 vehicles tested. The voting data was collected from experts who tested each new 2021 model year vehicle in real-world testing.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is their number one pick and best buy heading into the new year. AJAC journalists chose the newly-refreshed Crosstrek over the long list of small SUVs like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Nissan Kicks, Buick Encore, Honda HR-V, and Toyota CH-R.

Photo credit: Capitol Subaru

Four reasons why Crosstrek stands out from the crowd

The refreshed Crosstrek comes with standard all-wheel-drive for all-weather capability. It also has 8.7-inches of ground clearance, dual-function X-Mode for off-pavement performance, and a second engine option for the 2021 model change.

The second-generation 2021 Crosstrek gets a larger 2.5-liter engine along with the 2.0-liter Boxer in lower trims. The biggest complaint buyers had with the Crosstrek was it needed more power. Subaru Corporation gave retailers and customers what they asked for; a new 2.5-liter engine with more horsepower and improved fuel mileage over the 2.0-liter engine.

Along with its other attributes, the new power was all the judges need to be convinced to give the best-in-class (Small Utility Vehicle) award to the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The small SUV's new 2.5-liter Boxer engine comes with an "enhanced" direct-injection system.

The 2.5-liter brings 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, which is considerably more than the 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque from the current Crosstrek's 2.0-liter engine.

What is Crosstrek's fuel mileage?

The new 2021 Crosstrek gets an EPA estimated fuel mileage of 27/34 city/highway mpg and 29 combined mpg. The 2020 Crosstrek with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine gets 28/33 mpg and 30 combined mpg.

The 2021 Crosstrek Sport and Limited trims offer a new dual-function X-Mode with a new deep snow setting for off-pavement adventures.

What is the price of the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek?

The 2021 Crosstrek comes in five trim levels. The base trim is priced from $23,295, Premium ($24,345), all-new Sport ($27,545), and Limited, also with the 2.5-liter engine ($29,045). Prices include destination and delivery fee ($1,050.)

AJAC says the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is the best small SUV for shoppers in 2021. Crosstrek takes the trophy beating a competitive field of models like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Nissan Kicks, Buick Encore, Honda HR-V, and Toyota CH-R.

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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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Photo credit: Subaru, Capitol Subaru