Why The New Subaru Crosstrek Still Wins With One Hand Tied Behind Its Back

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is good, and the 2024 Crosstrek subcompact SUV will leave the competition in the dust. See why Crosstrek is about to explode.

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is a hot model for Subaru of America, and the all-new next-generation 2024 Crosstrek subcompact SUV is about to get red hot. The second-generation Crosstrek, before its remodel, should have been slowing down in sales, but it's not.

After the first quarter of 2023, the aging 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is the winner by a large margin in the subcompact SUV category. When the new next-generation model arrives, it will win big. A report from Automotive News (by subscription) says the Crosstrek is the least impacted by the chip shortages that have affected many automakers.

Subaru Crosstrek is the hottest model.

The hot Crosstrek subcompact started the first two months of 2023 hot, and in March, the subcompact SUV continued its hot streak. As a result, the 2023 Crosstrek was SOA's overall sales leader again. In addition, Crosstrek was the top performer by volume, achieving its best March ever with 14,040 vehicle sales, surpassing its March 2022 sales of 13,460, up 4.3 percent.

The hot Crosstrek is up 10.9 percent for the first quarter of the year, the most of any Subaru SUV nameplate. And Crosstrek is the best-selling subcompact in its segment. Here are the subcompact SUV models and their total sales through the first quarter of 2023.

Subaru Crosstrek 41,562
Ford Bronco Sport 29,871
Honda HR-V 26,504
Mazda CX-30 19,870
Hyundai Kona 19,220
Toyota Corolla Cross 14,514
Kia Seltos 13,894
Volkswagen Taos 13,443
Buick Encore GX 12,279
Nissan Kicks 11,831
Hyundai Venue 8,603
Chevrolet Trax 6,466
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 4,613
Jeep Renegade 4,129
Mini Countryman 2,787
Toyota C-HR 750

The Crosstrek is ahead of the competition and could accelerate forward with the all-new 2024 model arriving this spring.

Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, called the third-generation Crosstrek, with 2.0- and 2.5-liter engines, one of the industry's most important launches of the year because Subaru will be boosting output of one its most profitable and highest-volume models.

The Crosstrek is so popular Subaru Corporation will now produce the subcompact SUV at two plants; the 2024 Crosstrek Base and Premium trims with the 2.0-liter engine are made in Gunma, Japan. The 2024 Sport, Limited, and Wilderness trims with the 2.6-liter engine will be manufactured in Subaru's U.S. plant in Lafayette, Indiana, for the first time.

The extra output will enable Subaru of America to get its most popular trim levels to customers faster. "Subaru sits in an enviable position," said Fiorani. "Shortening the delivery times will also improve the Crosstrek's place in the market."

Garrick Goh, planning manager for the new Crosstrek, says improvements were made for active customers using the subcompact SUV to get further off the grid. As a result, Crosstrek owners are more likely to use the roof rack, own mountain bikes, go hiking and camping, and drive off-road, than owners of other small utility vehicles.

Some of the more unknown next-generation Crosstrek improvements include:

The Crosstrek is now available with Subaru's 11.6-inch Starlink Multimedia Plus system. The high-resolution touchscreen has wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. It is a giant information display with on-screen controls for climate, vehicle functions, and audio.

The new Crosstrek now has an electronic parking brake that frees interior space for more storage. Automatic emergency steering will guide the vehicle around a parked car without changing lanes. A new dynamic ventilation system monitors occupants and directs the heating and A/C accordingly to heat better and cool the cabin more efficiently.

Crosstrek's door checks are more regulated; for example, an open door won't fly open further in a strong wind when loading or unloading cargo. The rear doors open at 90 degrees, allowing greater access to the back seat and roof rack. The rear camera features a washer to free it from mud and road debris, and the rear wiper covers more glass.

With the addition of the all-new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness trim level, Subaru will attract even more outdoor enthusiasts, and Subaru is still uncertain of its ceiling. "We build these vehicles for our adventure-seeking customers," Goh said of the 2024 Crosstrek and its prospects. "We are still looking for the ceiling."

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is good; the all-new 2024 Crosstrek subcompact SUV will leave the competition in the dust. The remodeled Crosstrek's sales are about to explode.

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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 USA