Name: Subaru Crosstrek (2024 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Subaru Crosstrek
Rating: 58.0

Summary

The Subaru Crosstrek is a small-medium crossover that arrived in the UK in early 2024, following two generations of the Subaru XV. It’s essentially a raised hatchback with proper off-road capability, rather than another small SUV that’s designed to look rugged without venturing beyond the tarmac.

Like most Subaru models, the Crosstrek is aimed at a fairly specific audience. Permanent all-wheel drive, generous ground clearance and dedicated off-road systems make it more capable on muddy tracks, rough roads and slippery surfaces than most similarly sized rivals. If you genuinely need those abilities, there’s a good reason to consider one.

Unfortunately, the Crosstrek is much less convincing in everyday driving. Its 2.0-litre petrol engine has mild hybrid assistance, but the electrical system offers very little meaningful electric driving. The engine is also noisy and sluggish, particularly when paired with the continuously variable automatic transmission, while fuel consumption is poor for something marketed as a hybrid.

The cabin is reasonably roomy and feels solidly built, but the dashboard and touchscreen are dated compared with newer rivals. The driving experience is also disappointing, with vague steering, excessively bouncy suspension and intrusive driver assistance warnings. Given the Crosstrek’s relatively high price, these shortcomings are difficult to overlook.

As of October 2026, the Subaru Crosstrek holds a New Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 58%. Its Used Car Expert Rating is also a D, with a score of 60%.

Safety is its strongest area, earning a B-grade rating, but media review scores are poor at just 43% (E-grade). Running costs and environmental performance are both rated D, while Subaru’s three-year new car warranty also earns a D-grade.

The Subaru Crosstrek remains an interesting choice for buyers who genuinely need a compact car with proper off-road ability. For everyone else, there are more comfortable, economical and enjoyable alternatives for similar money.

Crosstrek highlights

Genuine off-road ability and permanent all-wheel drive
Strong five-star Euro NCAP safety performance
Generous ground clearance
Decent cabin and rear-seat space
Solid interior construction

Crosstrek lowlights

Noisy, sluggish engine and automatic gearbox
Bouncy suspension and vague steering
Dated cabin and touchscreen
Poor fuel economy despite mild hybrid assistance
Expensive for what it offers

Key specifications

Body style: Small-medium crossover
Engines: petrol, mild hybrid assistance
Price: From £35,995

Launched: Winter 2023/24
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Subaru Crosstrek is safe, rugged and genuinely capable away from tarmac, but it feels badly dated and is neither comfortable nor enjoyable to drive.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 4.2 / 10

Read full review

The Car Expert

Stuart Masson

“The Subaru Crosstrek is pretty good to drive and amazing off-road, but a poor engine, rubbish economy and high price tag consign it to niche status.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 6 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

More reviews

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The new Subaru Crosstrek is an oddball that sits somewhere between a hatch and small SUV, but it’s hard to recommend it over the best in either class.”
Author: James Disdale, Richard Ingram
Read review

Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“Subaru has always ploughed its own furrow and so it is with the Crosstrek, a mash-up of hatch body, SUV stance, all-wheel drive, and hybrid power.”
Author: Al Suttie
Read review

Parkers

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4.4 / 10
“The Subaru Crosstrek is an improvement over the XV – but it doesn’t go far enough.“
Author: Luke Wilkinson
Read review

Regit

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“It might be worth weighing up the importance of four-wheel drive when considering the Subaru Crosstrek. Yes, there are plenty of similarly-styled SUVs out there that boast better driving dynamics and cost less, but they would leave you stranded if faced with tougher terrain. The Crosstrek most definitely wouldn’t.”
Author: Maxine Ashford
Read review

The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“An old-fashioned feel might be a disadvantage against more modern rivals, but when rugged 4×4 ability is essential, this is a hidden gem.”
Author: Alex Robbins
Read review

Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Crosstrek is a proper old school, rufty-tufy, go anywhere small SUV that is sure to appease the Subaru faithful.”
Author: Peter Rawlins
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 83%
Child protection: 90%
Vulnerable road users: 85%
Safety assist: 72%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 2.0-litre petrol (mild hybrid) automatic, all-wheel drive

Overall score: 2 stars
Date tested: January 2024
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 6.7 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 3.3 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 1.7 / 10

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Hybrid models	37 mpg	D

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Hybrid models	174 g/km	D

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	20	B

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£247	C
Year 2	£597	C
Year 3	£1,023	C
Year 4	£1,207	C
Year 5	£1,667	C
Overall	£4,741	C

The Subaru Crosstrek is not as cheap as you might hope to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

Fuel consumption is poor, especially since the petrol engine does have a level of electrical hybrid support (although it’s a long way short of a full hybrid, so it can’t run for miles on electricity alone).

The good news is that insurance premiums should be very competitive, while servicing and maintenance bills for the first five years should also be good.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Subaru Crosstrek

Overall ratingD25%
Petrol or diesel modelsE13%
Electric or hybrid modelsC47%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration8 years
Battery warranty mileage100,000 miles

Subaru’s new car warranty is about the bare minimum offered in the UK, with a duration of three years and a limit of 60,000 miles (whichever comes first). Other manufacturers are starting to do much better, with some offering seven or even eight years of new car warranty cover.

Warranty on a used Subaru Crosstrek

As of October 2026, all used Subaru Crosstreks should still be covered by their new car warranties unless they have already reached the 60,000-mile limit.

If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ Subaru Crosstrek from an official Subaru dealership, you will get a minimum 12-month/20,000-mile warranty included.
If you are buying a used Subaru Crosstrek from an independent dealership, any warranty offered beyond what’s left of the new car warranty will vary, and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used Subaru Crosstrek from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy any used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.