For the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, the focus of the subcompact’s update is not a revised front bumper or grille, though it does have both — it’s power. There’s finally more oomph available. By utilizing the same 2.5-liter engine found in the Legacy, Forester and Outback, Subaru addresses the biggest knock on the Crosstrek: It needed more zip. The 2.5-liter engine provides 182 hp and 176 pound-feet of torque, a jump from the 2.0-liter engine’s 152 hp and 145 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful engine is available on two trims: Sport and Limited. Here’s a roundup of snippets of Crosstrek reviews from the automotive media.
“With 3,265 pounds to haul about (272 less than an equivalent Forester Sport and 399 less than an Outback Premium), this engine is a natural fit for the small Crosstrek. From a standstill, the lifted wagon now pulls with significantly more confidence, its larger engine making good use of the extra half-liter of displacement. Stand on the gas at 30 or 40 miles per hour and the revs shoot up as the torque pushes the weight rearward on the soft suspension — a sensation previous Crosstreks could only dream of — and the numbers in the digital speedometer start to climb.
“But it’s at freeway speeds where this engine makes the biggest difference, granting more grunt for passing and merging. It will happily hold steady at 70 miles per hour and still serve up some speed when called for — sudden passes, for example, no longer require a committee hearing and a supermajority among the hamsters. This is not a fast car by any stretch, but the 2.5-liter gives the Crosstrek exactly what it needs to make life easier on the driver.”
— Brandon Turkus, Motor1.com
“”ts 182-horse, 2.5-liter has been a mainstay as the Outback’s standard engine. True to Subaru DNA, it’s also a compact Boxer engine (like that found in a Porsche Cayman) that helps lower the high-riding SUV’s center of gravity.
“Stuff it in the Crosstrek — and voila! — more spring in the trail-running shoe’s step.
“Subaru says this should satisfy its growing ‘overlander’ customer base — folks who want to hit the trails but are looking for something more affordable (and more comfortable) than a Jeep Wrangler. The Crosstrek Sport still can’t match the Wrangler’s’ 270-horse turbo-4, but the 182 horses is a nice step up from the standard Crosstrek’s 152.
“The Crosstrek’s improved looks and power are icing on the cake, because the base ute is so dang generous.”
— Henry Payne,
“” drove a Crosstrek Sport on twisty roads through the hills of southern Ohio’s Amish Country. The SUV’s body was stable and flat around quick curves, composed through dips and crests. The brakes were strong and easy to modulate in the strong decelerations common when a horse-drawn cart may be around the corner or over the next hill.”
— Mark Phelan,
“”e’ve been begging Subaru for a more powerful Crosstrek since it made its debut as a 2013 model. Seven years later, the automaker finally obliged. So does the 2.5-liter’s 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque make a noticeable difference over the base 2.0-liter’s 152 hp and 145 lb-ft? Oh yeah. Passing, merging, and climbing steep inclines are a cinch; the Crosstrek moves promptly thanks to the bigger engine. In comparison, models with the 2.0-liter feel excruciatingly sluggish, especially on the freeway. Put your foot down at highway speeds, and the CVT immediately puts the engine in the sweet spot. However, from a standstill or at parking lot speeds, the transmission gets jumpy when you ease into the throttle, causing some head toss.”
— Stefan Ogbac,
“”he base 2.0-liter takes an agonizingly long time to get up to speed, something noticed by our editors and current Crosstrek owners alike. As such, we strongly recommend stepping up to the 2.5-liter engine if at all possible. It doesn’t remotely turn the Crosstrek into a rocketship, but it does slide this 3,300-pound vehicle up the scale from underpowered to properly powered. Passing maneuvers no longer elicit panic, and freeway on-ramps don’t immediately send the engine to dronesville.
“Really, the added power was all the Crosstrek needed. It rides well, with good comfort from what feels like greater suspension travel than small CUVs like the Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR. There’s a noticeable amount of body roll in quick transitions, but in this class of vehicle that’s a reasonable tradeoff for big-bump cushiness. The Crosstrek’s steering is par for the small crossover course, which is to say a little overboosted and numb.”
— Jeremy Korzeniewski, Autoblog
“”he new Crosstrek Sport trim corrects that by using a 2.5-liter flat-4 from the larger, heavier Subaru Forester and Outback. Standard on the 2021 Crosstrek Sport and Limited, it generates 182 hp and 176 pound-feet of torque. It pushes the Crosstrek to a 60 mph time 1.5 seconds quicker than the smaller engine. With a 0-60 mph time of 8.2 seconds, it’s not going anywhere fast, but it’s better.”
“The CVT has evolved. When driving normally it hovers around the 2,000 rpm range, optimizing efficiency in place of power. Under heavy throttle, however, it offers stepped gear ratios that approximate gear shifts like an 8-speed automatic. Press the S button to tweak the throttle mapping for more responsive acceleration, gun it on a hilly country road, fiddle with the paddle shifters and the Crosstrek Sport transforms from ho-hum into four-wheeled fun.”
— Robert Duffer, The Car Connection