Introduced at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show, the Subaru Crosstrek enters its third generation for 2024. It gets a complete redesign, adds tech and only receives a marginal price increase.
Here are the six most important things to know about this all-new compact crossover.
Subaru was one of the last automakers with an SUV that had a manual transmission. With this new generation, that standard feature is gone, and you are left with a lone transmission option: the continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Insert the sad trombone for the 1% of the population that cares. For the record, if you want an SUV with a manual, you now have two options: Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler.
The standard infotainment screen will be a 7-inch display with a high-resolution touchscreen. This will have wired-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, if you opt for a trim that has the 11.6-inch screen with the Starlink Multimedia Plus system, you’ll get wireless CarPlay/Auto as well as TomTom navigation.
Now that the manual transmission is dead in the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, that means every single model gets the automaker’s EyeSight safety suite. Previously, this wasn’t available on manual transmission vehicles.
The newest version of this system can identify pedestrians and bicyclists and brake if necessary.
Other safety tech available on the Crosstrek includes rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist and lane change assist.
In an interesting turn of events, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek bucks the bigger trend and actually gets smaller. OK, it’s minutely smaller, but still. This means slightly less legroom and cargo volume. The sum of the dimensions we’ve received are as follows:
2024 Crosstrek | 2023 Crosstrek | ||
---|---|---|---|
Exterior Dimensions | |||
Wheelbase | 105.1 in. | 104.9 in. | |
Length | 176.4 in. | 176.5 in. | |
Width | 70.9 in. (79.4 in. including mirrors) | 71.0 in. (79.0 in. including mirrors) | |
Height | 62.8 in. (Base) 63.0 (Premium, Sport, Limited) | 63.6 in. with roof rails | |
Min. road clearance | 8.7 in. | 8.7 in. | |
Angle of approach | 18.0 deg. | 18.0 deg. | |
Angle of departure | 30.1 deg. | 28.6 deg. | |
Ramp breakover angle | 19.7 deg. | 19.7 deg. | |
Track (front/rear) | 61.2/61.2 in. | 61.0/61.2 in. | |
Interior Dimensions | |||
Headroom (f/r) | 39.8/38.0 in. with moonroof: 38.7/38.0 in. | 39.8/38.0 in. with moonroof: 37.6 /37.8 in. | |
Legroom (f/r) | 42.9/36.5 in. | 43.1/36.5 in. | |
EPA interior volume | 100.5 cu. ft. with moonroof: 99.0 cu. ft. | 100.9 cu. ft. with moonroof: 97.5 cu. ft. | |
Cargo volume | Rear seats up/down: 19.9/54.7 cu. ft. | Rear seats up/down: 20.8 cu. ft./55.3 cu. ft. |
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek retains the same two engines we saw in the previous generation. The base engine, found on Base and Premium trims, is a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder direct-injection Boxer that delivers 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The up-level Sport and Limited models, however, will get the upgraded 2.5-liter Boxer that delivers 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Unless there’s a typo somewhere on the website or in the press release, the only power number that changes is the torque in the up-level engine, which gets a 2 pound-feet boost.
With more safety, new design and added tech, you’d assume there would be a price increase. What’s really interesting, however, is the fact that the base price of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Base trim is the same as the 2023 Crosstrek Base with the CVT (which was a $1,350 option in 2023). So, essentially, even though the base price increases, it doesn’t really increase. If you take the CVT into account, the Premium trim actually decreases by $30.
The real price increases come in the upper two trims. Oh, and the destination fee also jumps from $1,225 to $1,295. The base-to-base pricing is as follows:
Trim | 2024 price | 2023 price | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Base | $26,290 | $24,870 | $1,420 |
Premium | $27,440 | $26,020 | $1,420 |
Sport | $30,290 | $29,220 | $1,070 |
Limited | $32,190 | $30,720 | $1,470 |
The Crosstrek has always been a favorite vehicle of mine because I like the compact size paired with its rugged styling. While I’ll miss the manual transmission, I get it. Very few people buy them these days. Sigh.
Overall, this next-gen 2024 Subaru Crosstrek looks like it’s taking an excellent vehicle and making it even better. One thing to note, there is no mention of a hybrid option. So, this means there either won’t be one or it’ll come at a later date.
Stay tuned for more information as we get it.