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Compact SUV; Built in
  • 4-door hatchback
  • longitudinal front-engine/all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $17,600 – $25,600*


2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek


2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek


2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek


2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid

Pros:
  • Passenger and cargo room
  • Ride quality
Cons:
  • Acceleration
  • Engine noise under full throttle

The Subaru XV Crosstrek joins the increasingly popular compact sport-utility class. It is one of the more car-like entries in the class, yet offers generous cargo and passenger room for its size. We also like the comfortable ride and tastefully finished cabin. XV Crosstrek has promising fuel economy estimates but we wish its engine made a bit more power, especially at low rpm. Normally we like the flexibility of a manual transmission, but XV Crosstrek’s smooth CVT automatic does a better job corralling the small engine’s horsepower. Overall, Subaru XV Crosstrek does a good job combining car qualities with small-SUV space and styling. It’s worth a serious look.

Overview

XV Crosstrek was an all-wheel-drive compact sport-utility vehicle that was essentially a new variant of the Subaru Impreza hatchback. XV Crosstrek was similar in concept to the Impreza Outback Sport model that Subaru last offered in 2011.

The main differences between the XV Crosstrek and the Impreza hatchback included raised ride height, increased ground clearance, and some SUV-like styling touches.

Subaru offered the XV Crosstrek in 2.0i Premium and 2.0i Limited versions.

The base 2.0i Premium came standard with all-wheel-drive, 17-inch alloy wheels, 5-speed manual transmission, and many popular features including air conditioning and power windows/locks/mirrors. Cruise control, heated front seats, remote keyless entry, wireless cell-phone link, and audio streaming were also standard.

The uplevel 2.0i Limited came standard with Subaru’s “Lineartronic” continuously variable transmission (CVT) that behaves much like an automatic. Other added equipment included leather-trimmed upholstery, upgraded stereo system with a 4.3-inch LCD display screen, rearview camera, automatic climate control, and automatic on-off headlamps.

Subaru offered only a handful of options for the XV Crosstrek. The CVT, a power sunroof, and a navigation system with rearview camera were optional on the 2.0i Premium. The only extra for 2.0i Limited was a package that paired the power sunroof and a navigation system.

The XV Crosstrek’s only engine was a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. It used Subaru’s traditional horizontally opposed “boxer” design. The 2.0i Premium came standard with a 5-speed manual transmission. The “Lineartronic” continuously variable transmission (CVT) that acted much like an automatic was optional on 2.0i Premium and standard on 2.0i Limited.

The EPA estimated that the 2013 XV Crosstrek with the CVT automatic will return 25 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. With the 5-speed manual transmission, the estimates were 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. In each case, the estimates were down 2-3 mpg compared to the Impreza hatchback.

All XV Crosstrek models used regular-grade gas.

XV Crosstreks came standard with all expected safety features. A rearview camera was standard on 2.0i Limited and optional on 2.0i Premium.

Yearly Updates

2013 XV Crosstrek
The 2014 XV Crosstrek lineup added an available gas-electric hybrid model. In addition, the available navigation system now included Aha-based smartphone connectivity.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/all-wheel drive

The XV Crosstrek’s conventional gas engine is a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. It uses Subaru’s traditional horizontally opposed “boxer” design. The 2.0i Premium comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission. The “Lineartronic” continuously variable transmission (CVT) that acts much like an automatic is optional on 2.0i Premium and standard on 2.0i Limited. The XV Crosstrek Hybrid pairs a 13.4-horspower electric motor with the gas engine for a combined 160 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid was only available with the CVT.

dohc H4
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.0/122
Engine HP 148
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 145
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed manual
CVT automatic 		23/30
25/33 		25.3
dohc H4/Electric1
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 2.0/122
Engine HP 160
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 163
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
CVT automatic

 29/33

 28.2

1. XV Crosstrek Hybrid.

Road Test

With either transmission, XV Crosstrek has adequate acceleration from a stop. Overall power is modest, especially at low engine speeds. The manual transmission has an easy-to-use shifter and fine clutch action, but off-road and highway driving can require timely downshifts to keep the engine spinning fast enough to make sufficient power to climb even moderate grades. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) behaves just like an automatic transmission in everyday driving and is very smooth in operation. All XV Crosstreks with the CVT include responsive steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that can be used to choose between six “gear” ratios. Hybrids feel little different on the road, and the automatic start/stop system isn’t particularly smooth in operation.

In Consumer Guide testing, a Crosstrek with CVT averaged 25.3 mpg. A Hybrid model returned 28.2 mpg. XV Crosstrek uses regular-grade gas.

XV Crosstrek rides comfortably with good bump absorption.

XV Crosstrek feels agile and handles confidently in corners. The steering is accurate and nicely weighted. Braking is strong and easy to modulate. Ride height is about four inches higher than Subaru’s similar Impreza hatchback, but XV Crosstrek manages to retain a car-like demeanor on the road.

Wind and road noise are noticeable at a steady cruise, but neither is prevalent enough to become intrusive. The engine can be quite loud during brisk acceleration, but it largely fades into the background while cruising at highway speed.

Overall, XV Crosstrek’s controls are well marked and conveniently placed. The audio system is mounted centrally on the dash and is within easy reach. The climate control system is pleasantly simple to operate via well-marked, easy-to-grip knobs that are mounted below the radio.

XV Crosstrek’s interior is handsome and uses a combination of soft-touch and hard-plastic surfaces. The dash’s central control area has a grained metallic-black finish that adds some visual interest, as does the restrained use of silver trim. The textured cloth seating surfaces on 2.0i Premium present well, and 2.0i Limited’s leather upholstery looks and feels good. Both include contrast-stitch detailing that further adds to the ambiance.

The airy interior is one of XV Crosstrek’s strengths. Large adults should be comfortable up front. Legroom is generous, and headroom is very good even when equipped with the available sunroof. Entry and exit are easy. The seats themselves are comfortable. The console’s armrest is padded, but it is mounted far back. It does slide forward over the rear-most cupholder which results in a comfortable position, at least for a 6-foot-plus driver. The headrests are adjustable forward and backward in addition to up and down. All-around visibility is surprisingly good.

Rear-seat space is better than normal for compact cars and even outshines some larger SUVs. A six-footer can sit behind another, with enough foot space, legroom, and headroom to be comfortable. Wide rear doors help ease entry and exit.

Rear cargo room is good. The split-folding rear seat backs fold nearly flat for more cargo space. The rubbery-plastic cargo tray for the rear cargo floor is a thoughtful option. Interior small-item storage is better than average. There are bottle holders in all four doors (the front doors have additional storage space as well), a large open compartment in front of the shifter, a bi-level tray aft of the shifter, two console cupholders with a retractable cover, and a generously sized glovebox. The center console’s storage bin is located a bit farther back than expected, but it houses pen and tissue holders, along with a USB port, AUX jack, and 12-volt power socket. The door pulls create small storage bins with enough capacity to hold a cell phone or loose coins.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2013 Subaru XV Croostrek 2.0i Limited w/Moonroof and Navigation

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 7
70%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 5
50%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 7
70%

Total: 61

Specifications

4-door hatchback
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
103.7 175.2 70.1 63.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
51.9 15.9 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
39.8 37.7 43.5 35.4
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek 4-door hatchback

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

None
Description:

Recall History

2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Description: Certain 2013 model XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with the CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine start accessory (RES) may randomly start. If the RES keyfob is dropped, it may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without a person actually pressing the button. If this happens, the vehicle’s engine may inadvertently start and run for 15-minute cycles until the fob’s battery is dead or the vehicle runs out of fuel.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 20, 2016.
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