2015 Subaru Crosstrek Special Edition
The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek stands out in the small crossover segment for several favorable reasons. One is its unconventional shape and accompanying vibrant exterior paint choices. It's also more car-like than most competitors, since it's based on the Subaru Impreza ($26,140.00 at Truecar) wagon, but more off-road-ready thanks to a beefed-up suspension and higher ride height. On the tech front, the Crosstrek has a very effective, easy-to-use connected infotainment system. And it's the only compact crossover that's available as a hybrid as well as a gas-powered model.
But the 2015 Crosstrek also stands out for some unfavorable reasons. Its standard 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine is underpowered compared with others in the segment, and the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT) has trouble holding onto gears, forcing the engine to drone loudly under hard acceleration. It's still a solid vehicle; it just doesn't stand out.
How Much?
The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek ($26,140.00 at Truecar) comes in five trim levels: 2.0i, 2.0i Premium, 2.0i Limited, Hybrid, and Hybrid Touring. The 2.0i base trims starts at $21,595 and the top-of-the-line Hybrid Touring starts at $29,295. The 2.0i Premium model we tested has a base price of $22,295, and came equipped with the $1,995 Option Package 15 (detailed below) and a $1,000 Lineartronic continuously variable transmission with six-speed manual mode option. With a destination charge of $850, the final sticker price came to $26,140.
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What Does It Come With?
The Crosstrek 2.0i Premium comes with a 2.0-liter, 148-horsepower, four-cylinder engine, a CVT, and all-wheel drive. Standard features include 17-aluminum-alloy wheels, roof rails, daytime running lights, fog lights, intermittent front and rear wipers, remote keyless entry, power windows, cruise control, heated front seats, Bluetooth for phone and music streaming, AM/FM HD radio, CD, dual USB ports, and an aux-in jack.
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Option Package 15 (part of a 1,000-unit special edition with Sunrise Yellow exterior paint) adds body-colored exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, a power moon roof, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, keyless ignition, and the Starlink Multimedia Plus Audio system with a 7-inch touch screen and SiriusXM satellite radio.
How's the Tech?
The Starlink Multimedia Plus Audio system includes multiple connected and somewhat overlapping applications and features. Through a companion smartphone app, Subaru's own Starlink platform offers news, weather, a calendar, and a music player function, plus apps for iHeartRadio, Stitcher, and Pandora. A separate app for Aha Radio brings in more connected, streaming content like music, news, and podcasts, and includes a search function for food, fuel, and other points of interest.
The system also has the MirrorLink integration platform for compatible smartphones, which brings even more access to cloud-based content. While this may seem redundant (and it is), Subaru covers the bases on all smartphone platforms, and uses your connected device to download data instead of forcing you to pay a separate subscription.
With its combination of a 7-inch touch screen and large home screen icons surrounded by six hard buttons, the Starlink Multimedia Plus Audio system is easy to use. One small quibble is that there's no audio source button on the home screen (although there is one on the steering wheel), which means you have to press the Audio or Apps icon to get to the tunes you want. But we like that every audio source screen has a Sound tab to adjust audio instead of burying it in a submenu.
How Does It Perform?
The XV Crosstrek's nicely tuned suspension makes it relatively responsive on dry roads, and the standard all-wheel drive gives added composure on slippery surfaces. Its extra ground clearance also lets it go where other compact crossovers can't.
But the 2.0-liter engine is underwhelming and has to work extra hard when called on to pass and merge. While a five-speed manual transmission is available as an option on the non-hybrid models, most Crosstreks come with a CVT that prioritizes fuel consumption over performance. The CVT provides herky-jerky response to gas pedal inputs that increase engine speed unnecessarily and exacerbate noise from under the hood.
Should I Buy It?
From the recently released Mazda CX-3 ($26,140.00 at Truecar) to the venerable Ford Escape ($26,140.00 at Truecar) , the small crossover segment has a number of formidable competitors, many with better performance than the Subaru XV Crosstrek. And while one reason to choose the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek over many rivals is its superior off-road capability, the Jeep Renegade betters it in that department. Though we like its tech amenities and car-like performance, the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek needs a few more positive attributes to really make it stand out in the segment.
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2015 Subaru Crosstrek Special Edition
Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/2015-subaru-xv-crosstrek-20i-premium
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