The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport is a great option for prospective overlanders, slotted between the Premium and Limited trims. Here are five things to love about this iteration of the Crosstrek.
Fuel Economy
We spent a week in the Crosstrek Sport, driving it from the suburbs of Massachusetts to the coast of southern Maine.
Over the course of that week, we traversed back roads, city streets and the Maine Turnpike at the legal speed of 70 mph. In that mixed driving, we observed 30.5 mpg. As the disclaimer says, “Your mileage may vary.” But considering the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov shows the 2024 Crosstrek delivering 29 mpg in combined driving and a maximum fuel economy of 34 mpg in highway testing,1 30.5 mpg is close to what most people will experience until the temperature drops significantly in the winter.
What’s doubly nice is the relatively large 16.6-gallon tank. Factoring that with the fuel economy, you can expect to drive more than 500 miles before you need to fill up.
Cargo Versatility
With the seats configured for passengers, the Crosstrek Sport offers 19.9 cubic feet of cargo volume. Folding the 60/40-split rear seatback down opens the entire cargo volume to 54.7 cubic feet.
But what does that mean in terms of stuff you can stash back there? A medium-sized suitcase typically carries about 2.4 cubic feet. Depending on the shape, you should easily fit six medium-sized suitcases in the cargo area with all the seats deployed and still have enough room for soft cargo on top.
We were also impressed with the versatility of the space. With one side of the rear seatback folded down, we were able to slip four 8-foot 1x5s in the side of the cargo area between the front door and the side of the passenger seat so that the rear gate closed completely.
Standard EyeSight®2 Driver Assist Technology
Previous generations of Crosstrek offered EyeSight2 Driver Assist Technology, but the 2024 model makes the technology standard across the board, regardless of trim level. That also includes Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Pre-Collision Braking3 and Throttle Management, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assist.
It’s hard to evaluate things like Pre-Collision Braking3 without coming close to a crash, but we had plenty of time to test the Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist. All of it was a boon on the highway portions of our trip, maintaining a legal speed and a safe following distance to the car in front of us, even in heavy Memorial Day weekend traffic through the Hampton, New Hampshire, tolls.
With Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control, you set a speed and it will follow the car in front at a predetermined distance. When that car slows down, you slow at the same rate, all the way down to a dead stop. If something abrupt happens in front of you, the Crosstrek Sport emits both visual and audible alerts that you should brake immediately. If you don’t, Pre-Collision Braking will.
The 182-hp Boxer Engine
With its 2.5-liter Boxer Engine, the Crosstrek Sport adds 30 hp over the 2.0-liter engine of the Base and Premium trim, and you’ll notice it. Climbing hills in Maine and running through the fast sections of highway between Maine and Massachusetts, the Crosstrek Sport provided decent acceleration and good climbing power.
There’s an off-ramp in Eliot, Maine, at Route 236 that’s been under construction for quite a while. You come to a full stop, and it’s challenging to find a safe spot to pull out. Thanks to a constant stream of cars coming, when your slot opens, you need to be decisive. The Crosstrek Sport moved out into the lane with no drama, ramping us up to 60 as the Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) found the optimal ratios for acceleration.
Dual Function X-MODE®
Even the base trim level features X-MODE with Hill Descent Control, a confidence-inspiring feature especially when rolling down a steep descent where the ground underfoot is loose with stones or slick mud. But the Crosstrek Sport goes one better with dual-function X-MODE, including modes for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud.
Snow/Dirt mode minimizes wheelspin and alters the Symmetrical AWD system’s torque split to provide the most traction available. Deep Snow/Mud mode allows for some moderate wheelspin, which helps to eject mud and snow from the tire treads so that the tires can dig down to a surface they can grip.
With its standard All-Weather Package, Sport Cloth upholstery, sound-insulating windshield and wireless phone charger, the Crosstrek Sport is going to be an all-season favorite among commuters and daily drivers. And the 700-pound static roof capacity will make any Crosstrek trim level a great platform for camping and outdoor adventures.
1EPA fuel economy estimates. Actual mileage will vary with driving conditions and your vehicle’s condition.
2 EyeSight is a driver-assist system that may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as vehicle maintenance, weather, and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. Requires automatic transmission.
3 EyeSight is a driver-assist system that may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The Pre-Collision Braking System is designed to provide automatic braking that either prevents a collision or reduces the severity of a frontal impact. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors, such as vehicle maintenance, weather, and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations.
