2016 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek SUV comes in three different trims that are namely 2.0i, Premium, and Limited. For the 2.0i trim of the SUV, the price is set at $21,695, which goes up to $27,195 for the top-end Limited trim. Standard features across all trims include rear privacy glass, alloy wheels, roof rails, air-conditioning, cruise control, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, and a 6.2-inch rear 

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The base trim of the Crosstrek is not very well equipped. The Limited trim is the recommended trim due to its long list of creature comforts and safety features. Also, we would recommend you the CVT over the manual because of the better resale value. Also, the Subaru EyeSight safety package is highly recommended. 

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is powered by a 2.0L H-4 engine that outputs 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and a CVT is optional. You also get steering-mounted paddle shifters for manually switching the gears.

The car comes with AWD as standard with 50/50 front/rear power distribution. In terms of handling, the car handles well any type of surface. It has a well-tuned suspension system that provides a comfortable ride quality. The Subaru Crosstrek takes 9 seconds to reach the 0-60 mph mark and 16.9 seconds for the quarter-mile. The car’s top speed is rated at 120 mph.

The Subaru Crosstrek is the only car here that gets an AWD system and a 5-speed manual. The CX-3 is the quickest car in this comparison, taking 8.6 seconds for the 0-60 mph run and 16.6 seconds for the quarter-mile. The Subaru and the Buick take 9 seconds and 9.3 seconds respectively. The Trax is the slowest at 10 seconds. 

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek’s fuel economy ratings stand at 23 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined with the 5-speed manual. The CVT ups those figures to 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. The car gets a fuel tank of 15.9 gallons. This gives it a range of 413.4 miles combined.

The Mazda CX-3 is the most fuel-efficient car, with its 31 mpg combined mileage. The Trax offers the second-best at 29 mpg combined, the Buick offers 28 mpg combined, with the Subaru offering the least at 26 mpg combined. In terms of range, the most city range of 368 miles is on the CX-3 despite having the smallest fuel capacity at 12.7 gallons. The Crosstrek has the best highway range at 492 miles.

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek’s interiors are similar to the interiors seen on the Subaru Impreza. This design focuses more on functionality and utility than beautification. The car features a logical arrangement of controls and all the control buttons are rather robust and premium to use. The interior gets a nice treatment as well, with a lot of soft-touch material all around. With great fit and finish levels, this interior deviates from the usual interiors seen on other Subaru cars.

The Subaru Crosstrek can accommodate five people in relative comfort, and the headroom is appropriate for an average individual. In the rear also, there’s decent space to allow 6-footers to sit comfortably as well. Excellent outward visibility is provided on the Crosstrek thanks to the big front windshield and thin A-pillars. The doors are large and allow for quick ingress and egress.

Against the rivals, the Crosstrek offers slightly more headroom in the front row, but a much longer front legroom. In the rear, the Chevrolet Trax has the most headroom and the most legroom as well. The Encore and the Trax are similar in terms of dimensions. Coming to cargo capacity, the Crosstrek offers the most capacity at 22.3 cu-ft. The least is seen on the Mazda at 21.4 cu-ft. Some interior features include:

• Cruise control
• Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
• 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks
• Heated front seats
• Adjustable center armrest
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is good from the technology aspect and bad from the sound aspect. The technology is very clean, and it’s simple and lag-free. The touch is responsive, and the interface is very well done. However, the sound quality is one of the worst in this segment. Standard features for the infotainment include a 6.2-inch touchscreen display with smartphone integration, a CD player, USB port, auxiliary input jack, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 4-speaker audio system. Some other features are:

• 7-inch touchscreen
• Satellite radio
• Dual USB ports
• Hands-free text messaging
• Navigation system
• Six-speaker audio system

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek’s design is similar to that of the Impreza in a lot of ways. This car gets an 8.7-inch ground clearance that sits it tall from the ground, and the new updated styling gives it an aggressive SUV look. The car gets a new grille, a new bumper, and a new headlight design. Apart from that, the exterior remains similar to the earlier models. 

The 2016 Crosstrek is 14.6 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,109 pounds with the Premium trim and five-speed manual transmission; up to 3,208 pounds with the Limited trim and CVT. Comparatively, it’s much longer and slightly wider than the rivals. The Buick and the Trax have a tall height. In terms of wheelbase, the Crosstrek has the longest wheelbase at 10.37 inches, whereas the Encore and the Trax have the tightest wheelbase at 100.6 inches. Some exterior features on the Crosstrek are:

• Alloy wheels
• Foglights
• Roof rails
• Heated mirrors
• Automatic headlights
• An acoustic windshield

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek was crash-tested and received 4-stars from the NHTSA and a rating of ‘Good’ from the IIHS. The Crosstrek comes standard with airbags, active front head restraints, stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, and a rearview camera. There are also a few driver assistance features available on higher trims. Some of the safety features on the Crosstrek include:

• Rearview camera
• Subaru’s Starlink safety telematics
• Lane change assist
• Blindspot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Forward collision mitigation system

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is better described as an underpowered, all-wheel-driven, efficient car that packs in some great interior features with a lot of space and comfort. It does offer an outdated infotainment system, but its safety features do make up for this. The Crosstrek serves a great purpose as a very practical and utilitarian vehicle that is simple to live with and very affordable.