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2018 Subaru Crosstrek

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Rating7.5

Ranked #3 in 

Compact SUV
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$21,795 - $26,295
Starting Price 

Year

Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on November 1, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Standard All-Wheel-Drive

Sluggish acceleration from the engine

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is a fully redesigned model.

Refined, comfortable and spacious interiors

Manual Transmission is a gas guzzler

Great on-road manners

Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

High ground clearance for off-roading.

Specs & Features

$22,795

price

152 hp @ 6000 rpm

horsepower

145 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

torque

Continuously Variable-Speed Automatic

transmission

2.0L 4cyl AWD CVT

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Subaru Crosstrek has been redesigned for the 2018 model year, and now starts at a base price of $21,795 (MSRP). The 2018 Crosstrek is built on a new platform and shares the bare bones with Impreza including a 152 hp four-cylinder engine. Subaru has improved the interior quality along with smoother rides than the outgoing model. The interior feature more tech including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

The Subaru Crosstrek is a hit thanks to its rugged styling, versatile size, and off-road capability. Unlike the other subcompact SUVs in the class, the Crosstrek is available with standard all-wheel-drive and many high-end options such as Harman Kordon sound system and a full suite of advanced safety features that Subaru calls EyeSight. The alternatives to the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek includes Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Toyota C-HR.

Buying Advice

Crosstrek 2.0i Premium is our recommendation. Why? Because for just $800, optional CVT comes with paddle shifters and most importantly, Subaru EyeSight driver assistance system is available. We equipped the Platinum with must-haves CVT ($1000) and Subaru EyeSight package ($1,395) for a total asking price of $25,905.

Read More +

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The 2018 Crosstrek stands out in the subcompact SUV class for its standard all-wheel-drive system. It is Subaru's smallest crossover with pricing lower than the Forester and Outback. The Corsstrek uses a similar platform as in the Impreza hatch and is credited for spacious interior and cargo along with smooth drivability. You can do light off-roading in the Crrosstrek and it entails a lower cost of ownership than most of the competitors in the class.

The 2018 Crosstrek’s five-year costs of ownership which include cost for gas, insurance, repairs, and maintenance is estimated at about $21,440. Though most users complain about Crosstrek's below-average fuel economy with the manual transmission.

Features
8.0/10

Subaru offers the Crosstrek in three levels of trim: base (2.0i), Premium, and Limited. All three trims feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and all-wheel drive is standard. The Crosstrek 2.0i base and Crosstrek Premium come with either a manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CVT is standard on Crosstrek Limited.

Pricing for the 2018 Crosstrek begins at $21,795 for the base trim and goes up to $26,295 for the range-topping Limited. For the price, Subaru equips the base trim with decent features which includes a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, 17-inch wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a four-speaker stereo, cloth seats, and a rearview camera.

Trims 2.0i 2.0i Premium 2.0i Limited
MSRP (Manual/AWD) $21,795 $22,595 -
MSRP (CVT/AWD) $22,795 $23,595 $26,295
Key Features Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Includes 2.0i key features and adds: Includes 2.0i Premium key features and adds:
  Raised roof rails. Available EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. Leather-trimmed upholstery.
  8.7 inches of ground clearance. Available power moonroof. Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
  STARLINK Multimedia with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle. 18-inch dark gray-finish alloy wheels.
  17-inch dark gray-finish alloy wheels. Fog lights. LED Steering Responsive Headlights.
  Available Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). All-Weather Package w/ heated front seats. Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).
    SUBARU STARLINK Safety and Security.  

Moving to the Premium and Limited trims, you can avail of the EyeSight suite of safety features. This includes advanced driver assistance features such as a pre-collision warning and braking system, lane departure warning, lane keeps assist, and adaptive cruise control.

We Recommend:

The Premium is the best value choice in the 2018 Crosstrek lineup. It has about $800 overhead cost than the base trim for which it adds a six-speaker stereo, heated front seats and mirrors, automatic headlights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Premium is also available with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, contrasting interior stitching, and a moonroof.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

With the manual transmission, the 2018 Crosstrek returns EPA estimated 12 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. The CVT-equipped models improve the fuel economy estimates to 27/22 mpg city/highway, which is above average in the subcompact class. Considering Crosstre's standard all-wheel drive, its fuel economy estimates are impressive.

Model 2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2018 Honda HR-V 2018 Toyota C-HR 2018 Mazda CX-3
Mpg city mpg 23 25 27 29
Mpg highway mpg 29 33 31 34
Mpg combine mpg 25 28 29 31

However, if you can make do with FWD, Subaru's competitors offer better gas mileage. The base CX-3 gets 29/34 mpg while the C-HR is rated at 27/31 mpg. 

Interior
8.0/10

"2018 Subaru Crosstrek makes its biggest strides from the last generation in refinement and comfort." – thecarconnection

2018 Crosstrek Seating and Comfort

The Crosstrek rides on top of the Impreza hatchback platform and offers class-leading interior and cargo space along with user-friendly technology. The interior design is upscale and stylish. The base trim comes with cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, and a 60/40-split, flat-folding rear seat. The front and rear seats have ample leg- and headroom and seats are reasonably comfortable.

Some critics found the cushion a little thin in both rows. Visibility is great on all sides of the crossover, thanks to Crosstrek's lifted ride height. The cabin has a clean, upscale feeling and available features include leather upholstery, cloth upholstery with contrast stitching, heated front seats, and a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat.

Model 2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2018 Honda HR-V 2018 Toyota C-HR 2018 Mazda CX-3
Passenger capacity 5 5 5 5
Passenger Volume 100.9 ft cube 100.1 ft cube 83.8 ft cube 86.3 ft cube
Front (Head/Hip/Shoulder/Leg)

Exterior
6.0/10

“From the outside, the new Crosstrek is most noticeable by its nose. Its lower front bumper is full of more black plastic, and on some trims, a darker grille.” – theCarConnection

2018 Crosstrek Dimension and Weight

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is all-new this year but there its styling looks similar to the outgoing model, Subaru claims this second-generation Crosstrek is 90 percent changes. the small off-roader attitude is consistent and it has the same athletic profile, highlighted by practical gray body cladding. It also provides rugged contrast to the vibrant colors on offer. 

Upfront, the nose of the Crosstrek is quite noticeable while the lower front bumper is full of more black plastic, and on higher trims, Crosstrek gets a darker grille. The new headlight design can cover LEDs and reaches quickly into the front fenders. Also above average ground clearance also offers the twin benefits of allowing extra suspension travel and higher seat heights. 

Model 2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2018 Honda HR-V 2018 Toyota C-HR 2018 Mazda CX-3
curb weight 3113 lbs 2888 lbs 3300 lbs 2809 lbs
Length 175.8" 169.1" 171.2" 168.3"
Width 71" 69.8" 60.6" 60"
Height 63.6" 63.2" 61.6" 60.7"
Ground Clearance 8.7" 7.1" 5.9" 6.2"
Wheelbase 104.9" 102.8" 103.9" 101.2"
Track width(in) F/R 61/61.2 60.4/60.6 60.6/60.6 60/59.9

The Subaru Crosstrek weighs from 3,113 to 3,230 pounds, depending on the trim configuration you choose. Sharing the bare bones with Impreza, the Crosstrek rides on a 104.9 inches long wheelbase. This practical crossover SUV offers a spacious interior and has above average length, width and height in the subcompact class.

Safety
8.0/10

The Subaru Crosstrek received a 2018 Top Safety Pick+ along with the highest rating of Good in all crash tests conducted by the IIHS. The properly equipped Crosstrk Premium and Limited earned the highest rating of Superior for front crash prevention. The NHTSA gave this crossover a five-out-of-five-star overall safety rating.

Subaru offers EyeSight driver-assist technologies including adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning with sway warning and lane keep assist. The base trim features a standard rearview camera.

Available advanced safety features:

  • blind-spot monitoring
  • rear cross-traffic alert
  • lane keep assist
  • lane departure warning
  • forward collision warning
  • automatic emergency braking
  • automatic high beams
  • adaptive cruise control
  • reverse automatic braking

Competition
9.0/10

2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2018 Honda HR-V

The 2018 Honda HR-V is also a good subcompact SUV, just like the Subaru Crosstrek. The HR-V impresses with its spacious interior with more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than the Subaru. Also, Honda provides extra rear seat configurations for carrying bulkier items. '

On the other hand, the Crosstrek has a bit more off-road capability and better ride height. Overall, the Honda HR-V is a better choice, as it is a more affordable, practical, and dynamics option in comparison to the Subaru.

2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2018 Mazda CX-3

The 2018 Mazda CX-3 is distinctive in its class as it offers spirited driving performance, a good acceleration, and sharp handling. This sporty crossover also has an upscale cabin and better fuel economy than the Crosstrek.

However, Mazda lacks standard all-wheel-drive. Also, Crosstrek's above-average ground clearance allows it to tackle the beaten paths more easily than the CX-3. For budget entry into the segment, going with Mazda CX-3 with standard FWD can save you around $4,200 compared to the Subaru. The Crosstrek has its own benefits including more room for passengers and cargo.

Final Verdict

The Subaru Crosstrek is a decent subcompact offering that offers a perfect combination of family needs for space and utility at an affordable price point and ownership cost. Where most other rivals throw better features at lower starting prices or offer more sporting driving dynamics, the Crosstrek is is easier to live with on a daily basis. Thank the redesigned 2018 Crosstrek which features improved cabin tech and smoother ride, and it remains one of the most capable off-road SUVs compared to anything in its price range.

Trims

    Base
    $21,795 onwards
    • 6.5-Inch touchscreen
    • 60/40-Split folding rear seat
    • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
    • Auto up/down front windows
    • Carpeted floor mats
    • Driver information display
    • Rearview camera
    Premium
    $22,595 onwards
    • Automatic headlights
    • Heated seats & mirrors
    • Leather-Wrapped steering wheel
    • Subaru Starlink features
    Limited
    $26,295 onwards
    • 18-Inch wheels
    • 8-Inch dashboard display
    • Automatic climate control
    • Keyless entry and ignition
    • Leather seats
    • Led adaptive headlights
    • Six-Way power-adjustable driver seat

Compare to similar cars

7.5
2018 Subaru Crosstrek

Price

$21,795- $26,295

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.5

Horsepower

152 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

145 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

7.0
2018 Buick Encore

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Gasoline

6.97

138 hp @ 4900 rpm

148 lb.-ft. @ 1850 rpm

5

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6.5
2018 Buick Envision

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197 hp @ 6300 rpm

192 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

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6.8
2018 Chevrolet Equinox

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170 hp @ 5600 rpm

203 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

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6.5
2018 Chevrolet Trax

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138 hp @ 4900 rpm

148 lb.-ft. @ 1850 rpm

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5.5
2018 Dodge Journey

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173 hp @ 6000 rpm

166 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

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6.8
2018 Fiat 500X

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6.4
2018 Ford EcoSport

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Gasoline

6.36

123 hp @ 6000 rpm

125 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm

5

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6.9
2018 Ford Escape

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7.2
2018 GMC Terrain

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Gasoline

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170 hp @ 5600 rpm

203 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

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2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    		SourceCompare
    		9.2 sec17 sec123 mph
    		7.8 sec16.0 sec120 mph
    		7.9 sec--
    		8 sec16.1 sec120 mph
    		8 sec16 sec115 mph
    		8.2 sec16.2 sec120 mph
    Read More

    2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      		SourceCompare
      		27 mpg29 mpg25 mpg16.6 gal.381.8/481.4 mi.
      		52 mpg49 mpg50 mpg11.9 gal.618.8/583.1 mi.
      		29 mpg34 mpg31 mpg12.7 gal.368.3/431.8 mi.
      		27 mpg33 mpg30 mpg13.2 gal.356.4/435.6 mi.
      		26 mpg33 mpg29 mpg14.5 gal.377/478.5 mi.
      		27 mpg31 mpg29 mpg13.2 gal.356.4/409.2 mi.

      2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        		SourceCompare
        		175.8 in.71 in.63.6 in.8.7 in.104.9 in.
        		192.4 in.72.2 in.66.6 in.7.2 in.113.8 in.
        		189.6 in.72.4 in.66.1 in.8.7 in.108.1 in.
        		187.4 in.74.4 in.66.3 in.7.3 in.109.4 in.
        		185.1 in.72.4 in.66.3 in.7.9 in.109.8 in.
        		185 in.74 in.66.1 in.7.3 in.106.3 in.

        2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          		SourceCompare
          		20.8 cu.ft.100.9 cu.ft.55.3 cu.ft.
          		10.3 cu.ft.128.2 cu.ft.63.3 cu.ft.
          		30.9 cu.ft.103.6 cu.ft.59.6 cu.ft.
          		24.6 cu.ft.105.4 cu.ft.100.7 cu.ft.Jeep USA
          		26.9 cu.ft.100.6 cu.ft.57.3 cu.ft.
          		12.2 cu.ft.100.1 cu.ft.50.8 cu.ft.

          2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            		SourceCompare
            		55.3 cu.ft.20.8 cu.ft.55.3 cu.ft.-
            		14.9 cu.ft.30.7 cu.ft.60.1 cu.ft.-
            		48.4 cu.ft.18.8 cu.ft.48.4 cu.ft.74 ft.
            		89.7 cu.ft.26.9 cu.ft.57.3 cu.ft.74 ft.
            		4.8 cu.ft.12.4 cu.ft.44.5 cu.ft.-
            		45.8 cu.ft.19.2 cu.ft.45.8 cu.ft.-

            2018 Subaru Crosstrek vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              		SourceCompare
              		1500 lbs.1186 lbs.3113 lbs.
              		9300 lbs.1233 lbs.3056 lbs.Jeep USA
              		8600 lbs.1031 lbs.2809 lbs.
              		6200 lbs.835 lbs.3300 lbs.
              		3500 lbs.1018 lbs.3237 lbs.
              		3208 lbs.1263 lbs.2805 lbs.

              2018 Subaru Crosstrek SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              5

              Recalls

              0

              Investigations

              184

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              2018 Subaru Impreza

              Horsepower : 152 hp @ 6000 rpm

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              2018 Subaru Crosstrek

              Horsepower : 152 hp @ 6000 rpm

              MPG Combined : 25 mpg

              0-60 : 9.2 sec

              #7

              2018 Subaru Crosstrek User Reviews

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              RC

              Rachel Campbell

              2019 Subaru Crosstrek

              4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: June 19, 2024

              Subie zoom zoom

              Pros - ["My car is very reliable.", "It's comfortable to drive"]

              Cons - ["Horsepower, it can be slow.", "My car doesn't have a sun roof."]

              My 2019 subaru crosstrek is wonderful with its MPG at about 35 in the city and 32 on highway. My subaru crosstrek is extremely spacious and able to hold all of our camping gear which is amazing. My subaru crosstrek has safety features like a back up camera and lane departure protection. I absolutely love my car and so does my 6 year old son. It keeps up safe and comfortable. Wouldn't trade it for...

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review
              Read more »

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