2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport Reviewed: Know your Niche

[@MarksTech]

I have one! Bought it last month, then the very next day I took it to the blue ridge mountains. 900 mile road trip. It was AMAZING. Took it off road and it did VERY well! The self centering/autopilot is also amazing, slightly worse than Tesla, but not noticeable on the highway. Great car. Got it for 26,000 fully loaded

[@christhompson5739]

I think you also lose LED headlights with the sport

[@TheTopher]

The hiking boot of cars!

[@viewsonvehicles]

Lol, exactly.

[@larssfeihc9199]

How does it do on our fine roads here in SE MI? As you both know on roading this time of year is akin to off roading.

[@viewsonvehicles]

@@larssfeihc9199 It provides a cushy ride, the 60 series tires help a great deal with the bumps, and it handles bends with full competence. It’s just not that fun.

[@Flfreedom]

New channel and already as articulate and well paced like savageG…bravo!

[@viewsonvehicles]

Thank you so much!

[@jbm0866]

After renting a 2018 Crosstrek (in 2018) I agree with you it's not really a drivers car. The steering is too light and has no feel, the 152hp engine is fine around town, not so much for climbing mountain roads or highway passing, and it's grip around corners at speed is just average. However I will disagree that it isnt a good long distance car. It has plenty of cargo room for two, maybe 3 people, ride is almost cushy compared to most other cars it's size, (crossover or otherwise) and the seats are reasonably supportive and comfy. Of course it's not the quietest compact crossover/wagon/lifted hatchback you can find, but I found it not too bad for a 700 mile round trip we took. Are there better cars for road tripping? Sure, but there are also many who are worse...and won't be able to leave the pavement if your ultimate destination requires that. (Ours did and it performed flawlessly)

[@elieabousamra2857]

hello. Is it an inline engine or a boxer engine?

[@viewsonvehicles]

it's a flat four (or boxer) engine.

[@Hexsyn]

It is a lifted hatch for sure. Also glad I resisted the urge for the spoiler. Doesn't look bad, but not worth the price they ask. Edit one plus year later: still loving it, and I am now putting in a baby seat and finally getting a chance to do some minor towing with it!

[@stephenmontero8748]

Does it not use boxer engine? I heard you said inline

[@viewsonvehicles]

Stephen, you're absolutely correct. That was my mistake. There are so many inline-fours in this world, it was probably just muscle memory.

[@viewsonvehicles]

I added a correction to the top of the description.

[@johndeere1951a]

What a refreshing review👍 Pleasant surprise that you appreciate the simple exhaust system. How refreshing to NOT hear stuff like " I wish the exhaust was louder or it would look better with 4" duel tail pipes"😳😂👍 I'm about to buy '22 Premium 6-speed manual. Great presentation, thank you 👍👍✌️

[@viewsonvehicles]

Really appreciate you taking the time to write this comment, thank you! And happy to hear you liked my presentation!

[@locoraindrops7653]

If you got a manual in this model with the 2.5 your mpg would be horrible. The boxer 4s are a thristy little bugger. Look at the 2.0 in a manual v the 2.0 in a CVT for an idea of what I mean. Fuel efficiency is a big reason why people buy these vehicles. I do wish this model came stock with the Geolander G015 ATs. Agree 100% on your thoughts on the power seats. On a 4 door vehicle if you are the primary driver power seats are definitely not necessary.

[@mathieuwener6749]

Subscribed for the casual use of “sad face” mid sentence.

[@viewsonvehicles]

That’s a great reason to subscribe!

[@Bri-zb9dz]

Great review! Any idea how one goes about u upgrading the sports headlight system to LED? I dont know if shops do that work or if its a DIY kind of project

[@robob221]

Don’t get the sport model if you care about night time safety. It’s insulation that don’t offer led lights for all but the base trim. 28,000 for led lights, no sunroof, no upgrades audio system and no automatic seats. This car is purely a profit margin for Subaru. Get the limited or look elsewhere.

[@robob221]

@@rivercitymetaldetecting9854 You sound like an old hoot that is not with the times. Look around. Most cars are standard with LED headlights. I had a forester 2009 with halogens, took me weeks to find the right set of LED's that just so happen to be engineered to reflect correctly in the forester housing. It's not as simple as dropping in a set of LEDs and calling it a day. Halogen relfector housings ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR LEDs. LEDs do not produce Omni directional light like those halogen bulbs. You will always have annoying glare with poor focus of light. It is simply dated technology. Halogens can be either the same or more expensive in the long run vs quality LEDs. If you want the same performance year after year of course. The degradation and life of a halogen bulb is laughable. They also draw substantially more power. The ONLY advantage is heat in the winter. Now unless you live in a climate that at has nasty winter's for the majority of the year the appeal of this small advantage becomes mute. I drove in zero deg snowy weather in the North east in my 2021 tacoma for 2 months. I was more concerned with my windshield freezing over than my little headlights. You may need to scrap them off when you get in the car and you are good to go. Lastly, if the advantage of heat was such a big deal than high end off-road or luxury brands would be offering halogen alternatives. This is just not the case. Output and safety triumphs ice melting in extreme cases. Please provide proof of consumers wanting halogens back due to their ice melting ability and I will listen.

[@jbm0866]

To me it's a raised hatchback with offroad capability, and that's a good thing since I've always liked the idea of a rallycar that can be driven every day. To some people that would be the WRX and they'd be right...but it's reduced ground clearance also reduces it's actual offroading suitability. Give this crosstrek at least 200hp (engine and tune already exist in the BRZ)and a manual trans and it would be the closest thing to fitting the bill of an every day rally car outside of putting a lift kit on a WRX/Sti. I mean 182hp and 173 ft lbs torque (or whatever) is simply adequate, but a little more would make it even better without really hurting economy that much. Subie could keep the base 152 hp engine as an option for those who value mpg above all else, but this platform deserves a bit more motivation.

[@johnmartin7158]

A truly outstanding car review. If the RAV4 Prime doesn’t come to NZ, Subaru is certainly high on my preferences. I don’t need millions of tech in the cock pit. My 2003 RAV4 auto gearbox died. Auckland. NZ.

[@viewsonvehicles]

Thank you so much, John. Means a lot!

[@regularjim3193]

@robin warner Great review. I bought one of these (loaded Sport model in Magnetite Gray) about two months ago. I agree with your assessments. This car is good at everything and awesome at being adequate. I think that a lot of people buy Subarus because they think they're getting a rally racecar or a rock crawler. This is NOT those things. As long as you have the correct expectations for this vehicle you won't be disappointed. This is the best vehicle purchase I've ever made, but somehow the one that I'm the least excited about. Is there such a thing as being delightfully boring? This is an ideal A-to-B vehicle for daily use, especially up around the Great Lakes. Also makes a great 2nd car if you already have a pickup.

[@viewsonvehicles]

Thank you for the compliment! And, yeah, delightfully boring sums it up well. You’ve pleased the rational side of your brain.

[@jakemccoy]

I describe my 2018 Outback Limited as “boringly adequate”, and that’s why I love it.

[@edwardzdankiewicz9068]

Trailer hitches on this class of vehicle are probably more for putting bike racks on.

[@viewsonvehicles]

You're absolutely correct. I mention something similar toward the end of the video. It's ample for a hitch mounted bike rack or, for a light cargo trailer.

[@edwardzdankiewicz9068]

I typed that comment at the 5-10 min. mark. Turns out you added that at the end.

[@Shroter]

The subaru crosstrek is not powered by an inline engine, it's powered by a BOXER engine, just like all other subarus.

[@viewsonvehicles]

You are correct. I misspoke once in this video and said inline. I also realized it and put a correction at the very top of the description. This was months ago.

[@rubber-duck]

it's a boxer engine not an inline 4 gets your ducks in a row, I've had 2 Subaru's a long time ago, but I really like Cross Trek sport and as high as gas is you better get something cheap on gas and it'll go dang near anywhere you want to go 😁

[@viewsonvehicles]

Don't you mean get my ducks horizontally opposed to each other? That is correct, it's a flat-4, or Boxer engine and I misspoke in the video. I also long ago realized that mistake and placed a correction right at the top of the description. And glad you like the Crosstrek, it's a nice little SUV.

[@wilshirewarrior2783]

The word "the" is always to be pronounced as "thee" when reviewing a car...remember.

[@geronimothegreywolf]

Inline 4 Cyl. Engine? 1:18 this is just wrong. it is a 4 cyl. Boxer Engine. It is a Subaru not a Volkswagen. Experienced Engineer? BS Video.

[@viewsonvehicles]

Top line of the description calls out that I misspoke. And that's been the case once I noticed it well over a year ago. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go throw away my diploma and delete all the engineering and magazine experience from my resume because I misspoke once.