Pulse Reviews and Analysis
Best Subaru Crosstrek Model Years (Ranked)
Curated by Kory White · Fractional CRO, CRO SyndicateBest Subaru Crosstrek Model Years (Ranked)
Direct Answer
The Best Overall Subaru Crosstrek is the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness, the most capable version of the third-generation lifted hatchback, with a 182-hp 2.5-liter boxer four, 9.3 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and standard symmetrical all-wheel drive. The Best Value pick is the 2020 Crosstrek Premium, a second-generation model that paired the upgraded 2.5-liter engine option, EyeSight driver assistance, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto with used pricing in the $20,000-$24,000 range.
This ranking spans the Crosstrek from its 2013 debut (as the XV Crosstrek) through 2025, judged on reliability, drivetrain, off-road ability, value, and tech. Every pick lists real engines, horsepower, and model-year facts.
How We Ranked These
We weighed each model year on reliability and known issues, powertrain and efficiency, off-road capability and ground clearance, safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, infotainment and EyeSight features, and used-market value. Sources include Car and Driver, MotorTrend, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, **U.S.
News, Consumer Reports, the IIHS, the EPA, and Subaru of America**. The Crosstrek sells on rugged versatility and standard all-wheel drive, so the years that add capability, safety tech, and a usable engine rank highest.
1. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Engine: 2.5L boxer four, 182 hp, CVT, standard AWD | Best for: Buyers who want genuine trail capability in a compact
The 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness is the most capable Crosstrek ever. It pairs the stronger 2.5-liter boxer making 182 hp with 9.3 inches of ground clearance, Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, a retuned CVT with X-Mode dual-function off-road modes, and durable anti-glare interior trim.
Built on the third-generation platform, it also gained a tall 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen and a standard EyeSight suite. It is the rare subcompact that can actually wheel a rough trail without modification.
Pros:
- 9.3 inches of ground clearance and all-terrain tires
- 182-hp 2.5-liter boxer with dual-mode X-Mode
- Standard EyeSight and 11.6-inch touchscreen
Cons:
- All-terrain tires add road noise
- CVT remains the only transmission
Verdict: The most capable, best-equipped Crosstrek to date.
2. 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Sport
Engine: 2.5L boxer four, 182 hp, CVT, standard AWD | Best for: Newest tech with the bigger engine and a value lean
The 2025 Crosstrek Sport offers the stronger 2.5-liter engine, dual-function X-Mode, and the large portrait touchscreen without the Wilderness price premium or its noisier tires. As a later third-generation year, it benefits from any running refinements Subaru applied after launch.
It is the well-rounded new-car pick for buyers who want capability and tech but mostly drive on pavement.
Pros:
- 182-hp 2.5-liter with X-Mode
- Large 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen
- More road-friendly tires than the Wilderness
Cons:
- New-car pricing
- Still CVT-only
Verdict: The balanced new Crosstrek for daily driving.
3. 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport
Engine: 2.5L boxer four, 182 hp, CVT, standard AWD | Best for: The year the bigger engine arrived in a value trim
The 2021 Crosstrek introduced the new Sport trim with the 2.5-liter engine, a meaningful upgrade over the base 2.0-liter's 152 hp. It added X-Mode dual functions on the Sport and Limited, plus standard EyeSight on CVT models. Reliability for this second-generation year is strong, and used prices are now reasonable, making it a smart blend of capability and value.
Pros:
- Stronger 2.5-liter engine option
- Dual-function X-Mode on Sport trim
- Standard EyeSight on CVT models
Cons:
- Modest acceleration even with the bigger engine
- Older infotainment than the third generation
Verdict: The value entry to the bigger engine.
4. 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Premium 💎 BEST VALUE
Engine: 2.0L boxer four, 152 hp, CVT, standard AWD | Best for: Maximum value with modern safety tech
The 2020 Crosstrek Premium sits in the depreciation sweet spot. It includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available EyeSight with adaptive cruise and lane-keep, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and Subaru's standard symmetrical all-wheel drive. Used examples trade in the low twenties with strong reliability, delivering most of the Crosstrek's appeal for the least money.
Pros:
- Strong used value in the low twenties
- Standard CarPlay/Android Auto
- 8.7 inches of ground clearance with standard AWD
Cons:
- Base 2.0-liter is leisurely
- No dual-function X-Mode yet
Verdict: The best money in the Crosstrek lineup.
5. 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Limited
Engine: 2.0L boxer four, 152 hp, CVT, standard AWD | Best for: The final second-generation year, loaded
The 2023 Crosstrek Limited was the last year of the second generation, bringing leather, blind-spot monitoring, and a Harman Kardon audio option. Because it is the final year, examples carry the lowest mileage of the second generation. It is well-proven mechanically and a safe used buy for shoppers who prefer the previous body to the new portrait-screen interior.
Pros:
- Lowest-mileage second-gen Crosstrek
- Leather and premium audio options
- Mature, proven reliability
Cons:
- Base engine on most trims
- Higher used price than older second-gen years
Verdict: The freshest second-generation choice.
6. 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Premium
Engine: 2.0L boxer four, 152 hp, CVT/6MT, standard AWD | Best for: Early second-gen value with available manual
The 2019 Crosstrek is an early second-generation year that still offered a 6-speed manual on Premium trims, a rarity buyers seek. It has standard CarPlay, available EyeSight, and the same rugged 8.7-inch ground clearance. Used pricing is attractive and reliability is solid.
Pros:
- Available 6-speed manual
- Standard CarPlay/Android Auto
- Affordable second-gen pricing
Cons:
- Manual cars skip EyeSight
- Slow base engine
Verdict: A value second-gen with a manual option.
7. 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Limited
Engine: 2.0L/2.5L boxer four, 152/182 hp, CVT, standard AWD | Best for: A loaded second-gen with the bigger-engine option
The 2022 Crosstrek Limited offers leather, the available 2.5-liter engine on Sport and Limited, and a full EyeSight suite. It is a low-mileage second-generation year with strong equipment levels. Reliability remains excellent, and it pairs well with shoppers who want a near-new feel without paying for the redesigned 2024 cars.
Pros:
- Available 182-hp 2.5-liter
- Leather and full EyeSight suite
- Low-mileage examples available
Cons:
- Pricier than 2019-2020 cars
- Pre-portrait-screen infotainment
Verdict: A well-equipped late second-gen pick.
8. 2018 Subaru Crosstrek Premium
Engine: 2.0L boxer four, 152 hp, CVT/6MT, standard AWD | Best for: First year of the much-improved second generation
The 2018 Crosstrek launched the second generation on Subaru's Global Platform, a big step up in rigidity, ride quality, and safety over the first generation. It added standard CarPlay and bumped power to 152 hp. As a first-year model it carries minor risk, but it is well-proven now and priced affordably.
Pros:
- Much-improved Global Platform chassis
- Standard CarPlay/Android Auto
- Affordable second-gen entry
Cons:
- First-year model
- Base-engine pace
Verdict: An affordable, much-better second-gen entry.
9. 2017 Subaru Crosstrek Limited
Engine: 2.0L boxer four, 148 hp, CVT, standard AWD | Best for: A loaded first-gen at a low price
The 2017 Crosstrek Limited is the top trim of the first generation, with leather, available EyeSight, and the familiar 8.7-inch ground clearance. It rides rougher than the second generation and has 148 hp, but it is inexpensive and offers Subaru's standard all-wheel drive with proven durability.
Pros:
- Loaded Limited trim for little money
- Standard symmetrical AWD
- Proven first-gen reliability
Cons:
- Busier ride than the second generation
- Dated infotainment
Verdict: A cheap, capable first-gen choice.
10. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium
Engine: 2.0L boxer four, 148 hp, CVT/5MT, standard AWD | Best for: The cheapest entry into the nameplate
The 2013 XV Crosstrek was the original, launching the lifted-hatchback formula with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. It offered a 5-speed manual and is now the least-expensive way into a Crosstrek. The tech is dated and the engine is slow, but the formula and durability that made the model a hit were present from the start.
Pros:
- Cheapest Crosstrek available
- Available 5-speed manual
- Original lifted-hatchback formula and standard AWD
Cons:
- Oldest tech, no CarPlay
- Highest mileage typical
Verdict: A budget original, buy after inspection.
How to Choose
Every Crosstrek has standard symmetrical all-wheel drive and tall ground clearance, so the real choices are engine, generation, and capability. The 2.0-liter (148-152 hp) is adequate but slow; the 2.5-liter (182 hp), available from 2021 on Sport and Limited and standard on the third generation, makes highway merging far easier.
For genuine off-road use, the 2024 Wilderness with its 9.3-inch clearance and all-terrain tires is unmatched. For value, the 2020 Premium delivers modern safety and CarPlay in the low twenties. Manual-transmission fans should target a 2019 or an older first-generation car.
FAQ
Which Crosstrek year has the best engine? The 2.5-liter boxer with 182 hp is the one to want. It arrived as an option in 2021 on Sport and Limited trims and is standard on the third generation (2024+), fixing the slow acceleration of the base 2.0-liter.
Are older Crosstreks reliable? Yes. The Crosstrek has a strong reliability record across generations. The main long-term watch items on high-mileage cars are CVT condition and oil consumption on some boxer engines, so a pre-purchase inspection is wise.
Can a Crosstrek actually go off-road? A standard Crosstrek handles light trails and snow well thanks to 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. The Wilderness goes further with 9.3 inches, all-terrain tires, and dual-function X-Mode.
Does the Crosstrek come with a manual transmission? Earlier years did. First-generation cars and second-generation models through about 2019-2021 offered a manual on lower trims, but Subaru dropped it, and the third generation is CVT-only.
Bottom Line
For the most capable, best-equipped Crosstrek, the 2024 Wilderness stands alone with real off-road hardware and the stronger 2.5-liter boxer. Value shoppers should grab the 2020 Premium, which delivers modern safety tech, CarPlay, and Subaru all-wheel drive in the low twenties.
Buyers wanting the bigger engine on a budget should target a 2021 Sport. Across every year, the Crosstrek rewards owners with standard all-wheel drive, rugged versatility, and Subaru durability.
Sources
- Car and Driver — Subaru Crosstrek reviews and specifications
- MotorTrend — Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness first drive and testing
- Edmunds — Subaru Crosstrek model-year reviews and used pricing
- Kelley Blue Book — Crosstrek used values and ownership costs
- U.S. News & World Report — Subaru Crosstrek rankings
- IIHS — Subaru Crosstrek crash-test ratings
- EPA fueleconomy.gov — Crosstrek fuel-economy figures
- Subaru of America — official model-year specifications and trim details