Subaru Crosstrek review for Colorado buyers

The Crosstrek for Colorado buyers

Why Coloradans buy so many Crosstreks

The Crosstrek's appeal is simple: it's a compact hatchback with standard all-wheel drive and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the same clearance Subaru quotes for the larger Forester and Outback. That's a lot of clearance for something easy to park in LoDo or a Boulder side street.

It's also efficient. EPA rates CVT gas Crosstreks at 29 to 30 mpg combined, which helps if you commute from the foothills. If you want something bigger with the same AWD system, read our Subaru Forester review.

2.0 or 2.5: the engine choice that matters most

The 2.0-liter powers base and Premium trims through 2025 and is rated at 148 hp on 2016-2017 cars and 152 hp on 2018-2025 cars. At sea level that's modest. At Colorado altitude, where naturally aspirated engines lose some of their rated power, it can feel slow merging onto I-70 or passing on a two-lane highway over a pass.

From 2021, Subaru made a 182 hp 2.5-liter standard on the Sport and Limited trims, and it's standard on every Wilderness. For 2026, every gas Crosstrek gets the 2.5. EPA ratings barely change between the two engines (29 mpg combined for most 2.5-liter years versus 29 to 30 for the 2.0), so in Colorado we'd steer most buyers toward a 2.5-liter car if the budget allows.

Tell us your budget and must-haves and we can find a 2.5-liter Crosstrek instead of you sorting through listings that don't say which engine is under the hood.

Manual, CVT and X-Mode

If you want to row your own gears with all-wheel drive, the Crosstrek offered a manual through 2023 on 2.0-liter cars, and EPA listings show no manual for 2024 or later.

The tradeoff is X-Mode. On the 2018 redesign, X-Mode came on CVT-equipped models, so a manual Crosstrek doesn't have it. Manual cars are also rated lower, at 25 to 26 mpg combined versus 29 to 30 for the CVT.

On the CVT side, Subaru extended CVT coverage to 10 years or 100,000 miles for 2016-2019 2.0-liter models (not 2020 and newer). Coverage starts from the original in-service date, so have a Subaru retailer check the VIN.

Snow tires, the Traction Law and the Wilderness

AWD alone doesn't satisfy CDOT's Traction Law. On I-70 from Morrison to Dotsero between September 1 and May 31, you need tires with at least 3/16 inch of tread and a winter, all-weather or M+S rating, or chains or an approved traction device. A Crosstrek on good winter tires is a capable snow car; on worn all-seasons, it isn't. More in our guide to buying a used car for Colorado winters.

The Wilderness (2024 and newer) is the one to get if you drive rough roads often. Subaru gives it 9.3 inches of clearance, the 2.5-liter, all-terrain tires and a 3,500-pound tow rating, more than double the 1,500 pounds of other trims. EPA rates it at 26 to 27 mpg combined, a few mpg below other Crosstreks.

Plug-in hybrid vs the new hybrid

Two different cars have worn the Crosstrek Hybrid name in this range, and buyers mix them up. The 2019-2023 version is a plug-in hybrid with a 17-mile EPA electric range and a 35 mpg combined rating on gas. It's useful for short commutes if you can charge at home. Check recall 23V080 on these, which covers a 12-volt battery feed terminal that can corrode and break.

The 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid is a conventional hybrid you never plug in. Subaru rates it at 194 hp combined with 8.7 inches of clearance and X-Mode, and the EPA rates it at 36 mpg combined. It's the best Crosstrek for mixed commuting, and it's more powerful than any gas Crosstrek.

Whichever you pick, check for hail history before you buy, since Front Range hail is a fact of life for cars parked outside. See hail damage and used cars.