- More powerful engine now standard
- Pricing starts at $28,415 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Subaru Crosstrek models for sale near you
The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is the outdoorsman of the subcompact SUV class. It has more off-road capability than most rivals, though it’s available with a dash of refinement, too. Walking a fine line between wagon and SUV, it has a distinctive look like nothing else in its segment.
The current Crosstrek dates to the 2022 model year, but Subaru made a meaningful change for the 2026 model. In prior years, base trims came with a modest engine, and buyers had to upgrade to higher trim levels to get more power. For 2026, Subaru scrapped the base engine. Now, every Crosstrek comes with a 180-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. That makes it a far more attractive purchase.
In addition to its rough-and-ready nature, the Crosstrek offers a slew of impressive technology and features that make it a great place to be, whether running around town or up the side of a mountain. Let’s take a look at what the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek has to offer.
Note that Subaru also sells a hybrid Crosstrek, reviewed separately.
Passenger Room and Comfort
The Crosstrek packs a lot of passenger space into its relatively small proportions. This is an excellent pick for shoppers who want the added interior space of a typical SUV but can live without a vehicle that’s oversized and burdensome in city traffic. Five trims are offered: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Wilderness. The entry-level Crosstrek comes with cloth seating upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, dual 7-inch infotainment touchscreens, and dual-zone climate control.
Thanks to its 36.5 inches — above average for the segment — of rear legroom, there’s plenty of space for three people in the second row. Headroom is abundant in either row, and outward visibility is very good. For more luxury in your Subaru wagon-meets-SUV, move up to pricier trim levels, and you’ll get heated seats, leather seating surfaces, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a moonroof. The Wilderness features black StarTex water-resistant upholstery for quicker cleanups after soggy outdoor adventures.
Features and Tech
The base Crosstrek comes with stacked, dual 7-inch infotainment displays. Upgrading to any trim beyond that brings with it an impressive 11.6-inch touchscreen interface. Featuring bigger touchpoints, logical menus, and crisp graphics, it’s easy to use while driving. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard — and wireless on models with the larger screen. You can also add a Wi-Fi hotspot and additional USB ports for both rows of seating.
The last time Subaru redesigned the Crosstrek, engineers gave it more sound-deadening material than normal for this class. That particularly pays off if you buy the available Harman Kardon audio system, with its 10 speakers and 432-watt amp. In a subcompact SUV, that’s a lot of speakers and power. In this one, it has little road and wind noise to compete with.
Safety is always a Subaru calling card. The Crosstrek comes with the company’s EyeSight bundle of driver-assist technologies. These include forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional features, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, are available, starting with the Premium trim.
Materials and Design
True to previous generations, the Crosstrek’s cabin prioritizes functionality over frills. That’s fine with us because the result is a no-nonsense cabin that uses technology smartly.
The front seats offer plenty of support for longer journeys, and we’ve already mentioned the adult-friendly level of headroom and legroom for occupants in the second row. The actual space is supplemented with the feeling of spaciousness, courtesy of an optional power moonroof to let more of the outdoors in — always popular with Subaru owners. The aforementioned StarTex water-resistant interior upholstery of the Wilderness trim is a nice bonus for Crosstrek drivers who spend time in the wild.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
Behind the split-folding rear seatback is 19.9 cubic feet of cargo volume. Fold down that rear seat, and load-lugging capacity rings in at more than 54 cubic feet. Granted, some rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Honda HR-V have more overall space, but the Crosstrek’s low load floor and wide liftgate make it easier to load cumbersome items into the back.
Subaru also offers an extensive lineup of cargo-toting options, including roof-mounted awnings, bike racks, plus pet-friendly seat covers and collapsible kennels.
Build and price your version of the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, or browse Crosstrek models on sale near you.
