2023 Subaru Crosstrek Gets Special Edition, Price Bump

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek but a little more expensive. That’s not a bad thing. Most car prices are going up this year, along with the cost of.. well… [waves arm at generally everything]. And the Crosstrek, with its standard all-wheel-drive, strong resale value, and available plug-in hybrid powertrain, has always been an excellent choice for many buyers.

The Crosstrek lineup isn’t entirely unchanged for the new model year. Subaru is introducing a new trim level that reintroduces an old color.

Sticker prices go up by $500 at every trim level. The base model now carries a $23,645 price tag. The mandatory destination charge has also increased by $50 – now $1,225 in 49 states and $1,375 in Alaska.

Basics Unchanged

The Crosstrek remains mechanically the same for 2023. Base, Premium, and Special Edition models get a 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that our test drivers found a little underpowered. Buyers can pair it with a 6-speed manual or an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Sport and Limited models get a larger 2.5-liter 4-cylinder making 182 horsepower. It’s available only with the CVT.

What Subaru calls the Crosstrek Hybrid is actually a plug-in hybrid. It can travel up to 17 miles on battery power alone but is limited by its anemic 148 horsepower output. It starts at $36,845, but is eligible for a $4,502 federal tax credit.

Special Edition in Desert Khaki

The Crosstrek Special Edition slots into the middle of the lineup pricewise and offers a unique look and the upgraded infotainment system of higher trims at a Goldilocks price.

It comes painted in Desert Khaki – an old color that Subaru says fans wanted back – and gets dark gray finished 17-inch alloy wheels and black side mirrors, grille bar, and door handles. The badges are low-luster black, completing what Subaru calls “an overland-inspired palette.”

Inside, the Special Edition gets red contrast stitching on black cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and that same low-luster black finish on interior trim accents.

It also includes the larger 8-inch multimedia screen found in the Limited trim (lower trims get 6.5 inches) and the full StarLink Multimedia Plus system. The “plus” means it gets over-the-air updates, which can be a headache preventer – it allows automakers to fix some software problems remotely rather than asking owners to bring the car back for recalls.

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