2026 Subaru Crosstrek

Anchoring Subaru’s SUV lineup, the all-wheel drive, subcompact 2026 Subaru Crosstrek combines a go-anywhere attitude with solid fuel economy and adventurous flair. There is good reason why the Crosstrek is near the top of the heap of the brand’s bestsellers: It is a serious value, uncomplicated in its operation, impressively functional, and yet, quite comfortable. Bottom line: Everything about it appeals to us.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of subcompact SUVs, including the Subaru Crosstrek.

On-Sale Date

Subaru promises the 2026 Crosstrek in showrooms by the fall of 2025.

Topping the Crosstrek’s what’s-new list is its hybrid powertrain version, which we detail separately. More big news is that Subaru made the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine standard across all trim levels. This is a big upgrade for the base model. The Limited and Wilderness grades get a heated steering wheel as standard.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek starts at $28,415. That’s for the base model, including the factory-to-dealer delivery charge. At the top of the Crosstrek pecking order is the Wilderness trim at $35,215.

These are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP), including the factory-to-dealer delivery fee.

Historically, the Premium trim is the best-selling Crosstrek grade and the one we recommend because for the extra $1,000 it costs over the base model, you score a lot of upgrades. For example, bigger 17-inch wheels, a bigger 11.6-inch infotainment display, USB-C ports, and more are among the improvements.

Because of its standard all-wheel drive, the Crosstrek’s pricing is on the higher end of the subcompact SUV scale. In fact, there are only a couple of rivals, like the Ford Bronco Sport, with higher starting prices.

Superb Resale Value

The Subaru Crosstrek is a resale value superstar, and could return $6,000 more to your pocket when you sell compared to subcompact SUVs at the bottom of the resale value charts. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

Every 2026 Crosstrek sources thrust from a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. We’ve put this mill through its paces on-road and off, coming away satisfied with its performance.

We are fans of the Crosstrek suspension. We like the way it handles rougher pavement and even unpaved surfaces. The Crosstrek’s steering remains sharp and responsive.

With decades of experience with all-wheel drive — Subaru was once considered quirky for its standard all-wheel drive — the Subaru Symmetrical AWD system operates transparently. It constantly adjusts the amount of torque to the wheels. Switching to X-Mode provides some additional all-wheel-drive response. It still doesn’t allow this SUV to tackle the most severe terrain, but it improves typical off-road experiences. We were impressed with its seamless reaction and relentless forward motion when driving it on dirt paths in hilly terrain. The Crosstrek’s hill-descent control — sort of slow-speed cruise control — is another bright spot. We found it tremendously effective, freeing our focus on steering.

In testing the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness model in Utah, we were surprised and delighted at how scrappy this most off-road-centric trim is. Its extra ground clearance, improved approach and departure angles, and enhanced off-road hardware and software enabled this model to eat up miles and miles of single-track dirt roads with ease. Moreover, it effortlessly ascended and descended technical dirt trails that might leave competitors in pieces. It also boasts a sophisticated dual-mode X-Mode feature with settings for dirt, deep snow, and mud. The Crosstrek Wilderness can tow up to 3,500 pounds — 2,000 more than the other trims.

Fuel Economy

The Crosstrek delivers an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Despite its standard all-wheel drive, this number is about average for the segment populated primarily with entry-level front-wheel-drive rivals. It betters the Ford Bronco Sport’s 27 mpg and matches the Mazda CX-30, both of which also boast standard all-wheel drive.

We are in awe of just how quiet the cabin of the current Crosstrek is because previous generations wore their coarseness like a badge of honor. Those familiar with Crosstrek over the years should be equally surprised by the hush and pliant ride of today’s model.

Enhancing the cabin’s upgraded experience are the comfy front seats with loads of padding to absorb the abuse of going off pavement. There is still plenty of plastic haunting this roomy space. However, on the other hand, it does make it easier to wipe down. At 54.7 cubic feet and 36.5 inches, respectively, total cargo room and rear seat legroom are about average for the segment.

In a parking lot, at an intersection, or pounding down a dirt trail, there is no mistaking the Crosstrek for anything else, even at a distance. Although the details have evolved, the Crosstrek’s basic shape and design theme remain warmly familiar.

Standing out from the rest of the Crosstrek lineup, the Wilderness grade proffers a more distinct, rugged appearance. Additional ground clearance, aggressive cladding with “SUBARU” lettering on the back, yellow accents, and 17-inch black wheels spotlight the styling enhancements.

Standard all-wheel drive
Subaru’s standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system is among the most sophisticated and capable in the segment. We find it is more than eager to tackle dirt and gravel trails.

8.7 inches of ground clearance
We argue that a key contributor to the Crosstrek’s off-road superiority is its class-leading ground clearance.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Smartphone integration is even better when the connection happens automatically. In our experience, seamless connecting and no cables cluttering the center console are reasons enough to insist on wireless smartphone interfacing. Wireless phone charging is also available.

Large touchscreen
All but the base Crosstrek feature an interior-dominating, vertically oriented 11.6-inch touchscreen and robust infotainment offering. We think it’s worth skipping the base model and its dual 7-inch screen setup. Sometimes bigger is better, and we find that the bigger touchscreen is much easier to see and operate.

EyeSight driver assists
Every Crosstrek features the latest version of Subaru’s EyeSight collection of driver assist and safety technologies. It includes some of our must-have tech, such as automatic emergency braking and steering, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, and automatic high beams.

Steering Responsive LED Headlights
The Crosstrek’s headlights turn in relation to the wheels, helping you see further into a corner. We’ve found this feature surprisingly helpful when navigating dark roads or turning into dark driveways.

Subaru powers the Crosstrek with a 180-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that also generates 178 lb-ft of torque. Keeping it simple, the “flat” engine is a Subaru trait, referring to the cylinders being horizontally opposed rather than arranged vertically in a line or opposed in a V shape. The advantage is a lower center of gravity, which enhances stability.

Every Crosstrek comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is an automatic transmission using belts and pulleys rather than gears. It does help stretch fuel. Subaru has evolved its CVT to soften the artificial shift points. You can even pretend to switch the gears in models with the steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.

3-year/36,000-mile Warranty

Subaru covers its vehicles with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain protection. This is on-par coverage among non-luxury automakers.

Safety

In safety and crash testing, the Crosstrek earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) highest overall score of a 5-Star rating. It struggled with the two new tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS); however, this same generation had previously been included in the IIHS list of its Top Safety Pick (TSP) models.