It’s hard to believe that Subaru’s Crosstrek is entering its third generation when its first generation kicked off just over a decade ago. If you can do the math, that shows this compact crossover has had a lot of growth in a few short years, but hasn’t followed the traditional expansion you’d find with small-but-growing cars. No, Subaru has kept the footprint fairly consistent over three generations, with this most recent example spanning only an extra inch in length.
The third-generation Crosstrek also sticks with standard all-wheel drive and a pair of boxers under the hood: 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter flat fours are available, and make 152 and 182 hp, respectively. Though, some things did not make the transition into the crossover's third generation. Lost are the manual transmissions and, currently, hybrid powertrains. Though, you can probably expect a hybrid Crosstrek down the line.
On this episode of Quick Spin, Hearst Auto’s deputy editor Jon Langston hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Crosstrek and puts it through its paces. Langston talks about his roles with the Hearst Autos Gear Team before diving into his time with the new Crosstrek. Langston also takes you on a live drive review of this new Crosstrek, then chats with host Wesley Wren about the changes to the third-generation Crosstrek, how it drives and what makes the latest Crosstrek interesting. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the latest Crosstrek special.
Tune in below, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever podcasts are played.