Used 2016 Subaru Crosstrek SUV Consumer Reviews

GREAT CAR WITH POOR PHONE CONNECTION

I have owned several Subarus and love the overall quality and drivability. My last one was an Impreza and I traded it in on the CrossTrek. The Impreza was great but the CrossTrek is better. Terrific all wheel drive and road clearance, nimble driver, the new safety features, especially the warning system for lane changing works really well and addresses shortcomings of the Impreza related to visibility. The tie-downs in the storage area are a nice touch, as I carry lots of freight, and getting in and out is much easier due to the height. The only aspect that is truly mediocre is the sound system and phone connection. The software is klutzy with lots of little delays and the best system for phone linkage with an iPhone, called CarPlay, is not available. I just used a new GMC truck with CarPlay, and it was a delight compared with the CrossTrek. Oc course, the sound/phone system is a lot better than it was last year in the Impreza, but its still second class. I don't understand why Subaru does not fix this ongoing problem. You talk to people at Subaru and they are in total denial that it is a problem. Clearly they don't try any of the competition or they are afraid to pass the word upstairs as they don't tolerate negative feedback very well. Also, why they bury the USB socket in the bottom of the bin between the seats is beyond me. Please put in on the lower dash where it is easily accessible.

Not too big, not to small, just right

Criticisms of this car I've read about are: noisy ride, CVT noise, poor acceleration. I must disagree. We enjoyed our 2014 Forester, but disliked the infotainment/navigation system and the noisy, rough ride at highway speeds. We traded for the 2016 Crosstrek because it offers great ground clearance, because it drives more like a car than a taller SUV, resale value is superb and the exterior design is just cool--nothing like most boxier competitors. Comparing it to our 2014 Forester, Honda HRV and a few other small/compact/subcompact SUV's, the Crosstrek is far better. Price points for various trim levels are excellent. The ride both in town and on the highway is smooth, the interior is quiet (apparently Subaru made major improvement in NVH recently), the seats are extremely comfortable (even though no power seats or lumbar support are offered,) entry and exit are great with a high hip point, visibility is excellent and it's a nimble car to drive around town. We don't notice any CVT noise. Acceleration is smooth and non-eventful. Yes, more power would be nice, but we in no way feel challenged for lack of power--except occasionally when trying to pass in fast moving highway traffic. Most important is the Eyesight system. This has been upgraded since our 2014 Forester and each and every feature makes me wonder how anyone can live without it. The interior is not plush, but it beats the competition, ergonomics are excellent, and storage space in the back with seats up or down is more than competitive in its class. My only complaint so far is that the power steering feels very light and over boosted at all speed levels. Also I wish Subaru would make navigation an option on the Premium edition as it does with Eyesight. In short, with just a few quibbles, the Crosstrek is just the right size, looks great, drives well, provides a comfortable ride, it's versatile and Subaru's legendary quality and retained value sealed the deal for us.

Edmunds review is wildly overly critical

*four year update* Four year’s into owning this car and it has been a wonderful car to drive, every day. Still no mechanical problems to report. Everything still operates perfectly. Paint still looks good, interior looks great. No complaints. I still believe the lack of engine power complaints are bunk unless you are expecting it to be a pickup truck. That is foolishness of course. The crosstrek is a nimble, able and stalwart companion on dirt trails, smooth suburban roads and inner city streets. Great buy. *original post*The cons pointed out by edmunds above are not accurate and it's not even clear which vehicles have been compared to the Crosstrek. In the mini utility class of vehicles that get decent fuel mileagethe crosstreks engine power is actually comparable (see the Honda HRV for example) Okay edmunds, the crosstrek is underpowered if you're comparing it to say the jeep renegade, but the renegade also gets far worse mpg. Next, the sound system is absolutely fine unless you want to listen to classical and hear each breath of the first violinist between measures. it's not a Harmon Khardon system but then again were aren't rating a Mercedes or BMW. Lastly, edmunds acceleration critique makes it seem like the crosstrek barely outruns Barney rubble in the flinstones car which simply isn't true. There is plenty of power as I've survived many a Los Angeles highway and dusty backroad hazards. Come on edmunds, be a little less partial next time. After 3 years of ownership update: still a wonderful car; everything above still applies!

Great small SUV

Okay, I have only driven this car a short time, but I have driven it for long periods at a time. I can say the Crosstrek has good acceleration; I have had no issues merging on to busy freeways. It has very responsive steering and braking; it's easy and really fun to drive. The audio system is fine; cd's sound good, am/fm could use improvement. The level of road noise is dependent on the quality of the road; less noise on a well paved road, more noise on rougher pavement. It's not loud enough to interfere with normal conversation. Many of the standard features on the Crosstrek are extras on other cars; power windows, heated seats, rear view camera, etc. I ordered the eyesight package for the added safety features. I am very happy with this purchase, but what I have noticed is that the drivers seat isn't the most comfortable when sitting for long periods. The seat back is fine and supportive, just the seat is a little too firm for my comfort. Maybe it will get more comfortable with time; maybe I buy a gel cushion. Also, a very minor thing, is that the trunk lid doesn't have enough weight to close well without a little extra muscle. Not a big deal, just know that it may not be closed completely unless you really slam it. Other than those two little observations, I am very pleased with the Crosstrek. I would buy it again and recommend it. <br><br>,br><br> P.S. I am updating this review a/o 2/10/16: I have been using the adaptive cruise control and have to share how awesome it is! I set the cruise at 55 mph with a two car length between my car and the car in front on a two lane road. Shortly I caught up to a delivery truck ahead going just 47 mph. The adaptive cruise control slowed my car to 47 mph and maintained the requested two car distance between us until we came to a stop light. At that time the engine slowed the car to zero without me having to apply the brake. Awesome, awesome, awesome feature. Other auto makers offer adaptive cruise control; I wanted to share my experience with it. This should be obvious, but just in case, the adaptive cruise control slowed the engine to zero because the car ahead slowed to a stop. Awesome feature, check it out.

...and 3 make's us a 'subie family'

First, let me explain my title. We (up until about 2 weeks ago) owned 2 Subaru's and one Hyundai. I have always loved Subaru's but somehow ended up driving the Hyundai, my wife the Forrester (2014) and my daughter the Outback (2009) . My daughter will be entering college in 2 months so my wife and I thought it was about time to get her into a new vehicle that we could count on for her safety and security. Of course we started at Subaru and to be honest did not go any farther. The Crosstrek immediately became our car of choice. From the interior and engine to the AWD and Eyesight package this (for us at least) was a no brainer. We already know of the Subaru quality and of course I expect nothing less from this vehicle. Engine seems quiet (despite some reviews). The ride is very good for a small vehicle (again despite some reviews). The power of the engine is just fine unless I guess you plan on drag-racing! The interior really nice as it appears Subaru added a few more 'classy' touches to the standard Subie package. Very easy to get in and out of as well as being comfortable. The eyesight package was an added bonus (mostly for the wife and I as it made (us) feel more safe for (her)). The AWD is always a plus on any type of roadway but especially wet and/or snowy. We are all very pleased with the car...and the best part is I got rid of the Hyundai and get my daughters 2009 Outback with 60,000 miles! YEAH!

Love this car

I test drove the Rav4, the CX5, and the Jeep Renegade before deciding on the XV. It was by far the most comfortable, smooth ride, with no tip-over feeling whenever I made a turn. I don't know what noisy cabin people are referring to. I've driven this from Los Angeles to San Diego already and have had no complaints so far. Looking forward to many more road trips.

I said I would NEVER drive a Subaru

ehe Crosstrek is a wonderfully agile, sturdy vehicle. But it does have some drawbacks. First, the pro's: Fuel economy, handling, steering, safety in any weather, comfortable seats, all-wheel drive, ground clearance, audio. The con's: Pronounced road noise on the highway, lackluster acceleration, ''cheap'' - looking interior design, and a Bluetooth system that sporadically does not work. Clearly, better acceleration would negatively affect the fuel economy of the car. What initially drew me to the car was the ground clearance. It sits higher, which means you can slice through snow and ice somewhat easier than with other models in the line. All-wheel drive and responsive, tight steering were also big draws. The car handles rough patches of road with ease, even with a fairly short wheelbase. Bumps are dampened nicely by the suspension on the car. It handles corners without a lot of lean. I'm 6-2 and 215; the Crosstrek has plenty of leg and headroom, and I can enter/exit the car with ease. But...get above 50 or 60 mph and there is pronounced road noise; the higher ground clearance AND the cross bars on the roof rack probably are the culprits. Around town, the car gets 27 mpg, and on the highway, even with the noise, it fetches 33 mpg for me. That's outstanding, having sold a Jeep Liberty which got 23 mpg on the highway. But ultimately, the things which sold me on the Subaru are it's legendary reputations for longevity, reliability and safety. The Crosstrek is fun to drive. My goal is to get 300,000 miles out of it. I know three people who've owned various Subaru models and, to a person, they all say the car just kept going and going and going. Sure, there are other car lines which have reputations for longevity...Toyota, Honda, Nissan. But the pricepoint for the nicely appointed 2016 Crosstrek Premium was unbelievable. We got the car, new, in the low 20's, which, combined with $8000 down and 1.9% APR, meant we paid a couple hundred bucks a month for the car. We recently did pay the note off and now own the car outright.

My Favorite Car

I bought the 2016 Crosstrek Limited in December, at the start of the New England winter, and I love how this car drives. I love the handling, the Eyesight, the cruise control, and the issues with the noise? What noise. Inside we have the leather seats, and they are the most comfortable seats I have had in a car. This is my first Subaru, and I intend to be a loyal Subaru driver for years to come. Everything about this vehicle is a breeze. I got mine fully loaded, and could not be happier.

Lots of Room & Comfort

I never "LOVE" a vehicle. I love this one. I have driven in snow, ice, rain, fog and used it to climb paved mountains. I totally disagree with the review that says it doesn't have much power. I have had no problems with acceleration or climbing. The gas mileage is amazing. I am getting close to 400 miles per fill up. For this reason I haven't driven my Mercedes ML350 since I bought the Subaru. It may go on Craigslist soon. Very roomy. My son fits fine with lots of leg room and headroom. He is 6'5. Ample backseat space. The body type looks much more luxury than any of the Subaru's. I went to buy a Forester and walked away the Limited Crosstrek. If I have any complaint it would be the orange stitching on the leather seats.

Great car, Cheap Paint!

Took a star off my overall rating for the cheap paint they use, which scratches easily and shows, especially if you have a dark color. I have some shrubs on one side of my driveway, and my other cars can brush them without a problem. No so with the Subaru. Apparently, the paint issue is a common complaint on Subaru owners forums.

Owner of many cars.

Throughout the last 16 years my wife and I have owned BMW's, Audi's, Toyota's, Honda's, Mini, VW's etc. We recently had our daughter and wanted to get something we could driver on the beach without getting stuck. We looked at several vehicles with all wheel driver bought a 2014 Subaru Outback, Yes I thought I would never own an Outback WRX but not an Outback. So then we had an Mini Cooper S (leased) and Outback, we found ourselves really liking the Outback and disliking the Mini more and more each month.The Outback was slower than anything we've owned but quite, smooth and most of all trouble free, we could not say that for the Mini Cooper. So we traded both for a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek at lease end of the Mini, the Crosstrek is smooth, quiet, takes corners better than Outback. It maybe a little slower but our gas mileage is much better mixed driving 31-32 MPG, much smaller but the right size cargo area for our beach stuff. We got ours for $1300 under MSRP this car is great, no more luxury cars, premium gas and expensive repairs ( last maintance repair on the Mini Cooper S $405 with 25k miles) enough we will take that money and pay of our mortage. Check out Subaru if your in the market can't beat the quality and resale value with AWD.

A delightful small

Trust my long experience as a car owner. I have owned dozens of used and new vehicles over about 60 years, raced sports cars all over this country, Canada and Europe, did my own maintenance, etc. My recent purchase is a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek Limited, now with over 3,500 miles. My evaluation concerns what so many reviewers have criticized: The Crosstrek has a weak engine and is just basically underpowered. Based on actual performance data this is simply not true. I looked at the latest data from Consumer Reports and compared 0-60 times for 4cyl, non turbo, SUVs. Six Subcompacts averaged 10.05 seconds, (Crosstrek 9.7). Further, in the next class, SUVs Small, 10 listed averaged 9.7, just the same as the Crosstrek! So don't believe everything you read from car testing "experts." Incidentally I also own a 2014 Mazda Cx 5 which is the quickest in the second category at 8.0 seconds. In driving, although the Mazda performs nicely on twisty roads and handles easily around town, the Crosstrek feels sprightly and quick and is simply a bit more fun to drive in the mountains and on gravel roads. Gas mileage on the Crosstrek has been great, especially if you believe the on-board computer, but it lies . For 4 fillups it showed an average of 36.3 mpg, whereas calculation gave 34.4. Most of the driving was on secondary roads with 2 to 4 people aboard. For me this is a delightful small car. No wonder there is a waiting list at some dealers. Now at 17000 miles I won't change my evaluation. I have had the car on rough mountain roads at high elevations and it is capable in everything I used it for. Gas mileage on highway averages about 34, otherwise about 28. Comfort is OK but an electric driver seat would make it even better.

After 1 year

After a year and a half of ownership, I'm still happy with the gas mileage. We average 30 mpg on a daily bases and 33 when we travel to the city 250 miles away. Getting in and out of this vehicle while my sciatica is acting up is very painful. We almost traded for a Buick Oncore just a few months into ownership, but we would have taken too much of a loss on the trade. I'm now at a better position to look for a different vehicle. Day to day driving makes me hate the manual transmission between first and second gear. The car jerks from too low of gear in first and needs to be shifted very soon after getting in motion, to second gear to have any smoothness. Yet the car is too weak to start off in second gear. It is November (Thanksgiving week) and we are preparing for the second winter of driving the Crosstrek. We've found the defrosters and heater leaves much to be desired in this vehicle. Handling and traction are it's high points.

Lots of space in a tiny ride, great gas mileage

Updating my review for January 2023: It now has 134,000 miles on it. Still no issues, no needing anything replaced (well, I get the coolant replaced Thursday, but thats needed maintenance). It just now needed brakes about at 120,000 miles. Apparently Subaru makes damn good brakes. Updating my review for July 2020: Bought it in May 2017 with 19k miles on it. It now has 70k miles. No issues at all other than the gear shift not knowing its in park and won’t release my keys. This happens maybe 2 out of 10 times when turning off the car. I put the keys in the on position without cranking the engine, put my foot on the brake and move the gear back into drive then park real quick 2-3 times and it gives my keys back. I still need to get that fixed. Still getting great gas mileage; if its cool out and no AC needed it gets about 40MPG during a trip to the beach, about 36MPG during a trip to the mountains. In hot weather with AC on it gets about 32MPG on a beach trip. No weird sounds in the engine or body, still like new.

I'm very happy with my first Subaru!

This is my first Subaru. Like all other reviews I will say that AWD is great for the snow. It is a very nice ride, smooth and reliable. Good on gas mileage. I have the premium 2016 and love the orange stitching on the seat covers. (no leather). It's pretty basic on technology, no navigation system, but I use my iphone anyway. The speakers are ok, but could be better. The cons would be poor acceleration...and engine noise. I have a manual transmission and I was expecting a bit more of acceleration and agility. The heat takes some time to get going, but once it gets going is good. The same with the AC. The trunk is a normal size, but not very spacious. I'm comparing this car to my old Suzuki Aerio, a Japanese small sedan that had a 2.3 engine and manual transmission. It was quick, with incredible acceleration and very agile. The heat was super hot almost immediately and the trunk was incredibly big for a small car... So those are the things I miss the most! 8 months later I have just done my first oil change on 6500 miles. I was supposed to do it a 6000 and took me a couple of days, so the oil change warning light went on, a good sign that everything is working as it should. A good check on the first oil change, and everything looks great. My only complain would still be the poor acceleration and agility that I mentioned before. But it rides nicely, and on long trips on the highway at 80 miles x hour it feels good and safe. 2 Years later..early 2018. I'm still very pleased with my Crosstrek. I would say it drives even better now that it has matured. It feels more agile and has a bit more of acceleration. Still great on gas mileage. It has only been to the dealer for oil change and did the filter change. I know there is a second generation out there, and maybe I will get it in a couple of years...I will still hold on to my first Crosstrek for a while :)

Not a Hemi but good enough

Not sure why we are all so hung up on power, this has plenty to get you where you need to go. If you want power buy a sports car or Jeep SRT.

Love MY Crosstrek

Heated Seats are Great. Reg. Heating (Air/Blower) Makes Noise, Because You have to set it on High to get Heat. Great Seat Height for getting In and Out Of. Adjustable Seat, Steering Wheel and Arm Rest. Makes for Great Comfort. Great Visibility All A-Round. Hi-Tec with 7" Touch and Voice Screen. But Sound (Speakers) could be Better. Great Gas (MPG) for any car, so why not have 4 wheel drive. Safest Car when you get Subaru Eyesight, about a $2,000 add on. Can even Tow 1,500lbs

Love my CrossTrek but....

I bought a 2016 5-speed manual Premium edition. This is my first Subaru and I knew there would be a transitional time, going from 15 years in either Hondas or Toyotas which have similar controls. I'm getting accustomed to it and do find myself slowly falling in love with my cute Subaru. HOWEVER, there are 2 things which absolutely drive me crazy: ONE - how close I need set the front seat so that I can depress the clutch pedal all the way. I am 5'7", which I believe is above average for a woman. Yet I need to set the front seat so far forward that I'm on top of the steering wheel in order to be able to push the clutch pedal all the way to the floor. Also, the angle is very acute so it means I can't wear high heals while driving. TWO - I absolutely HATE the sound system display panel. First of all, when I turn on my car the display warns me for a full 7 seconds that it is dangerous to look at the display and drive. I got it, Subaru! Do I really have to see this warning for YEARS, multiple times a day? Also, the lag-time between pushing a button on the screen to it actually activating is surprising for this day and age. It's very frustrating to have to navigate through so many layers of display just to get the radio to play. And while I'm ranting about it, why, on earth, in this day and age must you scroll through pages of FM stations? Why would Subaru duplicate the old system of having a fm1, fm2, am1, pages as if there were still 6 real-life buttons to push? I don't get it. AND, furthermore, it doesn't sound that good. I wish I could rip out the whole sound system and start over. LASTLY - and this is pretty minor - it's fairly noisy in the cabin. It is not what I would call a quiet interior.

Great small CUV after a year

We bought this car for my spouse and she selected the car based on a lot less input from me compared to previous new cars we bought for her. We wanted a small car capable of handling heavy snow and therefore were looking at CRV & HRV from Honda, the Toyota RAV, the Mazda CX5 and the Ford Escape. We talked about a MINI 4WD but as we were replacing her Cooper we knew the dealer was to far away and we had a Rogue (see my review) which she didn't like. After test drives and looking at the cars. The CRV, RAV and CX3/5 were out. She didn't like the looks or colors or whatever. Left were the HRV and the Crosstrek XV. Looking at prices and what was available on the lot and the manufacturer being "green" we settled for the Quartz Blue Pearl Subaru and I can only say that it was a great buy. If the Honda was available on the lot in darker blue with light interior she would have gone for that car. She loves this car although it doesn't speak to her like the Mini did but it is a comfortable ride. The only complaint she has is the info system which is not that user friendly and seems to have trouble hooking up to Bluetooth phones. Also the CVT seems to make the car jump forward at the slightest input from the throttle, you can not slowly/smoothly get away from a standstill. Overall the car is driving nicely, the gas mileage is terrific for its size after 17000 miles we average 30.5 mpg. Not bad, but the car is slightly under powered when getting on the highway, but overall a nice vehicle made by one of the greenest car manufacturers. The car came in pretty handy when we were moving 2 years or so ago having the room to put boxes and household goods in the back with the seats down was great. It also proved itself well in the many snow dumps from the Lake we had here in West Michigan in the last winters. Very sure footed and probably even better next year with some Michelin Ice or Bridgestone Blizzaks tires instead of the OEM tires. 01/2019 WE ARE NOW ALMOST 3 YEARS INTO OWNERSHIP AND HAD THE CAR IN ONCE FOR CHECK-UP AND OIL SERVICE.

Just the lacks, man

This is obviously an overall excellent car. The symmetrical all-wheel drive cannot be beat. The styling both exterior and interior is reason enough to purchase this car. But let's look at the bad things that Subaru really needs to work on. First, the durability of the plastic, both interior and exterior, is very week. I have had my car for less than a half year and I treat it like it is a delicate Jewel. Yet the plastic everywhere is just scratched and gouged like crazy. The grey plastic on the armrests is chipping and being rubbed off even though, again, I treat it extremely extremely gingerly. The gray plastic around the shifter is already scratched to heck as well just from cleaning it. It is driving me crazy that this car's interior is already as bad as cars that I've had that were 10 plus years old. On the topic of interior, the carpet is already falling apart. The next thing that Subaru needs to work on with the Crosstrek is the engine's power. You would think that a car with acceleration worse than a golf cart would get much better than 30 miles to the gallon but it does not. Subaru has excellent superchargers and WRX models so it seems like they could put some of that into the Crosstrek to make it a capable vehicle. Third on my list of complaint is overall handling. It is great that it is a car with a lot of clearance but you shouldn't have to sacrifice keeping it between the lines on the highway to get that extra couple of inches. It is very wobbly and handles a lot like a boat. My final complaint I would say is the manufacturer's warranty. You basically have to get the extended warranty at a couple grand extra. Subarus can easily run a quarter-million miles but they can also easily run into expensive repairs in the first hundred thousand. There should definitely be a hundred thousand mile warranty from the factory. These complaints are probably pretty minor compared to other vehicles. This is a really nice car that I am in love with and I cannot wait to get it into the snow next winter. UPDATE: I've now had my Subie for almost a year and a half. Most of the above still rings true except maybe the handling. It seems to have gotten better. Or maybe I'm just used to it. The extreme lack of power is becoming pretty annoying. I was in a situation where I had to floor it from a dead stop. Acceleration is computer-guided so even in this situation the car waited at least a full second before it even began to slowly accelerate. This car really needs more power. Another thing I'm finding is that the quality of the paint is not very good. I have rusty rock chips all over. I stepped on the back bumper and 2 chunks of paint came off. A bicyclist hit my front bumper (he ran a stop sign and hit me I promise) and tore my bumper up...should have barely dinged it. On the plus side, my Subaru was amazing in Portland's snow storms last winter. Granted, I also had studs, but there was literally nowhere I couldn't go. At one point I was the only car on a major highway. Next time I buy a car I probably won't get a Crosstrek unless there is an sti version at the time.

Great all weather car

This car is a very practical, functional, great transportation vehicle. The fuel mileage for my driving style is 30/31 mpg.

New Crosstrek

Great car! I needed something to hold my 3 dogs with one of them not with the other 2. Check actual price at multiple dealers carefully. Love the roof racks.

To Cross it off or not to Cross it off

This car is quite a toss up to be honest. First off, the engine is way way underpowered, so if you are looking for speed to merge onto the highway, or pass cars, stay away from this car. The 4 cylinder engine is obviously made for fuel economy so there is the trade off, no pick up speed for better fuel milage. The transmission in this vehicle is the worst one I have ever owned, hands down, just the worst. Shifting at lower gears is painful to say the least, if I could do it over again, I would have went with a stick. The cargo storage is fine in the car, especially with the seats lowered in the back. I like the look of the car so no issues there. I have recently installed a trailer hitch and to tow a 5x8 trailer (mostly to carry split wood). It tows the trailer no problem (other than the engine itself). The road noise it a bit overwhelming, I still have the stock tires on with just over 30k on the vehicle so maybe new ones will be a little quieter? I do feel safe in the car and it handles the snow with no issues. All in all I am not sure I would purchase another one, I like the car but would like a perhaps a turbo option or just a little bit of a bigger engine all around.

How did I function without my Crosstrek?!

I've owned GMC's, Fords, Nissans, Hyundai's and none compare to the Crosstrek in terms of functionality, mpg and durability. I NEED to be able to drive around in the snow and this AWD Crosstrek beats a 4WD GMC or Ford any day!

I want my MTV (see entertainment system review)

I've had my Crosstrek for two years and still don't like or understand the entertainment system. I guess it beats not having an entertainment system. It's the worst I've ever had in a car and I have had many many cars.

Efficient Car

Love my Crosstrek! There are some places they could improve on like the acceleration. If you're looking for a performance car, don't get this car! It's a 4-cylinder car and it doesn't have much power. The audio is sub-performance as well. The car does have some slick features like the app it comes with (Pandora, etc). The exterior looks sporty and you really can't tell the difference between the 2014, 2015 & the 2016 models. I love the gas mileage with an average 30/gal.

Love the Cross trek

Small but roomy. Great fuel economy.

Crosstrek - happy compromise

We didn't want a bulky SUV but did want AWD and advanced safety features. The Crosstrek hit the mark - a raised compact car with nice interior finishes, very good MPG, excellent ride comfort, good visibility, and not too high a price. The entertainment system is OK, but had Android Auto been available, I would have gotten that instead. Acceleration is fine under nearly all conditions - unless very heavily loaded and going up steep hills. The highest MPG we have gotten is 39 on a summer trip on flat roads averaging around 50-55 mph. I might have waited for the 2017 with the new platform, but the Crosstrek version wasn't coming out for another year and the current model is fine for the price. Would have been nice to have a drivers' power seat option - not available in 2016. However, lots of advanced safety warning are available with adaptive cruise control and rear obstacle detection probably the most useful. Overall, if the size and features fit your needs, there really is no other choice than the Crosstrek...

4 years old 2-3 big problems and terrible service

4 year old crosstrek has a cold starting problem and A/C stopped working It has a push button start. Summer time it starts fine. Winter time at 30 degrees may take about five pushes to start. Temperatures in the teens could take 60 pushes to start. But it always starts eventually. I push the button the dash lights come on but it doesnt even try to start. This started at about 3 years old. I have changed the battery in the car and the key fob. No change Local subaru dealer says changing the key fob battery will fix it. I told them I tried that already. A/C stopped working this summer with record heat. I turn on the switch nothing happens. Subaru dealer says that the compressor has seized up and it will cost $1,400 for new compressor. I took it to my mechanic he added refrigerant and colored dye to find a leak. It started cooling immediately. But haven't found the leak yet. Subaru dealer says I have some kind of cam leak that will cost me $3,400 to repair. My mechanic says he can find no oil leak.

51,000 miles, 3rd CVT Transmission

At 26,000 miles the stock Yokohama tires needed replaced, they were down 90% of the tread. Replacements were over $900. At 34,000 miles the CVT transmission completely died while driving up the hill at my work. Because I work an hour from the nearest Subaru dealership, the Subaru Roadside Assistance (who only tow TO Subaru dealerships) only covers the first $100 - leaving me with another $96 in towing costs. Subaru dealership replaced at no cost to me, gave me a loaner. At 51,000 miles, the transmission was again making metallic noises. Took it in to the same dealership, and they deemed it unsafe to drive. Replaced the CVT transmission AGAIN. Spoke to Subaru, and there's nothing else they'll do. At this rate I'll need 2 more transmissions before 100,000 miles.The warranty was extended to 100,000 miles, but what happens when the 5th transmission dies at 100,001 miles? I'm just out of luck? On top of my car chewing through tires and transmissions under my normal highway commute, the mileage I get is lackluster. I average about 30.5 miles, driving 42 miles a day highway, 5 days a week 9 months of the year. She handles better than the 2019 Crosstrek loaner I had, but it just isn't worth it as a commuter. Plus, space for rear passengers and cargo is minimal.

Infotainment system is not great, all else is.

Glitchy Bluetooth and slow response time when changing radio stations or making calls, but the car itself is fabulous.

Not That Great

I am VERY surprised over some of these gushing reviews. I have owned the 2016 Crosstrek Limited with EyeSight/Navigation for a week. I am 50 years old, been driving since I was 16 and have owned 60's Muscle cars, Porsche 944, BMW 325i, Volvo 850 Turbo, Infiniti G37 Convertible, Toyota Prius/Sienna and Honda Civic. The 'technology' in the Crosstrek is subpar and embarrassing. Navigation voice command: "Directions to ABC Golf Course". Can't do it. You must blurt out the address!?!!?. The command must fit in a tiny frame of a box within their subsections. Took 3 voice prompts to find a Starbucks. It couldn't handle: Directions to nearest Starbucks. Terrible. Voice command for the radio, another joke, it's embarrassing for 2016 and the price. The stereo!!! O.M.G. The worst speakers ever. My 1990 Honda Civic had better speakers. PLEASE take the time to check out all the 'features'. I didn't and I regret it. I relied on reviews, big mistake. Starlink, is a subscription service that is not cutting edge, weak. 3 year warranty is the minimum of minimums. Vehicle is grossly underpowered. My 2007 Prius had better acceleration onto the freeway. It's almost unsafe. If you are going 45+ and need to 'step on it', it ain't going anywhere. It really should be 175 HP. My combined gas mileage is only 26. I wonder if Subaru pulled a Volkswagen... Why did I buy it? Safety. The blindspot feature is very nice. Nice ride. Compact and 3 adults can fit in the back. Interior is open. Nice large windows. I don't really notice the wind noise people complained about. Would I buy this car again? No. Too many short comings for the price.

Eyesight, Eyesight, Eyesight

I wanted a smaller AWD vehicle with the safety technology offered with the Eyesight option. I also have a 2015 Outback with Eyesight, and it makes driving so much safer, especially for my wife who is blind in one eye. Now that I have had the car for a year I am not satisfied with the acceleration, and road noise. With the A/C on the car just does not move quickly enough to be safe in complex traffic situations. I will keep the car until there is a good ELECTRIC SELF DRIVING car!

Crosstrek Road Trip

I took the Crosstrek on a weekend road trip from west of the Twin Cities to Green Bay for a wedding, 750 mile round trip. My 1st impressions were the seats, very hard and uncomfortable, I knew that this would be a long trip! I'm not sure why the Japanese manufactures have to make their seats so damn hard. We had to stop along the way and purchase a stadium seat pad for my wife and I to be able to complete the road trip (she's is about 110lbs and had the same complaint about these seats). As for the driving impressions the CVT is very herky jerky upon acceleration and the little 4 cly made a lot of noise and seemed to have to work very hard to get up to speed. I was amazed at the excessive engine braking the CVT transmission had when slowing to a stop. I'll say right now that I have never been a 4 cly fan and this engine did nothing to change my mind. I would gladly give up a few MPG to have a few more cylinders! That being said the Crosstrek averaged 33.5 MGP on this road trip running 75+ mph, I was happy with that (vehicle computer indicated). The Bluetooth worked fine, but the voice commands for the Navi were spotty at best whether it was my wife or I speaking, (MN accent maybe?) Once I was familiar with the controls they were fine and easy to access. Some of the controls are completely unnecessary, paddle shifters, really, this is not a Corvette, Ferrari, or Porsche. I find paddle shifters a total waste on anything but a sports car. And to top it off, my hands were always hitting them when adjusting on the wheel. (I hate these damn things!) I did did used to the placement after a while. The siping in the roads tended to pull the vehicle from side to side. I'm sure that this is a combination of the tires, wheel base, and the road siping. The steering is once again overly sensitive, very limited movement of the wheel results in directional change, It's not a sports car so I don't need the wheel to be this sensitive! After some time in the vehicle you get used to the sensitivity. I guess that I'm not the person that this vehicle is designed for. If I want razor like handling I get in my Corvette, but for normal driving I do not need this type of handling. A better choice for a small CUV/SUV would be the Escape, Rav4 or something along that line.

Good Crosstek

I liked the looks of the Crosstrek , especially because its size was larger than a sub-compact but smaller than a compact SUV.The Crosstrek is a little choppy on Milwaukee streets. The mileage is good , the electronics is adequate for me. It rides high which gives good visibility. I am very satisfied with the car & would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a small SUV.

Great Crossover

I was impressed with this vehicle. I drove a Toyota Corolla for 16 years. The acceleration was decent compared to the Corolla that I was used to. My friend drove the car and he owns a Porche and an Audi and he never complains about lack of power which I was very surprised. The Eyesight was an added bonus. I felt so safe driving this vehicle. I drove from Chicago to Michigan for 8 hrs. and the adaptive cruise control made my driving a breeze. I am looking forward for a harsh winter here in Chicago and my Crossterk and I will be ready to tackle the snow. So winter bring it on!!!

Very stiff ride, poor tech, excellent MPG

The ride on my 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is overly stiff to the point that I regret my purchase. Every road imperfection is transmitted up to my body. This is not a smooth ride. Even driving on dirt roads causes as much bouncing and head toss as a compact sedan, negating the purpose of buying an SUV. Consumer Reports agrees with my take on the drive quality, and I should have read their reviews before and not after purchase. I have test-driven the 2018 Crosstrek, built using the new Subaru Universal Platform, and agree with test drive reviews online that the ride is much smoother. My personal calculations using the Android app "Road Bump Free" have confirmed at least a 30% decrease in PSR, how the roughness of the road is measured, driving the 2018 model vs. the 2016. And there is, as you probably know, the issue with the slow and often incorrect voice recognition system. Making a phone call via voice commands is a chore, and I would not even attempt to send a text. Android Auto / Car Play in the newer Subarus should fix this issue and would be well worth waiting on. On the plus side, the HD radio is nice, and the touchscreen is intuitive and easy to use.

A truly nice little economical car

If you are looking for a nice economical car, this is it. If you are looking for a car that goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, this is not it. This is a small economical car that does not have a load of power but has enough to get the job done. You are not going to smoke anyone off the line with this car that is for sure. But it will save you a ton of money on gas and is a good, comfortable car. The cargo area is a little small but that is because the car is small. The seats fold down so you can gain some extra room there. The safety features are great and being a Subaru it is great in our Colorado snows. The interior is better than most cars of its class and you definitely get your moneys worth with features. Overall, this is a great all-around little car. But remember, it is not built to be a Porsche. If you want acceleration and power, I would look elsewhere.

Embarassing compared to a Mazda CX-5

First red flag was at the dealer, when I opened the sunroof shade and it felt like construction paper covered with cheap fabric. Yikes. The fake chrome on the inside door handles scratched off like spray paint, and I don't wear rings. The display screens were slow and clunky. Hardly any acceleration with the manual, so I imagine the CVT must be excruciating. Low oil light came on every 3,000 km, requiring a quart of oil between oil changes. The body was like a tin can and you could hear sand, gravel and water spray hitting the fender liners in the rear, like as if they were next to your head. Lots of road and wind noise while driving at 100 km/h. AWD very dramatic, with lights flashing on the dash and brakes being automatically applied to individual wheels, which killed the engine and caused stalls. I was T-boned by a pickup that I saw coming, and put my foot to the floor to avoid, but the weak engine did nothing. I used to show my friends how you can tap the gas pedal repeatedly on the floor, without any noticeable change in engine pitch, or resultant jerkiness. I had to shift into 2nd gear going up a hill once, towing a 12ft. aluminum boat with a little 2-stroke outboard motor (maybe 500 lbs. with the trailer). The exterior paint chipped like hardware store spray paint and I actually used an entire touch-up pen in 2 years, which is probably a Guinness World Record. I replaced the Crosstrek with a Mazda CX-5 of the same year and it is an incredible car. Gobs of power and comparable fuel economy, with only a 0.5L larger engine than the Crosstrek. Amazing FWD/AWD seamless transfer and drama-free, stellar snow handling. Bigger cabin, better rear seat room and cargo space. Far superior interior materials, fit and finish than Subaru. Super comfortable heated leather seats, unlike the fabric-covered plywood benches of the Crosstrek. And in 10,000 Km. of driving, not a single drop of oil burned, and nothing but oil changes and brake pads for maintenance, in 6 years. Subaru, like Volkswagen, is kept alive by people who convince themselves that these are good vehicles because that's what the ads say, and hide all the problems because they really want to believe that they made a smart choice.

Entry level Subie

It's a good value for a starter Subie, not quite what 'we' would feel compelled to purchase. But as an entry level vehicle w/AWD and some comforts, with decent or better fuel economy, great safety rating and reasonable accouterments, it would work for a lot of people. I find it a little troubling that Subaru won't offer a more generous warranty. If you believe in a thing, stand by it and those who purchase. I think we'll be looking at a used Outback or Forester for the same dollars spent.

Beautiful

If you are not good with technology, consider what you need. I haven't had it that long but so far, so good. iT'S BEEN 2 YEARS NOW AND THIS CAR IS REALLY GREAT! LIKE A LITTLE TANK IN THE SNOW and it did quite well on a long trip.

Pre-Collision Braking - - - maybe Yes, maybe NO

I bought a new car primarily to take advantage of the new technologies promising to make driving safer. I'm 70+ years old, I enjoy driving and I think I'm still a good driver, but I'm not too proud to accept all the help I can get. I was NOT looking for, nor did I want, a self-driving car. I'm not sure the Pre-Collision Braking function works and wanted the dealership to test it dynamically. They agreed to static test it - "no codes, so must be working" - but refused to drive it at a target and see if it works. I contacted SofA and they just said they could only go with the dealer's diagnosis. The interactive cruise control is absolutely fantastic!!! I'm planning on looking at the Infiniti QX30 as soon as it's available, as I don't want to continue driving a car I don't trust. 3/26/2017 The QX30 was only available with run flat tires (no spare, no jack), so I've stuck with the Crosstrek. Still not sure the Pre-Collision Braking function works. Otherwise, it's a nice car to drive. The car comes standard with roof rails, but no crossbars. That does not make sense to me, especially considering the very innovative folding crossbars on the Outback and Forester. The blind spot monitor gives a visual warning only - it should also give an audible warning.

I love my car!

We are now a Subaru family. I love the Crosstrek great Gad mileage, and the Wilkins dealership offers a fair and inclusive express oil change. We’ll be going to Edmunds in the fall for another car.

Subaru didn't let me down

Love this car to pieces. I could grow old with it.

Lack of engine power

If this car had the 2.5 with a 6 speed it wouldn’t be half bad but it don’t so that’s why it gets 3 stars.

2016 crosstrek

It should have had a 6 speed trans. and a little more power but it's a excellent car for the money.

Nice car for the value

Acceleration is poor and no Navigation for the Hybrid. Performance is great and good power for small engine. All wheel drive from Subaru is standard so it saves you rmoney right there.

New car

First Subi

hit the 24000 miles still love the car

Great little car. Dependable so far. Fun to drive, looks nice inside and out.