2019 Subaru Crosstrek SUV

Can you be eco-friendly while using a vehicle meant for off-road adventuring? That's a question that the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid hopes to answer with an enthusiastic "yes!" The Crosstrek Hybrid is a new entry into the small class of affordable hybrid SUVs, and it belongs to an even smaller subclass of vehicles that are actually capable of driving around in the dirt. It might be a niche offering, but it's one that Subaru is well-suited to fill.

And at its heart, the Subaru Crosstrek is just a standard Impreza hatchback that's been enhanced for off-road use. Along with standard all-wheel drive, it gets a raised suspension, a rugged exterior look and some added traction management software to help it get further off-road. It's reasonably fuel-efficient, too. The new Crosstrek Hybrid boosts fuel economy even higher, provides some electric-only range and qualifies for those nifty carpool-lane stickers.

What's Under the Hood?

The 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid is not Subaru's first go at a hybrid crossover. There was a short run of Crosstrek Hybrids from the previous-generation model that ran from 2014 to 2016. We weren't overly impressed with it since its fuel economy bonus was meager. This new model, however, is a plug-in hybrid — Subaru's first — and that promises the potential for substantial reductions in gas use.

Providing internal combustion power is a modified version of the Crosstrek's regular 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. For the electricity part, there are two electric motors and an 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged with an external power source. Together, this powertrain produces 148 horsepower and sends power to all four wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission.

With the addition of the battery packs and electric motors, the Crosstrek Hybrid is about 500 pounds heavier than its non-hybrid sibling and it has 4 fewer horsepower. (The standard Crosstrek is rated at 152 hp.) This lower power and higher weight would normally result in slower acceleration, but the electrically provided torque lower in the rev range should get the Crosstrek Hybrid off the line a bit quicker. Subaru estimates that 0-60 mph times will drop from 10.3 seconds with the standard vehicle to 9.3 seconds with the hybrid. That's a welcome improvement, especially considering that the standard Crosstrek is one of the slowest vehicles in its class.

How Fuel-Efficient Is It?

When fully charged, the Crosstrek Hybrid can go about 17 miles on all electric power. Charging up the Crosstrek Hybrid's battery pack from empty to full takes about five hours on a standard plug and about two hours on a Level 2 charger. Once you've used all that electricity, it operates just like any other hybrid. Run it on gas for a while. Fill it up. Keep on driving. Repeat.

During that kind of driving, the Crosstrek Hybrid gets an estimated 35 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's a significant 6 mpg improvement over the standard Crosstrek. Where the Crosstrek Hybrid and other plug-in vehicles of its ilk really come into their own is in city driving. If you drive short distances that don't exceed the 17 miles of EV range — and can frequently plug in to recharge — the potential to save even more gas is there.

How Does It Drive?

From behind the wheel, the Crosstrek Hybrid doesn't feel vastly different from the standard Crosstrek. Yes, there's a bit of extra weight over all four wheels, but it feels as though it's distributed well. The Crosstrek Hybrid is composed when going around turns and swiftly changes direction, even if the steering is a bit vague. On the highway, the Crosstrek Hybrid is quiet and comfortable, with plenty of support from the standard leather seats.

In town, the electric power is enough to go between the lights if you have a light foot. But when you floor it, the Crosstrek Hybrid kicks on the gas engine and gives you all the power it can muster. Power isn't impressive or exciting, but for city commutes, it's sufficient. If you want to control when and where you use your electricity, there are a few modes to choose from. A Save mode can reserve electricity for later, while a Charge mode allows you to divert power from the 2.0-liter engine to charge depleted batteries. Switching from D to B adds some extra regenerative braking and gives a bit more of a one-pedal driving experience in the city.

Unfortunately, the Crosstrek Hybrid feels taxed when going up pretty much any grade. The underpowered four-cylinder engine makes quite a racket at high rpm and doesn't provide much gusto to go along with it. It may be quicker than the standard Crosstrek off the line, but this hybrid feels just as slow as the standard car during passing maneuvers.

What's more, Subaru admits that the Crosstrek Hybrid has lost a step off-road, but only in steep-terrain scenarios. For the kind of slippery, low-traction stuff that most of us encounter during inclement weather, the heavier hybrid should perform a little better.

How Can I Tell the Two Crosstreks Apart?

There are a few specific items that differentiate the Crosstrek Hybrid from its conventionally powered sibling. On the outside, the hybrid comes with different wheels, blue trim accents, LED foglights, a few "Plug-In" badges and, of course, the port where you plug in the car. With the hybrid's extra weight, towing capacity drops from 1,500 pounds in the standard Crosstrek to 1,000 pounds with the hybrid. The extra weight also means that Subaru has had to fit larger rear brakes.

On the inside, you get some special blue trim along the dash, as well as some unique gray-and-navy-blue seats. Behind the rear seats, the Crosstrek Hybrid gives up about 25 percent of its trunk space in order to fit the battery pack. So space behind the second row goes from 20.8 cubic feet with the standard model to 15.9 cubes with the hybrid. The battery pack's intrusion on trunk space also means there is no longer a spare tire in the trunk — a tire repair kit replaces it. That's a bit disappointing when you consider the Crosstrek's mission as a city-friendly off-roader. No one wants to get caught out on a trail attempting to repair a puncture in the sand.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Crosstrek Hybrid is only available in a single trim level, and it costs $35,970, including destination. The hybrid model is equipped pretty much like the Crosstrek 2.0i Limited, the top standard Crosstrek trim level. Since it's pretty much at the top of the Crosstrek trim-level ladder, it gets lots of equipment. Standard features include leather upholstery, Subaru's EyeSight safety suite (adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist), and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.

So, yes, you get a lot of high-end features. But you're still looking at a pretty significant price increase compared to a regular Crosstrek. The top-end Crosstrek 2.0i Limited has an MSRP of $28,170 (including destination), which is $7,800 less than the hybrid. Federal and state tax credits should help offset the increase, with a maximum of $4,500 in tax credits available to certain buyers. But even after that discount, it's a big leap from one Crosstrek to the other.

Should I Buy a Crosstrek Hybrid?

What you need to do is ask yourself whether the hybrid's cost increase is worth it. The plug-in capability is the big variable. If you can frequently recharge, then the hybrid has the potential to help save a lot on gas. But if you drive long distances, or don't have easy access to a recharging power source at home, you're paying for a capability you can't take advantage of.

There is some appeal in the Crosstrek Hybrid's solid fundamentals. Buying a small SUV with a significant amount of off-road capability and a comfortable highway ride is definitely appealing. But that's what the standard Crosstrek already provides. What's more, the loss of the spare tire and the smaller cargo space reduces the hybrid's appeal as a viable off-roader.

If you don't malign the missing spare, though, and you have a short daily commute paired with access to a regular charging source, the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid could be a good fit. It has a unique set of characteristics, especially among plug-in hybrids.