2020 Subaru Crosstrek Review

Name: 2020 Subaru Crosstrek
Brand: Subaru

Price Range: $16,998 - $28,990

2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 4dr SUV Exterior

Average

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek is your stylish gateway to the outdoors. It has modern tech, a roomy interior and lots of off-road capability. The underpowered and noisy engine, however, is a huge buzzkill.

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Average price: $23,293

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Appraise My Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru Crosstrek model years

Subaru Crosstrek for Sale

Subaru Crosstrek types

SUV
Plug-in Hybrid

Pros

High ground clearance for enhanced off-road capability
Spacious seating for a hatchback of its size
Comfortable ride quality
Easy to see out of

Cons

Slow acceleration on the highway
Mediocre cargo space
Handling isn't as precise as that of some rival vehicles

What's new

Some previously optional features are now standard
New LED exterior lighting, engine stop-start and rear-seat reminder features
Part of the second Crosstrek generation introduced for 2018

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

12/9/2019

If the thought of the occasional off-road adventure sounds fun but you don't have the budget for a traditional off-road-biased SUV, the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek might just be for you. Using standard all-wheel drive, something Subaru is famous for, and a standard 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Crosstrek can scramble its way up and down obstacles that would stymie other small crossover SUVs.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

42 listings

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2020 Subaru Crosstrek
Limited 4dr SUV
$17,398
good price
$1,493 below market
- 107,555 miles
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- 6 mi away
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Leesburg, VA
2020 Subaru Crosstrek Limited Crystal Black Silica 2.0L DOHC AWD CARFAX One-Owner. Clean CARFAX. Dulles Motor Cars offers a 3 Month/ 3,000 mile Limite...
Vehicle History:
No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (27 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JF2GTAMC8L8263876
Stock:
32539A
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
05-14-2024
Price Drop
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
Limited 4dr SUV
$22,990
fair price
$807 below market
- 52,228 miles
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 33 Hwy MPG
- 817 mi away
- Home delivery*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Tampa, FL
At Carvana, we go miles beyond the extra mile. That's why we provide you with a convenient, fast, and hassle-free car buying experience that puts you ...
Vehicle History:
No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (27 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
JF2GTANC6LH258304
Stock:
2004792606
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
05-04-2026

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The Crosstrek is also useful even if you rarely leave the urban jungle. It offers a pleasing amount of room for passengers and a smooth and comfortable ride over rough pavement. Maximum cargo space is a little underwhelming compared to what you get from a more squared-off SUV, but it should still be sufficient for most people. Another strength of the Crosstrek is that Subaru makes its EyeSight safety suite of advanced driver aids standard on nearly every model.

On the downside, the Crosstrek is stuck with an underpowered engine. Mash the gas for a pass on the highway and the resulting dribble of acceleration could make a sloth look speedy. Of course, we're exaggerating here, but it's an issue nonetheless. Other extra-small SUVs such as the Hyundai Kona and the Jeep Renegade are decidedly livelier when equipped with their optional engines. But overall, we're fond of the Crosstrek and recommend it for shoppers looking for an adventure-ready SUV.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.6

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7/10

How does the Crosstrek drive? The Crosstrek is abysmally slow, and highway merging and passing maneuvers can be difficult. In Edmunds testing, our CVT automatic-equipped Crosstrek accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a slow 10.3 seconds. A Toyota Prius can outrace you from a stoplight.

Handling and in-town drivability are acceptable, but rival SUVs will offer a more enthusiastic driving experience the majority of the time. Off-roading is where the Crosstrek shines thanks to above-average ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. Hill descent control (called X-Mode) works well and is a rare feature in this class.

Comfort

7/10

How comfortable is the Crosstrek? Both the front and rear seats have decent bolstering, which helps you stay in place when driving around turns. But the seat padding is rather firm. If you prefer softer seats, long trips may cause some comfort issues. Even so, the Crosstrek does have a smooth ride quality, and it easily absorbs bumps on the road.

A couple of things bring down the score here. One is the engine's raucous and unpleasant sound when you go full throttle, which is pretty much every time you pass another car or climb a grade. Also, a couple of the climate control system's main air vents are right next to the steering wheel. They blow air directly on the driver's hands, which you may or may not like.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The Crosstrek's cabin is functional. There's plenty of room in both front and back seats, and getting in and out is easy thanks to the lifted ride height of the Crosstrek (compared to its sibling, the Impreza). Outward visibility is excellent.

The radio controls, touchscreen interface and climate control knobs are generally easy to read and use, and the secondary top screen is surprisingly useful. Large fonts, high-resolution screens and simple button structures help the learning curve dramatically.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Standard features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto give the Crosstrek an easy entry point for tech-savvy users. The crisp-looking center screen is appealing too. We had some issues connecting smartphones through the car's Bluetooth and USB connections, but Subaru's Starlink is one of the nicer available infotainment systems once it's working properly.

Adaptive cruise control maintains an acceptable but conservative distance. Lane keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring work well too, but they can't be turned off. Reverse automatic braking is a pleasing addition that you can use along with the rearview camera when backing up.

Storage

7/10

How’s the storage? Compared to rivals such as the Jeep Compass, the Crosstrek is below average in cargo space. Even against small hatchbacks such as the Honda Civic, it's still behind by a few cubic feet. Storage for small items also pales in comparison. The center storage console and door pockets aren't particularly deep or long, for example.

Car seat accommodation, however, is excellent. The large door openings, tall roof and easily accessible rear seat latches make for a swift installation. The best part is that the roomier, redesigned interior offers plenty of space for a big rear-facing seat, too.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? With the CVT automatic, the Crosstrek is rated at 29 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which makes it one of the best off-road-friendly compact crossovers available. On our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route, our test Crosstrek returned 30.1 mpg.

Value

8/10

Is the Crosstrek a good value? If you want an inexpensive off-roader with some creature comforts, the Crosstrek is a great pick. It doesn't have as much cargo space as rivals, but it does come with a lot of standard equipment. Interior build quality is a little bit better than average as well.

Wildcard

8/10

This is where the Crosstrek shines. Only one or two vehicles in this class can go as far off the beaten path as the Crosstrek, especially when you consider the available features and cost. The Crosstrek's styling is distinctive too.

2020 Subaru Crosstrek trim level differences

The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek is offered in three trim levels: Base, Premium and Limited. All Crosstreks come standard with all-wheel drive and are powered by the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (152 horsepower). Base and Premium trims come standard with a six-speed manual transmission with an optional CVT automatic, which is the only transmission offered on the top-of-the-line Limited. Compare the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek trim levels in-depth.

Which Crosstrek trim does Edmunds recommend?

Since the 2020 Subaru Crosstrek comes fairly well equipped from the get-go, and there are no optional engines, we recommend keeping things simple and sticking with the entry-level Base 2.0i. Here, you have the option of a manual transmission, although Subaru's well-liked EyeSight driver's safety system is only available with the CVT automatic. Higher trim levels don't add extra capability, only creature comforts.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$197/mo

$211/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

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Make

Model

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Reliability

The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, ranks it #5 out of 29 among Compact SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5Excellent

#5 out of 29 among Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$456/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

0.38x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

10.3%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 23V080000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: WRD-23
Number of vehicles affected:: 8413
Defect Description:: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles. The harness terminal that supplies low-voltage power from the converter to the 12-Volt battery may corrode and break, preventing the 12-Volt battery from charging.
Defect Consequence:: A 12-Volt battery that is unable to recharge can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the converter terminal mounting bracket. If corrosion is found on the terminals, the 12-Volt output harness and terminals will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 12, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRD-23.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Subaru Crosstrek Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.2

32 reviews

5(60%)

4(22%)

3(6%)

2(6%)

1(6%)

See all 32 reviews of the Subaru Crosstrek

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2020 Crosstrek Features & Specs

Type:

SUV

Trim:

Base

MSRP (New) Excludes Destination Fee	$22,145
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$197/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Crosstrek models:

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Warns you if traffic is approaching from the side when backing out of a parking space. Includes automatic braking as well.
Lane Keep Assist: Monitors your position on the road and can help steer if you unintentionally begin to drift out of your lane.
Pre Collision Braking: Automatically applies the brakes if an imminent frontal collision is detected and the driver doesn't react in time.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.6%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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