2021 Subaru Crosstrek Review

Price Range: $17,244 - $28,998

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 4dr SUV Exterior

We recommended the 2021 Crosstrek before, just with the caveat that it was painfully slow. Now, thanks to the optional 2.5-liter engine, it has near class-leading acceleration to go with its premium interior, solid off-road capability, and impressive suite of driver aids.

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Price & Payment

120 cars

$22,855 avg. price

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2021 Subaru Crosstrek Review

Pros

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

Cons

Slow acceleration on the highway with base engine
Less cargo space when compared to compact SUV rivals
Handling isn't a strong suit

What's new

New 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine provides more power
More standard driver assist features on automatic-equipped Crosstreks
Refreshed front bumper with new front grille
Part of the second Crosstrek generation introduced for 2018

Overview

Written by automotive expert Travis Langness

4/22/2021

If REI ever needs an extra-small SUV to have in picture backgrounds of its catalog, the Subaru Crosstrek will surely do. With its exaggerated fender arches and raised roof rails, it easily looks the part of a get-back-to-nature SUV. There's some substance to the style, too, with an elevated stance good for 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive that can help this little Subaru find its way over rutted trails.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Columbus, OH

120 listings

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Price Drop
2021 Subaru Crosstrek
Sport 4dr SUV
$20,400
fair price
$444 below market
- 70,750 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 34 Hwy MPG
- Nissan North (11 mi away)
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Columbus, OH
This 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport, has a Crystal White Pearl exterior and an Gray w/Yellow Stitching interior color. 70,750 miles. Stock Number...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (27 City/34 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF2GTHSC9MH398099
Stock: MH398099A
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-02-2025
Price Drop
2021 Subaru Crosstrek
Limited 4dr SUV
$23,990
fair price
$569 below market
- 48,702 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use only
- 5 Seats, 27 City / 34 Hwy MPG
- Carvana - Columbus (9 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Columbus, OH
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 ...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/34 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF2GTHNC9MH258808
Stock: 2004030618
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 09-11-2025

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In prior years, we were disappointed by the Crosstrek's weak base engine and slow acceleration. But for 2021, there's a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that ups the power in a big way. Standard on the upper-level Sport and Limited trims, the 2.5-liter engine provides 182 horsepower and significantly increases the Crosstrek's acceleration and desirability. The 152-horsepower engine is still a sore spot for the plucky Subaru, but buyers who want more power have a seriously appealing option now. So is the 2021 Crosstrek the best SUV for you? Check out our Expert Rating to learn more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Good

7.9

out of 10

We drove the 2021 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

7.5/10

How does the Crosstrek drive? With the base powertrain, the Crosstrek can seem painfully slow when accelerating onto the freeway. But the 182-hp 2.5-liter engine shaves nearly 2 seconds off its 0-60 mph acceleration, bringing it down to a respectable 8.4 seconds. Combine that with communicative steering and above-average off-road capability and you've got a seriously competitive extra-small SUV.

Handling, however, is underwhelming. The Crosstrek's hard tires provide only modest grip on pavement, and the tall ride height brings about noticeable body roll when you crank around a turn. Most rival SUVs offer a more enthusiastic on-road driving experience.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Crosstrek? With a relatively quiet and smooth ride, the Crosstrek is easy to drive on long trips. And with the optional 2.5-liter engine, there's less noise in the cabin too. There's still a bit of a growl when you bury the throttle to make a passing maneuver, but the sound is a bit more pleasant than the standard 2.0-liter engine's wheezy soundtrack.

The front and rear seats are comfortable for extra-long road trips, even if they are a bit on the firm side. But if you find yourself on a twisty road, you'll quickly discover the front seats a little lacking in the bolstering department. The climate control system is easy to operate, with several large, easily readable dials, but some of the vents are located in inconvenient spots.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The Crosstrek's cabin is highly functional and well laid out. The high-resolution screens have large fonts and simple menu structures. The lifted ride height of the Crosstrek (compared to its sibling, the Impreza) makes it easy to get in and out of and delivers excellent visibility. The driving position is good too, with lots of adjustment from the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.

There's plenty of room in both the front and back seats, and the Crosstrek offers one of the more spacious cabins in the class. The only space that will be slightly cramped is the rear seat, but just for taller passengers.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? Standard features including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto give the Crosstrek an easy entry point for tech-savvy users. The crisp center screen is appealing, and voice controls allow for changing things, such as the radio station, with only a few small tweaks to everyday language.

The optional eight-speaker Harman Kardon stereo (Limited trim only) is an upgrade from the standard setup and offers some extra volume and increased audio quality. The navigation display is easy to see and understand. The Crosstrek's lane-keeping assist system intervenes pretty regularly, but not to the point of being overzealous or annoying.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? Interior storage is a little below average. There's 20.8 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats or 55 cubes when you fold the seats down. Small-item storage is a bit limited, so you'll have to be creative when storing your personal items. Child seats can be installed very easily thanks to the large door openings and high roof.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? With the 2.5-liter engine (which is only available with the CVT), the Crosstrek gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined (27 city/34 highway). That's pretty good for an off-road-friendly compact crossover SUV. Real-world fuel economy isn't as impressive, however. On our 115-mile highway-heavy evaluation route, our Crosstrek Limited returned 27.5 mpg. It does have a long range thanks to its big 16-gallon fuel tank, which is 20%-30% larger than most rivals.

Value

8/10

Is the Crosstrek a good value? Subaru offers a good number of features for what you pay. Our test car had solid build quality. There are lots of nice soft-touch surfaces on the inside of the Crosstrek, especially at the top Limited trim level. A top-trim Mazda CX-30 is nicer still, but overall the Crosstrek easily justifies its cost.

Subaru's three-year/36,000-mile warranty is average for the class, but it covers items such as wiper blades and brake pads — that's rare and appreciated.

Wildcard

8.5/10

This is where the Crosstrek shines. There are only one or two vehicles in this class that can go as far off the beaten path as the Crosstrek, especially when you consider available features and the low price point. It's a gateway into the outdoors with a bit of its own flash, style and finally enough horsepower.

2021 Subaru Crosstrek trim level differences

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is offered in four trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport and Limited. All Crosstreks come standard with all-wheel drive. Features include:

Which Crosstrek trim does Edmunds recommend?

Because the base engine is so lackluster, we recommend upgrading to the new Sport trim level. It gets the new 2.5-liter engine, which significantly improves the driving experience. The Sport also comes with simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats and unique styling flares. On top of that, we recommend adding the optional 8-inch touchscreen.

Compare 2021 Subaru Crosstrek trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$150/mo

$164/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4.5/5Excellent

#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

Subaru Crosstrek Owner Reviews

4.3

79 reviews

5(68%)

4(13%)

3(4%)

2(9%)

1(6%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2021 Crosstrek Limited, a really nice car

Terry480, 05/17/2021

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

Originally, I was going to get the Premium model. I drove it and liked the cloth seats and the 2.0 engine seemed adequate for my needs. While I waited for the car to arrive from the port, I started looking at the other models online. The Limited model provided so many more features for relatively little more money, that I just had to switch. I now have the 2.5 engine that has quite a bit … of power, plus I'm averaging 32.9 MPG combined. I have the 8" touch screen, leather seats and nicer looking 18" wheels, instead of 17". Some people complain about the transmission, but I actually like the CVT transmission. I find it pretty smooth. I chose the grey interior, so that it would lighten up the inside and I'm glad I did. I love the Eyesight and how it can keep the car in the lanes and the cruise control paces very accurately and will even apply the brakes if someone cuts in front of you. All things said, I feel safe in this car and I really like the quality of the car. I had a Forester 10 years ago, but didn't like it, cause it felt too big. This car is small on the outside, but has a lot of room inside. Its really a great size. Now it's been 3 years and 50,000 miles later. I've had an ongoing problem with the radio. Periodically, when I start the car, the radio has no volume on AM or FM even though its set for #12 volume. If I turn it to Sirius, then there is sound. This is random and may happen once every 2 months or sometimes twice in the same month. It seems to occur more in cold weather. The sound may restart itself in 2 minutes or 10 minutes or never. I can always restart it by turning off the radio & resetting it or turning off & restarting the car. The dealer has replaced the radio twice, but this doesn't change the problem. The last radio had a failure the next morning and I drove right to the dealer and left the car running for 2 hours till they opened so I could show them. They scheduled service and had the car for 2 weeks trying to start the car & see the failure, but of course, it didn't happen. The Factory has no solution & right now the dealer wants a factory tech to come & check it. Other than the radio, I've had no other problems. I still have the original tires, but replaced the rear brakes. I also changed the air filters, cabin & engine several times. I'm averaging 32 MPG in the "I" mode, but do 3/4 miles on the highway and usually do 60 MPH in the right lane to work & 65 MPH home. I no longer like the leather seats as they're too firm without enough padding and are uncomfortable on anything more than a 1 hour trip. I think I would like a bigger rear trunk area also. I usually don't drive in the winter till the roads are plowed, so I really haven't had any issue with traction. On another note: While I had a loaner for 2 weeks, the dealer let me use a Forester Wilderness model. The car is pretty identical inside to mine & has the same engine, but it had softex seats and they were better. I drove it the same way as always, but the all-terrain tires took 4 MPG from what I get in my car, so I only got 28 MPG. I really like the way these tires ride and grip, but I don't like the loss of MPG. The factory had the tires inflated to 40 PSI, if I lowered it to 33 PSI as recommended, it would probably lose another 1 MPG.

2021 Crosstrek

2021 Crosstrek Limited, 11/19/2020

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

We purchased a loaded limited model and absolutely love it. The new 182hp engine vs other vehicles in its class has a lot of get up and go. The safety features and quality are top notch. It also gets great gas mileage around 29mpg combined. We have now owned for a year with 18,000 miles. Still enjoy driving and have had no issues

4 stars solid - Base CVT

Landon, 09/26/2020

2021 Subaru Crosstrek 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

I like honest reviews that help normal people. I just got a 2021 Crosstrek and plan to keep it for 9 or more years. I will have plenty to say. After my first 100 miles, I LOVE it. It is lacking in power a little, but I don't have any negatives yet. 8.7" of clearance. One of the best AWD systems out there. The CVT is FAR better than my last one in a Corolla. Mines a 2.0 152 HP. Safety … features are amazing. Ride is great. I will re-do this review when I get some miles on it. Update: After 18 months from purchase and 6400 miles driven. 1/2 of miles were long 300 mile trips (12 so far) 3600 miles...and 1/2 were around town going 15-35. It rides like a sedan, but can handle 6 inches of snow without issue. Even in 4-6" of snow going 70 on the freeway (not recommended but there were no other cars around) It has a really good "feel" No slippage (or so little I didn't notice) The AWD system makes it feel like no other car I've driven. It feels solid. It's still early in my ownership. I'm accustomed to Toyota. As a company, Subaru is WAY smaller than some others....and you can tell. (although Toyota is slowly buying Subaru, and even share some parts in 2021+ models) It seems to be well made, although my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is a BASE model with CVT. The switches and buttons for heat and cool seem and look like they haven't changed since the 1990s. I don't mind this and actually wanted a simple system. Works great. Looks fine. I knew all this before buying except about the color LCD on the upper screen. Missed that one. I also was told by the dealer I could turn off the auto start / stop system. It's terrible! Every stop sign your car quits only to immediatelly start. Turns out you can disable that, but it resets every time you turn the car off, so it's become habit to push a button quickly right after starting. That disables the auto start / stop feature. It's a gimmick to get better gas mileage numbers from the NTSB or EPA some other bothersome government BS.. I even have a real "KEY" Not a fob. That's rare in 2021 cars for sure. It's no bother. exactly what I've done since I learned to drive in the early 80s. One more thing about interior storage. There is not even nearly enough. The cavity below radio and buttons for climate is WAY to small. then you have center cupholders and ones in the door. But you do have a lot of room in back, just not the seats. Passengers don't even have cupholders in back. Not good for some. Lot's of room in the back. I've hauled bikes, boards, and all kinds of stuff. No problem. Seats fold down and a smaller person could sleep in it easily. I'm 6'2" and could sleep in it, but it might not be the most comfortable. One reason I wish I had looked at the step above the Base to the Premium closer....I still would have gone with the Base. It's what I wanted. The Premium package comes with a few things I would use. #1 being a color LCD for the screen in the upper-middle. I have the base 6.5" color touch screen. The BASE comes with a B&W upper screen with less options.In upper trims (All other trims I believe) it's a color screen with a few more options for personalizing. #2 is heated seats. These are a couple of other things the Premium had that I really don't care about, but you might. Do some research before buying. Don't trust sales people. I still give the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Base 4 stars. It's a #1 for value. I got mine in 2020 before the major upheaval in the car market. Glad I missed that, and now my Crosstrek is worth $5000 more than I paid. I hope great resale values follow the Crosstrek. I have had great value from the 4 Toyotas I've purchased. I hope Subaru is even close to the unbelievable resale I got for my Tacomas and even a Corolla. I have had no issues, just good times so far in the Crosstrek. I recommend it highly after 18 months. Lets see what happens after 4-5 years. Almost nobody has anything bad to say about the Crosstrek except it's underpowered. I drove a 2.5L in a Crosstrek as 2021 was the 1st year you could get a 2.5L vs 2.0L. (For almost $4000) I saw no upside in getting the larger engine for one person and rising gas prices and inflation. I've never had problem with too little power. I will continue to let you know my experiences with the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Base. Basically the same info as any other trim, just remember they have heated seats, and some other useful and more useless stuff vs BASE models. June 2 2022 - 6500 miles I am a lifetime Toyota owner. My only new cars purchased have been 2 Tacomas and 1 Corolla. Now I add Subaru to that list. I’ve got 6500 miles on my ‘21 Crosstrek Base. I can’t complain about much. I was aware of most of the downsides when I got it. The build quality (if you’re a perfectionist) is not quite up to Toyota or Honda standards but it’s still good. I’ve had no issues with any major system. There have been times when my phone wouldn’t pair with CarPlay or Bluetooth. I went to the dealer once and they said it’s common and disconnected the + terminal on the battery and grounded it saying that resets something. That was a year ago and it hasn’t happened again. I’ve also had the eyesight be disabled in heavy snow and sleet. Only two times…it comes back on as soon as the cameras can see out of the glass. Not a big deal. I’m a perfectionist and have noted a few places where the design and build could be better. That said, it’s still good. I never thought that when I owned my Toyota vehicles. I have taken it off-road a few times and as long as you don’t push it , you’ll be fine in most spots. I can’t compare the off road capabilities with a Tacoma, it’s not fair. The Subaru 4WD system seems great. (Until you have to buy tires) Has a very “solid”or “ground hugging” feel. Handles well in ice and snow. I’ve been caught in 3-4 storms that being in a car without 4WD would have been hard. The Crosstrek handles it like a pro! Sound system IS one place where I can complain. It works, but is terrible. Most people won’t care but I’m a musician and audio nut. Need to upgrade sound if that’s something you need. I also only have one USB to charge and use phone with CarPlay. It should have 2 or more. I am always alone so it hasn’t been an issue. One step up in trim gives you 2 USB and another sound connection. November 15 2022 update. The ‘21 Crosstrek Base CVT has been excellent so far. I will keep my review going as long as they let me. I only have 8160 miles on the vehicle. It’s not burning oil or leaking. I have had no problems at all. The ‘21 Crosstrek is a pleasure to drive. Next update in a few thousand miles. 3/1/2023 - 2021 Crosstrek Base 9550 miles. I still don’t have much bad to say. Build quality of the interior is not as good as Toyota. The interior of my 2015 Corolla was nicer. Apple CarPlay works and that makes things better (until wireless CarPlay is widely adopted) The interior and exterior of the car is not as good as Toyota. It’s noticeable after decades of driving Toyota. Subaru is trying to compete with giants and they offer one if the best values in the industry. Good features inside like the in house AWD built from scratch instead of adapting 2WD to 4WD as its competitors have done. Major competitors simply offer front wheel drive and charge extra for 4WD at a steep price. Subaru base Crosstrek came with Subaru’s award winning AWD and amazing capabilities with Eyesight. Auto cruise. The car can get through stop and go never touching gas or brakes. 9/25 20,000 mile

Love the car, had some issues early on

Dr. Morgan, 06/23/2021

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl CVT)

I love my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport. The car is comfortable and fun to drive. I just returned from a trip to Colorado from Mississippi where I got an average of 34 mpg for the whole trip, with 38 mpg on the flat parts from Mississippi to New Mexico. Down side was that in Colorado with less than 6000 miles it started making a chirping noise when accelerating. Took it to a dealer in …

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2021 Subaru Crosstrek video

Top Subcompact SUVs for 2021-2022 | Extra-Small & Easy to Drive – What's Not to Like?

Subcompact SUVs have been gaining in popularity over the last few years. For people who don't need or want the space of a midsize SUV or for those who just want to save a few bucks, a subcompact SUV is a smart and economical choice. These extra-small SUVs maintain that elevated ride height and utility of their larger counterparts, but their smaller size means easier…

2021 Crosstrek Highlights

Type:

SUV

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$22,245
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$150/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	20.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

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 Keeping System: Monitors your position on the road and makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane.
Pre Collision Braking: Automatically applies the brakes if an imminent front 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
Poor
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Subaru Crosstrek Review

Price & Payment

2021 Subaru Crosstrek Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Columbus, OH

2021 Subaru CrosstrekSport 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2021 Subaru CrosstrekLimited 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2021 Subaru Crosstrek trim level differences

Which Crosstrek trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Subaru Crosstrek Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2021 Crosstrek Limited, a really nice car

2021 Crosstrek

4 stars solid - Base CVT

Love the car, had some issues early on

2021 Subaru Crosstrek video

Top Subcompact SUVs for 2021-2022 | Extra-Small & Easy to Drive – What's Not to Like?

2021 Crosstrek Highlights

Safety

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