The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is a practical and comfortable small SUV. Its standard all-wheel drive and elevated ground clearance also helps out in wintry road conditions or when going off-road for recreational use. Lackluster acceleration and storage capacity are notable drawbacks, but overall we think the Crosstrek is a solid pick.Read full review
There's a lot to like about the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek. It may be Subaru's smallest and least expensive SUV, but there's plenty of Subaru goodness baked in. It offers standard all-wheel drive, a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine and a roomy interior. If you're an outdoorsy person or you live in an area with a lot of snowy, slippery winter weather, it's a compelling choice. For 2026, Subaru is also offering a new Crosstrek Hybrid.
Edmunds spotlight: What's new for the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Subaru has a business relationship with Toyota, so it would've been easy for Subaru to just pop in one of Toyota's proven hybrid systems under the hood and call it a day. However, Subaru has developed a hybrid system that uses its own engine design. The hybrid powertrain produces 194 horsepower, which is more than what you get from the regular Crosstrek. As such, we're expecting it to be the quickest Crosstrek you can buy. It will undoubtedly be the most fuel-efficient as well. Subaru hasn't officially said what kind of mpg the Crosstrek Hybrid will get, but our guess is that it'll get around 35 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
Competitors to consider
There are plenty of options for a small and reasonably priced SUV. Some of our top recommendations include the Chevrolet Trailblazer or Trax, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross and Volkswagen Taos. But if you also want off-road capability like the Crosstrek can provide, you'll have to shop for a bigger model, such as the Ford Bronco Sport or Subaru's Forester. As for hybrids, the Kia Niro and Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid are viable options.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Nick Yekikian
Average
7.6
out of 10
We drove the 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? Even in a class of relatively slow cars, the Crosstrek trails the pack. We tested a Crosstrek with the base 2.0-liter engine. At our test track, it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a lethargic 9.9 seconds. Passing is an affair that demands patience above all else in the base 2.0-liter Crosstrek; we recommend upgrading to a model with the 2.5-liter engine. It doesn't offer whipcrack acceleration, but its 0-60 mph time of 8.7 seconds is in line with the rest of the class.
The Crosstrek isn't a handling all-star, nor should it be. The steering is a little vague and there's noticeable body roll both under braking and around corners. That said, it's a smooth operator on the road and is easy to live with and use for day-to-day duties. Even better, its all-wheel-drive system will provide extra confidence in inclement weather and it feels sure-footed and confident in the dirt. Don't be afraid to take it on roads less traveled.
Comfort
7.5/10
How comfortable is the Crosstrek? The Crosstrek's ride comfort deserves special mention. This little SUV's lifted stance and chunky tire sidewall help it easily absorb road impacts. There are few potholes and even fewer manhole covers that can flummox this Subie. The seats, however, don't quite match the ride's inherent comfort. The padding is a little too soft and there isn't much in the way of lateral support. We suspect the seats in higher trims that come with different materials would be more supportive.
Wind noise was ever present on our highway drives from both the door mirror and the windscreen itself. At anything above or near 65 mph, the Crosstrek is a loud place to be, so much so that conversations at normal volume are difficult to have. The fans for the climate control are also a little too weak until you crank them all the way up, and at that point they are blaring and you'll need to keep them going to keep the cabin at whatever temperature you've set.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? The interior of the Crosstrek is best described as simple. There aren't too many buttons, knobs or switches, but what is there is large and easy to use without you having to look too long. The buttons on the steering wheel also have a nice tactile feel and make whizzing through the instrument menus a cinch. The infotainment screen contains most of the car's primary functions, and while the screen itself isn't the highest-resolution, big buttons and icons make it easy to use.
It also feels large inside, and with its high roofline and lengthy cabin, the Crosstrek is certainly more crossover than hatchback. The rear seat is roomy and visibility is good to the sides and rear. Add to that wide door openings and an elevated seat height that make sliding in and out of the car easy and you have a very user-friendly interior.
MSRP is subject to change and varies based on availability, trim level, option packages, and retailer-installed accessories. MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title, registration, and other fees. Retailer sets actual price. See your retailer for details.
How’s the tech? Tech has never been Subaru's strong suit. Most Crosstreks come with a 11.4-inch tablet-like infotainment display. While we appreciate the screen's large icons, the system can be slow to respond to your inputs.
Another pain point is the Crosstrek's stereo. While an upgraded version is available on the top-spec Limited model, most Crosstreks come with just six speakers. The result is a sound that's tinny throughout the volume range. The system also lacks any real bass and can't overcome the poor cabin acoustics. Those who enjoy in-car audio might want to stay away from anything other than the upgraded system.
Subaru does equip the Crosstrek with many standard driver aids. Their operation could be better, however. The forward collision warning system can be a little jumpy, occasionally identifying a trash can on the street as a pedestrian or car and issuing a startling warning. Lane keeping assistance warnings are triggered often, too, despite how accurately you try to keep the car in its lane. The adaptive cruise control maintained consistent gaps with other cars in traffic in our testing, but the Crosstrek's laggard acceleration occasionally means that other cars have the opportunity to cut in front of you while it struggles to catch the car that's pulled away.
Storage
7.5/10
How’s the storage? The Crosstrek has less cargo space than some top rivals. It only offers 19.9 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats, which is less than what the Chevy Trailblazer and Volkswagen Taos offer. The cabin also has minimal storage for smaller items. The door pockets feel undersized, and large bottles won't fit in any of the cupholders. Add to that a small center console and your loose items will likely be packing these spaces in no time.
Car seats, however, are easy to fit. The aforementioned large door openings, easy-to-access LATCH mounting points and the Crosstrek's ride height mean installation is a no-brainer. There's also a lot of room in the backseat area, making fitting even a large rear-facing seat easy.
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA says the Crosstrek with either the 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter engine gets 29 mpg in combined city/highway driving. (The exception is the Wilderness, which gets 27 mpg combined.) That's an average figure for an extra-small SUV with all-wheel drive. On our real-world test route with a test Crosstrek fitted with the 2.0-liter engine, we managed 33.4 mpg, indicating that the EPA's estimates should be pretty easy to achieve in the real world.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Crosstrek a good value? When so much of the Crosstrek's competition has upped its game in terms of quality, feature availability and on-road performance, the Crosstrek feels a little lackluster. Our test Crosstrek had interior panels that featured different colors and textures and weren't very nice to the touch. This is an area competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and the Kia Seltos have nailed down, and they cost no more than the Crosstrek. The Subaru's inherent value is in what it can do off-road, but in terms of what you get out of the box, the Crosstrek is lacking.
Subaru's warranty is similarly average. It offers three years/36,000 miles of basic warranty coverage and roadside assistance, and the powertrain is warrantied for five years/60,000 miles. While some competitors offer free maintenance, Subaru doesn't.
Wildcard
8/10
The Crosstrek is a favorite of those who trod the path less taken, and it's easy to see why. It's simply made and perfectly utilitarian, and while it isn't fun on the pavement, looser surfaces really suit it and underscore Subaru's rally heritage. It would also make a fantastic camping companion. However, you're destined to see these everywhere you look, and Crosstrek ownership absolutely comes at the expense of individuality.
Which Crosstrek does Edmunds recommend?
Subaru hasn't released complete information on the 2026 Crosstrek as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Crosstrek, we think the Premium trim is a good jumping-off point for non-hybrid models. In addition to the more powerful 2.5-liter engine, the Premium comes equipped with a good array of advanced driver aids, plus the upgraded 11.6-inch touchscreen audio system.
Best SUVs Under $30,000: Subaru Crosstrek vs. Chevy Trailblazer vs. Honda HR-V & More
NOTE: This video is about the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek, but since the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
Looking for an SUV but don’t want something huge or expensive? From Chevy to Mazda to Subaru and more, Edmunds’ Brian Wong & Clint Simone line up nine of the top-selling subcompact SUVs to find out which one is the best for under $30,000. We’ll cover interiors, tech, cargo room and more.
MSRP is subject to change and varies based on availability, trim level, option packages, and retailer-installed accessories. MSRP excludes destination and delivery charges, tax, title, registration, and other fees. Retailer sets actual price. See your retailer for details.
Safety
Key safety features on the Crosstrek include:
Back-up camera
Blind Spot Monitoring
Lane Departure Warning
Alarm
Tire Pressure Warning
Stability Control
Pre-collision safety system
Post-collision safety system
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
Marginal
Side Impact Test – Original
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
FAQ
Is the Subaru Crosstrek a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2026 Crosstrek both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.6 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Crosstrek has 18.6 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Subaru Crosstrek. Learn more
What's new in the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek:
New hybrid engine option for significantly better fuel economy
Part of the third Crosstrek generation introduced for 2024
To determine whether the Subaru Crosstrek is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Crosstrek. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Crosstrek's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2026 Crosstrek and gave it a 7.6 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2026 Crosstrek is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2026 Subaru Crosstrek?
The least-expensive 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Sport Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $33,995.
Other versions include:
Sport Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $33,995
Limited Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) which starts at $34,995
What are the different models of Subaru Crosstrek?
If you're interested in the Subaru Crosstrek, the next question is, which Crosstrek model is right for you? Crosstrek variants include Sport Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT), and Limited Hybrid 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). For a full list of Crosstrek models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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