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Used 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Consumer Reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
84 reviews

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Pros
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5 out of 5 stars

First Subaru

ron_in_dg, 02/23/2013
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful

I bought my Crosstrek through Edmunds web site; this required me to go pretty far afield - I live in IL but the dealer is located in WI. It was worth the trip to save the money. None of the local dealers would negotiate price at all. I got pretty much exactly what I wanted (plus the optional fancy rear view mirror and the all season floor mats) the first week the vehicle was available. LOVE the car. It is a lot peppier than I was expecting based on the reviews I had read. It is great in the snow. I've got about 4400 miles on it so far. Ask me again in 10 years how it's doing.

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Great Ride!

greendesignguy, 01/06/2013
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
68 of 117 people found this review helpful

So, we have owned our Subaru XV Crosstrek Limited (Crystal Black Silica/Ivory Leather, Pop Package #1, Moonroof, and Navigation) for about a month now. This vehicle is very difficult to find, and we would have had ours earlier had we not had to wait for it to arrive at the dealer. It was also actually very difficult to find one to test drive, and we ultimately ended up testing out a demo version. I will start with the items I find to be an issue, and then talk about the stuff I love. First, as most have said, the vehicle lacks a little bit of power from the 40mph-60mph range, which is basically when you get on an interstate or highway. This is somewhat mitigated through use of the paddle shifters (which can actually be quite fun, but I use them sparingly). The acceleration is just fine otherwise. Starts smoothly and quickly from a stop and accelerates quickly and smoothly once you are already up to speed as in passing situations. The second item that is probably only an issue for me so it is really more of an annoyance and probably won't both many others is the way the dashboard cuts back to the passenger. I am fairly tall (6'-7") and I fit really well on the driver’s side. Plenty of legroom compared to a lot of vehicles in this range. The problem is that when I am a passenger my right knee does not touch the dash when the seat is all the way back, but the dash swoops back towards the passenger at the center console which jams my left knee into it. It is not a big deal on short trips, but I have a feeling I will be doing all of the driving on the long trips. And again, this will only be an issue if you are my height. I would say anyone over 6'-4" to check it out first to see if it bothers you. Those are my only complaints, and quite honestly, they are not all that big of a deal. On to the great stuff. First, the XV Crosstrek has a wonderfully solid ride and handles impeccably. We have owned many other small SUV/CUV vehicles and this one handles like a sports car compared to most of them. I would even go as far to say that it is better than the Acura crossover that we had for about a year. Next, the AWD works like a champ. Traveling for the holidays we were mostly driving through snow and ice, and this thing felt like it was magnetized to the road. On top of that, we were loaded down with two people, a large dog, all of our luggage and Christmas gifts driving in crappy, high wind weather and we still got 30 mpg. When it is just I or my wife driving in normal conditions we average that for both city and highway driving. I have to say this is one of the things that brought me to Subaru in the first place, great gas mileage on an AWD vehicle, and it has more than exceeded my expectations. All of the features of the vehicle are very nice (Moonroof, voice activated Navigation, backup camera etc.) , and I have found the leather interior to feel like it is of very high quality. The other interior finishes are also on par and even the plastics have a soft tactile feel to them. The interior design is simple, which is nice because it does not feel cluttered like a lot of vehicles today. One tech item I wish was part of the vehicle though is a read out of tire pressures. It has a tire pressure monitor/warning system, but nothing that tells you what the pressure currently is. We had this in another vehicle of ours and found it to be a functional and useful tool. On the exterior, I love the rugged yet refined look that the vehicle has from its added height, modified bumpers and especially the rims. Can't say enough how cool the rims are. Finally, a couple of other things to mention I would like to mention. First, the way the engine compartment is setup it will make it very easy to do routine maintenance if that is your thing. I will probably change our own oil and air filter as required. Second, while many dealers are not open to dealing on this vehicle, if you play your cards right, you can still get a deal as some dealers are open to dealing on the price. The biggest suggestion would be to make the dealers compete against one another and don't set foot into the dealership to finalize the deal until you have a price locked from email or phone communication. Doing so allowed us to get our Crosstrek ($28,200 MSRP) for $24,300, which makes for an incredible value on this vehicle. I hope that this review helps anyone that is interested in this vehicle. We really do love this car and could not be happier with it.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium CVT

rockyjoe, 10/26/2012
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
32 of 56 people found this review helpful

Got the first one in the area last week. After reading the early "expert" reviews, was pleasantly surprised that the car with CVT had plenty of pep and power, handling mountain roads/midrange acceleration with ease. Gas mileage slightly better than advertised, in mixed driving. Very nice build quality and interior materials. Yokohama Geolandar tires are a big plus for snow country! Handles beautifully, and very quiet on road. This is a good-looking, quality car, versatile enough for all-around use on all road surfaces and weather conditions, with very good fuel economy. The heated seats/mirrors complete the package. By far the best, most functional and attractive crossover I've seen!

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5 out of 5 stars

Best Bang for your Buck! 1st Time Subie Owner

hittheroadjack, 03/10/2014
updated 03/10/2016
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I purchased my Crosstrek Limited in 2013, and I am still trying to find excuses to drive it. I love it! It's just the right size for us. Small and nimble enough to navigate the urban 9-5, but large enough for our weekend adventures. Plenty of room for toddlers giant car seats, and the height is ideal for them to get in and out. I have had several 4 cylinder cars, and I think the Crosstrek has more punch than any of my previous ones. It also rides more smooth and quiet. <br><br> UPDATE: After 3 yrs I'm still very happy with this car. I have always felt safe and secure with the Crosstrek's handling on snow and ice. Complaints about the paint are legit. All my door handles have slight stratches, but they are not that noticeable. Had problems with a check engine light due to gas cap. Problem went away when I stopped purchasing 87 octane gas and moved up to 89. Toddler car seats fit well, reverse facing infant car seats will only fit in the middle (which is safer anyway). Other than those minor problems, I am still in love with this car. What I love most is it's versatility. Whether you are dropping kids off for school or hauling rocks the Crosstrek can do it all. Purchased roof rack rails and cargo carrier for long trips & that worked very well. Next week I'm installing a hitch for our bike rack! I'm very pleased!

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
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4.38 out of 5 stars

Love the XV Crosstrek, Limited nav/moonroof

cooknation, 06/10/2013
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

When looking for a car I needed a CUV with decent gas mileage. Main reason was for carrying my dog and for future family family vehicle. I tested the equinox, mazda cx-5, and nissan rogue. When i went to drive the cx-5 i saw the crosstrek (Mixed dealer). So i took a shot at the crosstrek, right away the looks of the car can make you fall in love. And i know plenty of my friends with wrx's and sti's and they praise subaru. I have to say the car has been living up to the hype sofar. I got the limited CVT with nav and moonroof. The car is great and i average 31 MPG! Do not gun the car and you will find the mileage is great. Ease into acceleration, and keep an eye on the mpg needle.

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