Used 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid Consumer Reviews

XV Hybrid Gulf Coast

XV Hybrid since 12/28/2013, Satin White Pearl, St.trim. Our first Subaru, had several Honda's in the past..My wife is main driver, have taken plenty of opportunity to drive myself. We are really happy with our purchase, test drove the 2014 Forester and 2014 non hybrid XV, both nice but were sold on the Hybrids ride and refinement. The base Audio system has been nice, a good quality CD recording sounds fine, a bad CD one, bad… Blue tooth is working well, takes a little time to Pair.This is our first CVT Transmission, very impressed, love it. Hill climbs are really smooth and quiet, no sudden gear change, plenty of torque, love the CVT. Have observed Gas MPG 33+, about 50/50 City/HGWY.

I Love THIS car!

I love my 2014 Plasma Green Crosstrek Hybrid. My one word description: Awesome! The hybrid system works significantly better than any hybrid I test drove. It is used for power / torque augmentation more than fully powering the car most of the time. I think Subaru under-reported their MPG figures on purpose. The car is not even broken in, and I'm getting almost 38 MPG highway and so far about 31.7 MPG with downtown driving. The car does some kinda magic with the CVT and that electric motor. It is seamless. The car has "the pull" at all speeds that it's all gas brother just doesn't. I mean, you can feel the surge at highway speeds when you stand on it to pass. The symmetrical AWD is fantastic!

Wow, I Get To Be The First Reviewer

I purchased the Hybrid Touring about a month ago, and have over 1,400 miles on it. For context, I live in the Northeast, and the weather has been brutal pretty much each day since I've owned it. The car drives really nicely. It is quiet, and the steering has good feedback without being overly stiff. It also has a nice exterior look. Traction has been great. As far as the mileage, it has been disappointing. It has averaged about 27 MPG. Like I said, the weather has been really cold, and it is only 1,400 miles, so that might be holding it back. Even with highway only trips I have not been able to average over 29MPG, and I'm not a super fast driver.

not very hybridy - updated

The sticker only claimed 31mpgs, so it's close to what was expected - admittedly I never looked at the MPGs, mostly just the price The car barely gets 30mpg; not much better than my 2008 Forester. Like many car companies, Subaru wanted a "Hybrid" in their line-up. So they picked the Crosstrek & jeri-rigged it as a hybrid, though it was never really designed as real hybrid, like a Prius. Any Prius is a hybrid. Otherwise it's decent enough/comfortable. I got the touring model, which has all the bells & whistles, some of which I don't understand, such as the entertainment system. The touch screen for the navigation system/entertainment system is clunky. After 5 years of ownership, the only repair needed was to replace a strut, and two batteries - the "normal" battery in any car + another one that restarts the engine when the car is in idle (at a stoplight). This latter battery, one of two that are only part of the hybrid system, is very expensive & not covered by the longer engine/transmission warranty. This is not the battery that can power the car, it's a smaller battery used only for re-starting the car. Since buying it, Subaru upped the oil change interval from 7,500 to 6,000 (upped, meaning more frequent change). The engine is a 2.0L - to me, it's very under-powered, especially living in a hilly area. I think the literature has it as 148 horse power - that's like a pony. A real oddity is that the doors don't lock automatically when the gas pedal is depressed. But it has everything I'd ever want in a vehicle + other stuff. But, so far, it's not fulling the primary expectation of better gas mileage than a "regular" car. NOTE - the hybrid seems to have been dis-continued as of 2017, so it must not have sold well & I can see why. A decent car, but not a good hybrid.

Not Feeling the Subaru Love!

I purchased the Crosstrek Hybrid based on winter handling performance and recommendations from family members who have owned multiple Subarus (but not this model). In the past, I've owned other AWD/4WD vehicles, including a Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan X-Terra, Jeep Cherokee and Toyota RAV-4. My Crosstrek is the worst performer of the bunch. While I can't speak for the standard Crosstrek, the hybrid places the heavy battery components in the back, which changes performance dynamics IMHO. The first thing I noticed was the horrible winter braking. The car just slides and doesn't stop (even with new Michelin All-Season tires). As for hugging the road, the car has a tendency to hop and skip with any imperfection in the road. Sometimes I feel like the car is catching air. You just don't feel like the car is sure-footed in bad conditions. My girlfriend has a 2WD Honda CR-V, and she thinks it handles much better. I think the Crosstrek is too light and I think the battery in the back is affecting performance. I have other gripes too. The Crosstrek eats tires, even with long tread-rated tires and even after proper balance and alignment. With the Hybrid, you can't get a trail hitch because of the back battery placement. The Bluetooth really stinks and takes 4-5 tries before connecting with an iPhone. Even when driving the speed limit and gently, the car doesn't come close to stated MPG. Most of the time I'm at 23-26 MPG. This is a hybrid for heaven's sake? Lastly, I question the electronics. The first week I had this car "new", the check engine light came on and the dealership needed to re-program something to fix it. It took them a few days and I had to rent a car, which they never reimbursed me for. Occasionally the passenger "check airbag" light comes on, but then it's fine for a few months. The car doesn't look bad. And it's somewhat comfortable on the inside. Fit and finish are not bad. Rear cargo space is tiny - so you'll need a roof shell for any family vacation. But winter performance is where the rubber meets the road - and the Hybrid Crosstrek falls way short. I will never ever buy a Subaru again and am definitely not feeling the Subaru love.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybred: Total Lemon?

After having a Toyota for over 10 years then a Honda CRV for over 10 years with no issues, my husband and I decided to purchase a a Subaru Crosstrek Hybred 2014 which looks good on the outside (but BIG MISTAKE). By January 2015 a message appeared in the dash board whenever I started the car that said(check hill star assist). At my first service, I told the service people and they told me they did not find anything wrong, nor saw the message. I continued to drive the car with the message appearing on and off when finally in November/December 2015 more messages appeared and check engine light appeared and stayed on all the time. I made an appointment to get the car checked in November, this time they told me they fixed it and the lights went away. Within a few months after they told me they (fixed it) the messages reappeared and I brought the car back in March for them to "fix" again. I waited for about an hour and they called me and told me they fixed the problem and the messages and lights were gone. As soon as I turned on the car and try to drive off all the lights and messages reappeared, I called the service person who took the car and said they were going to check it again. After waiting for over an hour they finally told me they there was a transmission control cover problem and they would have to keep the car until June 2015 because they had to order the part. In the middle of April after not receiving an update from Subaru, I finally called and after a few choice words with the manager they told me the car will be ready at the end of April. On April Friday 29, 2015 I received a call from Subaru and they told me they changed the transmission control cover and the lights went away and every thing was fine. So I picked up the car that same day (Friday April 29, 2015). By Sunday May 1 (2 days after picking up the car) those lights that they claimed went away reappeared. I had to take the car back (May 2) and am still waiting May 17, 2015 for word on what is the problem. At this point I am very ANGRY at the run around. I got the warranty which I am using for now to "fix" the car but what is going to happen when it runs out.

Disappointed with my first Subaru

I've actually had an entirely different experience with my Crosstrek Hybrid, other than I can agree with another user's problems with the navigation. There are so many rattles, all over the car. The worst is with the plastic covering the speedometer and tachometer displays. People who ride in my car say things like, "Doesn't that noise drive you crazy?" Mine was delivered in November, so I wonder if it's early off the manufacturing line and those problems have been worked out. Subaru has been most unhelpful in resolving my issues - this will be my last Subaru.

Great car!

I've had my XV Crosstrek hybrid for two months now and have been extremely happy with it. I've been getting 35 mpg around town and about 38mpg hwy, which is double than my 2003 Baja. Comfortable ride, minimal road noise, a lot of get up and go from a stand still, & the CVT transmission has been smooth. I've had several people (including a police officer pull up to me) to ask me about the car- "I didn't know Subaru made a hydrid." If you're looking for Prius like mileage, than buy a Prius; Although you won't have the awesome AWD of a Subaru, headroom, legroom, cargo carrying ability, nor will your Prius be able to get out of its own way in a sticky traffic situation.

crosstrek hybrid-where has the quality gone?

I owned a subaru forester from 1999-2004...loved the car. Not the nicest looking car but I lived in Colorado at the time and it was the perfect car to commute with as well had drive to the mountains. Since then I moved back east and stuck with toyota/lexus. With the new hybrid crosstrek I thought I would give it another try. I bought the car as a demo model so I did get a great deal, but long story short I was very disappointed. I kept the car only a few months and traded it back in. What a piece of junk. First.. no where near the 29/33. I averaged 23 mpg. The interior of the car was like a toy car. Very low quality. Overall the car is a piece of junk. Beware.

WARNING, DO NOT BUY CROSSTREK

WARNING, DO NOT buy a Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid or a Crosstrek due to VERY POOR QUALITY. Subaru IS NOT building Hybrid models any longer because the hybrid system is faulty after 2016. What does this mean? Repair costs will be high. Parts will be expensive. Long wait times since technicians no longer need to be certified so there will be less technicians available to fix your car. There is a critical fault in the hybrid motor that will cost you $1,000s and these issues will persist Our car only has 56k miles and it's been in the shop for 2 months. They also replaced the driver's seat because the metal frame was sticking thru the leather? Poor quality. We bought a new 2014 Crosstrek hybrid for $31k, 2.7 years ago. Today, 5 Dec 2016, Subaru offered $12,500 for the trade-in? This car depreciates fast. YOU WILL LOSE $12,000 if you buy new after the first year and $19,000 after (2) years. Meanwhile, they get rich. Subaru is not the Subaru we once knew. They are making cheap products that break more often and the car no longer holds the value it once did. PLEASE MAKE A SMART DECISION. It's your money. And they don't care about it.

2014 crostrek review

Car ate tires like mad and all any of subarus representatives would say is nothing wrong with car its driving style. Original tires lasted 15000 miles second set were rated at 100000 miles but were 20% gone in 5000 miles

Don't buy this model

There is a reason why they stopped making hybrid Crosstrek XV models. My hybrid light kept coming on. It all started when we replace the regular battery. My car wouldn't start so we put a generic battery in and the light went off. But then it kept coming on again at 88,000 miles the car broke down completely and I was stuck in Maine for a week with them saying it was the alternator. That cost $1,200. The light went off everything was fine until a month later the hybrid light came on again. My husband was driving back from Boston and the car completely broke down again fortunately just 4 miles from our house. Brought it to the Subaru dealership. They said it had to do with the generic battery so they put a Subaru battery in for $200. They said it was fixed and when I started it to bring it home the hybrid light was still on. After reading these reviews it seems there was a reason they stopped making the hybrid system. I would not get a hybrid product from anyone until it's been proven for several years.

104,000 Mile Review

Auxiliary battery and ISG failed AGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!at 104,000 miles "while driving". Very dangerous. Both are part of hybrid system. I am so disgusted and pissed. I am a mechanical engineer with a PE license in several states. I will NEVER buy a Subaru again.

Never Again

First and last Subaru. Bought it because appearance of Japanese mid-size AWD alternatives were repugnant. Awful-sound system and navigation. Excessive cabin noise. Anemic power and poor gas mileage. Dashboard radiates too much heat which cooling system cannot overcome. External paint chips easily and is costly and difficult to repaint. Internal leather cheap and tears easily even with constant care. Repeated electrical problems with hybrid system, beginning at 47,000 miles. Updated Review: Had to repaint hood twice due to crappy water based paint. ISG and aux battery failed at 50,000 miles and dealer said not covered under warranty although part of hybrid system which had 80,000 mile warranty. Subaru headquarters eventually covered the repair, but it failed again at 104,000 miles. Popping sound when turning left was never fixed. Replaced boot cover, front struts, etc., but didn't fix popping sound. Got rid of it.

Subaru 2014 Crosstrek Hybrid is a Super BOOOO!

The reviews were great, everyone I know that has a Subaru loves them. I decided It was time to get a replacement car; so why not get a used Crosstrek Hybrid? What a nightmare - I don't care if All other Subaru models are better than this - I will never buy a Subaru again! This model dings and whistles problems whenever it feels like it. If you take it to Subaru service to check the problems out they tell you the car is fine, they are not finding the problems I describe but will charge me for wasting my time. It is a 4 cylinder hybrid that gets gas mileage equivalent to that of a 6 cylinder. The Hybrid system shuts off constantly while driving - alerting me to pull over to a safe place, stop and restart the engine and to check the owners manual. Nothing in the owners manual tells you what the problem is, so after restarting and driving off the warning light will come back on within a few moments of getting back on the road. Everyone that has posted about this same problem can't seem to find a resolution to the problem. The Subaru dealership won't address the issue even though I am supposed to have a warranty. So Now I have a worthless piece of garbage that I owe more money on than I care to admit. Never again will I buy a Subaru! Never Again, I can tell you that much!

Not a car for the snow

If you drive in real snow conditions this is not a car you will want. My wife and I have owned 5 Subaru's and this is an absolute disaster. Traffic was stopped on a slight incline on a mountain road as we moved forward the Subaru lost traction and slid all the way across the on coming lane into the snow bank. Tires in excellent condition but this Subaru will not grip the road as my others have. All kinds of other cars and trucks did not have the same problem. Fortunately the oncoming lane was clear as I slid across the road. It took 3 guys pushing to get us out of the snow bank. Car continued to slip and slide when others did not. AWD in this car has design flaw. Do not trust it except on flat roads it is ok.

No love for me

Own a 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid. This car eats tires faster than my old truck did that I traded in. Had to replace the battery that is used when switching between gas and electric. Car was 4 years old then. Car has had both the condenser and fan ac parts replaced. Drivers seat has a tear from everyday use. Apparently Subaru believes you don’t need to be comfortable.Never had this happen in any other car. And I’ve owned many through the years. It’s back in the shop for $3800 of work. Ranging from full rear brake job to all front bushings, control arms, and 2 week bearings. This was my first and will be my last Subaru. Once it’s all fixed I’m getting rid of it.

Problems within a week

Day 6 check engine light on. Rattles. Usb doesn’t work.

Solid Used Car

It's a great handling quiet car, hybrid system is a bit clunky but it's nice to have the little boost in gas mileage. The info-tainment system is dated, but that is easily remedied with a trip to car toys. No recalls, and overall a good little SUV. Has had very few issues over the last two years! Handles well in slippery/icy conditions

Good value