The Subaru XV may not be on every street corner in the Netherlands, but more than 2.2 million have been sold worldwide since 2012. The brand hopes to continue this success with its successor, the Crosstrek. This continuous improvement process is called ‘Kaizen’ in Japanese and during this first introduction we will see whether it is paying off on all fronts.
Does the Subaru Crosstrek also have four-wheel drive and a boxer engine?
Subaru is especially proud of its idiosyncratic character and that means eternal loyalty to the boxer engine and permanent four-wheel drive. It is a brand that seems driven by engineers, which is quite unique in this day and age. Yes, electrification is now on the menu, because it will have to be done in order to survive. Furthermore, Subaru’s developers have made efforts to further perfect all components, a process that continues continuously.
Do you feel that perfectionism?
Certainly. You will feel this already after the first kilometers behind the wheel of the Crosstrek. We do not do this on asphalt, but on a course that has been created to judge hardcore off-road vehicles on their merits. That starts with a few innocent hills and then a long straight stretch on an unpaved road. The speed increases to 80 km/h and a huge cloud of dust rises in the interior mirror. The chassis and steering remain icy quiet and calm and the sound of the splashing stones is barely audible. Then we climb up and stop for an extremely steep, paved descent: 45 degrees. When you stand in front of it, it seems to go down almost vertically and the instructor says that we can go down, otherwise I would definitely have turned around. Then it’s a matter of releasing the brake and the technology will do the rest. The Soeb rolls downhill with control and confidence.
Isn’t that completely irrelevant for us in the asphalted polder landscape where we live?
That’s right, but that doesn’t stop entire tribes from buying an SUV. Either way, it says a lot about the Crosstrek’s capabilities and build quality. You don’t have to tell Subaru anything about the latter in particular. The brand’s cars seem virtually indestructible, something for which used car buyers are very grateful.
What do you notice about electrification?
As before, the e-Boxer provides the drive. Between the longitudinally mounted engine and the automatic transmission (CVT) is a small electric motor that is powered by a 0.6 kWh battery. This gives the turbo-free four-cylinder a little more torque in the lower speed range and contributes to lower CO2 emissions. This is still high at 174 g/km. At least, for Dutch standards and the resulting BPM calculation. Flat throttle means an engine that immediately climbs high in speed and stays there. If there were a slightly heavier electric motor behind it, you could drive a little more on torque and therefore keep the revs lower. That doesn’t work in the Crosstrek during fast acceleration. If you are more civilized with your right foot, the ingenious CVT keeps the revs pleasantly low, especially at a constant speed.
Is the Crosstrek better than the Subaru XV?
During the presentation, Subaru also praises the improved body stiffness and the fact that the body leans less. We can compare the XV with the Crosstrek on the spot and draw the conclusion that it is not a boast. Suspension and damping still feel comfortable initially and it is certainly not a cornering rider, but the stability is remarkably good. This also applies to the seat and seating position, which are noticeably better than in the XV. Another of Subaru’s favorites is the Eye Sight safety system, which has been improved and expanded with seven new functions. We can also test that and indeed, the Crosstrek stops neatly from 30 km/h for a suddenly crossing man or at 50 km/h for a stationary car. It helps prevent an accident in almost every conceivable situation.
What else has changed compared to the XV?
An improved infotainment system is inevitable and we have to say: it is genius. It has a nice large, portrait screen, with physical buttons for internal temperature, volume and even searching for a radio station. Apple CarPlay and Android work wirelessly and the menu structure is quickly understood by everyone. Unfortunately, all this beauty comes with a hefty price tag. The XV already costs almost €55,000 and despite the slightly lower emissions, we fear that the Crosstrek will certainly not be cheaper. The first batch is now on the boat, delivery will start in early 2024.
2023-10-22 10:00:39
#Test #Subaru #Crosstrek
