Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A red 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Premium is shown driving on an open road.

Hassle-Free Driving the Subaru Crosstrek

Why does driving have to be such a hassle? It doesn’t matter if you’re driving for fun or if you’re just doing your daily commute; if you’re not paying astronomical gas bills, you’re paying for maintenance, repairs, or even a new vehicle. And all that just for your vehicle to sometimes fail on you in more difficult driving situations. This may ring true for some of you, but it doesn’t have to. There is a vehicle that can give you a hassle-free experience, so you can enjoy owning and driving your car.

If you want a vehicle that gets rid of a lot of the stress that comes with owning a car, then you need to visit your Subaru Crosstrek dealer. Why? Because the Subaru Crosstrek provides the opportunity for driving far more hassle-free than you’ll find in other vehicles. How? Well, that’s what we’re going to talk about today. However, to give you a preview, the Crosstrek uses efficiency, performance, and durability to cultivate a vehicle experience that counteracts the commonly-found hassles of driving. So let’s see how this all comes together in the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek.

The rear cargo area of a 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is shown.

Efficiency That Balances Out High Gas Prices

If there is a brand synonymous with efficiency, it’s Subaru. You’ll find some solid fuel-efficiency specs here and there throughout other brands, but you won’t find vehicles with consistently excellent fuel efficiencies like you will in the Subaru lineup. The 2023 Crosstrek, as the most recent installation in the Crosstrek family tree, is blowing minds with its fuel efficiency. You may be thinking, “how good could a small SUV’s fuel efficiency actually be?” Well, I’d say that an average of 33 MPG on the highway and 28 MPG in the city is pretty efficient, and that’s just the base engine. If you go for the more powerful engine option, you’ll have 34 MPG on the highway and 27 in the city, which is great for an option that gives you more power.

Just to clarify: no, these are not hybrid numbers. At the moment, we are talking classic, old-school, direct injection alone. You’re not likely to find numbers that high in other gas-only vehicles. Now, since we’re on the topic, one of the things which makes the Crosstrek an extra exciting vehicle in terms of efficiency is the fact that it offers a hybrid option. Not only does this provide a smoother, more exciting driving experience, but it also means that you could save some money over time. It can be hard to justify the expense of a hybrid, but it may actually be more economical depending on your driving habits.

If this is going to be mostly a commuter vehicle for you, you could save a lot of money by choosing a hybrid. If you pick the hybrid engine, your fuel economy will jump to around 90 MPGe, which is an incredible number, even in the world of hybrid engines. Now, for those of you who are intrigued by the hybrid but are concerned by the lack of charging stations you see around your area, you don’t need to be because the Crosstrek’s Subaru Boxer engine charges the battery. This is just a regular hybrid, not a plug-in hybrid, so no external charging is needed.

Whether you choose the regular gas-only or the hybrid Crosstrek, you are going to get a very efficient drive. This gives you the ability to go farther between gas station stops, pay less at the pump, and have more time to enjoy the drive ahead.

The Crosstrek’s Excellent Performance Capabilities

One of the most frustrating things is finding out the hard way that your vehicle can’t handle the driving conditions in which you find yourself. Not only is it frustrating, but it’s dangerous! So what does the Subaru Crosstrek do to make itself ready for all conditions? The answer to that question is the standardization of its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system across all models.

Now, you’ve probably heard of all-wheel drive, but the keyword here is “symmetrical.” The vehicle is constantly taking in information, assessing the conditions of both the road and itself, and continuously distributing torque to all four of its wheels. This even distribution of power is extremely important, especially if you’re looking to traverse more dynamic terrains (as you should!). Lack of traction and uneven distribution is one of the biggest factors in vehicle halts and other sticky situations, and the Crosstrek uses its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system to work towards the elimination of this issue.

If traction is ever lacking in a certain wheel, it automatically transfers power to the wheel with the most traction. Off-road driving certainly takes skill on the driver’s part; however, even the most skilled off-roader can’t make up for inadequate vehicle engineering and design, and the Crosstrek provides this adequately. The collaboration between your off-roading skill and the Crosstrek’s dynamic capabilities will make for an exciting driving experience.

The Crosstrek is a well-balanced vehicle designed to optimize performance. In addition to its association with efficiency, Subaru is known for its adventure-oriented vehicles. As such, the Crosstrek’s architecture, efficiency, and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive technology make it a perfect vehicle for camping trips and outdoor adventures. You don’t have to worry about your vehicle getting stuck in a rut or other common hassles when your vehicle is equipped to handle such things.

The front half of a blue 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Limited is shown after leaving a Subaru Crosstrek dealer.

A Durable Design Made to Last

Subaru vehicles, and especially the Crosstrek, are made to last. This is more than just a nice saying or a hollow endorsement. The proof is in the numbers. 97% of Crosstrek’s sold in the last decade are still out there on the open road, which is more than the Crosstrek’s competitors.

Even the most luxurious vehicle can become a hassle to deal with when it begins to shut down after only a few years. If you’re going to invest in a vehicle, you want something that will stay for the long haul, and the Crosstrek is meant to last far beyond the 100,000-mile mark, which is what makes its exceptional durability even more impressive! The Crosstrek is designed to seek adventure, explore, and even clear obstacles (thanks to its ground clearance capabilities), and it’s meant to last for decades even after many adventures. Why buy two cars in ten years when you can buy one that will last you for over ten years?

Hassle-Free Enjoyment

No car is perfect. You’re going to have to take care of it, keep up with routine care and maintenance, the trips to the gas station, and so on. This includes the Crosstrek. Nothing said here is meant to deceive you into thinking that it fell out of the sky and will never get a ding, no matter what you do to it; it’s still a machine, and it needs to be taken care of.

But, nobody really wants to buy a car that requires constant maintenance and frequent trips to the gas station. My guess is you’re looking to buy a car because you want reliable transportation, and you want to enjoy your vehicle. The Subaru Crosstrek’s efficiency, performance, and durability all serve to eliminate any hassle of ownership and increase your enjoyment. I’ve never talked to anybody who’s owned a Subaru who doesn’t like it. With the potential for less frequent gas stops, dynamic all-wheel drive performance, and long-term sustainability, you’ll have fewer annoyances to deal with throughout the course of your vehicle’s life. So, why not decrease your irritations and increase your enjoyment with a Subaru Crosstrek?