zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Culture
/
Third-Generation Subaru Crosstrek Refines the Small Crossover Game
Third-Generation Subaru Crosstrek Refines the Small Crossover Game-January 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:12:02

Image for article titled Third-Generation Subaru Crosstrek Refines the Small Crossover Game

Not to be outdone by the (), revealed to the world its third-generation .

says it has refined the driving dynamics of the small crossover and emphasized the uniqueness of the car’s design. It’s also got a slew of new and updated tech and creature comforts inside.

The vehicle we’re looking at here is a JDM model, which is set to be released in Japan in 2023. There’s no exact word on when it’ll be reaching our shores, but sometime in 2024 is probably a good guess.

Image for article titled Third-Generation Subaru Crosstrek Refines the Small Crossover Game

The interior of the third-generation Crosstrek is unmistakably a Subaru. It doesn’t look drastically different from the second-generation car’s, but is front and center. Odds are that lower trim models will have the dual screen set up found in current Subaru models

Everything else is fairly standard Subaru. Obviously we haven’t had a chance to poke around yet, but it will more than likely be moderately plush with an emphasis on ruggedness. This is a lifestyle vehicle after all. Fabric seats are standard, but Subaru says leather seats are available as a factory-installed option.

The Crosstrek is all about utility, right? Well, Subaru has got that covered. It’s got a big ‘ol trunk and 60:40 split folding rear seats. That means you can fit even more of your adventure gear inside it. The trunk is covered with textured sill plates (inspired by mountains, apparently) that Subaru says will prevent slips and scratches.

Image for article titled Third-Generation Subaru Crosstrek Refines the Small Crossover Game

For its third generation, Subaru raised the roofline of the Crosstrek to give it a more commanding look from your car’s rear view mirror. It also shrunk down the LED headlights in keeping with the look of the and sharpened up the front grille.

No surprise here: Subaru stuck plenty of black plastic cladding along the sides of the Crosstrek.

Perhaps the biggest difference is in the back, where Subaru decided to attenuate the rear fenders a bit. It definitely gives the car a beefier look. It’s an evolution, not a revolution, on the outside, and that’s okay. The Crosstrek is one of the company’s most popular models for a reason: the way it looks.

In terms of paint, take this information with a grain of salt since what is coming to the U.S. hasn’t been confirmed yet. That being said, there are nine colors available, including a couple of new blues, called “Offshore Blue Metallic” and “Oasis Blue.”

Image for article titled Third-Generation Subaru Crosstrek Refines the Small Crossover Game

Eighteen-inch wheels will be an option for the car (17s are standard), and it’s got plenty of ground clearance for what the intended buyer will be doing with it. Subaru says the Crosstrek will have 200mm (7.88 inches) of ground clearance

We’ve gotta take this with a grain of salt, because USDM engines haven’t been announced, but Subaru is sending just one engine to the Japanese market. It’s a 2-liter four popper mated to the company’s e-BOXER system. There aren’t any power numbers just yet.

Right now, the outgoing Crosstrek has three engine options. A 2.0 or 2.5-liter four cylinder or a 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid.

Subaru says it is aiming to make the Crosstrek more of a driver’s car. The company says it has improved ride comfort, body rigidity, braking, steering and NVH.

I don’t think I have to tell you this, but I will anyway. All Crosstreks will come standard with all-wheel drive.

For the next-generation Crosstrek, Subaru is adding a 360-degree, top-down camera system and a full-LED headlight system that’ll also feature LED cornering lights.

The company says its new camera system has double the angles of the previous system. It can also apparently recognize objects at wider angles and from farther away. Its wide-angle “Mono Camera” can also recognize motorcycles and pedestrians at a wider angle at low speeds. It can even kick on the brakes in accordance with the EyeSight System.

All in all, the next-generation Crosstrek seems to be one of those “don’t mess with a good thing” vehicles. People like the Crosstrek the way it is, why change it too much?

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Culture
Elon Musk Tweets About Cybertruck Bringing
Elon Musk Tweets About Cybertruck Bringing "Post-Apocalyptic" Technology To The Present
I’ll be the first to admit that the charms of Tesla’s but upcoming electric pickup truck, the boldly-designed Cybertruck, I adore weird and risky automotive designs, but the Cybertruck just doesn’t seem to be designed to be an actually usable truck. The design decisions seem to come from some...
Jan 29, 2026
You Know, BMW Already Designed The Perfect M1 Successor Once Before
You Know, BMW Already Designed The Perfect M1 Successor Once Before
BMW knew exactly what it was doing by naming its simply “XM.” Fans knew it, too. The XM isn’t obviously based on any existing BMW car or SUV, like M cars tend to be. It’s its own thing. When it begins production next year, you won’t be able to...
Jan 29, 2026
Acura's Original NSX Is Still The Simplest Automotive Joy
Acura's Original NSX Is Still The Simplest Automotive Joy
Honda’s New Sports eXperimental absolutely changed the game when it debuted in 1990. It was a beautiful and exotic shape from a company better known for economy cars, with the performance to match. The engineering was so faultless that for twenty to forty thousand fewer dollars. There’s a reason it...
Jan 29, 2026
Hyundai-Kia Continues Their Lighting Design Onslaught With The Genesis G90's Indicator Repeaters
Hyundai-Kia Continues Their Lighting Design Onslaught With The Genesis G90's Indicator Repeaters
Recently, I’ve written an about the coming out of the combined Hyundai-Kia automobile-producing concern, and the reason is simple: the lighting designers working for the Korean automaker are fucking bringing it. A fantastic example of this can be seen in the just-unveiled 2023 Genesis G90 sedan’s turn indicator repeaters....
Jan 29, 2026
I Guess Anyone Can Become The Best Car Mechanic For Just $2.99 Plus Tax
I Guess Anyone Can Become The Best Car Mechanic For Just $2.99 Plus Tax
I may be yelling into the void here, but I’m sure there are plenty of you that love cars and don’t understand the entire mechanics of a vehicle. And that’s ok. Not all of us were born from our mothers’ wombs with wrenches in-hand and a need to take...
Jan 29, 2026
Blip: Birds'-Eye View
Blip: Birds'-Eye View
I’m a big fan of the very charming Renault 4CV, but, not being a member of the bird community, rarely see them from this angle. I think they still work well! I also like how the ad copy makes some big claims, like how passengers can “extend their feet...
Jan 29, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved