2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek - Subaru's New Outback-Lite

Do you remember the Subaru Outback Sport? This version of the Impreza wagon wore the same style of body cladding as the Legacy-based Outback and featured bit of a boost in the ride height department, giving the Outback Sport a modicum of soft-roading capability that played well with adventure-seeking drivers. The Outback Sport might be gone, but in its place we have the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek, an evolution of the same formula that rides on the all-new Impreza chassis underpinning the current edition of the compact car.

Family Resemblance

The first impression made by the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek is one of an Impreza that has been sent to the gym and asked to pack on 25 kg of muscle. Subaru has moved beyond the plastic armour that previously defined its small crossovers and instead worked to incorporate the XV Crosstrek's new styling cues into the hatchback Impreza body style in a more organic fashion. The overall result is quite sharp, and Subaru stylists have done an excellent job of subverting expectations regarding the brand's traditionally unheralded styling.

Pronounced fender flares that connect with plastic rocker guards, a revised rear bumper with bulging plastic surrounding the lower reflectors, and a more aggressive front fascia that beefs up the Impreza's aesthetic help to separate the crossover from its hatchback cousin. The vehicle also wears a special set of 17-inch rims that do an excellent job of driving home the purpose-built nature of the vehicle.

Inside the Subaru XV Crosstrek it's a different story. Anyone who has ridden in an Impreza will be intimately familiar with almost every aspect of the XV Crosstrek's passenger compartment, particularly with regards to the plain presentation provided by the instrument panel and base sound system. Subaru's interior design seems to be stuck resolutely in the early part of the last decade in terms of form driver/vehicle interaction, and the placement of soft touch materials primarily on the dash instead of the door panels where occupants are more likely to come into contact with them is puzzling.

It's difficult to fault the functionality of the Subaru's interior, however, as every control falls to hand and is simple to use. Canadian-market models also benefit from a significant upgrade over their American counterparts in the form of a multifunction colour LCD screen mounted on top of the dash that displays fuel mileage information and climate control settings. Seats inside the Crosstrek were comfortable, space for rear passengers was generous, and with the rear 60/40 split seats folded forward the crossover can handle up to 1470 L of cargo.

Upgraded CVT

When Subaru redesigned the Impreza for 2012 it introduced a new four-cylinder engine alongside two transmission options in a bid to improve efficiency. The move was a success from a fuel consumption standpoint, but it was not an uncontroversial one given that the continuously-variable automatic gearbox provided with the compact sedan and hatchback was universally panned for its sluggish performance.

The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek shares its mechanicals with the Impreza, with one important difference: careful attention has been paid to improving the responsiveness of the CVT transmission, with enough subtle changes having been made to the unit that Subaru engineers refer to it as the '2.0' edition. On the road these upgrades are immediately noticeable. In almost every driving situation the CVT proved to be transparent, or at the very least unproblematic, even when dealing with steep inclines or sudden stabs of the right foot. In fact, it was rarely necessary to invoke any of the six virtual gear ratios programmed into the transmission (accessible via paddle shifters attached the steering wheel). Congratulations are due to Subaru for effectively dealing with a legitimate gripe voiced by hundreds of journalists.

It's important to keep in mind, however, that even when paired with the smooth-shifting five-speed manual transmission the Subaru XV Crosstrek isn't exactly a performance vehicle. Acceleration from the 2.0-liter, 148 horsepower boxer four-cylinder engine is acceptable, but tepid. Also capable of generating 145 lb-ft of torque, the motor returns fuel efficiency figures of 8.2 L/100 km in city driving and 6.0 L/100 km on the highway, for a combined rating of 7.2 L/ 100 km (when ordered with the CVT). This makes it the most frugal all-wheel drive crossover available on the Canadian market.

We were able to put that all-wheel drive system to the test during our day with the Crosstrek, subjecting both the 50/50 torque split mechanical system (manual transmission) and the 60/40 electronic all-wheel drive setup (CVT) to the same rocky, mud-and-rain-slicked forest trails. We were impressed with the crossover's stability in these conditions, as well as with its calm and collected composure on two-lane country roads. Subaru has given the XV Crosstrek 220 mm of ground clearance - claimed to be more than what is available with a Jeep Grand Cherokee - and despite the additional ride height, we never felt anything other than completely comfortable while piloting the crossover.

A Winner For Subaru

We like wagons, and we like them even more when they bring an extra dose of utility to the table like the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek. Snazzy exterior style and macho ground clearance will no doubt attract many shoppers for whom the current Outback is simply too big and the Forester too square. The XV Crosstrek's praiseworthy driving dynamics, adequate power, and excellent fuel economy are also marks in its favour, and the ability for light off-roading from behind the wheel of the compact hatch is not just marketing hype.

Subaru has once again managed to put together a crossover that does more than simply pay lip service to the practicality and go-anywhere attitude embodied by the segment. With an entry-level MSRP of $24,495, we have no doubt that the brand's loyal Canadian ownership base will embrace the Crosstrek as wholeheartedly as it did the original, mid-90's Outback.