2024 Subaru Crosstrek 2.5: Adding Power, Getting Dirty

Subaru's Crosstrek was a hit right out of the gate in 2013. Six years into the model's second generation in North America, its popularity continues to grow. According to Subaru, 154,142 examples of the crunchy subcompact crossover found a home in 2022, its best year ever. That's an increase of more than 27,000 units over 2021; not bad for an aging model born from a lifted Impreza concept unveiled in 2011.

To keep the product—and the profits—rolling, Subaru has ramped up the supply chain with an international approach. For the new third-gen 2024 Crosstrek, Subaru continues to build the 2.0-liter-equipped base and Premium models in Japan, while it assembles the 2.5-liter Sport, Limited, and upcoming Wilderness trim levels in Lafayette, Indiana. It's the first time the Crosstrek has been built stateside, though Subaru notes the facility in Japan continues to build 2.5-liter models for overseas markets. The strategy increases production volume and serves as a buffer for any supply-chain difficulties or pesky sociopolitical or economic issues that might throw a wrench in their cash-printing machine.

We drove a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Premium 2.0-liter in California earlier this year. The reduced interior sound levels, improved CVT performance, and addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were all signs of progress. To get a taste of what an additional half-liter of displacement can bring to the table, we joined Subaru in Woodstock, New York, and settled into a Crosstrek Sport.

The Crosstrek's 2.5-liter flat-four engine produces 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 30 horsepower and 33 pound-feet compared to the 2.0-liter. Sharp-eyed Subaristi will note an additional two pound-feet compared to the previous 2.5-liter. More significantly, peak torque now arrives at 3700 rpm, 700 lower than before. The manual transmission option is gone for 2024, but 2.5-liter cars have paddle "shifters" and a manual mode. EPA estimates come in at 26 mpg city and 33 highway; versus 2.0-liter models, the larger 2.5-liter requires a 1-mpg sacrifice in each measure. Both engines score 29 mpg in combined driving.

If those numbers paint a mental picture of launching away from stoplights like a WRX, you might want to get out your cognitive eraser. Yes, the Crosstrek's lower torque peak reduces the wait time when slicing and dicing around town in Sport mode, but steep hills and freeway on-ramps require some advance planning in the throttle department. Still, the flat-four exudes that warm, familiar, willing personality that summons a peaceful grin rather than a mischievous one. Yes, this Subaru is comparatively slow, but somehow it convinces the driver that its pokey nature is endearing rather than irritating.

Part of that calmness comes from the dramatically quieter cabin and seat design, as we mentioned in our Crosstrek 2.0 Premium drive story. The updated chassis is 10 percent stiffer yet also lighter, thanks to fewer subsections and 89 feet of structural adhesive. Subaru also claims 20 percent less engine vibration makes its way to the cabin because of various updated mounts, cradles, and component cases. On the downside, the increased use of sound-deadening materials negates the weight reduction. According to Subaru's figures, the 2024 Crosstrek Sport tips the scales at 3333 pounds, 68 more than the outgoing version. It's a tradeoff we'd make every day of the week, as that NVH reduction makes the 2024 model a far more pleasant space to spend time.

Like the 2.0 base and Premium models, 2.5-liter Crosstreks get a modified version of the WRX's electronically assisted power steering and larger 12.4-inch front brake rotors to replace the previous car's 11.6-inch discs. Rears increase in size to 11.2 inches from 10.8 and are now ventilated like the fronts. The parking brake is now electrically operated, which is sure to disappoint at least a few budding rally drivers.