Yahoo Autos Tested: 2021 Subaru Crosstrek 2.5L Could Use Even More Power
The Subaru Crosstrek is a bit like the person in the grocery store checkout line who is seemingly dressed for a hike. You've seen them: dark socks with Merrell boots, a spaced-out mien, daydreaming about artisanal hammocks while taking occasional sips out of a plastic Nalgene bottle covered in stickers. Like the person in that costume, the Crosstrek is an Impreza hatchback with an about-to-go-hiking look provided by a suspension lift, a new front bumper, and black-plastic body cladding. On the car-to-truck crossover spectrum, the Crosstrek is way over on the car side, alongside vehicles such as the Mazda CX-30 and Toyota RAV4.
For 2021, the Crosstrek offers a 182-hp 2.5-liter flat-four, which comes standard on the top two trim levels, the new Sport as well as the Limited. The engine enjoys a significant 30-hp advantage over the base 2.0-liter and hits 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, a substantial 1.6 seconds quicker than before. In the merge-onto-the-freeway 50-to-70-mph test, the old engine took 6.6 seconds, the new one is quicker, but it's still a lengthy 5.4 seconds. While we appreciate the extra power, the sounds remain as joyless as the smaller flat-four and pairing it to a continuously variable automatic transmission. (CVT) intensifies the flat-four's waffling drone under acceleration. Unfortunately, the smaller engine's playful six-speed manual can't be had with the 2.5-liter. In our hands, the larger engine's superior acceleration doesn't affect fuel economy. The 2.5-liter posted an identical 23 mpg same as the last 2.0-liter CVT Crosstrek we tested. And, curiously, the 2.5-liter model gets a better EPA highway rating than the 2.0-liter model: 34 mpg versus 33.
