Subaru Crosstrek Specs: A Complete Guide

Quick Summary

Every US Crosstrek comes with all-wheel drive and at least 8.7 inches of ground clearance, but power, gearboxes and cargo space shift by generation. First-generation models use a 148-hp 2.0-liter, the 2018 to 2025 cars pair a 152-hp 2.0-liter with an available 2.5-liter rated at 182 hp, and 2026 gas models run a 180-hp 2.5-liter across the board. The 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid makes 194 hp and earns 36 mpg combined, while the Wilderness adds 9.3 inches of clearance and a 3,500-pound tow rating.

Park a 2021 Crosstrek Premium next to a 2021 Crosstrek Sport and most people would be hard pressed to tell them apart, yet one has 152 horsepower and the other has 182, and little gaps like that are why Subaru Crosstrek specs are worth checking year by year, particularly when two used ones sit at more or less the same price.

We put this together at AutoTrek from Subaru's own trim comparison sheets and the EPA's ratings, US-market numbers only, so you can hold any Crosstrek on our lot up against the one you've had your eye on.

First-Generation Crosstrek Specs (2013 To 2017)

The first Crosstrek, which went by XV Crosstrek for its early years, runs a 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder rated at 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, and buyers had a choice of a five-speed manual or a CVT, with symmetrical all-wheel drive standard on every trim.

Ground clearance comes in at 8.7 inches and towing capacity at 1,500 pounds, while Subaru lists cargo space on non-hybrid 2016 models at 22.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 51.9 cubic feet with it folded, which is pretty generous for a car this size.

This generation also got a Crosstrek Hybrid that used a small electric motor to bring total system output up to 160 horsepower, though it carries a smaller 13.7-gallon fuel tank against the gas model's 15.9 gallons and gives up a bit of cargo room.

Second-Generation Crosstrek Specs (2018 To 2023)

The 2018 redesign put the Crosstrek on a new platform with a direct-injected 2.0-liter good for 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft, and the six-speed manual stuck around on lower trims, while the CVT got a simulated seven-step manual mode that, on later cars, Subaru bumped to eight steps.

The tank grew to 16.6 gallons and clearance stayed at 8.7 inches, and cargo volume reads 20.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat or 55.3 folded, so oddly enough it lost a little room behind the seat while gaining some overall.

The 2.5-Liter Arrives For 2021

Subaru dropped a 2.5-liter into the 2021 Sport and Limited, 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft, CVT only, and the Base and Premium kept the 2.0-liter, so that's why those two 2021s feel so different when you're merging onto C-470.

The mpg gap's smaller than you'd think, the EPA has the 2021 2.0-liter CVT at 28 city, 33 highway and 30 combined and the 2.5-liter at 27 city, 34 highway and 29 combined. The manual 2.0-liter only gets 25 combined though, and a lot of stick-shift people don't expect that.

Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid (2019 To 2023)

This generation had a plug-in hybrid too, 148 horsepower total, and the EPA gives it 17 miles of electric range, 90 MPGe and 35 mpg combined once the battery's used up, so honestly it only makes sense if you do a lot of short errands and have an outlet in the garage.

The battery sits under the cargo floor, so you get just 15.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat, and the tow rating drops to 1,000 pounds too.

Third-Generation Crosstrek Specs (2024 And Newer)

The current one showed up for 2024 with new styling and a redone interior, but underneath it's mostly what past owners will recognize, except the six-speed manual's gone, so every third-gen car has the CVT.

Engines For 2024 And 2025

Base and Premium keep the 152-hp 2.0-liter while the Sport, Limited and Wilderness get a 2.5-liter rated at 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft, and funnily the EPA's 2024 numbers give both engines 29 mpg combined, the 2.0-liter at 27 city and 34 highway and the 2.5-liter at 26 city and 33 highway.

What Changed For 2026

Subaru retired the 2.0-liter for 2026, so every gas Crosstrek has a 2.5-liter now, rated at 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft, and the EPA has it at 26 city, 33 highway and 29 combined.

The one people actually ask us about is the Crosstrek Hybrid, sold as the Sport Hybrid and Limited Hybrid, where the 2.5-liter works with two electric motors for 194 combined horsepower, and the EPA rates it at 36 mpg city, highway and combined, so you're looking at roughly 600 miles on its 16.6-gallon tank.

It's a regular self-charging hybrid, not a plug-in like the old one, and it keeps symmetrical all-wheel drive and the 8.7 inches of clearance, but you do lose some cargo space, it's 18.6 cubic feet, or 50.6 with the rear seat down.

Ground Clearance, Cargo And Towing Compared

Clearance is honestly where the Crosstrek stands out from most small SUVs, standard models have 8.7 inches and the Wilderness gets 9.3 inches with its lifted suspension and all-terrain tires.

That extra height helps on washboard forest roads out past Buena Vista, or the morning after a heavy, wet spring snow up in the foothills. The Wilderness does pay for it at the pump though, the 2026 EPA ratings are 24 city, 29 highway and 26 combined.

Cargo Space By Trim

The third-gen gas cars hold 19.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 54.7 with it folded, the Wilderness is a hair bigger at 20.0 and 54.9, and the hybrids drop to 18.6 and 50.6 because the battery has to go somewhere.

Towing Capacity

Most Crosstreks are rated to tow 1,500 pounds, which is plenty for a small utility trailer or a pair of dirt bikes, whereas the Wilderness more than doubles that at 3,500 pounds and is really the trim to pick for a small camper.

Dimensions And Drivetrain Details

Third-generation Crosstreks measure 176.4 inches long on a 105.1-inch wheelbase, or 104.9 inches on the Wilderness, and curb weights run from about 3,300 pounds for the gas models up to somewhere around 3,660 to 3,680 pounds for the 2026 hybrids.

Every Crosstrek sold in the US has symmetrical all-wheel drive, and third-generation models come with X-Mode for slippery surfaces, with the Sport, Limited and Wilderness adding a Deep Snow/Mud setting on 2024 and 2025 models, while for 2026 Subaru lists both Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes, which come in handy on unplowed side streets after a Front Range storm.

Subaru's Crosstrek Hybrid page lists current equipment by trim, and our team is glad to walk you through how a used one compares to new.

Find A Used Crosstrek At AutoTrek

Each used Crosstrek we sell goes through our best-in-class inspection and comes with a free CARFAX report, a 3-day return policy and a 3-month/3,000-mile warranty, and because pricing follows our no-haggle, one-price guarantee, you can spend your energy picking the right engine and trim.

You can browse our used cars, trucks and SUVs for sale in Littleton, CO or go straight to our used SUV inventory to see which Crosstreks we've got right now, and when one catches your eye we can help you apply for auto financing in Littleton and set up a test drive.

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