The Subaru Crosstrek: Standing Tall Above the Competition in Tilton

The crossover SUV is here to stay even though it is probably the youngest automobile segment available. The crossover has gained popularity in Laconia over the traditional SUV and the sedan by offering the best features of the two automobiles. The crossover SUV is more spacious than a sedan and almost as capable off-road as the traditional SUV. It is also affordable and maneuverable.

The Subaru Crosstrek is a unique crossover. It is compact, robust, and aggressively designed. Equipped with Subaru's intuitive symmetrical all-wheel-drive, the Crosstrek is confident and capable when handling rough terrain outside of Concord. It also boasts a higher ground clearance than most of its competitors.

The Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, and the Toyota CH-R are compact crossovers in the same class as the Subaru Crosstrek.  Let's compare the lot.

Performance

The Subaru Crosstrek near Manchester comes equipped with a standard 2.0-liter BOXER four-cylinder engine that produces 152-horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The standard transmission is the reliable six-speed manual transmission, which delivers power to all four wheels. A continuously variable transmission is optional on all trims but standard on the Limited trim. The Crosstrek is quite capable off-road.

The Chevrolet Trax comes powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 138-horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and it delivers power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is available at an additional cost.

The Honda HR-V comes powered by a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 141-horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. It also comes standard with a continuously variable transmission. The large engine and low power output make the HR-V feel rather sluggish off the mark. All-wheel-drive is available at an additional cost.

The Toyota CH-R near Plymouth comes powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 144-horsepower. This power is delivered to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission. Though the Toyota CH-R is reasonably quiet, it feels slightly underpowered as it weighs around 3,300-lbs.

Exterior, Interior Styling, and Features

The Subaru Crosstrek looks and feels aggressive and outdoorsy. It features alloy wheels, black sill cladding, and integrated roof rails. The interior feels roomy and stylish. It features premium cloth upholstery, high-quality dash materials, and power door locks. Higher trim levels such as the premium feature leather upholstery. It also features a standard 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen that is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The Chevy Trax near Claremont is not as aggressive or charismatic as the Crosstrek. It features steel wheels and an unpainted bumper to exude ruggedness. The interior is somewhat bland. The front seats feel firm and supportive, but only the driver's seat has an armrest. In features a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

The Honda HR-V is an improvement over the Chevy Trax in terms of exterior design. However, the rear door handles are weirdly placed. The interior is clean and straightforward. It features a five-inch infotainment touchscreen and air conditioning as standard.

The Toyota CH-R can be described as merely unattractive. It has a shape similar to the HR-V, and the rear door handles are oddly placed. It looks more like a hatchback than a crossover, and its ground clearance suffers as a result. However, it comes standard with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Safety

In terms of safety, the Subaru Crosstrek is adequately equipped. It features a myriad of standard and available safety features such as lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and active lane control. It earned top safety ratings in crash tests performed by the NHTSA, and it was also named a top safety pick by the IIHS.

The Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V lag slightly behind the competition in terms of safety. Features such as forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring are only available at higher trims. On the other hand, the Toyota CH-R features standard automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. However, it was not named a top safety pick by the IIHS.

Conclusion

The Subaru Crosstrek is an excellent crossover SUV. It outdoes the competition in terms of power, design, and safety without breaking a sweat. For more information on the availability of the Subaru Crosstrek, contact us here at Belknap Subaru to speak to a member of our helpful sales staff.