Subaru Crosstrek – First Impressions

"Dakotahound" (dakotahound) 07/27/2019 at 07:58 • Filed to: Subaru, Crosstrek, Review, Dogs

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Well, here is our new 2019 Subaru Crosstrek with a 6-speed manual transmission, STI strut tower brace, and STI alloy wheels.

Subaru Crosstrek Front View

Having owned a Jeep Wrangler for many years, I thought that I would always be a Jeep owner. Unfortunately, about a year ago, my 2003 TJ (red, with a soft top and half doors) finally became too rusted to save. Our years in Vermont, with their heavily salted roads, left the vehicle with practically no weldable metal left on the frame. Originally, I planned to replace it with another Jeep, but situations change.

The Jeep, and 1989 Isuzu Amigo before it, were great for any rugged terrain that we attempted – and that was a lot of fun. As we age, however, most of our off-road adventures will likely be confined to rutted gravel roads, which can be handled just fine in the Crosstrek. There are also a lot of accessories available for the Crosstrek for hauling kayaks, bicycles, and a canoe. That was a big plus.

Subaru Crosstrek Rear View

Another motive for switching from Jeep to Subaru was our adopting two new dogs. Savannah and Zephyr are a lot more rambunctious than my old buddy Toby. They need more interior space and secure containment than a soft-top Jeep could offer.

Two reasons for switching to a Subaru.

We looked at a lot of SUVs and were disappointed at many of the AWD systems offered. Most of them are FWD biased. I have had some bad experiences with FWD cars on slick roads. The Subaru symmetrical AWD system in the Crosstrek is 50/50 front/rear biased if you get the manual transmission, which we prefer anyway (the CVT is 60/40 front/rear biased).

Getting the manual transmission was not an easy feat. Our local dealer only had Crosstreks with CVTs, so the salesman searched the inventory of all Subaru dealers within about 1,000 mi. of Florida. There were only three, and those dealers did not want to part with them. Subaru, like many other car manufacturers, claims that manual transmissions do not sell well in the USA, but try to find one.

This is the last time that it will ever be this clean.

As mentioned earlier, the options that we ordered for the Crosstrek were the STI strut tower brace and STI alloy wheels. After seeing several videos, I became sold on the Subaru STI strut tower brace. It significantly reduces body roll. The STI alloy wheels just look good. They are mounted with Yokohama P225/60R17 all-season tires, which aren’t really ideal for off-road travel, but they will do for now. In the future, if we have off-road performance issues, I may have a lift kit installed to accommodate more aggressive tires, but the 8.7 in. clearance and stock tire setup seem all right for the near future.

Anyway, I will post a more in-depth review after putting a few miles on the Crosstrek. In about three months we are heading to the Smoky Mountains for some backroad adventures, which should give me a good feel for the vehicle.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 08:22

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Nice write up. I may go with an Outback next time around. Or maybe a truck. The WRX is loads of fun, but not  as versatile as other options. First we have to get a neeer car for my wife. Then we need something for my son. 

Alex B > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 08:23

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For the summer I’ve been working at my local subaru dealer as a lot attendant and have never had a manual crosstrek of the current generation yet . I’ve driven one of the last generation and it was a pleasant surprise. Nice car, congrats!  The new crosstrek/impreza are a huge step up over the last generation. Great color too.

Wacko > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 08:37

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I didn’t know they put the 6 speed in these, I thought they still had the 5 speeds like the Impreza.

These need a wrx version.

Love that shade of blue by the way

Dakotahound > Alex B 07/27/2019 at 09:07

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Crosstreks are difficult to find in a manual. We ended up ordering it from the factory, which took a little over two months.

Since we ordered the car, we selected the color. It looks light blue to me, but Subaru calls it “C ool G ray K haki.”

wafflesnfalafel > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 09:11

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really like that color - congrats.  My wife has a 2016 and has been super happy with it.  

Dakotahound > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/27/2019 at 09:13

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Thank you. The Outback and Crosstrek seemed very similar, but the outback is over a foot longer. With only two of us, we didn’t need the extra length, and the Crosstrek has a manual transmission.

Dakotahound > Wacko 07/27/2019 at 09:16

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Thank you. We selected the color, which Subaru calls “Cool Gray Khaki” (it looks blue to me too). I have read that there rumors of a future Crosstrek STI with a more powerful engine , but nothing official.

Dakotahound > wafflesnfalafel 07/27/2019 at 09:18

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Thank you. This is our first Subaru, and our decision was part ially based on the many happy Subaru owners.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 09:22

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Congrats!  Like others, I’ve only ever drive the CVT and found it lacking off-the-line power and speed. Did you drive a CVT at all, and how much better is the stick?

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 09:38

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Only way to save the manuals is to pony and buy one new, thanks for searching far and wide for one!

HoustonRunner > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 09:52

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Blue car club!

HoustonRunner > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 09:53

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Wait, they call it khaki? Huh?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 09:59

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If it didn’t require premium, the flat-6 they have would be amazing in the Crosstrek.

Love the color and the wheels. *jealousy intensifies*

TheRealBicycleBuck > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 10:57

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I inherited the Outback we own right now. I like it enough that I’m considering another once my daughter takes this one off to college.

Every car I’ve owned (and driven daily) has been a manual. My daughter’s been driving the Outback since we got it and my wife had an automatic Explorer, so those don’t count against me. :)

For the last two years, I’ve had a rental car for work. All of the rentals have been automatics. Some have been good, some bad, but I’m not a die-hard fanatic about my cars being a manual any more.

Dakotahound > HoustonRunner 07/27/2019 at 11:44

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Yes, and the photograph did not distort the color. It looks blue to me.

Dakotahound > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 07/27/2019 at 11:47

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Yes, I drove the CVT. Even with the manual, the Crosstrek is no powerhouse, but the manual is better. I think that the performance will improve when I drive it at higher rpms. Right now, since it is new, I am keeping the revs low.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 11:47

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That blue — oops I mean “gray” — is lovely.

Dakotahound > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 07/27/2019 at 11:49

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I agree. There are some rumors of a Crosstrek STI, and it may have the flat-6, but these are just rumors.

Dakotahound > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 07/27/2019 at 11:50

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It was disappointing to see how many SUVs (and CUVs) are automatic only. Subaru is one of the last holdouts.

Dakotahound > HoustonRunner 07/27/2019 at 11:51

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I have nothing against white and black, but I am tired of seeing rows and rows of only white and black cars. I wanted something different, and really liked the blue (Light Gray Khaki, actually).

Dakotahound > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 07/27/2019 at 12:04

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Thank you. I can see the “Light Gray” part, but to me “Khaki” is brown. I don’t see brown.

DipodomysDeserti > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 12:50

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They caved on the turbo foresters a while ago, then stopped selling them.

Everyone who buys a CVT WRX should be thrown in a gulag.

Dakotahound > DipodomysDeserti 07/27/2019 at 12:58

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As far as I know, the only new Subarus with manual transmissions are the Crosstrek, BRZ, Impreza, and WRX. All of these (except , of course for the 2WD BRZ) advertise symmetrical AWD, but t he WRX actu al ly has a more advanced AWD system.

HoustonRunner > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 12:59

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I guess getting one word out of three is ok, it is ‘cool’.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 07/27/2019 at 14:20

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The premium fuel is like $2 more per tank, it’s completely negligible. And this is coming from a broke ass college student with 2 LS400's that have 22 gallon tanks

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 15:33

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Time for a WRX or Forester XT Engine swap, (an Ascent 2.4 turbo, but that may be too new) ... to make that car what it actually should have been already for years now.

Frankly, it should have the WRX STI’s 6-speed, R180 rear diff, long-throw Bilsteins, Brembo brakes on 5x114 hubs with larger wheel bearings, and forged BBS actual STI wheels, not just STI accessory catalog cast wheels. Or some Method Racing or other aftermarket forged wheels.

In the age of the CUV, there is absolutely ZERO excuse for Subaru not to have a WRX and STI specification CUV with a rear hatch, and ground clearance that doesn’t scrape on speed bumps.

The age of the sport compact boy-racer sedan is over, and Subaru is late at realizing that.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 07/27/2019 at 15:36

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I use premium in both my vehicles. Around here it is ~60  cents more per gallon over regular. 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 07/27/2019 at 15:42

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I live in Illinois and even with the recent 19 cent gas tax, I pay ~$ 3.30/gallon or less with my Sams Club membership. Its admittedly almost $4.00/gallon elsewhere.

I used to believe in only Shell or BP Premium but science and research tells me that’ s total bologna. Costco is a top tier fuel brand, just like BP and Shell, but unfortunately I don’t have a C ostco right by my house so I go to Sams Club. Many many fill ups and have never had a problem with “bad gas”

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 07/27/2019 at 15:50

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I’ve been using Costco as much as possible recently as well. So much cheaper, and my GTI runs great.

hike > Dakotahound 07/27/2019 at 16:10

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I wouldn't hold your breathe for a flat 6 Subaru. It's go a with the release of the new Outback and Legacy. 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 07/27/2019 at 16:30

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And like I said Costco is top tier quality gas, they even use 5x as many cleaners and detergents in their fuel as the EPA recommends. Kirkland signature is a very quality brand. People still try to tell me only shell/bp is good but I haven’t forgotten about the oil spills lol

jvirgs drives a Subaru > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 07/27/2019 at 20:14

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If you are talking about the current 3.6 that they use in the Outback, it does’t require premium. 

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > jvirgs drives a Subaru 07/27/2019 at 20:50

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I assumed it did. Cool

Ilikewaffles > Dakotahound 07/28/2019 at 00:38

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What videos of the strut brace did you see? I find very little information about this accessory 

Dakotahound > Ilikewaffles 07/28/2019 at 07:06

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Here is one:

There are some others on YouTube.

fhrblig > Dakotahound 07/28/2019 at 09:52

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Congratulations!

My sister is in the market for a new car and she keeps coming back to these, though she’ll be getting a CVT if she gets one.

Dakotahound > fhrblig 07/28/2019 at 10:51

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Thank you. I test drove one with a CVT, and it was fine. I expected it to be lousy, based on other people’s assessments of CVTs (in other model cars) , but Subaru did a pretty good job.

PyramidHat > Dakotahound 07/28/2019 at 11:39

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Always liked the CrossTrek...only reason I went with the outback when it was time to buy was I had the only car in the family we’d be traveling in.

The one complaint I’ve always heard is that it’s underpowered.  What’s your take on that?  Is it true in that with 4 adults you can’t get out of 2nd going uphill?  Or is it more wishing there was a bit more pickup, but it’s generally fin as is?

Dakotahound > PyramidHat 07/28/2019 at 12:41

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Since the car is new, I am babying it a little . So far, however, there are no issues with power. The listed 0-60 mph is 9 seconds , which isn’t that bad. I suspect that, with the boxer engine, you need to keep the rpms up to get power.

I should add that my other car is a Porsche Boxster, so I didn’t buy the Crosstrek for speed - it is for moderate off-road trips.

Ilikewaffles > Dakotahound 07/28/2019 at 13:41

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Ok, I’ll look for your next review. I’ve already been waiting a month for my order to come in (Premium/6MT/STI wheels and spoiler) . Oddly, I was told a few week after the order was placed that Subaru will not sell a 6MT with the STI wheels from the factory/port, so I’ll have to buy those wheels separately once it comes in.

Dakotahound > Ilikewaffles 07/28/2019 at 14:29

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Actually, the dealer took care of the STI wheels and strut brace on our order . It was, however, all included in the price (I didn’t have to order them separately ).