First Review of Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 2019 Engine: It's Worth It

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 2019 is the brand's second hybrid crossover attempt. The first iteration has never sold very well. Subaru took a different approach this time, using a plug-in technology borrowed from Toyota. As a result, the new hybrid model presents a compelling argument for the extra money it commands compared to the conventional Crosstrek system.

Flowing juice

A 8.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery provides a fully electric battery life of up to 17 km, which you can recover after five hours of level-one charging or two hours of level-two charging. not offered. And although 17 miles is not a ton away, it's still enough for most people who have shorter trips.

According to Subaru, many homeowners will travel about 6,000 km a year solely through electricity, which is a significant energy savings. The standard Crosstrek gets 29 miles per gallon combined, while the Crosstrek Hybrid is good for 35 mpg combined in hybrid mode and 90 MPGe with a fully charged battery providing all-electric autonomy. In addition, although the standard Crosstrek uses a 16.6 gallon gas tank, the hybrid uses a 13.2 gallon unit. Despite this smaller reservoir, the estimated 480 mile range of the hybrid is just 1 mile less than the gas only version.

All goodies

Starting at $ 34,995 (plus $ 975 for the destination), the Hybrid is based on the Crosstrek Limited top shelf. So it is well equipped with heated front seats, a leather upholstery and a StarLink touch screen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, lane keeping assistance, cross traffic alert and automatic high beam are also standard.

All Crosstrek hybrids boast a unique gray and navy interior that contributes to the already spacious and luxurious feel of the cabin. The front seats are comfortable and padded, but the lack of lumbar adjustment available could be a problem on long road trips. In addition, the rear windows do not have the feature of automatically lowering and raising the front windows. This is a boring omission for a car that, according to tests, totals $ 38,470, including the destination.

Optional accessories on my tester include a sunroof, heated steering wheel, built-in navigation system and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon. premium audio system which I find to be a noticeable improvement over the standard Crosstrek audio.

These Harman Kardon speakers are complemented by a quieter interior background, five decibels quieter than the standard Crosstrek, thanks to increased sound insulation. "When we first set up the hybrid transmission for the Crosstrek, the car was so silent in EV mode that wind / tire / road noise became obvious," says Garrick Goh, head of the range of Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles. "[A] The side effect of engine operation is the generation of white noise, which masks the outside world. EV mode does not have that. From where additional soundproofing required. "

In practice, the Crosstrek Hybrid dissipates very well the noise on the highway when the engine is stopped. When it goes off, the four-shot signature sounds far away. Overall, I can not say that the interior of the Crosstrek Hybrid is approaching a level of luxurious tranquility, but that it is decent for a mainstream vehicle.

The loading space is a noticeable loss compared to the standard Crosstrek. There is only 15.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 43.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, compared to 20.8 and 55.3, respectively, for the non-hybrid model. Because of all the space that the battery occupies behind the rear seats, the hold of the Crosstrek is smaller than that of many subcompact crossovers. The plug-in, with its 1,000-pound towing capacity, also pulls 500 pounds less than the gas-only model – of course, few people are towing with the Crosstrek, so this fall is probably negligible.

Stay on the road

Keep a light foot on the throttle and you can get up to 65 miles at the time in electric mode only. A heavier foot and speeds above 65 mph make Crosstrek plugged into a conventional hybrid. If you want to keep the 100% electric range for later, turn on the battery saving mode that locks the Crosstrek Hybrid into Full EV mode. There is also a battery charging mode that you can use to charge the battery while driving. Over a period of 60 to 90 minutes, the charge mode consumes an extra gallon of fuel to fill the depleted battery to 80%, about 13 miles from the EV range.

Going around the city in EV mode is a pleasant experience. There is an artificial noise that alerts pedestrians and I find it's a fun accompaniment to otherwise silent driving.

This Subaru is a simple and high suburb. With 148 horsepower total system power and the instantaneous torque of 149 pound-feet of the electric motor, its acceleration is nothing glittering. To the credit of the Crosstrek Hybrid, however, it is about a second faster at 60 miles an hour than its gasoline equivalent, which takes about 10 seconds to reach 60 km / h.

Following Route 154 of Santa Barbara, I learn that mountain sweepers are not the strongest of the high performance hybrid. High speeds reveal a lack of frankness in the direction. I often have to deal with mid-curve corrections to follow a specific line. It is also unfortunate that management is missing even whispers. However, in smaller road sections, where my inputs are more reflective, the lack of precision and user-friendliness of the steering is less of a problem, the slightly stiffer frame of the Crosstrek Hybrid begins to occupy a central place. Take a quick turn and feel the braking force on the inside front wheel to help keep you safe; This vectorization of the torque on the front axle, based on the brakes, equips all Crosstreks.

Dynamically, I'm finally a fan of the Crosstrek Hybrid suspension. At over 3700 pounds, the plug-in is about 500 pounds heavier than the conventional Crosstrek, requiring some suspension adjustments. Yet despite its extra weight, the Crosstrek Hybrid has minimal roll while providing the type of ride that keeps bumps at bay. If you're traveling on a smashed tar section, you know it's there, but it never seems to disturb the Crosstrek or your spine.

In addition, because of its extra weight, Subaru has upgraded the Crosstrek Hybrid's brakes to ventilate the ventilated discs compared to full discs of the standard model. When braking, it's the regeneration forces – not the brake pads – that slow you down. Some hybrids are sensitive to regenerative braking, but the Crosstrek plug-in offers a virtually transparent stopping feel, no matter how much pressure is exerted on the pedal.

Electrifying off-road

The plug-in powertrain does not interfere with Crosstrek's off-road handling, as this electrified version retains the generous ground clearance of the standard model. As soon as the roadway is finished, I press the X-Mode switch, which optimizes traction while incorporating a slope downhill control at speeds below 12 mph.

The instantaneous electric torque is remarkably satisfying off-road. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine will collide with large obstacles that require greater acceleration, but it never needs to mount very high to provide torque, as the electric motors cover it from 0 rpm. As a result, the PHEV system allows the Crosstrek Hybrid to feel more confident in off-road driving than its conventional counterpart, and you can be more progressive with accelerator applications, given the instant power of the EV.

Is it worth the extra money?

The $ 34,995 MSRP for the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is $ 7,800 higher than the $ 27,195 Crosstrek 2.0i Limited. The fuel savings you will realize will offset the much higher MSRP of the Hybrid based on your driving and the length of your trips. More importantly, this $ 7,800 premium could be reduced by taking into account the $ 4,500 federal tax credit, not counting other local and state incentives. In California, for example, when all available credits are taken into account, the Hybrid's premium could be reduced to just $ 1,800.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid will go on sale in late 2018 and will be available in 10 states that meet California emissions early, then eventually in other states. Customers from the other 40 states where Crosstrek is not yet available at dealerships will be able to order them specifically at participating retailers.

In the end, the Crosstrek Hybrid is a smidge faster, just as good off-road and significantly more efficient, although less spacious for cargo than the Crosstrek gasoline only. The extra price supplement is certainly something to consider, but in most key areas, the plug-in powertrain just makes the already excellent Crosstrek even better.

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