The Daily Vanguard

2018 Subaru Crosstrek: Driving Impressions

Subaru as an automotive brand reigned on many hearts for featuring a rugged style and for making the all-wheel drive as standard. If you have known the Impreza hatchback, the latest Crosstrek of 2018 from Subaru would remind you of it, bringing the same, high-riding body style sustaining the same appeal to the folks who loves to drive for adventures.

With the four-cylinder engines at work with a continuously variable automatic transmission, the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek made the driving experience smooth and enjoyable across the varied landforms. Be it the build quality, a solid handling, and a lengthy list of safety and infotainment tech, Subaru makes the driving impressions likeable and memorable.

What’s New for 2018?

When we searched for the Subaru dealer near me, we found one of the best dealers that was serving the National City. The professionals we met there, shared with us many facts including how the Crosstrek is redesigned entirely for 2018. Though the all-wheel drive and the mandatory 2.0-liter flat-four engine remain as standard, for an increase in power and fuel efficiency the powertrain gets few updates, while the standard manual transmission receives an extra gear to make it six.

The Crosstrek’s 152-hp four-cylinder engine is made available with the options of driving with either the standard manual transmission or the automatic one as optional. All this effortlessly make an EPI fuel efficiency rating that counts 29 mpg in a combined trip, 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg in the highway with 3.4 gals going for 100 miles.

Acceleration

As the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek runs on a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), it does cause the engine to drone at times at a higher rpm in the events of acceleration, while the slick-shifting manual allows the driver to have more control on the selection of gears making it pick up a speed of approximately 60 mph from a dead stop at a given time of 9.2-seconds. The automatic-transmission models of Crosstrek feature steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters to allow the driver to shift them manually, within the range of the seven presets.

Though many might not be that happy with the acceleration, the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is certainly confident in driving with a highly responsive handling and in providing well-controlled rides.

Acceleration

From a Subaru dealer serving National City, we got to learn that the Crosstrek runs on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder which might not be the highest in the current trend of engine power, as sometimes it might ooze out a slightly strained feeling and exhausted after hectic daily commutes. The throttle response is sharp to make it drive smoothly through the congested roads within the town. The six-speed manual transmission that comes as standard makes the shifting easier, matching well with the 9.2-second run speed of the automatic that picks from zero to 60 mph.

Ride Braking, Steering and Handling

The steering is heavy and that is why we get a composed ride in the Crosstrek that makes you feel solid and grounded around the corners. The grip on the roads can be said to be the best among its competitors as the firm suspension works smoothly while dealing with unruly bumpers.