In its last year before a generational redesign, the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek gains a special-edition trim, complete with a new color and special trim pieces. All-wheel drive (AWD) is still included on all models, and 2023 will be the last year Subaru offers the Crosstrek with a manual transmission.

Design

The second-generation Subaru Crosstrek has been with us since the 2018 model year. Since it's one of the most popular subcompact crossovers on the market, its styling has become very familiar. Tidy proportions make this little SUV appealing to city dwellers, but its rugged fender cladding and impressive ground clearance (8.7 inches) help keep less urban shoppers interested, too. Sold in five trims–Base, Premium, Special Edition, Sport, and Limited–the Crosstrek includes standard roof rails, while the Premium trim adds fog lights and the Sport trim receives a unique grille. The 2023-only Special Edition offers a new Desert Khaki paint job along with dark-finish wheels and black side mirrors, a black grille bar, a black antenna, and black door handles.

Powertrain

Subaru equips every 2023 Crosstrek with AWD and a four-cylinder Boxer engine, although the displacement and output of the engine vary based on trim level. Base, Premium, and Special Edition Crosstreks employ a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 152 horsepower, while the upper trim levels benefit from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes a much more satisfying 182 horsepower.

The EPA estimates fuel economy of 28 mpg city, 33 highway, and 30 combined for 2023 Crosstreks with the 2.0-liter engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Shoppers can also equip the Base and Premium trims with a six-speed manual transmission, which drops fuel economy estimates to 22 city, 29 highway, and 25 combined.

All Sport and Limited trim cars come with the CVT and deliver fuel economy of 27 city, 34 highway, and 29 combined. The Crosstrek’s standard symmetrical AWD system is one of the better ones on the market. Combined with the impressive ground clearance and Subaru’s X-Mode torque-vectoring technology, it helps establish the Crosstrek as one of the better off-road performers in the subcompact crossover segment.

Interior

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek comes standard with a 60/40-split fold-down rear seat and cloth upholstery. Upgrading to the Sport trim swaps out the cloth seats for Subaru’s StarTex water-repellant upholstery, and moving to the Limited trim installs black or gray leather. The 2023 Special Edition trim is fitted with black-and-red upholstery with red contrast stitching. The Crosstrek offers reasonable cargo space and rear-seat legroom, although this vehicle is built on the same platform as the 2023 Subaru Impreza, meaning shoppers should temper expectations with regard to cabin size. Similarly, while Subarus have made great strides in terms of interior fit and finish, the Crosstrek can still feel a bit more utilitarian than some of its competitors, such as the Kia Seltos or the Mazda CX-30.

Technology

All 2023 Crosstreks receive a touchscreen infotainment system running Subaru’s Starlink software. Lower trims make do with a 6.5-inch head unit, but the Limited trim gets an upgrade to an 8-inch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included as standard equipment, as is Bluetooth connectivity. Premium trim adds SiriusXM satellite radio (pending a subscription to the service) and Wi-Fi hotspot capability (which also requires a subscription).

Safety

Subaru's EyeSight is a camera-based suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and it comes on every 2023 Crosstrek. EyeSight includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, plus adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology. Upgrade to a Crosstrek Limited, and you’ll also benefit from high-beam assist, reverse automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Limited trims also receive steering-responsive headlights.

Thanks, in part, to these standard safety features, the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek was awarded a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and five stars in overall crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Pricing

As of this writing, the base Subaru Crosstrek, equipped with a manual transmission, carries an MSRP of $23,645 (not including its mandatory $1,225 destination fee). Adding the CVT in place of the manual transmission raises the price by $1,350. Premium trims start at $24,795, while the Sport and Limited trims start at $27,995 and $29,495, respectively. The new Special Edition trim is priced at $26,745.

The Crosstrek is attractively priced, particularly given that it comes standard with AWD. A few notable option packages exist; shoppers can add a moonroof, blind-spot monitoring, keyless access, and a power driver seat to Premium trims for $1,995. The Sport trim can gain those features plus the 8-inch touchscreen for an extra $1,600, and the Limited trim can be equipped with a moonroof, navigation system, and a Harmon Kardon premium audio system for an extra $2,395.