• 2.0-litre mild hybrid engine
• Not particularly efficient
• But it should be very reliable

What are the running costs?

Boxer engines aren’t really known for their efficiency. It’s why most manufacturers have stopped using them. But the boxer engine is a big part of Subaru’s brand identity, so the firm has tried to make it as efficient as possible by fitting it with a mild hybrid system.

It’s worked to a fashion. The Crosstrek has an official WLTP fuel economy figure of up to 36.8mpg which isn’t bad for a boxer. It’s positively miraculous when you compare it to the 21mpg we achieved in the old Subaru WRX STi.

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However, it can’t compete with its rivals. The non-electrically assisted 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the SEAT Ateca can return more than 40mpg if you’re light on the throttle. And let’s not forget, the Ateca has been around a full year longer than the old XV.

The Crosstrek’s CO2 emissions are off the pace, too. It has an official WLTP figure of 174g/km, whereas the mild hybrid Ford Puma and full hybrid Honda H-RV only emit 122g/km. That means the Subaru’s first road tax payment is almost five times higher.

Servicing and warranty

Subaru recommends you service the Crosstrek every 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you stick to those service intervals, it should give you years of faithful service.

Every Subaru comes with a three-year 60,000-mile warranty. That’s not bad, but it can’t compete with the seven-year warranty offered with the Kia Niro or the 10-year warranty available with the Toyota Yaris Cross.The Crosstrek’s battery and electric motor is also covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Reliability

• We’re not worried – Subarus are tough
• Old XV proved itself to be a reliable car
• No new powertrain tech over XV

The Subaru Crosstrek is basically a heavily facelifted version of the XV. It shares most of its mechanical components which is good news for those concerned about reliability because the XV’s mechanicals are bombproof.

The XV was subject to five recalls – but they only affected cars registered in 2019 and before. From 2020 onwards, there wasn’t a single recall issued for the car.  Plus, most of the faults were due to slightly dicky electronics, which is a much better problem to have than an engine or transmission letting go.