Crosstrek intro to UK market

[David-B]

I evaluated the new 2024 eBoxer Crosstrek Limited this week and feel that Subaru marketing has made a mistake. I was comparing it against my 2022 eBoxer XV SE, as a possible trade in.

Downsides:

1. Engine bhp down to 136 from my XV's 147.  2. CVT paddle shift not available.

Shortcomings:

1. Front camera dropped. 2. No wheel jack. 3. Much reduced number of power connectors for gadgets - only one 12v socket that is awkwardly located (XV has two, one at front, one in arm rest). Two USBs, one A & one C for rear passengers. Two USBs, one A & one C at front. (My XV has four USBs, two at front & two in arm rest. These can be adapted to Cs via the connecting cable, which of course is essential to connect the gadget whether SatNav, dash cam, phone). 4. The roof bars have a different shape so my XV roof rails aren't compatible. 

Then comes styling and the awful touch screen, that is enormous at over 11 inches in portrait height.

5. The headlight bezel has been given a frog-eye form factor, like Nissan Juke. It is ugly against the more aerodynamic, smooth bezel of the XV headlights.

6. Surely, every driver now knows how difficult it can be to tap a touchscreen icon sweetspot in a moving car? Why is this? Because, the majority of our population is right-handed. So, for UK drivers, brain/hand coordination for one's left hand is less developed.  Similarly for muscle development and coordination. So many (too many) function controls have been moved from knobs and switches onto the touch screen, with some being two tiers in.  This means that a driver must take eyes off the road to effect their desired change, perhaps more than once in succession. Legislators have ruled against this with severe penalties for being distracted by using a mobile phone, for example. So it has always surprised me that this technology has been permitted within vehicle homologation applicable in UK. Knobs and switches can be used without needing to look at them - a bit like giant brail.

Subaru made another big mistake in the Levorg. I bought one of these in 2016. It had a great 1600cc turbo engine, as I recall about 150-60 bhp. When I looked at this model a year or two later the turbo had been deleted leaving the engine with a miserly 89 bhp. No wonder it did not survive.

I have owned six Subaru since 2006 - Impreza STi UK Spec, diesel Forester, XV, Levorg, XV, eBoxer XV.  I might now be looking to change my allegiance if Subaru continues to design in disappoint.

[David-B]

PS

I forgot to add in my review of the Crosstrek Limited, it has also lost the High Beam Assist feature - perhaps not a disappointment to city or motorway-only drivers, but very useful for rural drivers on twisting, hilly A & B roads, where you can't see round the frequent corners. 

[Scoobyfoz]

On 9/26/2024 at 9:15 PM, David-B said:

Subaru made another big mistake in the Levorg. I bought one of these in 2016. It had a great 1600cc turbo engine, as I recall about 150-60 bhp. When I looked at this model a year or two later the turbo had been deleted leaving the engine with a miserly 89 bhp. No wonder it did not survive.

Levorg 1.6 turbo had 170 hp. The run out model had a non turbo 2L with 150 hp. Not sure where you got 89 bhp from. 

[David-B]

'Not sure where you got 89bhp from'

Advertising. 

[Scoobyfoz]

22 hours ago, David-B said:

'Not sure where you got 89bhp from'

Advertising. 

Advertising for what? It's a 150 ps 2 litre, same as XV.

I'm on Subaru number 7 ( Forester SF, H6 Outback,  Impreza GS, Impreza Prodrive WR Sport, Forester 2.5 turbo, Outback 3.0R, and for the last 6 years the Levorg). I'm also reluctant to get a newer one (Outback) because of the touch screen issue. A real backward step in usability, and a deal breaker for me.

[David-B]

Advertising for what?

A Levorg (obviously?). But, don't now ask, where? That was in 2018, on the Internet. It persuaded me to revert to the XV which by the time I changed, had acquired Eyesight and other gizmos, like high beam assist.

Since that time I have never seen another Levorg, anywhere in UK. I did see mine two years later, at the dealership from which I bought it and to which I traded it in. It (1600cc turbo) was a great drive.  Perhaps what I read put off other buyers too?

Having evaluated the Crosstrek Limited, I have resolved to keep my 2l, eBoxer XV for another year at least. The Touring spec has no appeal; touch screen integrated SatNav, leather seating. And why would I want a sun roof when I have aircon. The SatNav is only updated at annual service and has no speed camera feature. Even the roof bars have been given a different form-factor. Why? The XV roof rails that I have now, will not fit a Crosstrek!

But I don't expect Subaru marketeers to listen to my sole voice. They haven't listened to my now years-old suggestion, that with so many cameras already fitted, why not integrate a dash cam into one of them and avoid windscreen clutter? Insurers look on them favourably and police often appeal for evidence from them. The front grill mounted camera on my XV seems a likely candidate. But it has been removed from the Crosstrek.

[Scoobyfoz]

2 hours ago, David-B said:

A Levorg (obviously?). But, don't now ask, where? That was in 2018, on the Internet. It persuaded me to revert to the XV which by the time I changed, had acquired Eyesight and other gizmos, like high beam assist.

I'm astounded that you decided to revert to an XV on the basis of what was obviously false information on the internet. Didn't you check the spec with Subaru? The 2L Levorg also had EyeSight, high beam assist etc, as did my facelift 2017 1.6 turbo. But 89 bhp? Honestly? Even the non turbo 1.6 XV has 112 hp.

[David-B]

Let's not lose sight of the fact that this posting is, by title, about the Crosstrek Limited. I've received no feedback on that critique.

Raking over history serves no particular purpose in that connection.

I've already posted that my 2016 Levorg 1.6 turbo was a great drive.

Pax.

[Justin Time]

Sadly, the new Crosstrek is a hybrid! Yuk.  Enough said. 

Yeap, no wheel jack !  Well, I guess they, Subaru, don't seriously think you're going to take it off-road anywhere because if they did you'd need a full size spare wheel (the batteries preclude this space now), unless you're a gambling person who likes to tempt fate while miles away from a road (and maybe also a mobile signal), from where a recovery vehicle could collect you with your flat tyre.