Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium

The 2.0L flat four in the XV Crosstrek is far from sporty with just 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. However, due to Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system, the car feels perky when accelerating away from a stop light. The AWD system delivers the torque promptly in low-speed driving. Some might knock the XV’s lack of power, but it’s just enough around town.

Sadly, on the highway the XV requires patience when passing other drivers, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is plenty noisy working to get as many of the 148 ponies on the road.

While the Subaru Impreza is a handy vehicle, it might not be up to tackling more rugged terrain. Fortunately, the XV Crosstrek, which features the same interior dimensions as the Impreza Sport, is better equipped to get about, thanks to a revised suspension setup which improves handling and stability. With a 4 inch height difference and wider tires, the XV gives off the impression that it’s up to the challenges of both everyday driving, and rugged off-roading.

Those tough looking wheels, and plastic body panels also work in favor for the XVs styling, making it look like the Impreza Sport hit the gym and worked the bench-press for hours.

It’s not all for show either; the XV Crosstrek also features additional cooling in order to cope with the extra stress of towing about 1,900 lbs.

Although the XV is a bit of a bore during the regular commute, it’s an absolute blast in the snow. Subaru’s impressive all-wheel drive system does a great job of making the car feel light on its toes. The XV gives the driver a superb sense of confidence in the slippery stuff, a feeling that is sure to resonate with either enthusiastic or family-first drivers.

With a 60/40 front-rear power split in the CVT equipped models, and 50/50 in the manual models, the XV is well balanced, especially in snow or mud. If there’s a loss of grip detected, the system smoothly sends power to a wheel or wheels with grip to prevent sliding. An always-on AWD system is a feature that few other crossovers have.

While the five-speed manual transmission is the ideal choice for the XV Crosstrek the CVT does have its charms. For starters, the CVT is far more fuel-friendly. Even in snowy conditions with grippy winter tires, the XV averaged about 24 mpg in both city and highway driving. That’s not far off the EPA’s ideal rating of 28 mpg for the CVT, while the manual gets just 25 mpg. There’s also a pretty effective manual mode, which allows for the driver to select a fixed ratio gear, just like a conventional automatic.

The fuel numbers may not sound like a lot compared to other crossovers, but remember, the XV is always driving all four wheels, while other crossovers only have FWD, or a part-time AWD systems.

Unfortunately, the XV Crosstrek’s CVT transmission is typically noisy, making a whiney sound as the car gets up to speed. Also, the transmission takes its time getting into drive, needing about a second or two after selecting the gear before it gets going.

The XV Crosstrek has the advantage of being equipped with AWD, no matter the trim level. Other smaller crossovers quickly jump up or past the XV’s price point with an all-wheel drivetrain, like the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The compromise in price comes at the expense of interior quality. Featuring no luxury amenities or soft plastics or any kind, the rugged persona carries on inside the XV. This is a bit of a let-down, especially after seeing how Toyota ramped up the interior in the RAV4, and the excellent ergonomics in the Honda CR-V.

However, the XV’s perfect combination of fuel-economy and capability make it a far more competitive, especially if you put full-time AWD at the top of your wish-list.