Do you live in Vermont? If you do you might be surprised to learn you already own an XV Crosstrek. Why do Vermonters love the XV Crosstrek? What do you need to know before you buy one? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything right here in our Buyer’s Guide.
The Vermont joke also works for people who live in places like Charlottesville or Portland or Madison. It’s the official car of college towns near nature with well-educated people who think that a weekend spent drinking home brew at the top of a mountain they just climbed is “fun.”
With Saab gone and Volvo rebuilding, Subaru has become the default brand of the NPR-set and the XV Crosstrek is the slightly more adventurous trim of the Impreza hatchback for people who blast Prarie Home Companion en route to an Ironman.
What’s New About The 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek
The Impreza-based Subaru XV Crosstrek debuted in the U.S. at the 2012 New York International Auto show and was later released for the 2013 model year. The base model has 148 horses and The 160 horsepower hybrid version was introduced in New York the following year and made it to showrooms as a 2014 model year vehicle.
For the 2015 model year, a backup camera comes standard on all trims, including a new base trim: the 2.0i. There’s a new 6.2-inch touchscreen audio system inside and EyeSight (a package that includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward collision mitigation) is now available.
Which One We’d Buy
If you want the manual go ahead and upgrade yourself to the 2.0i Premium model, which shares the 2.0-liter boxer four with the rest of the non-hybrid models, but adds the all-weather package and lets you add EyeSight if you want all of the many available safety bits you get with the system. With the stick that’s a lot of car for $23,095 (with the $850 destination). If you don’t want the stick, add another $1,000 for the CVT. [Build Your Own]
Important Facts At A Glance:
MSRP: $21,595 - $29,295 Max Advertised Towing Capability: 1,500 pounds
MPG: 30 city/ 34 hwy / 31 combined [hybrid] Engines: 2.0L flat-4, 2.0L hybrid flat-4
Curb Weight: ~3,100-3,500 pounds IIHS Rating: NA
Transmissions: 5-speed manual, CVT Automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front engine, AWD
Photo credit: Subaru