2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid – HYJINKS

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

HYJINKS

Thia nation’s news media – both print and broadcast – rarely pays attention to the nation’s auto industry until something’s amiss. Since Covid the supply chain has received attention, labor strife is inevitably on the radar, and – most recently – the rising cost of automobiles (new and used) has received both editorial space and airtime. With the average cost of a new vehicle now north of $50K (a figure admittedly skewed by the number of luxury vehicles in that mathematical mix), let’s take a moment to examine – and celebrate – the $35,000 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. SALUTE!

In the bullet points there isn’t a helluva lot here. The Crosstrek was introduced to Subaru customers in the U.S. for the 2013 model year, and while warmly accepted it didn’t displace the Outback in the hearts and minds of Subaru loyalists. At that time my wife and I were loyalists-in-training, having owned an ’11 Forester as a third car, which we subsequently sold to our son. 

In the fall of ’14 we needed a second car to support our move to Northern Virginia, opting for a base Crosstrek with its manual trans. As you’d guess, the manual was more engaging than the Crosstrek’s CVT, and did at least a bit in moving more assertively the Crosstrek’s 2.0 liters and 148 horsepower. We kept it ‘til we no longer needed it, at which point it enjoyed a new life on a CarMax lot. I still wish I had it.

That perspective is probably the foundation for my affection – if not affliction – for the Crosstrek’s 2026 variant, again available with a hybrid drivetrain. The main reason for the hybrid – a series parallel hybrid powertrain – is, of course, efficiency, but you can also enjoy the relatively relaxed acceleration and almost sublime on-road behavior; that’s in stark contrast to our experience with the ’14 Crosstrek. Our ’14 manual bordered on the raucous, a sensation only exacerbated by its slowness. 

On the driveway, awash in its available Sand Dune Pearl, the new Crosstrek Hybrid represents a distinctive blend of quirky architecture (the Crosstrek is essentially a lifted Impreza), all-road capability and perfectly urban footprint. Its 176 inches of overall length is underpinned by a wheelbase of 105 inches and is wider – at 71 inches – than I am tall. 

The overall impression is ‘nimble’, and while the design doesn’t stray too far from the Crosstrek we bought in ’14, this 2026 is more substantial, fully adult rather than adolescent. And on some level its Sand Dune Pearl (a $395 upcharge) solidifies the impression, while at the same time almost subduing Subaru’s signature cladding; for that I’m thankful. Notably, the Crosstrek boasts a full 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and while that number won’t work well in Moab it performs beautifully on Main Street, even if Main needs new asphalt.

Inside, our test Sport trim features an activity-oriented seat covering inspired – I’ll guess – by an REI catalog. While the seats brighten the overall impression, there’s no disguising the somewhat downmarket plastics. And although I like the highly visible (and almost conventional) gauge display, the mid-mounted Multimedia Plus System with Navigation is either mind-numbing or mind-boggling; it’s your pick. As the owner you’ll undoubtedly get the hang of it, but as the borrower – using the Crosstrek for less than a week – I’ll probably not bother. Life – at this stage – is simply too short.

Front buckets are supportive and comfortable, and while the rear seat is tight for three, it works very well for two adults, or two toddlers and the bulk of their car seats. With the rear seat upright you’ll enjoy 19 cubic feet of cargo space, while when folded you’ll have 51 cubic feet. It’s more than enough for a bike, but probably not enough for the love seat. Or mattress…

Propelling the Crosstrek Hybrid’s friendly, accessible vibe is a 2.5 liter Atkinson/Miller 2.5 liter boxer powerplant, supplemented by two electric motors and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. The attendant complexity adds roughly 200 pounds of curb weight, so while the bump in hp and torque is significant – 194 vs. 182 in the conventional Crosstrek Sport – acceleration is almost identical, achieving 0-60 (according to Car and Driver) in just over 8 seconds. And with 36 miles per gallon in the city, in the country and in what the EPA calls ‘combined’, the economy is markedly better than your standard Crosstrek, but well south of the 40+ miles-per-gallon club which, at this point, has several members. 

The win when selecting the Crosstrek, of course, is the aforementioned nimble footprint, completely adequate interior space, and the standard all-wheel drive. For real off-roading you’ll probably want more aggressive rubber, but the Hybrid’s 225/55 R18s are a valid compromise, and look reasonably proportional under the cladding.

On the road the Crosstrek Hybrid is more lifted hatch than SUV, and that’s a balance I’m happy to drive and/or ride in. In urban environments you can park it, while in the ‘burbs you can pack up the kids and do Walmart. And having saved $15K relative to the average new car purchase, you can grab the multiple carts at Walmart…and fill ‘em.