2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek: A Real-World Walk-Around
Visual changes from the Impreza hatch—itself new for 2012—are modest, but the XV Crosstrek rides about 4 inches higher. Ground clearance has increased by about 3 inches.
So what exactly is an XV Crosstrek? It’s a new SUV-flavored variant of the Subaru Impreza 5-door hatchback that will arrive in showrooms this September. I’ve just returned from the media introduction, where I fired off a few quick snapshots of my Tangerine Orange Pearl test car before heading off on the drive.
From the side, the black add-on lower-body and wheel-well cladding is apparent. Note the dark-tint rear windows.
Attractive black-finish alloy wheels wearing 225/55R17 tires are standard. The bottom edges of the wheel-well cladding are purposefully uneven, which makes for an interesting visual effect.
Crosstrek gets a different grille and front bumper than the Impreza.
There’s a unique rear bumper, too.
The roof rack is shared with the Impreza. Subaru says the little “fins” at the back corners of the rack help increase fuel economy by 1 mpg on the highway.
This Japanese carmaker entered the U.S. market in 1968 and is best known for selling vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. Though Subaru is one of the smaller Japanese car companies, its product owners are known for their near-fanatical loyalty to the brand.
