Subaru Crosstrek e-BOXER Hybrid Review: Sure-Footed and Refined

What we like:

Good driving dynamics

Smooth engine and gearbox

What we dislike:

Launched at a difficult time with high COE

Boxer engines seem like they will never go out of style for Subaru, and we hope so. It is a gem of an engine that offers smoothness and refinement that a traditional four-cylinder can never hope to match.

In the Crosstrek, a 2.0-litre boxer is mated to a mild hybrid system and a CVT gearbox. It all works seamlessly and feels like a drivetrain from a much more expensive vehicle. The CVT gearbox features 80% new components.

The car’s ride is sure-footed on the road and there is a sense of heft and authority in the way it rides. With an improved X-MODE, there is now the option of doing light off-roading in Snow, Dirt or Mud, in keeping with Subaru’s rallying heritage.

EyeSight 4.0 is the headline upgrade to the new Crosstrek, which qualifies as Level 2 ADAS semi-autonomous driving technology. Newly equipped with an innovative wide-angle monocular camera in addition to the original stereo cameras, EyeSight 4.0 can help drive on the highway pretty much by itself - even keeping to its own lane automatically while slowing down or speeding up based on prevailing traffic conditions.

The 11.6-inch touchscreen display we last saw in the new WRX is in the Crosstrek, and its crisp and easy to use. Otherwise, the car still features conventional gauges (a good thing in my book) and plenty of charging ports even for rear passengers.

The Crosstrek is an attractive car hobbled unfortunately by the current high COE prices.

Photos by James Wong

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