Upgraded Subaru Crosstrek hybrid boasts better range, horsepower

SUBARU

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek hybrid has an improved power plant and mileage.

Subaru continues to offer a wide variety of all-wheel-drive cars the fit almost every budget and need. 

The Crosstrek has been popular for its size, value and fuel economy. It's now offered in a hybrid with more power and exceptional fuel economy.

The hybrid Crosstrek comes in two flavors: sport and limited. My test vehicle was the sport in an odd but appealing color called Citron Yellow Pearl (optional at $395). The hybrid option is new 2026 and you may wonder why something so small needs to be a hybrid? Maybe The Crosstrek doesn’t need to be but we’re all glad it is. 

Let’s talk about the gas mileage. The hybrid gets 36 miles per gallon on the highway and in the city. Its gas tank holds 16.6 gallons, which equals a range of 597 miles. If that figure doesn’t impress you, add the fact the engine has been upgraded from 2.0 liters to 2.5 and power output has been bumped to 194 horsepower. Impressed yet?

The Crosstrek sport truly sips gas. I had it for a week, and I used little more than a quarter tank of gas. This was during the Christmas selling season, so I drove a bit more than usual, but this thing was a fuel economy champ.

There was also a bit more oomph from the engine. You will not get blazing speed, but The Crosstrek hybrid is certainly more peppy than last year’s gasoline model. The continuously variable transmission sends power to all four wheel to give maximum traction during spirited driving.

The ride comfort is good as well. The four-wheel independent suspension soaks up a lot of the rough stuff. The ride is a bit stiff but not choppy. It’s on par with most small cars. Engine and road noise creeps in but art acceptable levels.

The Crosstrek’s interior is comfortable, fairly spacious a full of neat touches. All the USB-C and USB-A outlets are illuminated for easy access at night.

 
The Crosstrek comes with dual function X-mode for better off-road performance, active torque vectoring, hill descent control, auto vehicle hold, and Subaru’s intelligent drive.

Several safety features are included. Eyesight Driver’s Assist helps avoid collisions while Blind Spot detection warns of approaching vehicles from the sides, Emergency Lane keep Assist nudges back towards the center of the lane while Rear Cross-Traffic Alert warns of objects in the rear. The heated front seats and power driver’s seat make the front passengers cozy. The 12.3-inch digital dash allows drivers to customize to their liking.

The interior has a great deal of plastic, but it’s done in a tasteful manner without looking cheap.

The Crosstrek was totally redesigned in 2024, so Subaru didn’t take long to make some major upgrades. The hybrid offering makes this already appealing vehicle more desirable. Getting nearly 600 miles to a tankful is impressive. When you add in the facts that Subarus are safer and more reliable than ever this car is almost a no-brainer.

The Subaru Crosstrek Sport Hybrid starts at $33,995.

Pros:

• New Hybrid model

• Excellent fuel economy

• Wild new colors available

• Sport and Limited trims for hybrid

• More powerful engines

• Tons of safety features

• Raised roof rails

• Standard sunroof

• Configurable digital dash

• Standard AWD

Cons:

• Needs more storage space

• Can be noisy

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