Subaru Crosstrek Reliability: What To Know Before Investing In Your Purchase
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We’ve seen the Subaru advertisements that touted its vehicles as rugged and utilitarian and how they’re wonderful outdoor companions. If you’re in the market for a used Subaru SUV like the ads, you’ve got some tough decisions ahead of you. One choice that would make sense if you prefer an SUV in a compact package is the Subaru Crosstrek.
If you’re looking to buy a used Crosstrek, one of the most important categories you should look at is reliability. How long does a Crosstrek last? What are its known mechanical issues over the years? What’s the actual cost to own a Subaru Crosstrek?
This post will discuss the Subaru Crosstrek’s reliability and other things you should know before heading to a used car dealership. Let’s get to it!
Subaru Crosstrek Reliability Ratings
The Subaru Crosstrek was deemed an Instagram influencer’s idea of a crossover SUV, thanks to its rugged capabilities and standard all-wheel drive. Although the Crosstrek isn’t going to out-rugged the likes of Land Rovers and Jeeps in outdoor prowess, it’s still a solid outdoor companion with the reliability to boot.
The Subaru Crosstrek may not be smashing sales records, but casual fans and brand loyalists alike swear by this compact SUV. On top of delivering impressive fuel economy and ride comfort, the Subaru Crosstrek boasts high reliability scores as well. For this analysis, we’ll look at RepairPal’s evaluation of the Crosstrek lineup.
According to the website, the Crosstrek has a Reliability Rating of 4.5 out of 5.0, considered Excellent. Out of all 26 models of compact SUVs available, the Crosstrek ranks first, which is no easy feat when competing with the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
Furthermore, the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance of a Crosstrek is $492, which is slightly below the segment average of $521. In all vehicle models, the average annual repair cost is $652. Frequency of repairs is another area where the Crosstrek excels, with an average of 0.1 times per year for unscheduled repairs. In contrast, the compact SUV segment average is 0.3 times annually and 0.4 times for all vehicle models.
For repair severity, the Crosstrek wins again, with only 7% of repair jobs considered severe or major. Crosstrek’s numbers are significantly lower than the segment average of 11% and 12% for all vehicle models for repair severity.
A 5-Year Reliability Breakdown of the Recent Crosstrek Models
Below we’ve highlighted several recent Crosstrek models and how they perform in terms of reliability.
2016 Subaru Crosstrek
The debut model of the Crosstrek (without the XV) was up against some competition, but it managed to find an identity of its own. With an 8.6-inch ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive, the 2016 Crosstrek became a solid option for outdoor enthusiasts. It may not be the most exciting small SUV to drive, but it certainly offers reliability in spades.
Over at CarComplaints.com, the Crosstrek had a few complaints but nothing too major. J.D. Power gave the 2016 Crosstrek an 81⁄100 score for its Quality and Reliability category. Finally, Edmunds.com calculated the 2016 Crosstrek’s true cost of ownership at $41,173 in five years.
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2017 Subaru Crosstrek
The 2017 Crosstrek isn’t that much of an upgrade from the 2016 model, aside from a new trim option and several safety features. Once again, the Crosstrek seriously lacks driving personality but more than makes up for it with standard all-wheel drive and good reliability scores.
According to CarComplaints, the 2017 Crosstrek had minor complaints about the SUV’s paint quality. J.D. Power scored the 2017 Crosstrek a solid 75⁄100 in Quality and Reliability, a slight decline from the 2016 version but not by much. As per Edmunds, the true 5-year ownership cost of the 2017 Crosstrek is $41,852.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek
For reliability, the Crosstrek is a bit of an upgrade from 2017, so there are no surprises here. The 2018 model is a redesign year but remains a good representation of the Subaru Crosstrek’s reliability. It also received a nice interior update, a smoother ride quality, and agile handling.
The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek received a Quality & Reliability score of 75⁄100 from J.D. Power. Over at CarComplaints.com, the 2018 Crosstrek has the most number of complaints, but most of them are minor issues like faulty radio and cracked windshields. The estimated 5-year true cost to own the 2018 Crosstrek is $44,136.
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2019 Subaru Crosstrek
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek brings yet another solid year of rugged capabilities and standard all-wheel drive. Like the previous Crosstrek SUVs, the 2019 model’s appeal lies in its jack-of-all-trades nature. It offers a spacious interior, smooth ride, 8.7-inches of ground clearance, and the standard all-wheel drive.
J.D. Power scored the 2019 Crosstrek a bit higher this time, with 79⁄100 in Quality and Reliability. Meanwhile, CarComplaints named the 2019 Crosstrek the worst model of the bunch due to its issues with the windshield and Starlink infotainment features. According to Edmunds.com, its true cost to own is $44,938.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek
The 2020 Crosstrek offers a similar experience: comfortable ride quality, spacious interior, and high ground clearance. It doesn’t entirely reinvent the wheel, but the 2020 model is a solid choice if you’re into the Subaru Crosstrek’s reliability and dependability.
In CarComplaints, the 2020 Crosstrek only received one complaint, which either means it’s not that popular or it really didn’t have issues. J.D. Power gave the 2020 Crosstrek a rating of 77⁄100 for Quality and Reliability. Meanwhile, Edmunds predicted that this Crosstrek has a true cost of ownership of $39,354.
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Is The Crosstrek Reliable?
Absolutely! The Crosstrek enjoyed high reliability ratings and positive customer reviews in most of its run. Sure, it doesn’t have the most decorated interior or the fastest acceleration, but it fills a particular niche that made it such a popular small SUV. It’s one of the few vehicles you can buy as used and worry-free.
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