[Erockjl]

might help if you could provide some guidance on what is important to you. I live and travel on hilly interstates, and the 2.5 engine is wonderful.
I have a sport and the halogen lights are plenty bright, very good actually. Never used or seen the led's but have zero complaints on lighting. i have yet to wish for more. I see plenty of people here sing the led's praises, but i dont see it as a buying point, IMO

 

[serotta]

We have several vehicles including a 2019 Crosstrek Premium 6-speed, 2020 Crosstrek Limited and a 2021 Crosstrek limited.
The driving aids on the Limiteds are helpful on longer trips and highway drives. Especially when the drivers gets a bit sleepy or complacent on long stretches of highway.
The Premium was purchased with the Katzkin leather seats as a dealer installed option. Most family members will opt for the Preimium for around town quick trips. The 6-speed gives you a very hands on feeling of driving. The difference between the 2.0 and the 2.5 is not enough to sway a driver as to which car to use.
The 6-speed seems to be the factor motivating choice of vehicles.

 

[shelgore03]

2019 bought new. My first Subaru...and not my last.
very happy with my purchase.
cons are chip prone paint and chip prone windshield.
I'm on my third windshield but I do alot of highway travel that is under construction.

 

[Jlj9a]

If the OP gets the CVT, it would have Eyesight (which isn't garbage, btw).

Depends on year, we have a current generation CVT Premium (2018) that doesn’t have the nanny safety features. Not sure when Eyesight became standard on CVT Premium … perhaps 2021?

On the other side of the coin, without Eyesight you get a lower grade dash lacking key display features as well as difficult to read under some light conditions.

 

[AstroKats]

Depends on year, we have a current generation CVT Premium (2018) that doesn’t have the nanny safety features. Not sure when Eyesight became standard on CVT Premium … perhaps 2021?

On the other side of the coin, without Eyesight you get a lower grade dash lacking key display features as well as difficult to read under some light conditions.

Good point. I don't recall when Eyesight became standard. I think that's a good thing but not everyone does.

 

[Arthur]

Look at a 2020+ Crosstreks. Most of the bugs have been resolved and the car also got re-tuned suspension that makes it handle better while the ride quality doesn't suffer. Starting for 2020+, Subaru added their SI drive system, speed-sensing door locks, and rear seat reminders, and the CVT now has 8 simulated gear ratios instead of the 7 from 2018-2019.

2021 got the addition of the 2.5L engine on the Outdoor (US Sport) and Limited trims. Lots of people appreciated the extra power as the 2.0L can seem under power at times but it gets the job done but you won't win any races off the light.

 

[Married Man]

Lots of people appreciated the extra power as the 2.0L can seem under power at times but it gets the job done but you won't win any races off the light.

Not necessarily true. It all depends on what bicycle your opponent has and how fast they can pedal.

Doug

 

[Edmond1971]

The sport/limited will give you more luxury and the normal portfolio that comes with the higher end of any model. If you save money with the premium, what will you do with it? I tend to make these decisions based on needs versus wants, beyond the car itself. I drive a limited 23 and use all the features, but I've dobe this stepwise over years of subarus. Good luck!

 

[Blue Bendite]

In my opinion (as if I'm offering somebody else's?): just go for the Limited (but not the sunroof!). It's worth the extra money (yes, your money) and the "bells and whistles" vs. the Premium or Sport are well worth the cost.

Also: the 17" wheels vs. the 18"-ers? Unless you are truly spending a lot of time off-pavement on gravel roads and such, it's a moot point. Plus, you might be one of those people considering putting on 15"/16" so it really doesn't matter.

 

[Scoobydoo2]

We’ve had our ‘18 Crosstrek for almost five years. It is my daily driver…186 km highway most days…unless I decide to work from home. It’s a 2L limited model. I like the 2L. It has ample power fr doing all things highway driving needs. I drive about 100-105 kmh…about 65 mph. It gets great mileage, is comfortable, and drives great. what I don’t like? Top model does not have the 8 way adjustable drivers seat with lumbar support and the front passenger seat is only a basic 4 way adjustable seat. One would think that the top model would have the 8 way on both front seats. I think we would have replaced our Outback with one had it not been for that…that’s why we went with the Forester limited. The back cargo area is sometimes nit big enough for what we may want to carry…but we have the forester for that…😂. If it fits your budget and needs I’d say pull the trigger on it.

 

[Spy Car]

I'm not sure it is still possible to order, but only the Premium trim of the 2023 model offered the special edition version in Desert Khaki. Exterior paint colors ought not be a determinative consideration in most cases, but dang me if Desert Khaki isn't perhaps by favorite car color of all time. Mesmerizing.

Bill

 

[adc]

I had a '19 Crosstrack. After 3 years I got a '22 Forester. ( already have an '18ForesterXT and had a 2008. The Crosstrek was just to small. Before you buy a Crosstrek drive a Forester. Just saying.

 

[AstroKats]

I had a '19 Crosstrack. After 3 years I got a '22 Forester. ( already have an '18ForesterXT and had a 2008. The Crosstrek was just to small. Before you buy a Crosstrek drive a Forester. Just saying.

We did, and bought a Crosstrek. The Forester can be too big for many people's needs.

 

[Lonelydriver_95]

We did, and bought a Crosstrek. The Forester can be too big for many people's needs.

Yeah second this, I don't need a car the size of a modern Forester. In fact the reason I like the Crosstrek is because to me it embodies what the forester USED to be before it got all big and bloated around 2009.

 

[Raleighmclemore]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

I have no beef with anyone who wants these things, but they should be optional, not mandatory, regardless of vehicle configuration. The option to chose a manual, which also removes these "features" that some of us do not want, is something prospective buyers should be aware of.

I'm not sure how EyeSight could work if you had your foot on the clutch and changed gears as it was making decisions on what to do.

 

[MA Subie]

I'm not sure how EyeSight could work if you had your foot on the clutch and changed gears as it was making decisions on what to do.

The same way cruise control disengages when you depress the clutch. IOW, it is theoretically possible, but Eyesight was only designed to work with the CVT.

 

[AstroKats]

The same way cruise control disengages when you depress the clutch. IOW, it is theoretically possible, but Eyesight was only designed to work with the CVT.

Its features would be limited, for example, ACC would have difficulty increasing and decreasing speed in traffic. Probably not worth the development effort for members of The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society...

 

[MA Subie]

Its features would be limited, for example, ACC would have difficulty increasing and decreasing speed in traffic. Probably not worth the development effort for members of The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society...

Well yeah, I guess ACC wouldn't work very well if it had to decrease speed to the point that you would have to downshift or lug the engine.

Although lane departure and correction could still theoretically work.

 

[AstroKats]

Well yeah, I guess ACC wouldn't work very well if it had to decrease speed to the point that you would have to downshift or lug the engine.

Although lane departure and correction could still theoretically work.

Yeah, but there are some features that could work, like front and rear anti-collision braking. So what if it stalls but you don't crash into someone.

 

[MA Subie]

Yeah, but there are some features that could work, like front and rear anti-collision braking. So what if it stalls but you don't crash into someone.

Not sure I understand what you're asking here. Are you saying in an MT car, if the car brakes itself to a stop, the engine will stall? I say so what? You push in the clutch and re-start the car.