Subaru Crosstrek 2023

Subaru Crosstrek S:HEV gets new “Strong Hybrid” – 2.5L boxer, Toyota electric motor, over 1,000 km range

In Cars, International News, Subaru / By Jonathan Lee / 22 October 2024 10:58 am / 6 comments

The third-generation Subaru Crosstrek, previously known to you and me as the XV, is now available as a hybrid in Japan. This may seem strange, given that the car was already offered in e-Boxer form, which has even gone on sale in export markets such as Singapore.

But that was a mild hybrid, whereas the new Crosstrek S:HEV uses a proper series-parallel system similar to that in the Toyota Prius. In fact, the entire “Strong Hybrid” setup has been lifted straight from Toyota as previously reported, except here it’s mated to Subaru’s trademark boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel-drive system.

That boxer is a larger 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated flat-four (the e-Boxer uses a 2.0 litre mill) that alone makes more power than the entire e-Boxer system – 160 PS at 5,600 rpm and 209 Nm of torque from 4,000 to 4,400 rpm. This is allied to two electric motors, these being a motor-generator that charges the 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 88 PS/270 Nm traction motor that provides motive power.

The motors, eCVT setup, front differential gear and electronically-controlled coupling are integrated into a single transaxle, routing both petrol and electric power to all four wheels. The use of mechanical all-wheel drive sets the S:HEV apart from Toyota’s E-Four system for its hybrid models, which adds a separate electric motor to turn the rear wheels.

Subaru has not released any fuel consumption figures for the Crosstrek S:HEV, which is only slated to go on sale in December. It has, however, promised a total range of over 1,000 km on the WLTP cycle, thanks to the car’s relatively large 63 litre fuel tank. The car also comes with an optional vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature, outputting up to 1.5 kW through a power outlet in the boot.

To set the S:HEV model apart from the regular e-Boxer, Subaru has fitted the car with 18-inch shuriken-style alloy wheels and, on the top-spec Premium S:HEV EX, a new 12.3-inch digital instrument display. The EX variant also gets the enhanced EyeSight X suite of driver assistance systems, which enables hands-off semi-automated driving in traffic jams, lane change assist and speed control on curves and even at toll booths.

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Subaru Crosstrek e-Boxer coming to Thailand 2025 – new XV mild hybrid priced at RM232k estimated

In Cars, International News, Subaru / By Jonathan Lee / 9 September 2024 11:00 am / 12 comments

It’s taken a good long while, but the latest Subaru Crosstrek is finally making its way to Thailand next year. According to Headlight Magazine, the car will enter the Land of Smiles in e-Boxer hybrid form, with prices predictably skyrocketing.

The third-generation lifted hatchback is in fact expected to retail at an eye-watering 1,800,000 baht (RM232,000) – much higher than the 1,055,000 baht (RM136,000) Subaru currently asks for the outgoing second-gen XV 2.0i-P EyeSight. Of course, that car is being imported from Tan Chong’s Malaysian plant in Segambut, whereas the new Crosstrek will be brought in straight from Japan due to the cessation of ASEAN assembly.

Just as it does in Japan, the Crosstrek’s e-Boxer powertrain utilises an FB20 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated flat-four petrol engine that produces 145 PS at 6,000 rpm and 188 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. This is paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system comprising of a 13.6 PS/65 Nm MA1 electric motor and a 0.57 kWh battery for a total system output of 150 PS and 196 Nm. With a Lineartronic CVT and Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive, fuel consumption is rated at 15.8 km per litre on the WLTP cycle.

Built on an updated Subaru Global Platform (SGP), the Crosstrek is characterised by its more extroverted styling. Notable design cues include the small trapezoidal headlights flanking a large hexagonal grille, thick black plastic C-shaped front bumper corners, prominent fender bulges and wheel arch extensions and C-shaped taillights.

Inside, the Crosstrek is dominated by an 11.6-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen that replaces both the head unit and the centre supplemental display, while the EyeSight driver assistance system has been enhanced by a centre wide-angle monocular camera to improve pedestrian and cyclist detection.

The Crosstrek will be the first of five cars to be launched in Thailand in 2025, the others being the Forester e-Boxer and updated versions of the Outback, WRX and BRZ. Expect the Crosstrek to arrive in Malaysia soon after, but would you buy the e-Boxer model at that price? Sound off in the comments.

GALLERY: Subaru Crosstrek e-Boxer Hybrid GT Edition at Singapore Motorshow 2024

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2023 Subaru Crosstrek – all-new XV gets a new name

In Cars, Global Car Launches, Subaru / By Paul Tan / 16 September 2022 7:05 pm / 46 comments

The Subaru XV is no more – long live the Subaru Crosstrek! The latest generation of Subaru’s soft-roader Impreza drops its XV badge and is now known as the Subaru Crosstrek globally.

The Subaru Crosstrek name is of course not new to the model, as it was called by either the Crosstrek or XV names with previous generation cars, but Subaru has now decided on Crosstrek as a single name.

The new generation soft-roader measures 4,480 mm long x 1,800 mm wide x 1,580 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,670 mm.

A large 11.6 inch vertical touchscreen takes the focus of the new Crosstrek’s interior, though the instrument panel in front of the driver continues to use analog meters for the speedometer and RPM meter, with the only digital portion being a small multi-info display in between them.

Flanking the vertical touchscreen are hardware buttons for AC temp and audio volume, but we do note that AC fan speed now has to be controlled digitally. That’s one thing we usually wish to have hardware controls, but at least the volume is still a physical knob.

Subaru says the new Crosstrek gets a new seat design with better pelvis support, which is said to prevent vehicle swaying motions from being transferred to the head. In addition, the seat mounting structure has been changed, now with the seat rails attached directly to the body instead of using a bracket. Subaru says this increases mounting-connection stiffness and improves vibration damping while reducing seat sway.

Subaru only mentions one engine option in its press release – a 2.0 litre e-Boxer, which is a non-plugin hybrid model. Does it mean the Crosstrek will only be available as a hybrid? Or will it continue to be available with a 2.0 pure normally aspirated model like how it has been sold as in Malaysia?

The 2.0 litre e-Boxer system puts an electric motor in between the internal combustion engine and the Lineartronic CVT. No specs for system output has been provided for now. But if it is a development of the previous gen’s e-Boxer system, then it should be using a 48V battery. BTW just to point out, e-Boxer is not the same as the XV plug-in hybrid, they are two different hybrid systems.

In terms of active safety, Subaru’s EyeSight system now adds on a wide-angle mono camera to work together with the existing EyeSight stereo camera. Subaru says the wide-angle mono camera allows better recognition of pedestrians and motorcycles to allow initiation of pre-collision braking in a wider range of situations, such as at intersections, thanks to its wider field of view.

Are you an existing XV owner? Or are you thinking of buying an SUV? What do you think of the new Subaru Crosstrek, will you consider switching to a soft-roader instead of a full-blown SUV? Let us know in the comments below.

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All-new 2023 Subaru XV teased ahead of Sept 15 debut

In Cars, International News, Subaru / By Mick Chan / 1 September 2022 2:39 pm / 4 comments

The next-generation Subaru XV is set to be revealed this month, and the manufacturer has revealed that the crossover will get its unveiling on September 15, according to this teaser video.

Much about the design of the upcoming Subaru XV remains hidden in the short clip, we can see that the XV will receive redesigned headlamps each with LED DRLs in two separate strips, compared to the current model which uses a single, C-shaped element. Similarly at the rear, the tail lamps appear to also use C-shaped elements in their assemblies.

The interior of the third-generation XV has not been shown in this footage, though the upcoming crossover is expected to draw cues from the 2022 WRX, which features a portrait-oriented 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen that also houses air-conditioning controls within the same bezel.

2022 second-generation Subaru XV facelift; click to enlarge

Powertrain details for the new XV have also yet to be revealed. In Japan, the second-generation XV was offered with a 1.6 litre naturally aspirated petrol boxer-four cylinder engine producing 115 PS at 6,200 rpm and 148 Nm of torque at 3,600 rpm.

Meanwhile, the alternative is the e-Boxer hybrid with a 145 PS/188 Nm 2.0 litre Atkinson-cycle paired with a 14 PS/65 Nm electric motor; a Lineartronic CVT and all-wheel-drive are standard on both.

In the United States, where the XV is known as the Crosstrek, the crossover gets a different engine line-up, which for the American market consists of a 182 hp/239 Nm 2.5 litre petrol and a 152 hp/195 Nm 2.0 litre petrol, both boxer four-cylinder engines mated to Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive in standard Subaru fashion.

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