The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Crawls Out of Its Grave Next Year
While a lot of average folks like Subaru, the brand has long been popular with the hippie-dippy demographic. Frankly, it seemed like the company missed a golden opportunity to further solidify its standing with the granola crowd by being a little late on the hybrid front.
However, maybe we’ve categorized the automaker’s consumer base incorrectly — or at least their taste in powertrains. After all, the Crosstrek Hybrid wasn’t an overwhelming success. The model only lasted three years until Subaru decided to kill it off in 2016. But it’s coming back from the dead for 2019, this time as a plug-in — making it Subaru’s very first PHEV.
Considering how poorly the last model performed, choosing to bring back the Crosstrek Hybrid may sound like a fool’s errand. However, Subaru is being smart by building 2019 model with a power port. Plug-ins are gaining in popularity, though a lot of that stems from consumers being more willing to adopt battery-only vehicles. PHEV sales are more of a mixed bag and both still represent a minuscule portion of the total market.
We’re not sure how well the updated Crosstrek Hybrid will sell. But dealers will be able to boast that the model can be driven as a normal hybrid, using both gas and electric power to eliminate range anxiety, or solely under electric power for shorter commutes. That ought to interest those hunting for a versatile family hauler who are keen to keep fuel costs down but don’t want to go fully electric.
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid keeps its four-cylinder Boxer engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive, but adds a new transmission and a hybrid system on loan from Toyota. It’s also supposed to get some unique styling cues to differentiate itself from the gas-powered alternative.
While the automaker didn’t give much in the way of details, it’s safe to expect the same 2.0-liter from the standard car with added oomph coming from the electric motors. Subaru hasn’t released pricing yet, but it’ll definitely surpass the Limited trim’s $26,295 MSRP. Subaru says the model should begin appearing on dealer lots before the end of the year.
[Image: Subaru]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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It probably will end up the same if it is using the 2L FB20d. The savings in a hybrid comes from the fuel efficiency of a small engine, the hybrid hardware is basically there to make it more livable. If you use the same size engine, the savings are nominal. That said, and I've said before, the click-bait Subaru articles on TTAC are a bad bellwether of this site, it's the same principle (but in less extreme) that BS used to do during his tenure. "What do you think of this provocative ting...now have it" does not an informed reader make. How about actually providing context and information, so that the point of clicking on an article is to actually learn something? (Birkenstocks and dogs hurr durr durr! ... how original...)
Over its lifetime, a Prius will use 2,000 to 3,000 gallons less fuel. Are you saying that the energy expenditure to make the batteries exceeds that? You are off by more than an order of magnitude. If making batteries cost that much in energy expenditure, it would be reflected in all of the batteries that you buy. One believes what one wants to believe.