Wagons and hatchbacks are practical choices, but most buyers prefer crossovers. To sell its wagons and hatches, Subaru adopted the mantra “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
In 1995, Subaru launched the Outback, an all-wheel-drive wagon with rugged truck-like styling. Even as overall wagon sales fell, the Outback proved popular, helping to establish Subaru as a major player in the automotive industry.
The formula worked so well that Subaru decided to try it with another model. In 2012, the Crosstrek was introduced as the Outback’s smaller brother. Like the Outback, the Crosstrek is a beefier version of the existing car that should draw buyers away from crossovers.
But that doesn’t mean the Crosstrek and the Outback are exactly the same. Here’s a detailed dive into the similarities and differences between the two Subaru models.
To shape
With the Crosstrek and Outback, Subaru applied the same idea to two vehicles of different sizes. The Crosstrek is a compact hatchback, while the Outback is a mid-size station wagon. Both models are derivatives of other Subaru cars. The Crosstrek is basically an Impreza hatchback, while the Outback is a Legacy wagon in hiking boots (However, Subaru no longer sells the Legacy wagon in the United States).
What sets the Crosstrek and Outback apart from their Impreza and Legacy counterparts is the plastic body cladding and increased ride height, giving it an SUV-like 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
Both the Crosstrek and Outback are based on the Subaru Global Platform, as are most of the automaker’s other current models. However, the Outback is significantly larger than the Crosstrek. It’s 191.3 inches long with a 108.1-inch wheelbase, while the Crosstrek is 175.8 inches long with a 104.9-inch wheelbase.
This means more interior space. Subaru lists a maximum passenger volume of 109 cubic feet for the Outback and 100.9 for the Crosstrek. Maximum cargo space for the Outback is 32.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The Crosstrek has 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 55.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
technical
Both models get versions of Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system. The Outback comes standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, but all trim levels except the base model have an 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen. Wi-Fi hotspot and head-up display are also available for an extra charge. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are part of the standard equipment on all models.
The Crosstrek is a step below the Outback in Subaru’s lineup, and it’s a bit of an older design, so it doesn’t have a big screen. It gets standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however, with either a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen or an optional 8.0-inch touchscreen depending on trim level.
Both models also feature Subaru’s EyeSight driver assistance technology, which uses cameras mounted near the mirrors instead of the more expensive (and more easily damaged) radar setups used by most other manufacturers. For the 2021 model year, all Crosstrek models equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) get standard adaptive cruise control with lane centering, autonomous emergency braking, pre-collision throttle control, lane departure prevention, and lane departure warning.
Optional driver assistance features on the Crosstrek include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist, automatic high beams and autonomous reverse emergency braking.
The Outback has the same standard EyeSight features as the Crosstrek, as well as DriverFocus, which uses a driver-facing camera to detect signs of distraction. The Outback is also available with a Front View Monitor, which displays a 180-degree camera view on an 11.6-inch touchscreen to reduce blind spots.
Technical data
Typical of Subaru, the Crosstrek and Outback have standard all-wheel drive. The base engine for the Outback is a 2.5-liter boxer-four, with 182 horsepower and 176 Nft of torque. Outback XT models get the turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer-four from the Ascent crossover, which makes 260 hp and 277 lb.-ft. A CVT is the only transmission available on the Outback.
Base Crosstrek models get a 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, with 152 hp and 145 lb.-ft. torque. This engine is available with a six-speed manual transmission or CVT. For the 2021 model year, buyers can upgrade to the Outback’s 2.5-liter engine, with the same 182 hp and 176 lb.-ft. As in the Outback, the 2.5-liter engine is CVT only.
Equipped with the same engine and CVT, the Crosstrek and Outback are fairly close in terms of fuel consumption. The Crosstrek is rated at 29 mpg combined (27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway) with the 2.5-liter engine. The Outback has the same combined mpg rating, but loses 1 mpg in the city and highway categories.
The base 2.0-liter Crosstrek is rated at 30 mpg combined (28 mpg city, 33 mpg highway) with the CVT and 25 mpg combined (22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway) with the manual transmission. The turbocharged Outback XT is rated at 26 mpg combined (23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway).
Subaru also sells the Crosstrek Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid version of the Crosstrek, with a powertrain that combines a 2.0-liter boxer-four engine and Toyota’s hybrid system. Total system output is 148 horsepower, but Subaru claims the plug-in hybrid will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph 1.0 seconds faster than the base Crosstrek. The plug-in hybrid can drive up to 27 miles on electric power, at speeds up to 65 mph, with an efficiency rating of 90 mpg combined.
If you intend to tow a vehicle, choose the Outback instead. Subaru doesn’t release tow ratings for the Crosstrek, but the Outback is rated to tow up to 2,700 pounds with the base engine and 3,500 pounds with the optional turbocharged engine.
Security
The gasoline Crosstrek earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), missing out on the top Top Safety Pick+ rating due to poorly rated headlights on lower trim levels. The Crosstrek Hybrid received a Top Safety Pick+ rating because it gets better-rated headlights as standard equipment. The Outback also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating.
Both cars received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars for side impact and four stars for rollover. However, the Outback also received a five-star frontal crash rating, while the Crosstrek received four stars.
Prices
The Crosstrek is positioned below the Outback in Subaru’s lineup. The 2021 model has a base price of $23,295, while a fully loaded Limited model starts at $31,440. Subaru hasn’t released pricing information for the 2021 Crosstrek Hybrid, but the 2020 model starts at $36,155.
Subaru also hasn’t announced pricing for the 2021 Outback. The 2020 model starts at $27,655, but the price climbs to $40,705 for the top-of-the-line Touring XT model.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn