Rank
Pros
Cons
What's New for 2025?
The Crosstrek's underwhelming base 2.0-liter engine fortunately gets even less common this year, as it now comes only with the base trim. Every other Crosstrek, from the Premium on up, is now powered by the superior 2.5-liter engine.
FAST FACTS
"It's hard not to feel affection for the Crosstrek, unless it's saddled with the weaksauce 2.0-liter engine — no love lost there. But if you get the 2.5-liter engine, which all Crosstreks now have save for the base trim, you'll enjoy average-plus acceleration by segment standards along with fine fuel economy. Moreover, the Crosstrek's legit off-road chops mean it's ready to hit some light-duty trails right out of the showroom. It's even surprisingly spacious inside, given that it's essentially an Impreza hatchback on stilts."—Ranked #6 out of 18 Subcompact SUVs
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
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The base 2.0-liter Crosstrek has an alluringly low starting price, but its acceleration is anything but alluring — this engine is long in the tooth and short on power. Happily, you're only stuck with it if you get the base Crosstrek, as even the one-level-up Crosstrek Premium now comes standard with the 2.5-liter engine.
The Premium, Sport and Limited trims all come with the 2.5-liter engine, as does the Wilderness, which we cover separately. It doesn't turn the Crosstrek into a wannabe WRX, but it definitely adds a measure of confidence when you need to pass or merge. Fuel economy essentially isn't impacted at all by the engine upgrade, so this is absolutely the engine you want.
The Wilderness gets all-terrain tires and even more ground clearance than lesser Crosstreks, plus a huge bump in max towing capacity (3,500 pounds versus 1,500). Those fancy tires take a bite out of acceleration and especially fuel economy, but they also make for a comfy, drive-over-anything kind of ride quality, which is cool.
What are the different versions of the 2025 Crosstrek, and how much do they cost? Select a version below or just hit the button to see our full 2025 Crosstrek specs and model data.
| Version | Price | Fuel | MPG | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 AWD | $26,560 | Gas | 29 | 152 hp | 145 lb-ft |
| 2025 Subaru Crosstrek 2.5 AWD | $27,810 | Gas | 29 | 182 hp | 178 lb-ft |
| 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness (2.5 AWD) | $33,360 | Gas | 27 | 182 hp | 178 lb-ft |
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008. Prior to founding MotorDonkey, he spent 15 years shaping Edmunds' expert automotive content in various capacities, starting as an associate editor and ultimately serving as a senior editor before wrapping up with a five-year term as the company's first-ever director of content strategy. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has driven, compared and critiqued thousands of cars in his career. Helping people find their perfect car never gets old—seriously!
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