Subaru Crosstrek, a Star in Quebec, Returns With a New Generation for 2024
Some automakers offer a selection of models that are perfectly suited for customers in Canada and Quebec in particular. Subaru is one of them, with the Crosstrek finding a home in more driveways across La Belle Province than in any other part of the country.
This is not a surprise at all. The small crossover has a reputation for being solid, versatile, fuel-efficient and blessed with an excellent AWD system for tackling winter. It’s also pretty durable and dependable, as data from Consumer Reports shows, and competitively priced on top of that.
Subaru recently introduced a redesigned yet still familiar third-generation Crosstrek in a world premiere. To be clear, the vehicle you see on the pictures is the one aimed at the Japanese market. Some differences will apply to the Canadian-bound version, due next year as a 2024 model.
In typical Subaru fashion, the evolution is quite subtle. The new Crosstrek is essentially the same size and shape as its predecessor. Width and height are unchanged, and the 5 mm removed from the overall length are added to the wheelbase. That being said, Subaru assures all the body panels have been redesigned.
Ditto for the front grille, which is larger and more aggressively styled. The headlights and taillights now look more like those on recent products from the brand. We also like the more pronounced plastic cladding on the bumpers, wheel arches and lower body, as well as the new 17- and 18-inch wheel designs. Overall, these details give the Crosstrek a more rugged and adventurous appearance.
The interior changes in similarly subtle ways, except for the centre interface. Select models feature a new 11.6-inch touchscreen (as found in the Legacy, Outback and WRX) instead of a dual-display arrangement. There are fewer physical buttons as a result. The instrument panel sticks to analogue gauges with a small digital display in the middle.
As for the technical aspects of the vehicle, we’ll have to wait for the North American specs to be revealed, possibly at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. We know that the 2024 Crosstrek is built on an upgraded version of the Subaru Global Platform, with key reinforcements resulting in increased rigidity and stability as well as reduced noise and vibration. Steering is said to be sharper, as well.
Look for the 2.0- and 2.5-litre engine options to carry over, though there’s a chance the former gets the axe. An e-boxer hybrid model continues to be available in Japan, but the Crosstrek PHEV’s fate has yet to be decided.
Finally, there’s another reason why the Crosstrek is so popular among families in Quebec: safety. We’re happy to report Subaru’s next-generation EyeSight system will be included, complete with a wide-angle monocular camera and revised software. Expect more Crosstreks to pop up on a road near you in the coming years.
