2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Review

It didn’t take long for the Crosstrek to become Subaru’s most popular model, and it’s easy to understand why.

It has urban-friendly dimensions without looking too cute, plus it features real-world functionality, and a well-earned cool-factor that comes with a company that encourages its owners to go on adventures. And now it’s doing so with an eye on efficiency.

Subaru has dabbled with gas-electric technology for the Crosstrek in the past with middling results, but the new-for-2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid shares its core drivetrain components with the equally new electrified Forester. It’s enough to give hope that this smaller and lighter package could possibly offset some of our gripes about the Forester Hybrid — although not every issue has been addressed.

Styling 7.5 / 10

This third-generation Crosstrek’s styling is still relatively fresh, being only a few years since its debut. Even so, its appearance has seen a gradual evolution since its inception more than a dozen years ago. It’s always been an Impreza hatchback that rides higher and has some body cladding — basically the Outback treatment Subaru applied to the Legacy decades ago.

The new hybrid version can be identified by its unique wheel design, and most obviously, by the e-Boxer badges affixed to the front doors and rear hatch. Of note, that moniker celebrates Subaru’s dedication to the horizontally-opposed — or boxer — engine format that sees the pistons move side to side instead of up and down like most other four-cylinders out there. It’s also a name that’s used in the brand’s home market of Japan, while in the United States it’s simply called the Crosstrek Hybrid (and the badges reflect that much).

The other giveaway that this tester is a hybrid model is the trim-specific Citrus Yellow Pearl paint, affectionately described as “Grinch Green” during this festive-season test drive. Other, less exciting shades are also available, of course, while the shade of Pure Red that’s offered on other trims can’t be had here.

The Crosstrek’s cabin is Subaru-familiar in that the dash is dominated by a portrait-oriented touchscreen with an otherwise fairly traditional layout of controls. The materials look interesting, with varying textures and plenty of soft-touch padding where it’s warranted, and orange contrast stitching throughout.

Comfort 7 / 10

The cabin doesn’t just look good — it’s comfortable, too. While the rear seat is modest in size, it offers enough space for two grown adults with decent leg- and headroom, and a third occupant can still squeeze between them when necessary.

The front seats are supportive for both moderately sporting driving and long-distance comfort. The front seats are heated but not cooled, although the durable faux-leather finish is perforated to help mitigate back sweat in the summertime.

Despite this tester riding on winter tires, road noise was decently suppressed, although wind noise was noticed around the large door mirrors, and the engine was quite loud and coarse when called upon for anything more than mid-throttle energy.

Features 7 / 10

While the aforementioned cooled seats would be nice, the front seat and steering wheel heat was appreciated during this wintertime test. There’s a standard-sized sunroof over the front seats, and a privacy shade for the cargo area included in the base price. Likewise, the 10-speaker stereo is also standard fare, though its sound quality offers no apparent improvement over the six-speaker unit in other non-hybrid trims. A wireless phone charger is included, too, but it’s rather slippery and provides little help on the average trip.

User-Friendliness 7 / 10

For the most part, Subaru’s interior layouts are a shining example of classic simplicity. The steering wheel features a myriad of actual buttons instead of tedious haptic panels, and everything from the door pulls to the traditional gear selector sprouting from the centre console are all tried-and-tested methods that drivers won’t need to re-learn. The seating position is also good at putting important features and functions within easy reach and, along with the expansive greenhouse, offers exceptional outward visibility in all directions.

The Crosstrek Hybrid gets a digital instrument display first seen in the WRX tS last year. It’s a good, crisp display that still mimics the traditional gauge layout, but offers some greater configurability, and the ability to display Apple Maps on screen, too. (Yes, that’s only Apple Maps; Google Maps or Waze directions can’t be called up on the instrument display and are relegated to the touchscreen only.)

Although in the minority, I’m typically a fan of Subaru’s infotainment setup, with menus and icons that are easy to navigate with a quick tap, and a good integration of Apple CarPlay. However, despite running the same system as my own WRX, the Crosstrek’s interface seemed to be seriously slow to start up and respond to inputs. Perhaps the system in this tester was in need of an update, but it was nonetheless notable.

Practicality 7.5 / 10

My test week happened to correspond with my moving house, and while professionals did all the heavy lifting and transport, there were still plenty of occasions to put the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 1,549 L of available cargo space with the rear seats folded to transport bins of my most prized possessions. While the Crosstrek’s cargo hold is slightly smaller than that of the Honda HR-V or Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, they’re all within a hair of each other (the capacious Volkswagen Taos being the exception in the category). The Crosstrek will also tow a modest 680 kg (1,500 lb).

As luck would have it, the move week was also complicated by plenty of snowy weather, which showcased the ease with which the Crosstrek manages changing road conditions, especially while sporting a set of excellent winter tires.

Driving Feel 8 / 10

The Crosstrek Hybrid is about 155 kg (342 lb) heavier than its non-hybrid counterpart, and while this increased mass should contribute to a poorer drive experience, Subaru’s engineers tweaked the suspension to manage the weight gain. The result is a crossover that handles as a Subaru is expected to: with a modicum of body roll, but a wonderfully reassuring amount of grip and poise when pushed hard, even when the road surface is anything but smooth. Steering feel is expectedly numb, but the steering is quick enough to keep it fun when hustling the Crosstrek quickly.

The need to harness kinetic energy for the hybrid system battery recharging can often make braking feel non-linear and weird. That’s not the case here, though, with smooth, strong, and consistent stopping power.

Power 7 / 10

The Crosstrek Hybrid offers a 14-hp bump over its siblings, with 194 net hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. While these numbers are still modest, the around-town zippiness is definitely improved thanks as much to the immediacy of electric power delivery than any notable gain in thrust. At highway speeds, however, the hybrid’s extra mass offsets any acceleration benefit, so passing manoeuvres still require patience.

While Subaru’s automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVTs) are quite good, they can’t completely replicate the feel of an automatic stepping through the gears, especially when calling upon a healthy dose of acceleration. With a heavy throttle foot, the Crosstrek’s 2.5L flat four-cylinder groans loudly until the desired speed is eventually reached.

Fuel Economy 6.5 / 10

Although the added bump in power is a nice perk, the real reason buyers are likely to seek out the Crosstrek Hybrid is its improved efficiency. Rated at 6.5 L/100 km across the board, this is a notable improvement over the non-hybrid’s efficiency (8.1 combined). However, during this test week of several hundred kilometres of mixed city, backroad, and highway driving, the Crosstrek Hybrid never showed better than 8.2 L/100 km.

Fearing the snowfall early in the week had dramatically thrown off the figures, I reset the odometer’s Trip B stats mid-way through the week, but still, it could muster no better than low 8s. While winter tires can take some of the blame, this is a shockingly poor showing.

For reference, a recent test of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid netted a 5.6 L/100 km average — and that one was also on winter tires. To add insult to injury, switching back into my own WRX sport sedan that uses a turbocharged engine saw an indicated average of 8.7 L/100 km when driven along the same wintery roads.

Safety 8 / 10

Part of the Crosstrek Hybrid’s fuel penalty can be attributed to its full-time all-wheel drive system, versus the Toyota that defaults to front-wheel drive until it needs the traction, and then utilizes a small rear electric motor for extra traction. Powering all four wheels at all times affects efficiency, but the upside is a system that feels more proactive than reactive, adding to greater sense of driver control.

Beyond that, the Crosstrek is fitted with Subaru’s celebrated EyeSight system that uses cameras and sensors to help keep this crossover in its lane and watch for potential hazards. Some of the systems, like the driver attention warning, were extremely overzealous and would post messages on the dash and sound a warning anytime my eyes weren’t pointed straight ahead for anything longer than a second or so. Similarly, the lane departure warning system set off the klaxons every time it approached the lane markers, never mind going past them.

Value 7 / 10

While the Crosstrek lineup starts with the $32,890 Convenience trim, the hybrid system and all its fancy features is exactly $10,000 more. The hybrid is also sold in a single Limited trim here in Canada, which can also be had with a conventional powertrain for $2,500 less than the $42,890 pre-tax price of this one. (All prices include a $2,295 freight charge.)

The Verdict

Subaru’s Crosstrek is a very likeable and capable machine. Its styling holds broad appeal and its dynamic manners give drivers confidence even in wild weather — qualities that apply to every trim. The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid promises improved efficiency and a bump in power, neither of which materialized during this test to justify the $2,500 premium over the gas-only Crosstrek Limited. If your anticipated use case involves mostly urban commuting, the hybrid model may make sense, but for everyone else, one of the other trims is worth checking out.