2021 Subaru Crosstrek Adds New Engine, Sport Trim, Driver Assistance

Competes with: the Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, Nissan Rogue Sport and Hyundai Kona

Looks like: The 2020 model with a subtly tweaked grille, while the new Sport trim gets additional exterior trim and specific wheels

Powertrain: Carryover 152-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (Base and Premium trims); new 182-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (Limited and Sport trims); six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmission; all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Late summer

Subaru’s smallest SUV gets some new features and a sport-themed trim level for 2021. The updated Crosstrek adds a new engine, a Sport trim level and additional safety features.

Related: 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Gets Price Bump, Standard Safety Tech for Base Model

Exterior

For most trim levels, the Crosstrek’s styling carries over into 2021 with the exception of tweaked grille and foglight designs. The new Sport trim gets some extras, however. The model wears specific wheel arch moldings, dark gray 17-inch wheels along with gunmetal finish for the grille, side mirrors and badges. The Sport model is available in seven exterior colors including two new ones: Plasma Yellow Pearl and Horizon Blue Pearl.

Interior

As with the exterior, changes to the SUV’s interior are limited to the new Sport model this year. Going off of the Crosstrek Premium trim’s content, it adds gunmetal and simulated carbon-fiber interior trim accents as well as specific simulated leather upholstery with yellow stitching. The yellow stitching matches other areas of the cabin, including the door panel armrests, leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear shifter and console storage box. The carpeted floormats, which Subaru says are now made from 25% recycled material, also sport yellow stitching and the Sport badge. 

Engine and Transmission

Base, Premium and Limited trims carry over for 2021, but there’s a new engine. Limited and Sport trims use a 182-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 176 pounds-feet of torque —borrowed from the larger Subaru Forester SUV.  A continuously variable automatic transmission is standard, and Subaru says the pair is good for an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 27/34/29 mpg city/highway/combined.

Base and Premium models continue to use a 152-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 145 pounds-feet of torque mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission or available CVT. The CVT models have an EPA-estimated rating of 28/33/30 mpg and the manual models 22/29/25 mpg. 

All-wheel drive is again standard across the lineup, while the Sport model also adds some off-road-themed goodies like a hill descent control system with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings that Subaru says optimize AWD performance for difficult weather or road conditions.

Safety

For 2020, Subaru made the EyeSight safety and driver assistance system standard on the base model with the continuously variable automatic transmission and for 2021, the system is enhanced with new advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering. It joins existing EyeSight features such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and lane keep assist. It also includes a rear seat reminder system that alerts the driver to check the backseat before exiting the vehicle.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek will go on sale at the end of the summer; no word yet on pricing.

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