The new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek was showcased at the London Motor Show and the model has been upgraded with features such as a revised exterior look, interior enhancements and features, and a new hybrid powertrain. I am an ardent fan of Subaru cars and hence, I had to ensure that I got a look at the latest additions to the Subaru Crosstrek. Upon seeing it in the flesh, I have to commend Subaru for the changes to the Crosstrek, especially when the company focuses on refining the fundamentals but also adding the necessary modifications that would make it more appealing to car owners.

Exterior Styling

Some of the biggest changes that have been incorporated in the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek are primarily on the exterior design. The new Subaru Crosstrek features a new look with a redesigned front grille and bumper to provide that muscular appearance.

The headlamps are more streamlined, and the LED side lights give the appearance a more contemporary twist. To my mind, these touches of styling modernization make the new Crosstrek resemble Subaru’s new Wilderness concept cars, which are a series of vehicles designed to appeal to those who are drawn to outdoor activities.

What I most enjoy seeing now is the Crosstrek’s molded side and the black body mold, which gives it more of an adventurous appeal, like a true crossover. Subaru has also offered British customers an extra color option that no other nation has been privy to – an orange that complements the playful nature of the Subaru Crosstrek well.

Interior Technology and Materials

Interiors are much nicer and more comfortable in the cabin, and Subaru has also improved the Subaru Crosstrek tech to make it even better. Another is a notable 11.6-inch infotainment display screen on some models that has clearer graphics and enhanced smartphone compatibility. The climate and audio controls were also improved in terms of naturalness compared to older Crosstrek models.

As for the material quality, soft touch is now employed more liberally – which helps elevate the luxury within the compact SUV class – personally, I found the door cards and dashboard plastics to be rather unforgiving in the recently tested Subaru Crosstrek.

As for the model year 2024, they boast enhanced levels of equipment with premium materials included in the base option that adds the much-needed organic homely feel to the interior design concept that complements the functional one.

Practicality and Off-Road Ability

Although the new design and interior enhancements are quite pleasing, it is good that Subaru did not forget the essentials that made Crosstrek famous in the first place – flexibility, the trunk, and real AWD capabilities. It still boasts 221 liters of boot space, large door bins, rear seat back pockets and a sliding rear floor, thus I still consider it one of the most useful compact SUVs on the market today.

However, quite noteworthy is the fact that the 2024 Crosstrek still has 8.7 inches of ground clearance which is even greater than the last model. Synced with the AWD system and low traction X-Mode settings, as well as the HDC – the Crosstrek continues to be a decent option for those British buyers who need actual off-road capabilities in a compact package. In terms of light trail use, few other compact crossovers can match the forte.

Powertrain and Driving Dynamics

The powertrain remains the same as in the previous generation and is located under the hood of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek; It uses a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder boxer engine that delivers 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft torque. For environmentally conscious consumers, Subaru’s e-BOXER hybrid powertrain is also offered for even more torque response and better fuel economy.

I like Subarus on the road mostly because of its stability at speed, precise turning, and a boost of tracking during acceleration after a turn. The Subaru Crosstrek returns more feel-through turns than a majority of compact crossovers while maintaining a fairly plush ride.

The engineers at Subaru have done well to achieve this volley between sporty and comfortable – but one must be careful when selecting the models that come with the largest 18-inch wheels.

Safety and Convenience: Advanced Safety Features and Driver Assistance Technologies

True to its accident-free reputation, Subaru equips the new Crosstrek with safety and protection measures, as well as driver aids. These features consist of low-speed follow, smart brake, lane keep, blind spot detection, backing, and lead car start assist.

Among the novelties that the model has is the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation – the car pays attention to the driver’s face and can detect signs of distraction or drowsiness. In case the driver is distracted from the road ahead, audio and visual alerts help to draw his attention back to his path. This could be a very important development in eradicating risky situations associated with distracted driving.

Conclusion

Based on my close look at the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek in the form of this rendering, I think it brings the best aspects of this multi-faceted compact crossover while improving some of the most important aspects and features of the vehicle.

The new exterior styling maintains the essence of the car’s adventurous image while at the same time giving the car a more modern and sophisticated look.

The technology enhancements and such new flourishes also situated it nearer to higher-end competitors of the luxury car.

Specifically for the UK, final pricing is still pending but it must be said that Crosstrek has always offered great bang for the buck; British consumers should take note of this and look forward to the car’s arrival in showrooms by the latter half of this year.