Overview
The 2025 Subaru Crosstrek blurs the line between a big hatchback and a small SUV. No matter what you call it, the Crosstrek is unique in its space as an adventure-ready and affordable vehicle. It's coming off a full redesign last year, and as a result, we expect it to return largely unchanged for 2025. If you need more space than this smallest of Subarus provides, there are the larger Forester and Outback with similar capabilities.
Edmunds spotlight: Adventurous and efficient
With standard all-wheel-drive and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek is more off-road-capable than other subcompact SUVs. That's why it's so popular in four-season regions and among outdoorsy types. The Wilderness model can tackle even more challenging obstacles, with 9.3 inches of clearance, underbody skid plates and all-terrain tires. Subaru even strengthened the roof rack for overlanding tents. If that wasn't enough, the Crosstrek is also fairly efficient. It's estimated to get 29 mpg in combined city and highway driving, and we easily exceeded that figure in our testing.
Competitors to consider
There aren't a lot of subcompact SUVs that have the Crosstrek's capabilities, so you'll likely have to step up in size for something equivalent. In that case, we suggest checking out the Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Wrangler. They're even more capable off-road but not as comfortable on the road. More city-friendly options include the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen Taos.