Subaru Corporation today unveiled the all-new Subaru Crosstrek (Japanese-market model).
Combining a compact body with a rugged and sporty design, the Crosstrek features full-fledged SUV performance thanks to Subaru’s unique symmetrical AWD, making it a versatile crossover SUV ideal for any driving environment, whether in the city or for outdoor adventures.
While the vehicle has been called “Crosstrek” or “Subaru XV” depending on the market, the “Crosstrek” name will be used globally beginning with this third generation model. Not only has the unique design of the previous model been emphasized, but also the driving dynamics of the Crosstrek have been refined. Furthermore, in addition to being equipped with the latest generation EyeSight technology, the new Crosstrek is the first Japanese-market Subaru model to feature a wide-angle mono camera, thus enhancing safety performance.
A faithful companion with versatility and reliability, the new Crosstrek is designed for those seeking a vehicle that is both a daily driver and weekend companion ready to take on new adventures. It is ideal for those who desire a fulfilling driving experience coupled with a level of freedom never experienced before.
The new “Crosstrek” will first be introduced in the Japanese market (scheduled for 2023 or later) before being introduced to other markets around the world.
Main specifications of the new Crosstrek (Japanese specification prototype)
Exterior Design
- Front View
The high hood position creates a sense of robustness and power. The front-end appearance, with its sharp front grille bars and LED headlights, comes across as both nimble and tough.
- Side View
The scope of cladding has been expanded to evoke a feeling of surefire road-performance capabilities, and the dynamic body lines and form exude a sense of dependability and dynamism. The high-grade model includes 18-inch aluminum wheels.
- Rear View
The cabin narrows to emphasize the protruding fenders, fostering an overall sense of reliability.
- Color Options
A total of nine exterior colors are available, including the new colors Offshore Blue Metallic and Oasis Blue.
Interior Design
- Instrument Panel
Designed using a multi-material, multi-layered structure, the instrument panel brings out the unique characteristics of each material’s texture for a simple yet highly expressive dashboard.
- Center Console
The top of the center console is elevated and appears enveloped while exuding a sense of high quality, and ease of use has been improved. Clever storage-space design improvements make for greater user-friendliness, resulting in a car interior with a playful feel.
- Door Trim
Thanks to the ergonomic design of the inner pull handles, users can open and close doors while maintaining a natural posture.
- Interior Options
The high-grade model features fabric seats (silver stitching). The standard-grade model features tricot seats (silver stitching).
Leather seats are also available as a factory-installed option.
Packaging and Utilities
- Cabin Environment
The interior remains just as roomy as in previous models. Thanks to the spacious interior, drivers of all sizes can find a comfortable driving position, and all passengers can enjoy a relaxing travel experience with minimal fatigue even on long journeys.
- Cargo Space
This latest model preserves the large cargo-space door opening as well as plenty of cargo-carrying space inside. Moreover, the 60:40 folding rear seats make it easy to expand the cargo space when loading bulky or long items into the vehicle.
- Utility
The rear-gate lower trim and side sill plates feature a texture inspired by the mountains, offering outstanding design aesthetics along with practical advantages such as slip and scratch prevention. When users look at these elements of the vehicle, they will begin to imagine the many active things they can do with their Crosstrek. The form of the side sill plates has also been optimized to bolster stability when stepping up onto the sills to load items onto the roof rails or wipe down the roof.
- Multimedia System
The 11.6-inch center information display retains its large monitor size for good ease of use as well as the cutting-edge, sleek design from previous models while providing enhanced smartphone-integrated functionality. The result is an improved infotainment system that offers intuitive operations similar to a standard smartphone.
Driving Dynamics
- New Seats Design that Supports the Pelvis
Seats with an innovative design that supports and aligns the pelvis, which prevents vehicle swaying motions from being transferred to the head. This design makes for a more comfortable ride by reducing rolling motions during steering actions as well as swaying caused by uneven road surfaces.
- New Seat Mounting Structure
The seat mounting structure has been changed, from the standard type in which a bracket is used between the seat and vehicle body, to one where the seat rails are attached directly to the body. This new approach increases mounting-connection stiffness and improves vibration damping while reducing seat sway, to provide a more comfortable, high-quality ride experience.
- Improved Resonance and Sound Absorption Using High-attenuation Mastic
A high-attenuation mastic (elastic adhesive) with excellent vibration absorption and damping performance is used between the roof panel and braces. This provides an improved ride by reducing sound pressure caused by roof vibrations and enhancing noise damping within the cabin.
- Improvements to the Subaru Global Platform
The Subaru Global Platform, which has always delivered outstanding handling stability and rider comfort, is now even better. New know-how and technologies have been utilized to incorporate full-inner-frame construction—as seen in other models including the Levorg and WRX S4—as well as expanded applications of structural adhesives, greater rigidity in suspension connections, and other refinements. These improve upon the existing Subaru Global Platform, which had already earned high praise, to achieve high-level driving dynamics.
- Full-inner-frame Construction
Normally, a vehicle body is constructed by assembling the upper body and underbody separately and then joining them together. The new full-inner-frame body design, however, entails sturdy assembly of the entire frame first, followed by welding on of outer panels, which increases body rigidity while reducing weight. By achieving a highly rigid body that minimizes minor deformations and flexing, it is possible to get the best performance out of the suspension and engine mounts. This boosts vehicle handling while also improving absorption of vibrations caused by the road surface, achieving a high-quality, flat and smooth, all-around pleasant driving experience.
- Dual-pinion Electric Power Steering
This model uses dual-pinion electric power steering, which has almost no response lag during steering for a sporty, high-quality feel. The structure wherein the operation shaft is separate from the motor-assist shaft reduces initial steering resistance. This enables linear, smooth transmission of torque. In addition, this model keeps the variable-gear ratio design of previous models, which changes the gear ratio in response to steering operations to provide precise steering control during low-speed travel as well as stable, straight-line travel at high speeds.
- Electric Brake Booster
The electric brake booster, which offers outstanding boosting performance, improves pre-collision braking response. This, in turn, enhances responsiveness in dangerous situations, such as when bicycles dart out into the road. Furthermore, the inclusion of all-speed adaptive cruise control enables a quick deceleration response when a car suddenly cuts into one’s lane and in similar scenarios.
- Powertrain
This model utilizes the 2.0 L e-BOXER for motor assist to deliver a more nimble-feeling ride. Improvements to reduce vibrations and noise in the engine and Lineartronic CVT have also been made.
Safety Features
- Digital Multi-View Monitor
Composite images from four separate cameras are used to create a 360-degree, 3D top-down view, improving visibility on all sides of the vehicle. These images are displayed using the new-and-improved center information display, which offers larger and more detailed images than previous multi-function displays for greater ease of use and viewability.
- Full-LED High and Low Beams and Subaru’s First LED Cornering Lights
LED lights are now used for the high and low beams, position lamps, and blinkers. In addition, this model includes LED cornering lights for the first time in a Subaru vehicle, which illuminate the road ahead when turning a corner at an intersection or other such location, improving nighttime visibility for the driver.
- New Stereo Camera Unit
This new unit roughly doubles the angle of view compared with previous camera units. Furthermore, image recognition software and control software have been improved to enable recognition of objects at wider angles and farther distances, and the switch to windshield-mounted installation and addition of a lens hood prevent accidental contact with the camera lens.
- Wide-angle Mono Camera (First in a Japanese-market Subaru Model)
This newly adopted mono camera enables recognition of motorcycles and pedestrians at an even wider angle than the new stereo camera when traveling at low speeds. It is capable of initiating pre-collision braking in an even wider range of situations and provides the best EyeSight performance ever.
Collision Safety
Subaru has further bolstered the collision safety potential of the Subaru Global Platform, which has garnered widespread praise. This system now provides even better collision safety performance for passengers as well as pedestrians in the event of a collision. To mitigate harm during front-end collisions, the bumper beam has been enlarged so that it extends outside of the vehicle, and a collision sub-frame has been added to further absorb impacts. In a collision with another car, “crash compatibility” improvements not only protect people riding in one’s vehicle, but also occupants of the other vehicle. Furthermore, just like in the Outback, new mobile progressive deformable barrier (MPDB) testing has been implemented to assess crash compatibility in head-on collisions.
Connected Safety
This model features the improved SUBARU STARLINK, a connected service introduced in 2020. In addition to existing “Connected Safety” functions, Subaru plans to expand the scope of its connected services by developing new services that enhance both convenience and comfort.
