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AUTO REVIEW
2017 Subaru XV Crosstrek
By Steve Schutz, MD
Crossovers are taking over the automotive size crossover. The (also popular) Forester is for passengers and their gear — 22.3 ft3
world. Regular readers know I’ve been saying actually an Impreza with a bigger, taller, and with the seats up and 51.9 with them folded
that for years, as have most other industry boxier body. And the subject of this review, down — so forget about carrying a moun-
observers. And it’s true. Established brands the XV Crosstrek? It’s an Impreza hatchback tain bike in the back unless you’re riding
like Ford and Toyota sell a range of raised by 5.7 inches and enhanced with body alone. In addition, cabin materials are pretty
crossovers, as do luxury automakers like cladding, a roof rack, and off-road capable plasticky and utilitarian as opposed to plush.
Audi and Lexus, and they’re all thriving. It’s wheels and tires. Most buyers won’t care — this is a $25,000
the thing in 2016. vehicle after all — but if you’re cross shop-
Pretty nifty trick, and it’s been working. ping the Lexus NX you’ll be tempted to
So if you don’t have crossovers you’re Whenever I look at a Crosstrek I feel like stretch out the duration of your loan to get
dead in the water, right? Yes, that’s right, that guy eating the virtual steak in the Ma- into the Lexus purely for the nicer interior.
unless you’re Subaru, one of the industry’s trix movie. I know it’s just an Impreza with
brightest stars over the past five or so years. a trim package, but I don’t care. I like it a lot Having said that, all of the tech Lexus
Despite an all-car lineup, Subaru has man- more than the Impreza. While the Impreza owners have been enjoying for years can be
aged to grow their US sales from 263,820 seems to tell people, “I bought this to keep had in the Crosstrek now. Bluetooth
in 2010 to 582,675 in 2015, an amazing my car payments low,” the Crosstrek an- phone/audio, Satnav, keyless entry/ignition,
121 percent increase. nounces, “I work so that I can support my and more are available in the Crosstrek, at
rock climbing habit.” least as options.
How did they do it? To be honest, they
did it mostly by taking their cars and making Good thing the Crosstrek looks as cool as The Crosstrek’s driving experience is nei-
them look like crossovers. The popular Out- it does from the outside, because from inside ther spirited nor exciting, but it’s not bad
back station wagon that everybody loves? It’s this five-door hatchback things are less in- either. A low curb weight of 3150 lbs helps
really just a Legacy made to look like a mid- spiring. For starters, there’s not a lot of space significantly, of course, but Subaru engi-
52 San Antonio Medicine • November 2016
