Subaru crosstrek plug-in hybrid lease

Subaru crosstrek plug-in hybrid lease
A plug-in hybrid version of this popular subcompact SUV comes at a hefty price.
A HYBRID VERSION of the widely sold Subaru Crosstrek is back after a three-year absence—this
time as a plug-in version.
Subaru says this new model can deliver 17 miles of all-electric driving—so far, we’re seeing about 20 miles. The EPA estimates the Crosstrek plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will return about 35 mpg overall,
up from the regular model’s 29 mpg. However, Subaru’s first attempt at a PHEV costs thousands more than a similarly equipped standard Crosstrek.
And that’s not the only draw-back. The addition of a battery reduces usable cargo space, and drivers will have to charge it frequently to see any real fuel savings.

WHAT WE LIKE ... SO FAR
The Crosstrek hybrid delivers smooth and effortless acceleration with electric power, provided drivers are gentle with the throttle. Otherwise, the gas engine will kick in. Once the EV miles are used up, the SUV acts like a regular hybrid, switching back and forth between gas and electric power as needed.
The ride is nicely cushioned. Handling comes alive when the SUV is pushed a bit in corners, but it doesn’t feel very sporty in everyday driving. As with the standard Crosstrek, getting in the front seat is very easy, thanks to its accommodating step-in height. The rear seat is roomy, too. Most of the Crosstrek’s controls are logically designed and well-placed, and the touch screen is relatively easy to navigate. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available.
It has been taking 2.25 hours to replenish the battery on a 240-volt connection. It would take around 7 hours to charge from a standard 120-volt household plug.
The Crosstrek PHEV comes standard with FCW, AEB with pedestrian detection, BSW, RCTW, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist (LKA), and adaptive cruise control.
Unlike other all-wheel-drive hybrids, which use their electric motors to send power to the rear wheels only when the front wheels slip, Subaru says the Crosstrek Hybrid has the same full-time all-wheel-drive setup
as the conventional Crosstrek.

WHAT WE DON’T
The front seats are quite basic—we haven’t liked them for long trips—and our $36,000 vehicle doesn’t have adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat, which we find disappointing.
In addition, the storage area is compromised compared with the standard Crosstrek.
The automaker says it put the battery under the cargo floor instead of elsewhere in the vehicle for the sake of ground clearance and passenger room, and to fit the all-wheel-drive system. That means the hybrid
loses about a quarter of the conventional Crosstrek’s cargo volume behind the rear seats.
The CVT is also unimpressive; it creates the same obtrusive engine drone we experienced in our regular Crosstrek.

THE BOTTOM LINE
This is a solid improvement over Subaru’s first hybrid effort from a few years back.
However, buyers looking to go green will definitely have to pony up a bunch of green and plug infrequently to do so—and even then, they won’t get Toyota Prius-like fuel economy.


The Crosstrek Hybrid Car uses Subaru StarDrive™ Technology to combine the efficiency of a plug-in electric car for city commuting with the long-range capability of a SUBARU BOXER® gasoline engine for road trips and travel with out limits. The gasoline engine costs the electrical battery, even if you can’t plug in, so there’s no fear about going for walks out of electrical power. The Crosstrek Hybrid gives as much as ninety MPGe and as much as 480 miles of total car range.

WHAT WE BOUGHT
Model 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid
Price $36,895
Engine 148-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
Transmission CVT
Drive wheels AlL.
From NEW CARS CR.ORG/CARS