2.0i Limited 4dr All-Wheel Drive
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

A Rugged Runabout For The Masses If there's one thing manufacturers can't stand, it's a void in the marketplace. Product planners spend untold hours scouring the automotive spectrum for any whiff of white space, and once found, waste no time in sussing up a new model to fill the vacuum. That's how we wind up with oddities like the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, Chevrolet HHR Panel, and yes, the BMW 5 Series GT. Even Subaru has occasionally fallen into the answer-to-the-question-no-one-asked trap, resulting in models like the short-lived Baja. So, when we first laid eyes on the 2013 XV Crosstrek, we couldn't help but approach the model with all the caution we typically reserve for unidentified casseroles. At first blush, the hatchback looks just like an Impreza with a lift kit and some funky body cladding. But given recent shifts in the Subaru playbook, the XV actually makes sense as part of the company's comprehensive lineup. As the Impreza has grown larger and softer, the WRX has moved even deeper into the performance realm and the old Impreza Outback Sport has vanished completely, leaving buyers looking for an economical, rugged runabout with no place to turn. That's where the XV Crosstrek comes in. As seems to be the case with most new Subaru products, the 2013 XV Crosstrek isn't going to win any beauty pageants. It borrows all of its bodywork from the lower-slung Impreza five-door, but the addition of the new ride height does much to improve the vehicle's presence on the road. Whereas the standard Impreza can't help but look a little awkward, the XV has grown into its ears. Subaru shoved a full 8.7 inches of ground clearance under this newest crossover, putting it ahead of would-be rivals like the 2013 Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5 and even the Jeep Compass. The stance helps make sense of the body lines by Tonka, and with the wheels pushed far to each corner, the XV appears ready to go bashing through the woods. Whereas the standard Impreza can't help but look a little awkward, the XV has grown into its ears. Down the side, onlookers can't help but notice the chunky 17-inch alloy wheels with their geometric design and black painted accents. Those bits are standard across the board, and help make room for lager brakes up front. The 2013 XV Crosstrek wears bulky plastic fender flares and rockers that do a good job of protecting the paint against slung gravel and careless ingress. On closer inspection, the pieces are a step up from the cheap grained material we've seen elsewhere. With an interesting pattern and matte finish, the plastics actually look passable, especially against the dark paint of our tester. Critics have long derided Subaru for the company's '90s-quality interiors, and while the XV doesn't offer any revelations in that department, it's certainly a step in the right direction. Limited trim offers up nice leather seating with contrast stitching, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel feels appropriately sized. The redundant controls …
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