The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
won't win any beauty contests. It probably won't even come in second,
which would net you 50 bucks from each player. But as far as utility
goes, for the money, it's near the top of the heap.
Competitors to the XV include the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape
and other similar crossovers. All the base models fall right in the
$20,000-$22,000 range. The Outlander Sport delivers exactly the same hp
and torque as the XV, at 148 hp and 145 lb-ft. The Rogue and Escape are
both up from that, at about 170 for both power and twist.
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| The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek gets a 2.0-liter Boxer four. |
The
five-speed manual, which our tester enjoyed, combined with the boxer
four doesn't make for spirited driving, but the Crosstrek is quick
enough to get out of its own way. Getting on to the highway takes a
nice, one-two-three shift to get up to 65 mph, and you're cruising after
that. We're glad Subaru stuck with a five-speed in this crossover; the
additional shifting needed with a six-speed would have made it feel
slower.
