Automotive News: We drive the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Sport Hybrid

It is difficult to believe, but the Crosstrek is in its third generation and has an all new series parallel hybrid system. The Crosstrek is the smallest and least expensive SUV in the Subaru lineup, and it doesn’t look like anything special at first. But after close inspection, we found it to be a bargain family vehicle that can do it all.

Models

The Crosstrek is available in Base, Premium, Sport, Sport Hybrid, Limited, Limited Hybrid, and Wilderness trim levels. New for this year, the Crosstrek base trim level adds an uprated 2.5-liter engine making 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, which was previously standard on Premium, Sport, Limited, and Wilderness trim levels.

Drivetrain

The Crosstrek Hybrid is equipped with an Atkinson/Miller-cycle 2.5-liter engine paired to electric motors and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, making 194 horsepower combined.

We got to drive the Sport Hybrid and it uses the 194 hp hybrid engine coupled to a CVT with standard AWD. The car tips the scales at almost 3700 pounds, so that does not work out to be a very sporty ride. However, the Crosstrek surprised us with its powertrain. First, it feels much faster than expected, perhaps due to the electric torque. Surprisingly, it still feels peppy at highway speeds where passing trucks does not require a mile long straight.

The transmission also feels much better than old CVTs and the best trait is that you never notice any issues. It does its job and does it very well keeping the engine at optimum speeds. Hybrid cars often have elevated fuel economy numbers that are out of reach in the real world. Not with the Crosstrek. The EPA rates it at 36 mpg on the freeway and we got 33 mpg driving aggressively and even in the mountains. You can easily get 36 mpg if you behave yourself, which is terrific and it only requires 87 octane. The bonus is that the large 16.6 gallon fuel tank provides almost 500 miles of range.

Interior

The Sport Hybrid interior comes with a 12.3 inch full digital display cluster and a wonderful 11.6-inch Subaru Multimedia Plus System that is very well laid out with some real buttons. The system works very well with a clean and logical layout and is simple to operate. The rest of the interior features some very soft textures on the door panels and center console where your arms can touch that makes the vehicle comfortable to drive on long trips. The Sport Hybrid comes with dual stage heated seats for the front row and it is worth mentioning that they can actually get very hot.

Beyond that the Sport Hybrid is downright luxurious with tons of standard features such as blind spot detection, lane change assist, cross traffic alert, dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, leather wrapped steering wheel, LED lights, roof rails, wireless phone charger, navigation, power moonroof and much more.

Suspension

The Sport Hybrid suspension uses MacPherson struts in the front and double wishbone in the rear with a quick 2.6 turn electric power steering that provides good feel to the driver. Tires are 225/55R18 all season, and they are fantastic in bad weather, and coupled with the AWD system, make the Crosstrek very reassuring to drive in poor weather.

The surprising part is that even on dry pavement, it feels fun to drive and sticks to the road very well. The AWD system is able to automatically transfer the power to the wheels with the best grip. For daily driving on roads filled with potholes and imperfections, the Crosstrek suspension is the king, as it just absorbs it all without complaints.

Dimensions

The Crosstrek is 176 inches in length and rides on a 105 inch wheelbase. Despite the small exterior dimensions, the interior is very comfortable for five adults, and there is even a roomy cargo area behind the second row. Fold the seats down, and you can load a sheet of plywood that is 63.8 inches in length.

Conclusions

When you think about the capability of the Crosstrek, you start to realize that this is a bargain. The Crosstrek Sport Hybrid is one of those vehicles that can do it all. It is not great at anything but it is good at everything.

It has tons of room, is comfortable for the longest trips, is fuel efficient yet is sporty enough to have fun, has a generous 8.7 inches of ground clearance with off road driving modes and even hill decent control, and does it all for very little money.

It can even tow 1500 pounds. The very well-equipped Sport Hybrid is under $34,000. Let that sink in and compare the features to other cars and it is hard to believe it.

The Crosstrek Sport Hybrid is truly a do it all vehicle. If you are looking for a vehicle that can transport your family to anywhere the road goes, even if there is no road, for under $35,000 this is the one.

The Sport Hybrid prioritizes Subaru’s adventure-ready ethos with enhanced efficiency and performance, though it trades some cargo space and doesn’t match the top MPG of competitors like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (due to the mechanical AWD system). It’s an excellent choice for buyers wanting Subaru capability with better fuel savings—no plug-in required.

Specifications

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Sport Hybrid brings a next-generation series-parallel hybrid powertrain to the popular compact SUV, combining a revised 2.5-liter SUBARU BOXER® Atkinson/Miller-cycle engine with dual electric motors and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. This setup delivers more power and torque than the gas-only Sport trim, along with significantly improved city efficiency (up to 38% better than non-hybrid models), while retaining Subaru’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and off-road capability.: