7/22/2023 0 Comments 2019 plug in hybrid crossover![]() It doesn’t have the lightness the standard Crosstrek does, but it’s still easy to maneuver through traffic and around town. The hybrid is significantly heavier than the standard Crosstrek due to all that extra electric gear, and that manifests when changing directions. Braking feel is excellent for a hybrid, meaning there’s no odd nonlinear electric feel to the brakes, simply a firm and progressive pedal. The driving experience is much like any other Crosstrek: comfortable and smooth, with quick handling and ride quality that makes it feel like a bigger, more sophisticated, more expensive automobile. There are, however, functions for holding the battery charge at a certain level or even recharging it as you drive by running the gas engine continually. There is no EV-only mode, so you can’t push a button to lock the gas engine out like you can in some other PHEVs. The Crosstrek Hybrid works much like other plug-in hybrid vehicles: It prefers to keep itself in electric mode, using the gas engine as a booster when the juice runs out or when the driver calls for more performance than the electric motors alone can deliver. That the car manages to do this despite being 600 pounds heavier than the standard Crosstrek is amazing. Subaru says the electric motors change the vehicle’s torque profile such that it subtracts a full second off its zero-to-60-mph sprint. Alternatively, you can floor the accelerator and see just what the addition of electric motors does for the Crosstrek’s motivation. EVs are usually wonderfully silent, and the Crosstrek is no exception: Smooth, calm acceleration is the name of the game, and as long as you don’t push too hard on the go-pedal, you’ll be rewarded with silent sailing. With 240 volts (which requires additional hardware), it can do it in about two hours.ĭriving the Crosstrek Hybrid is a serene experience - at least while electricity powers the car. Subaru estimates an empty battery can be recharged in about five hours on a 120-volt household outlet using the provided cord. Note that unlike some larger plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars, the Crosstrek PHEV can make do without 240-volt charging. Charging ports need to be at the front of a vehicle, not the rear. (The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is guilty of the same offense.) My home 240-volt charger is near the front of my garage, meaning I had to do some creative parking in order to charge the Crosstrek Hybrid at home. This is a terrible location for a charging port given most chargers are located at the front of a parking space, meaning you’ll have to stretch the charge cord down the driver’s side of the car to reach the port - if it can reach at all. One is for gasoline, the other for the electric charging port. First, you’ll notice there are “fuel” doors on the rear quarter panels on both sides of the car. It looks almost identical to the standard version, with a few minor tweaks. You won’t pick a plug-in hybrid Crosstrek out of a crowd on first glance. It’s significantly more expensive than a standard Crosstrek, making us wonder if the boost in fuel economy (and performance) is worth the price. The Crosstrek has won our Subcompact SUV Challenge twice, with the most recent generation taking the crown in 2018.įor 2019, Subaru has brought an electrified version back to the lineup, but the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid is available only as a plug-in hybrid - meaning it has a bigger battery capable of limited electric-only travel after you plug in and charge it. No, it’s not quick (not even decently so), but it’s reasonably efficient even with its standard flat-four-cylinder engine. It drives like a bigger car, features all-weather capability, has just enough off-road ability to get you most places you’re likely to want to go and is amazingly inexpensive compared with the competition. The standard model was updated for 2018 and is incredibly spacious for its footprint. We’re big fans of the Subaru Crosstrek here at. ![]() ![]() But none of them offer standard all-wheel drive at this price like the Crosstrek Hybrid, giving it an advantage for those seeking all-weather capability and part-time electric efficiency. Versus the competition: Plug-in hybrids are increasingly common, and most of them come with some sort of compromise: higher cost to buy, limited cargo space, greater weight. The verdict: The compromises and expense of the Subaru Crosstrek’s hybrid system versus the excellent standard Crosstrek make it a smart choice for a very limited clientele. ![]()
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