2023 Subaru Crosstrek price and specs: XV replacement up to $3000 dearer

The new 2023 Subaru Crosstrek – the replacement for the Subaru XV – is due in Australian showrooms in April, priced up to $3000 higher than before.

The Crosstrek – a name offered on the XV in North America for a decade, but now standard globally – introduces a new look, more modern technology and improved safety systems to Subaru's smallest SUV.

But the petrol engines and hybrid systems have been carried over from the previous model – and prices have risen by between $1800 and $3000, depending on model grade.

The price of entry into the Subaru XV/Crosstrek range is $5300 higher than it was a year ago – after the base-model XV 2.0i was axed and two price rises were applied to the outgoing XV range last year.

At the end of 2021, the entry-level XV 2.0i was priced from $29,690 plus on-road costs – but its axing made the better-equipped $31,990 2.0i-L the cheapest model grade, before two price increases pushed it up to $33,190 before on-road costs.

Five model variants – across three equipment levels and two engine choices – are available for the new Crosstrek, with pre-orders open now through the Subaru Australia website.

The engines are carried over from the XV: a 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol in most models, developing an unchanged 115kW and 196Nm, or a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol hybrid system with 110kW/196Nm outputs from the engine.

All-wheel drive is standard across the range, along with a continuously-variable automatic transmission (CVT) – but the CVT in petrol models has been upgraded with an eight-speed manual mode (compared to seven simulated gear ratios in the hybrid).

Claimed fuel consumption in mixed driving is unchanged for the hybrid, at 6.5L/100km – but has actually increased for the petrol model, from 7.0 to 7.2L/100km.

Prior testing by Drive has found Toyota hybrid cars use about half the fuel of regular petrol-powered variants – but any real-world improvements in fuel economy from Subaru hybrid models have been marginal, and hard to measure.

Subaru executives have previously said the company is working on better, more frugal hybrid cars – however it appears these are still to come.

Standard features in the entry-level Crosstrek AWD 2.0L include LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, an 11.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, cloth seats, proximity key entry and start, nine airbags, and a full suite of advanced safety technology.

The 2.0R petrol model – which replaces the 2.0i Premium in the outgoing XV range – adds features including 18-inch alloys, upgraded LED headlights, a power driver's seat, heated front seats, leather steering wheel, 360-degree camera, and auto high-beam functionality.

The flagship 2.0S and Hybrid S are exclusively fitted with leather seats, embedded satellite navigation, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium stereo, and an electric sunroof.

The 2023 Subaru Crosstrek is due in Australian showrooms in April. The related new-generation Impreza hatchback is due by the end of this year.

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

Compared to the Hybrid L, the Hybrid S adds the features introduced with the 2.0R and 2.0S.