Subaru has just revealed the third-generation Crosstrek in Japan. The little Subaru off-roader gets a mild facelift but will come with some big changes under the skin that should improve safety, improve the ride, and make the Crosstrek a more pleasant place to be.
While this is a Japanese market model reveal, we expect the important parts to be the same when the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is revealed for Canada.
While the new look isn't radically different, it goes big on more rugged cladding, with WRX-style fender vents adding to the appearance of the new model.
Under that skin is Subaru's new "full-inner-frame" chassis design. It's the same design Subaru implemented with the latest WRX and it is meant to add significant strength to the Subaru Global Platform underpinnings. Along with heavier use of structural adhesives, these changes make the suspension connections more rigid. That change lets the suspension do its job better, improving ride comfort and reducing cabin vibrations. Subaru has also added more sound insulation in the roof to quell noises in the cabin.
The biggest interior change is adding the automaker's new 11.6-inch touchscreen. It's the same screen you'll find in the bigger Subaru models, and it handles infotainment as well as climate control functions. Expect more on the exact operation and details when the Canadian model is revealed.
Like the Outback and Forester, Subaru has upgraded its EyeSight safety suite for the 2024 Crosstrek. A wider-angle camera gives the system a better view down the road and at intersections, expanding the number of situations where the system can help.
New seat mountings attach directly to the body, which Subaru says reduces seat vibration and sway. The seat frames have been tweaked for better support and alignment. Subaru says this change will reduce head bounce while driving.
Powertrain info for Canada hasn't been announced yet. Japan gets a 2.0L boxer four-cylinder with e-hybrid assist, but that engine isn't offered here so we're not sure if it will be available. Canada's models will more likely get updated versions of Subaru's 2.0L and 2.5L boxer-four engines offered in the current Crosstrek.
With the new Subaru Crosstrek expected to go on sale in Japan next year, expect it to follow not long after for Canada. We're expecting it as a 2024 model that will arrive sometime in late 2023.