Subaru XV CrossTrek Hybrid

The Subaru XV CrossTrek Hybrid

Author: B.Keeler

A Capable Hybrid:

Hybrids are like fish oil and salads; very good for you, but what you actually want is steak and French fries. Nothing you really want to drive in, and if you needed any form of off-road capability, choices are even more limited. Subaru hopes to change that with its first ever hybrid.
At the 2013 New York International Auto Show, Subaru will unveil the Subaru XV Crosstrek hybrid, an affordable and very capable hybrid.
Lately, Subaru has been involved in several joint ventures with Toyota that is why the XV Crosstrek will use a Toyota’s hybrid drive system paired to the traditional Subaru boxer engine. Like the regular Crosstrek, all-wheel-drive will be standard.
Details are still fuzzy at this point but rumors are circulating about a diesel engine for the XV Crosstrek Hybrid and a possible manual transmission.
More information will be available after the unveiling later this week. If you want to learn more about the Subaru CrossTrek feel free to read our impressions of the standard version.

My Thoughts:
I really like the idea of this car. The hybrid SUV market is growing, but currently it is filled with incredibly expensive offerings like the Porsche Cayanne, Cadillac Escalade, Lexus RX450h, GMC Yukon, and the Chevrolet Tahoe. All of these are capable offerings but start way over the typical car buyer’s budget.

The Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid should change this and will bring an AWD hybrid to the masses. Based on the standard models price I would anticipate it to start at or just above the $30,000 mark. Granted, it is not priced like the Nissan Versa but well under its hybrid SUV competitors.

The other thing that I love about the Hybrid model is that will offer consumers a second wheel option over the standard car's black rims.