Used 2016 Subaru Crosstrek Special Edition for sale 

The Subaru Crosstrek comes in three trims: Base, Premium, and Limited. The Limited has the most standard features, including standard leather seats, automatic climate control, and blind-spot detection. Standard equipment on the base 2.0i includes 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, roof rails, rear privacy glass, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with auxiliary audio and phone controls, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, a 6.2-inch touchscreen display with smartphone-app integration and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, a USB port and an auxiliary input jack.

Standard equipment on the base 2.0i includes 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, roof rails, rear privacy glass, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with auxiliary audio and phone controls, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, a 6.2-inch touchscreen display with smartphone-app integration (including Pandora, Aha, iHeartRadio and Stitcher music services) and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, a USB port and an auxiliary input jack.

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The standard Subaru Crosstrek might meet your needs just fine if you don't need the extra ground clearance. As the only difference these models in the same family have is their ground clearance. With almost all features standard, the base model should be the most preferred trim out of the three available.

Also Read:

• 2016 Subaru Forester
• Subaru Crosstrek user reviews

All 2016 Subaru Crosstreks come with a 148-horsepower four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a continuously variable automatic transmission is available. The Crosstrek’s engine lacks power and provides sluggish acceleration. Thanks in part to its low center of gravity and standard all-wheel drive, the Crosstrek drives with control and precision.

It handles tricky road conditions with ease and feels nimble during regular driving. The Crosstrek has a high ground clearance, which helps when driving off-road. However, that height leads to some body lean when cornering on the pavement.

In terms of engine performance, the Forester makes the most power and torque, although the peak values come slightly higher in the rev band. The Forester is also the most expensive of the lot, whereas the Mazda CX-3 is the most affordable. The CX-3 makes similar performance numbers as the Crosstrek, but the way the power is delivered puts it at an advantage over the Crosstrek. The CX-3 is also the only one which uses a Inline-4 engine configuration among these three.

Subaru Crosstrek acceleration and braking

The Crosstrek's acceleration is rather disappointing, with such high figures in the performance runs. The Crosstrek takes a whole 9 seconds to reach the 60 mph mark, and 17 seconds to complete the quarter-mile run. The top speed of the car stands at 120 mph. The Mazda CX-3 is the quickest car here, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.6 seconds and the quarter-mile coming up in 15.8 seconds. It also has the most top speed, at 125 mph. The Forester on the other hand, is slightly behind the CX-3 at 8.7 seconds but a whole second behind in the quarter-mile run at 16.8 seconds.

In the context of braking performance, the CX-3 is the quickest to stop at 117 feet, whereas the Forester took 122 feet and the Crosstrek took a long 137+ feet. The Forester has the biggest front brake at 12.4 inches, whereas the Crosstrek and the CX-3 share the same size for the front brake at 11.6 inches. The Mazda CX-3's rear brake is of 11.1 inches whereas the Subarus get smaller brakes at 10.8 inches.

Subaru Crosstrek handling and steering

The Crosstrek's engines are just sufficient and the CVT is noisy, the available 5-speed manual is not going to be the preferred choice for most. The CVT's main purpose is to reduce the fuel consumption, and this has majorly affected the handling as well. However, this effect is not much and does not rob the Crosstrek of the title of a good handler. The Crosstrek is very planted and poised on roads with less traction, and the AWD combined with the car's stability controls leavse no stone unturned at providing excellent feedback.

The suspension is well tuned, and offers a smooth ride all around. The car's steering is a mechanical marvel, which works in tandem with its suspension and the systems allowing for precise control and feedback. Its only in the times when you want some quick speed that you realise the under utilization of the chassis and the steering. 

Also Read:

• Subaru Forester user reviews

The Subaru Crosstrek lineup is quite fuel-efficient—especially if you compare it to taller, heavier sport-utility vehicles. The Crosstrek gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway when equipped with the CVT. That is very good for the class, especially considering the model has an all-wheel drive. The Crosstrek with a manual transmission has a rating of 23/31 mpg city/highway.

The Mazda’s class-leading fuel economy of 29 mpg city/35 mpg highway means you’ll spend more time on those twisty roads and less time at the pump. Meanwhile, the Crosstrek marginally falls short of its friendly rival, the Forester, with a combined mpg of 26 when the Forester has 27 mpg. The CVT versions of all Subarus tend to get better mileage than the manual in real-world driving.

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• Fuel efficiency on the redesigned 2018 Crosstrek
• Fuel efficiency on the more powerful 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek's interior is very similar to the Impreza's; and has a simple design focused more towards practicality. A lot of soft-touch trims are all around the interior, and the controls are easy to access and use, with a very sensible arrangement. The interior does feature some standard Subaru bits (like the analog instrument cluster) but it does not look old and sits well. The center console gets a LED illumination at night as well.

 The Subaru Crosstrek seats five and comes standard with cloth upholstery. Available features include leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Crosstrek has spacious seating in the front and rear. A 6-footer can sit behind another 6-footer without compromising anyone’s head- or legroom.

For drivers and passengers alike, the Crosstrek has plenty of room, even with 6-footers in the mix. The Crosstrek offers more legroom in the front, but the Forester is wider and taller. In the second row of seats, the Forester is taller, wider and longer as well. The Mazda's interior sits in between these two, a healthy middle ground. Some interior features are:

• Adjustable steering wheel column
• Leather Upholstery
• Ambient interior lighting
• Steering Wheel Controls
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated Front Seats

2016 Subaru Crosstrek SUV Infotainment

Crosstrek's infotainment system is easy to use. It's audio and climate controls are well-positioned on the center stack, but the audio system’s sound quality is poor. With a standard 6.2-inch touchscreen interface and an available 7.0-inch touchscreen that includes enhanced multimedia features, the Crosstrek has one of the better-equipped interiors in this segment from a technological standpoint.

Standard audio quality is pretty awful though, and there's no premium brand-name upgrade as you'll find in some rivals. Few key features include- 

• 7.0-inch Touchscreen
• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• HD Radio
• MP3 Player
• Premium Sound System (Optional)
• Smart Device Integration
• Onboard Hands-Free Communications System
• Wireless Cell Phone Hookup

Cargo space on the Subaru Crosstrek 

With the rear seatbacks in place, the Crosstrek offers 22.3 cubic feet of storage space, expanding to 51.9 cubic feet with those seatbacks lowered. That's considerably more than the Mazda CX-3, but it trails the crossovers like Subaru Forester by a healthy margin. At least the flat load floor means you're able to maximize the space provided.

The MazdaCX-3 offers the least cargo capacity at 12.4 cubic feet and a max capacity of 42.3 cubic feet. The Forester offers the largest cargo capaciity of 34.4 cubic feet and a max cargo capacity of 68.5 cubic feet.

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• 2016 Subaru Crosstrek interiors
• 2016 Subaru crosstrek dimensions

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek's exterior is heavily based on the Subaru Impreza compact. The exterior features that differenciate the two mechanically are the raised suspension, the restyled bumpers and plenty of body cladding. However, the Crosstrek offers some added capability from its tires and the suspension. Changes to the exterior of the Crosstrek include a new grille, fascia and bumper and redesigned headlights giving the car a sturdy look. The side view will still remind you of the Impreza. At the rear, the low loading bay helps with easy loading of the lugguage. Otherwise, the rear is simple and has had no changes at all.

The 2016 Crosstrek is 14.6 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,109 pounds with the Premium trim and five-speed manual transmission, up to 3,208 pounds with the Limited trim and CVT.

It falls in between the Mazda and the Forester in curb weight, wheelbase, height, width, and even length. The Mazda benefits from the low weight, and the overall smaller dimensions making it more maneuverable. The Forester boasts of the most height, weight and the length. It all comes together well to make the Forester a better car compared to the Crosstrek. Some exterior features are:

• Aluminum wheels
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Fog Lamps (optional)
• Auto-Off Headlights
• Reverse camera
• Sunroof/moonroof

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• Performance on the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek
• Towing capacity on the Subaru Crosstrek 

The Crosstrek’s only standard active safety feature is a rearview camera, but blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Subaru's EyeSight system are available. The EyeSight system comes with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and pre-collision braking. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Subaru Crosstrek a 2016 Top Safety Pick+. The Crosstrek received four out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its rollover and frontal crash tests, as well as five stars for the side crash test. Some safety feature are:

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Traction Control
• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Fully Equipped Airbags

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• Safety featues on the 2016 Crosstrek
• How reliable is the 2016 Crosstrek? 

2016 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2016 Subaru Forester

The 2016 Subaru Forester is a better can all in all. It offers a more powerful engine, with decent performance and control. The interiors on the Forester are well-made, with better quality materials and are roomy in  comparison. Also, the Forester has a better cargo space as well. The handling of the Forester is like a sedan's, and the ride quality is smooth and  composed.

The Forester is a bigger car in general. Both the cars have top safety ratings, but the Crosstrek has a higher reliability rating. The Forester is more expensive than the Crosstrek, but you get a lot for that small price bump. The Forester would be recommended.

2016 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2016 Mazda CX-3

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 is a fun car to drive and has a controlled handling, with a planted ride. The CX-3 is more fuel efficient, allowing for better ranges. Also, the CX-3's interior is more premium, and better stacked as well. The car gets AWD as optional as well. The interior might seem small, but it gets the job done.

The Crosstrek is costlier than the CX-3. It is also more reliable and both the cars have the same crash-test ratings. Out of these two, the CX-3 can be a better choice if the Forester isn't.

The 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is a decent vehicle. If you’re looking for a practical and safe SUV that gets good fuel economy, this all-wheel-drive subcompact SUV may suit you. It’s just not a vehicle that stands out from the competition. If a spontaneous trek up a dirt trail for some camping sound appealing, the off-road-ready 2016 Subaru Crosstrek could be for you. 

Also Read:

• Get a certified Subaru Crosstrek today!
• 2022 Subaru Crosstrek: what's new?