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Time to read 15 min
No matter where you live today in America, you see individuals driving sport utility vehicles, commonly known as the SUV . Decades ago, before this platform became a very popular component within our culture, a vehicle with its characteristics would be looked at as somewhat of a rare hybrid vehicle that targeted a very specific set of responsibilities possibly targeting a driver who lives or works in a challenging environment where a light truck, pickup truck, commercial vehicle, or off-road vehicle would be a welcomed tool for daily survival. In the mid-fifties, the Russians developed a tank-like version of their passenger car with the Pobeda GAZ M-72 , an original crossover which was outfitted with unibody construction, four-wheel-drive, and a muscle-bound profile that couldn't be missed. Twenty years later they would release a smaller, uni-body, box-like three-door passenger vehicle called the Lada Niva , a design which auto historians would reflect back to as one of the significant influences of the sport utility vehicle and crossovers which have evolved into the modern market. This stripped down predecessor included some of the standard features we still see in some modern SUVs and consumer off-road on the road today. It brought a combination of a passenger car with a convenient hatchback, full-time four-wheel drive, low-range gearing, and a lockable center differential. With some of the comfort, handling, and overall appeal obviously lacking in these vehicles, the early makers did pave an important trail to what we see today as the status quo within the automotive world. Even the greatest chefs took their recipes through what it must have seemed like endless combinations to land on the most logical creation - incorporating the best flavor, texture, and consistency that the consumer would enjoy most. Over several decades the needs, the wants, and the comforts of the average driver have obviously changed due to the evolution of technology, lifestyle, and the pursuit of happiness. These changes have birthed ideas that to some seem quite average and pedestrian today, but would have been viewed as science fiction in those earlier times.
As we know, in the 1960s and 1970s the roads were filled with the popular "station wagon" platform which became the needed Swiss Army knife in suburban America and a defining symbol of family transportation for the growing auto industry. A need was overflowing for a passenger vehicle that could deliver many of the services often provided by a pickup truck, van, or commercial utility vehicle but could offer comfort for a family for both daily driving, domestic tasks, and/or weekend travel and recreation. When the automaker Jeep introduced the Cherokee XJ platform in 1984, they brought a solution which incorporated an logically inventive and somewhat perfect combination of characteristics including a unibody design, the functionality of a truck, van and suburban station wagon, the physical size, mechanical strength, and interior space of a service vehicle, along with the comfort and handling of the modern passenger car which was not only innovative but proved to be the recipe leading up designs developed by other brands throughout the 190s and beyond. Those too young to have experienced a marketplace without many of these features not available in anything but large vehicles like trucks and vans, might have difficulty grasping the idea of a time where the four-wheel-drive, SUV, and all-wheel-drive vehicles were not the majority of what is seen on the road or at the local dealership. As we now know, today their are many fish swimming in this widening sea that evolved from makers like Jeep, Toyota, International, GMC, Ford, and others, but as we look around we need to focus on one maker called Subaru who carved a defined mark in the industry with a sharp, leading edge by keeping one eye on the early recipe since the early seventies and a finger on the pulse of their dedicated faithful followers in the community through the 90's. With their Japanese release of the four-wheel drive wagon called the Leone in 1972, they lit a small candle of possibility that would never be extinguished and would soon light the way to the developments of modern crossovers like the Crosstrek and others - changing the landscape forever.
During the first decade of the 2000s, the automotive world had met the consumer head on by providing types of vehicles that could satisfy their needs for service, recreation, and comfort in one broad stroke. Driving on U.S. roads at that time would clearly confirm that approximately 35% of vehicles were categorized as light trucks and SUVs, specifically, about 76 million according to reports generated by 2003. This popular format had become a very profitable offering from those automakers who had models in the running, forcing many auto plants to retool their facilities from producing passenger cars to only building sport utility vehicles. Production was riding a roller coaster between 2000 and 2010 because of fluctuating fuel costs, but true to laws of supply and demand, innovations in the marketplace helped to adjust the course of consumerism, provide alternative solutions within the space, and see increased profit as the last year of that decade began. According to some market analysis and reporting of the time, the amount of SUVs and the newly created crossover vehicles seen on roads around the world had multiplied at a staggering rate. The population of this popular format had grown from 35 million to 200 million vehicles since fuel prices began to drop again in 2010 showing that growth has rocketed worldwide new light-vehicle sales to 40 percent until the end of 2020. In the middle of this explosion of change, innovation, and growth, Subaru had been developing a concept vehicle based on a heightened suspension version of their Impreza hatchback. In 2011, Subaru proudly showed the Subaru XV concept car to the world during the Auto Shanghai event. A smaller, sporty crossover solution for consumers who were possibly interested in the larger Forester, the Subaru Crosstrek featured appealing options including stylish aluminum alloy wheels, attractive body colors, leather seats, decorative mesh interior pieces, navigation, premium audio, and a 2.0-liter, four cylinder engine that was targeted at attracting those who want a compact but rugged SUV covered with a sense of affordability and potential. After this vehicle started some exciting conversations inside and outside the enthusiast community, Subaru launched the 148 hp newbie to the United States market in 2013 as the XV Crosstrek featuring the same powertrain specifications as their popular Impreza while including the car maker's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
Since it's release date over ten years ago, the Crosstrek has proven itself to be a platform that has quickly moved with the times, technology, and customer demand by morphing somewhat into the dependable, comfortable, but rugged "little engine that could" successfully taking on the task of the daily driver but also being that multiple hat wearing utility transport that can hold it's own among a very wide lane of competition. By 2020, the Crosstrek had entered into its second generation which brought changes to both trim and power plant. This version brought a revised direct-injection 154 hp motor with an upgrade of output. Subaru also leveled up its transmission offering by upgrading to a 6-speed manual transmission to improve upon the 5-speed that came with the vehicle's first generation. Quickly into 2021, Subaru again gave the platform another wave of reform by improving the trim, the technology, and offering a 2.5-liter engine with the CVT transmission , their model FB25D , for the first time in its short history. The 182 hp Crosstrek brought a 30 hp improvement over its standard 2.0L engine from previous years, but kept it as an option only for its Sport and Limited versions. During the timeframe of its early life, the Subaru Crosstrek began shining as an example of safety and durability much like many of its siblings the brand offered within other markets. From 2017 to the end of 2021, between successful outings with the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) regiment of testing, the platform was excelling in every category, making it one of, if not the best vehicle in its class for safety. As Subaru moved into the vehicle's third generation through 2022 into 2024, North America began to see the Crosstrek become a very familiar and cherished model within the tribe of faithful. Now with an array of trim models beyond the Base , including the Crosstrek Premium, the Sport, the Limited, and the much anticipated Crosstrek Wilderness, Subaru opened the minds of their customers to a new world of possibilities. Like the earlier influencers foreshadowed, it would successfully take the recipe and bring it to fruition. The Crosstrek not only gave the consumer a rugged performer that could handle the assorted extremes touching both the daily drive and weekend extremes, it now has moved into a more demanding slot. This small SUV and crossover was officially given a badge to explore overland with some provenance under its belt hopefully proving to a competitive market that it can be both comfortable, stylish and perform under harsh conditions just like the emblem proclaims.
At the beginning of this crossover meets sport utility revolution, there must have been an impressive group of enthusiasts with allegiance to their individual brands who fantasized about taking one of the many vehicle offerings into the extreme without completely redesigning what the manufacturer has delivered. Subaru enthusiasts have never been afraid to explore the possibilities and prove that their favorite platforms can perform and most times run over many of those pitted against them in competition. This is not lost on the overland faction as Subaru models throughout the history of the brand have morphed into champions of extreme conditions from rally to off-road challenges. When Subaru spun off the first all-wheel-drive Outback in 1994, enthusiasts were already modifying and improving their platforms to keep up with their four-wheel-drive neighbors heading out to the trail country on the weekend. When the popularity of the SUV began to heighten, it was at a time when these vehicles were seen as utilitarian servants which were built tougher than the average passenger wagon and had the unique capabilities of driving on over rough roads and snowy throughways without becoming damaged or destroyed. They were a good option for those in rural communities, regions with challenging conditions, or for people who had a wide range of recreational pursuits like camping, hunting and fishing. Most of these people had a primary reason to invest in an SUV beyond needing a vehicle to shuttle your large dog, transport the soccer team, or have enough space to bring needed supplies back and forth from the home improvement store. Back in the day the trails were loaded with both four-wheel drive vehicles and other early modified all-wheel drive drivers that could navigate without experiencing serious problems. Whether it be the dirt roads en route to a campsite or cabin, a forest trail leading to a fishing hole, or another open paddock to run smaller off-road vehicles , you could see a number of 4x4 trucks, vans, and utility vehicles motoring under the tree line to get to their destination. At one point in the timeline, proper four-wheel drive vehicles eventually became an affordable option to replace somewhat rough and ready cheaper adventure-seeking vehicles. The four-wheel drive was always a better off-road beast that could do the driver's bidding with their dual-range transmission, oversized wheels and tires, and height to conquer the toughest obstacles. Since the all-wheel-drive SUV has increased in popularity, this scenario with the four-wheel-drive as the dominant player has started to reverse direction. In recent years four-wheel drive vehicles prove to be more expensive since most platforms offered by the major manufacturers have become tank-like recreational vehicles equipped with mind-blowing technology and plush luxury.
Lovers of the off-roading community are now attracted to more affordable, dependable, and surprisingly capable vehicles like the Subaru Crosstrek to satisfy their need to explore a vision of overland paradise. As we have mentioned, the Subaru Crosstrek has quickly become a popular choice among the overland enthusiast in recent years and is an appealing option for those craving the feeling of dust, dirt, and mud mixed with wilderness air. The Crosstrek has entered the ring as the underdog of this off-road battle, but it is truly proving to be the David to their Goliath when it comes to slinging rocks and getting through difficulty when you depend on a friend. Off the showroom floor, the Crosstrek platform gives the driver ground clearance that rivals larger SUVs, Subaru's dependable symmetrical all-wheel-drive, and X-MODE , which is engaged, by literally, a "push of a button". The driver-activated enhancement provides smartly engineered, increased performance when the operator finds themselves challenged when the road conditions or obstacles they face become particularly treacherous or less than simple to overcome with its standard and already capable AWD system. For those unaware, Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system uses a team of smart sensors and electronic logic to monitor the traction of each wheel on the vehicle at all times during normal operation. These components sense when the vehicle loses traction on a specific wheel when it is trying to grip during extreme conditions. At this time, the vehicle's engine power is redistributed to the wheels that still maintain maximum traction by using another internal system called the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) . This allows the driver to be in control while the vehicle's slipping wheel reestablishes traction firmly and safely. With the addition of the X-MODE system the AWD Crosstrek can roll up its sleeves and put a bit more muscle and technical reasoning into the challenge when faced with even larger and more difficult performance equations. With simple access via the dashboard control center, the X-MODE system allows the driver to pick more extreme conditions, like Snow/Dirt or Deep Snow/Mud , and access the same sensors but allow the system to make additional, more detailed and more intelligent adjustments further enhancing the Crosstrek's responses while providing better control, improved traction, and maximum stability. A Subaru overland enthusiast can now approach the road, trail, or other conditions that might include slippery, muddy terrain, snow or icy paths, or steep inclines and declines with a higher degree of confidence and safety. Beyond its stylish personality, small frame, and passenger car comfort, the Subaru Crosstrek offers any trail riding enthusiast a solid platform for off-road recreation at a much lower cost.
Plain and simple, the Subaru Crosstrek has become both a comfortable and dependable daily driver for many that has the additional spirit, durability, and tenacity that will provide an injection of enjoyment and thrills for anyone who chooses to make it their chosen platform. Faithful and critics alike have commented that it is a slower option compared to other vehicles in its class and has a number of space and storage issues that the hopeful want improved in the future, but when you look at the details and weigh the positives versus the negatives, the Subaru Crosstrek can really shine brightly among a group of higher priced, and sometimes less dependable performers. Like we have mentioned, this vehicle can deliver the goods as a dependable road warrior and daily transport, making it a solid, faithful friend to assist with any of your day-to-day tasks under assorted conditions. In bad conditions or when purposefully taken off-road the Crosstrek wraps up the driver with confidence and safety due to its all-wheel-drive system and added X-mode feature set. It doesn't have the performance muscle or potential of the WRX , BRZ , or maybe the Outback, but truthfully, it really doesn't have to stand in front of the crowd trying to convince you that it is something bigger, bolder, and faster. As a surprising trail performer, it can make people turn their heads with its unending determination and unmatched Subaru endurance and dependability that proudly goes toe-to-toe with other brands with similar design aesthetics. YouTube features a large collection of videos where the Crosstrek goes head-to-head with other brands under extreme conditions and repeatedly proves itself as a platform that will not be taken for granted and quit because things got too tough. The popular automotive performance test series from Driving Sports TV has a number of videos dedicated to the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness that would make any non-believer take a second look at this platform and consider its potential as a trail running partner. When the question of comfort arises, the Crosstrek can respond with confidence by delivering a smooth ride during extreme conditions. Its height and robust tire sidewalls assist in absorbing and calming road impacts like annoying potholes, roadway dips, and loose manhole covers that may strike a head spinning blow to other vehicles in its class. Some have given the vehicle's interior and lack of plush luxury the stamp of dull simplicity, but to the trail riding enthusiast who is more concerned with safety, easy clean up, and more simplified design, the Crosstrek may be a great fit in their world. Moreover, this Subaru keeps it simple from its interior offerings to the controlling features on the dashboard's instrument panel allowing the driver not to spend valuable time searching for help when they should be looking forward. Going back to that “perfect recipe”, the Crosstrek is loyal to its name by being the textbook crossover solution - a roomy passenger car, hatchback, and dependable utility vehicle all mixed up into one enjoyable vehicle . Since the 2023 introduction to the Crosstrek Wilderness, Subaru has been very effective in giving the faithful five trim options proving that this platform is a true Road Map to Weekend Trail System that most anyone seeking a full circle of service and performance can obtain any day of the week.
Do you own or have recently purchased a Subaru Crosstrek and don’t know where to start your modification journey?
Subimods has a large selection of aftermarket parts, components, and accessories that can give you that inspirational push that you need to take those first few exciting steps. We offer a number of solutions from some of the industry's premiere manufacturers that can bring your Crosstrek to the next level with quality. Our team is always here to guide you, so never hesitate to contact one of our experienced team members with questions related to any of the products designed to enhance your Subaru Crosstrek.
Check out the product rotator below with some options to hopefully get you started.
Subimods continues to concentrate on providing aftermarket innovations and products that take the Subaru platform of your choice to new levels in the present and the future, no matter if you choose a more exciting, dynamic daily drive, a more exhilarating weekend on the track, or a more aggressive adventure overland and in the wild.
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Bryon Turcotte - Marketing Writer/Analyst
Turcotte has worked as a writer, journalist, and digital content developer for 30 years. He began his career in music journalism in 1995 then worked for several years as both a staff writer, managing editor, and a freelancer for both regional and national music publications. Over the next three decades his contributions extended beyond the music industry as he served within the realms of higher education, science and technology, manufacturing, and finance. He has been serving as a content developer and writer on the Subimods Marketing team since August 2023.
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