Subaru Crosstrek e-Boxer is a solid all-rounder vehicle with unique rugged charm

Most crossovers and SUVs on the market today — especially the smaller ones — do the exact opposite of what their looks suggest. In the face of gentler flash floods, or a muddy, unpaved path where grip is low, these high-riders would be scarcely more helpful than a normal sedan — that is to say, not at all.

Going against the grain, however, Subaru has long prided itself on the versatility of its cars: To remain just as surefooted, whether on unforgivably dry days, or in torrential downpours; on tarmac, or on dirt.

Even as new competitors sprout up by the dozens and the market incessantly shifts around new consumer demands, it's remained steadfast in its commitment to infusing the same all-weather, all-terrain capability into its smallest crossover: The all-new Crosstrek.

More evolutionary than revolutionary

The Crosstrek may sound new, but technically marks the third official generation of the car we once knew as the XV. Subaru arguably helped to pioneer the 'rugged-lite' styling on that first-generation car — one we no longer find novel, nor gawk at on today's smaller-sized crossovers.

Now, two generations on, the freshly-rebadged Crosstrek still doesn't fall far from the tree with its protruding side fenders, roof rails, raised ride height, and plastic cladding all over.

Subaru isn't known for reinventing the design wheel whenever a new car swings around, but that's no bad thing: The Crosstrek announces its new identity most prominently with its slimmer head lights and WRX-like face, while still retaining an overall visual that feels faithful to what we expect from a Subaru.

One particular design cue that gives the car's face a new air of aggression is the bracket-like front bumper, within which its fog lamps are embedded; those 3D-taillights are a nice touch too.

Riding on 19-inch wheels, this is the sort of crossover we'd file under 'conventionally good-looking', which — with its subdued yet modern air — remains distinct to its parent company yet also fresh enough to stand alongside today's competition.

Carrying on Subaru's function-forward ethos

That rugged theme continues into the Crosstrek's cabin, which feels solidly pieced together, and should take no time to get comfortable within even if lacking somewhat in colour and pizazz. Unsurprisingly for a Subaru, finding one's ideal driving position is not a difficult task, and both of the front seats come with electronic adjustment for extra.

This is supposed to be Subaru's entry-level model in Singapore, so the lack of soft-touch materials is understandable (and not to be faulted) — but against the all-digital instrument clusters seen on many other crossovers today, the Crosstrek's persisting analogue-digital mix is starting to show its age.

Where the Crosstrek takes a few steps forward, however, is with its infotainment system. Ditching the more dated dual-screen setup (still found on the Forester), the Crosstrek instead gets a neater-looking 11.6-inch central touchscreen — similar to that on the Outback (sadly no longer on sale in Singapore). 

Again, don't expect the sharpest and most dazzling graphics, but the vertical layout of the screen is used to great, user-friendly effect here, with functions divided into three distinct layers. Best of all, this is the (still) rare, unbiased system that features wireless support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Despite the size of the screen, Subaru has thankfully retained some physical controls — specifically, buttons for the adjusting temperature on the dual-zone A/C, and dials for volume and radio station-tuning/track-skipping — adding on to the ease of navigating the system.

For its size, the Crosstrek also continues to be a decently spacious family car, offering reasonable headroom, and also a good amount of legroom in the rear; we've seen larger transmission tunnels on non-all-wheel-drive cars.

Rear aircon vents would have nicely sealed the deal; that 367-litre boot, despite its large opening and the automatic tailgate, is also a touch smaller than in rivals — but there's ultimately little to fault on the practicality-front. 

The same experience - but improved

Also familiar is the driving experience one gets in the Crosstrek, which undeniably improves on its predecessor, but also comes with the same pain points that drivers of the second-generation XV are likely to have experienced.

We'll start with the good stuff. The Crosstrek's atypical flat-four engine configuration and standard all-wheel-drive help it maintain its status as one of the nicest crossovers to drive in the market today — and all this, despite its slightly above-average ride height.

The car feels well-balanced, and its well-sorted suspension leaves it unfazed and settled even in the face of roads in dire need of some maintenance. Rather than a silver bullet for fuel efficiency (again, this is a crossover, with all-wheel drive), take its new e-BOXER mild hybrid drivetrain more as a weapon to sharpen its already-commendable refinement — and you also won't be disappointed.

On the other hand, the persisting presence of the car's transmission unfortunately continues to dull the driving experience somewhat. 

The combined 148bhp and 196Nm of torque from its 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine and electric motor are not huge numbers to begin with — though still acceptable for a car of its size (the heavier Forester relies on the same drivetrain) — but with the power sent to all four wheels via a CVT, the Crosstrek cannot shrug off a sense of sluggishness off the line. 

Having said that, this transmission does redeem itself with its smoothness; paddle shifters are also on hand for the car's Manual mode — although programmed set points will expectedly still fail to match the same sort of satisfaction as actual gears. 

Taken on the whole, too, those minor quibbles do not detract from the Crosstrek's easy-going disposition. The slight cherry on top is the fact that this remains one of the few cars in its segment today that can handle some proper off-roading; the dual-function X-Mode, which relies on some complex electronic wizardry to complement the car's all-wheel drive, comes as standard. Meanwhile, the Crosstrek also boasts more ground-clearance (220mm!) than the average plastic-cladded family hatch. 

Furthermore, its size strikes the sweet spot between 'big enough' (for family-hauling) yet also 'small enough' (for even our island's older carparks), while the enhanced Eyesight 4.0 system sharpens the car's proven safety credentials even more. We suspect many will enjoy the raised driving position too. 

Putting things into context

Amidst the ever-growing sea of crossovers, the Crosstrek continues to make its case on the grounds of — shall we say — authenticity. Instead of merely suggesting it, Subaru's smallest actually backs its off-road-skewing styling up with the actual mechanical (and electronic) goods.

That's not a quality a good majority of today's other crossovers can lay claim to. As such, those on the hunt for a smaller family car that can deliver not just space and satisfaction behind the wheel, but perhaps provide bits of extra all-weather assurance on the road, will find that the Crosstrek's direct competitors number zero to none.

Alas, however, no car is exempt from the forces of the market.

Apart from the large pool of competitors the Crosstrek goes up against (many of them, turbocharged; others, fully-hybridised), there's also the fact that while Cat B COE premiums are at the highest we've ever seen — quite a different scene to when the wildly successful, second-gen XV was launched. On the one hand, the Crosstrek remains resolutely, confidently a non-luxury car.

On the other, there's also the serious question — of whether off-roading capabilities are actually what buyers want when they get a crossover. 

In a vacuum, Subaru's smallest would be a solid all-rounder — easy to recommend for its unique blend of qualities, and strangely alluring for its uniquely rugged charm. But its inopportune arrival in today's climate suggests that it might have a harder fight uphill today: X-Mode, all-wheel-drive, and all.

Here are a few other crossovers on the market that are worth your attention! 

As easy-to-drive, practical and efficient as crossovers come, the Toyota Corolla Cross delivers a zero-shock factor that more than satisfies its family name

The Nissan Qashqai might well be the last word in quietness and comfort among compact SUVs

What we like

• Improved refinement over predecessor
• Decently roomy for its size
• Nicer to drive than the average crossover
• Mild but genuine all-terrain ability makes it unique in its segment

What we dislike

• CVT still dulls the driving experience
• Lack of palpable power
• Outdated instrument cluster

ALSO READ: Toyota MR2 is reborn as a futuristic electric coupe codenamed FT-Se

This article was first published in sgCarMart.