Driven! The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- It’s a Subaru first! A car with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and an electric charge port. The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid gets a little help from Toyota’s parts bin, but remains true to Subie dynamics. Tom Voelk reviews the pluses and minuses of this hybrid system. Some buyers will want more pure EV range and others will need the full capacity of the standard Crosstrek trunk. But this plug-in hybrid works well for the right owners.
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About Tom:
Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award. He also married way out of his league. Now, stop reading this promotional copy bragging about Tom's photography and editing skills and watch a couple episodes. It's much more interesting.
So many negative comments from people who have never even driven a Crosstrek PHEV. We own one and after almost 2,000 miles we couldn't be happier. We consistently get 20 - 21 miles out of a fully charged battery which easily covers our normal day to day driving. Our electric cost per mile is about 1/3 that of gasoline. So far we're averaging 45 mpg combined, and the first 1,100 miles were on a road trip through the Cascades and mountains of Eastern Oregon where we didn't have a chance to plug it in. It's been a month since we filled the tank and still have over 1/4 of a tank left. We can fit all of the luggage and gear the two of us take on road trips with the rear seats folded down so the reduced cargo space isn't an issue for us. In fact, we're happy to trade some lost cargo space for retaining a superior full-time AWD system and almost nine inches of ground clearance. The only time I can feel the ICE kick in is during a cold start, but after the engine is warmed up cycling on and off is unnoticeable. The transition from regenerative to physical braking is seamless. Handling is excellent, the ride is smooth, seats are comfortable and acceleration in sport mode is more than adequate. No vehicle is the perfect vehicle for everybody but this Crosstrek PHEV is perfect for us and our lifestyle.
instaBlaster.
Love this review and your attention to detail! I just received my 2023 Crosstrek Limited PHEV several weeks back in Montreal, QC and have been loving every moment of my time with this amazing Trek. I never use gas in the city and we have significant amounts of traffic. I also have a 400km round trip at the end of each week that I do, mostly using Save Mode, and the Atkinson's cycle is crazy efficient. I have been seeing 5.5-6.5L/100km now that I am done breaking in the engine. Your review was extremely helpful when I was learning everything that I could while waiting for my car to be delivered.
Love plug-in hybrids: No range anxiety, no waiting in long public charging lines for your turn, no waiting for long charging times at public
charging stations.
Great review as usual, absolutely packed with pertinent info, and with the smoothest delivery!
As always. A nice and comprehensive review
Hi Tom, THANKS for reminding me, I am going to book my 2nd oil change for my 2017 Chevrolet Volt this morning. Thanks for reminding me. OMG, I love my Volt, but I almost forgot. Gas generator only has 9,800 kms on it. The electric motor has over 48,000 kms on it. Hahaha. You are so right!
You should get a message on your cluster when it's time for an oil change. Generally it's every couple years unless you use the engine a lot.
Had our 2023 for only 3 weeks amazing, for one thing we drive primarily around suburbia and small cities, by the stop and go and coasting realized we got 40 miles on electric. After 208 miles put in 1.4 gallons to fill. We are older and do not expect to get payback, but great to fly past gas stations and have the added advantage of charging at home with the fact that we don't have to look for charging station. 1 day ago read a report from AAA and consumer reports that full electric cars like Tesla in freezing weather like we experience can loose up to 40 to 50 percent range. If true hard to believe.
great review as always ! thank you .. looks as tho the new camera is working well!? glad we were able to help you
It's working great. Thanks B S.
It seems like it is a first try. Limited range. Intrusion into interior space by battery. Can’t even force it into electric mode. Wait till next upgrade.
Rav 4 hybrid 👀
Love your reviews. Keep up the great work
Should've just made a regular hybrid that would have given the Crosstrek some much needed extra horsepower and better MPG.
SunnyD88 They’ve already tried that, and failed. The boxer engine mates to the physical transaxle kills the battery storage area and compatibility with modern hybrid systems. Subaru will need to make very serious changes to fit a proper hybrid into any of their cars. They may do better simply to design a pure EV.
This is a regular hybrid, but with a more powerful electrical system. You don't have to plug it in, and you'll still get better mpg. And the extra torque makes it quicker to accelerate at low speeds (but it's probably still underpowered on the highway).
matt v While you don’t have to plug it in, it gets the same MPGs as the regular hatchback if you don’t, you lose the spare and half the usable trunk space, and a few thousand dollars in cost, which means financially, you’d be better off buying a regular Limited.
@@afcgeo882 We got 36 mpg in our new Crosstrek PHEV without plugging it in during a 1,100 mile road trip through the mountains during engine break-in. Left on that trip the day we bought the car. Now, after almost two months, nearly 2,000 miles and keeping the battery charged at home since we returned from that trip, we're getting 45 mpg. Ours is the base hybrid trim, which is still fully loaded, it cost just over $36,000 and we're getting a $1,500 cash rebate from Oregon and a $4,502 tax credit from the feds bringing our net cost down to about $30,000. These reviewers on youtube are driving Crosstrek PHEV's with the optional $2,500 accessories package and not really emphasizing the federal tax credit, other potential rebates or the fact that there's a less expensive model.
@@mattv5281 Ours has plenty of power at highway speeds, even in the max fuel economy "intelligent" mode. Haven't really needed it so far, but if we want faster acceleration, "Sport" mode is programmed for a more aggressive power curve.
Plug in hybrids are great if you don’t travel much day to day. It’s just a lot of new technology and many that are decent to drive are just expensive...at least this and the mini look cool.
And bmw is planning to electrify every model. Same with vw I believe
Great review Tom! Best on the web.
I could totally tell by the first part of the test drive that he was in the Seattle area, then he pulled up the map which showed Seattle street names... Then his reveal around the 10-minute mark that was indeed based in Seattle. It is a fact that in the especially in Ballard neighborhood (NW Seattle) Subaru Crosstek's are standard issue.... they're like rabbits in that part of town. So much so that my longtime SAAB only service shop Scanwest (Greenwood - North Seattle) went Subaru service (along with other badges like, gag... BMW) out of just survival since the SAAB badge has died (sniffle...).
The Subaru badge aligns well here in the Pacific Northwest with the hippie ethos amongst ruthless Amazon corporate culture. It is a feel-good badge aligns with good emission efforts and the REI great outdoors camping hiking midset.
Gets cold here, battery pack would get a serious workout. No for now. Great review as always.
It has heaters for the battery as long as it's plugged in. I have a Prius Prime which uses the same battery. The owners manual says if you drive it below -20F the car might be damaged, and if it's below -40F the car will probably be damaged. Unless you live somewhere that gets that cold, it's probably fine. When it's below a certain temperature the engine will come on right away when you start it, and EV mode won't be available, so the battery doesn't get too much of a workout. For the Prime that temperature is about 14F, not sure what it is for the Crosstrek.
@@mattv5281 that's all true, but the temperature kills the range
@@marcob1729, very high temperatures degrade the capacity of the battery over time, but that's probably only a concern for people living in places like Phoenix. A lithium battery can be damaged if it's charged too quickly at very low temperatures, but the car automatically protects itself against that (that's why the engine always runs if it's below a certain temperature). And cold temperatures will temporarily reduce the range. But I'm not aware of any long term negative effects from change in temperature or cold temperatures.
In addition, the battery heater keeps the battery around 32 degrees F as long as it's plugged in, so the temporary loss of capacity isn't too bad if you're charging it regularly. If it's not plugged in and the battery gets colder, the engine will probably come on anyway, so range won't matter.
If you live somewhere where it's below freezing most of the time then you might not get as much benefit from a plug in hybrid, versus someone living in a place with more moderate weather.
@@mattv5281 you missed the point a bit. Long term damage isn't the issue. It's the fact that cold temperatures bring the range down to almost pointless levels. For areas that experience cold weather a good portion of the time, this effect seriously harms the value proposition
I'm waiting for someone to give me a plug in for trailheads or a pick up that gets enough miles to get to and from work. Jeep Gladiator with 35 miles of charge? Sign me up!
It would be nice if the return on investment on the hybrid version of the Crosstrek could be realized before the five year mark, at least when compared to the normal Crosstrek. But I'm glad to see that Subaru has a decent hybrid product available at dealerships, which I'd imagine many of the Subaru people would be interested in.
Great channel. This is Tom from the wedding in Kenwood.
Yo Tom! Hope all is well and that the wedding footage was usable. Best of luck with the camera. Next week's review will have some wedding footage in it.
I couldn't care less for a Subaru review....but I had to watch the whole video only because it's Tom!
Same here lol
That cargo capacity reduction is less than I thought. HMMMM. As always, you’re awesome, Tom!
B HM In 2019, if you’re not offering a design that is purpose-built to accommodate a battery under the seat or floor, you failed.
That’s a bullshit number. In reality, that capacity reduction makes this car almost unusable because the total cargo capacity number is the total cargo space from the floor to the ceiling, but the space from the top of the seat back to the ceiling is practically unusable in most situations. The actual effect is that almost half of usable trunk volume is lost.
People think the hybrid is for fuel economy but the CVT has a reputation for being weak at low speed in offroad conditions, I think this is how Subaru deal with it, the electric motor goes from a standing start (on a steep incline) until say 15MPH and handing over to the CVT for everything else.
Corolla use a first gear instead for a smoother standing start.
Not sure if the CVT is “weak” or if the computer control prevents the application of power under some conditions.
I have the 2018 XV and have experienced once this non power situation and now realise it is related to the traction control system but haven’t replicated the problem to test.
@Daryl Cheshire Nice try, but we own one and that's not how it works. The transmission in the Crosstrek PHEV is a planetary gear based CVT that incorporates two electric motor/generators, one is a drive motor and regenerative braking generator, the other starts the gas engine and charges the battery when operating in hybrid mode. We can travel over 20 miles and up to 65 mph on battery power in EV mode and we're getting almost 54 mpg overall so it absolutely IS about fuel economy. When off-roading the CVT's electric drive motor does increase low end torque but that's not the main purpose of the PHEV system. Both sport-mode and X-mode lower the gear ratios and enhance the gas engine's throttle response for faster acceleration, or more torque for better hill climbing performance, compared to the power mapping of intelligent mode for better fuel economy.
Hey Tom! Wondering if you can look at the more recent releases of this car? or any thoughts on if there are improvements? I am considering this for a plug in hybrid option and from this review it seems like a lesser option.
I'll probably wait until the hybrid is completely revamped. Without checking, I don't believe it's changed much since I drove it. Haven't been paying attention though.
Tom, If drivers can't be bothered to shift their own gears then the Hybrid is the best option in any model where it is offered. In this case it happens to be a plug-in hybrid which makes the choice even more obvious.
Right Lane Hog Not for that price it doesn’t.
Really, nobody noticed it? That's crazy. I wish it was more readily available in Seattle. Not saying I'd buy one, but it sure would make it easier for a test drive.
Ours gets noticed a lot. Along with plenty of stares, total strangers come up asking all kinds of questions and comment on how much they like the Lagoon Blue Pearl paint job, including a Tesla owner and his buddy who were parked next to me at the hardware store today. Folks are pretty impressed when they learn we're getting almost 50mpg and can drive over 20 miles all electric with a fully charged battery.
Ok what’s with the weird sculptures at the side of the road at 4:05 and 6:00 minutes?!! I don’t remember seeing those on Queen Anne hill or anywhere.
Who said this was on Queen Anne? In fact, I never shoot on QA, too many other cars.
So what about those weird sculptures Tom?
the engine sits low in the bay but the battery is high up on the rear axle... not so subaru-ish ... i'd would have gone with a mild hybrid or with an electrical rear axle (it is the future)...
Laughed out loud when I heard the comment about Subaru's being issued to Seattle residents. When I moved the area in the '80's I thought everyone was required to buy a boat. Crosstreks strike me as the official vehicle of Belltown. (The single, affluent, hipster neighborhood of choice in the city.) At $38K+ MSRP the plug-in hybrid is pricey but tax credits and fuel savings balance that a bit. Unfortunately at over 14 ft long the Crosstrek doesn't qualify for a ferry discount like my GTI and unlike California there's no accommodation even for EV's, much less hybrids, in HOV lanes. Of course, no one can understand the arcane rules for HOV eligibility and pricing in Washington State anyway. Of course, no one said saving the planet was going to be cheap. Just ask our Governor.
Nice, and I thought I was going to abandon the brand for my next car
Does the hybrid have a torque converter at all or does it just kick over to the EV motors when it’s below 15ish mph? What happens, does it just idle or completely turn off after it’s on?
It's a plug-in hybrid that uses a planetary gear system with two electric motor/generators, pretty sure there's no torque converter. One electric motor/generator is a drive motor and regenerative braking generator, the other motor/generator starts the gas engine and charges the battery when the gas engine is running. The planetary gear system distributes power between the gas engine and the electric drive motor. With a fully charged battery we can drive somewhere between 18 to 21 miles at speeds up to 65 mph in full EV mode. The gas engine kicks in when the battery is depleted or when exceeding 65 mph or when more power is needed. The gas engine and regenerative braking maintain a minimal charge in the battery for hybrid driving and in hybrid mode the gas engine turns on and off as needed at any speed below 65 mph.
Tim Erney wow, what a great response. Thanks!
Is this car still good today?
Good review! 👍
Love the blue exterior. Not a fan of the blue bits inside though. Just saying.
Great review
Is the Buick lacrosse the most comfortable affordable sedan?
It's very comfy. Off the top of my head you might also try Lexus ES, Toyota Avalon, Kia Cadenza, and Lincoln Continental when you're test driving.
Is electricity free? No ! You still have to pay for that too. Good lock with free electricity at work. Curious to find out more about the CVT transmission is it chain or planetary gears like a Rav 4 Hybrid ?
A lot of companies offer electric charging for employees
In a lot of places electricity is cheaper than gas for the same amount of energy. It might or might not be where you live.
Where we live in Oregon, we have about the lowest electricity rates in the country but we also have some of the highest gas prices. We consistently get between 20 - 21 miles out of a fully charged battery which easily covers normal day to day driving. Our electric cost per mile is about 1/3 that of gasoline. After nearly 2,000 miles we're averaging 45 mpg, it's been a month since we filled the tank and we still have over 1/4 of a tank left. The CVT uses a planetary gear system.
They got rid of the hybrid but have a plug in hybrid??? Lol whaaaa
I would assume that this hybrid would have better mpg than the rav4, does the actual mechanical awd over the rav4 electric one make a difference?
Absolutely, mechanical drivetrain losses will always be much higher and because of that the RAV4 gets slightly better fuel economy. There are some big advantages though when it comes to really low traction situations. An electric only rear axle like the RAV4 or Outlander PHEV cannot apply nearly as much power which could be disastrous in a situation where only the rear wheels, or worse, one of the rear wheels has traction. Subaru had to choose on whether to compromise fuel efficiency or traction and they chose the one that better aligns with their customer base. People that buy Subarus expect excellent AWD traction.
CJRhoades Slightly better fuel economy? The RAV4 gets over 30% better fuel economy!
I wish outback was hybrid
2 year oil changes?
Oil breaks down in less than a year.
I use Mobil 1 full synthetic. Mobil 1 was tested in NY city tax cabs. They checked out after 14,000 miles. Hardly any breakdown when using Mobil 1. Been using it since I bought my first vehicle, and never had any problems.
I agree with jmen8888. I use Mobile 1. I run it in all my cars. It works. When it comes to the ELR and Volt, the cars signal when an oil change is required. It's not an issue.
"you can order one" wait, is this like the Niro EV & Kona EV, meaning good luck finding one on a dealer lot?
You are correct sir.
I'm guessing it will be nearly impossible to track down. I already inquired at a big local Subaru dealership and they basically said "not gonna happen" which is really too bad given the number of hybrids in the Seattle area.
@@eganfo Manufactures must have found a way to get around or delay CAFE. Yes we make it buuuuuuut it's ummmm delayed, yeah delayed because of this and that, but we do have an ETA of XX/XX/2020. Kia & Hyundai are playing the same games.
This vehicle makes no sense. Subaru should invest R&D on a ful electric vehicle imo.
Comment if you disagree or agree.
I agree ... This is a vehicle that Subaru had to make to satisfy some states’ emission standards.
Agreed but Subaru is a tiny automaker. Yell more at Ford, Toyota and VW before killing Subaru.
Come to Maine or Connecticut if you wanna visit the land of Subaru.
Typically the Northwest is the number one market, but the Denver area and the Northeast have occasionally taken the top spot.
Driven Car Reviews Denver, the Northwest and the Northeast aren’t actual car markets and cannot be compared.
@@afcgeo882 Well, if you talk to Subaru, it breaks them down as markets.
Driven Car Reviews So you believe a salesman over basic critical thinking? Denver has a population of 620,000 people, with 2.8 million in the metro area.
The Northeast has a population of 56 million.
Do you want to compare the geographic area?
So are you a fool or are you taking is to be fools?
Every state, city or even county is a “market”, but that doesn’t make them comparable.
@@afcgeo882 Not a salesperson. Subaru execs. And it's the region the Denver is lumped into to be perfectly clear.
A bit too expensive in my opinion to be worth it. Maybe a more attractive proposition with incentives, but still, not really. Financially speaking, of course.
Looked at a number of cars recently and the newer Subarus seem overpriced, have ugly interiors with cheap looking trim and have that awful CVT transmission. Owned a Forester (when it was smaller) and loved it, but went with the discontinued VW Alltrack. They can be had at a discount, have been updated since the Driven review and have a great warranty. The Turbo 1.8L and DSG is a lot happier to drive than Subarus with the CVT.
4:31 "Like all EVs and hybrids, coasting and braking regenerates power. . . ." That's not true, Tom. The number 1 selling EV in the US and Europe, Tesla, does not engage regeneration when the brake pedal is pressed. It uses old-fashioned friction braking only with the brake pedal.
All my other hybrids and EVs, except for one MG Midget homebuilt EV, behave just as you said.
True, lazy on my part to not thoroughly explain that difference.
Still a compelling CUV with its 2.4t engine option
Not available in every state. Too expensive. Not much better than the XV Hybrid. Come on Subaru, geez. Put your ties with Toyota, to good use!
It is much better than the XV hybrid. This does use mostly Toyota parts for the hybrid system, but maybe that wasn't clear from the video. The battery, motors, and I suspect most of the hybrid electronics are Toyota.
It's an incremental improvement, but I was hoping for something more dramatic. I love my Subarus, but their lack of solid hybrid choices could have me looking elsewhere.
matt v I’m not sure about “much better”. A smidge better, but that’s pushing it. And WAY too expensive for what it is. It won’t sell well until they crank up the power and electrification.
@SubieN8 it looks like you are not very informed, this was developed with Toyota and has the PSD like all Toyota Hybrids.
Keep in mind Tom, that Soobi drivers only cleanse their bungholes with 100% recycled dungcoupons and/or reusable cloth made from hemp, so you may want to reconsider your TP test for future Subi reviews.
All the best,
Peter
WHY?
Norway gets a NON plugin hybrid
That's a mild Hybrid, NOT full Hybrid like the one in the video.
Yeah it is Lagoon Blue Pearl 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid Charging 2 Hours 2.0L 4-Cylinder 137 Hp 134 Torque/ Main Electric Motor provides 118 Hp 149 Torque 90 MPGe Or 35 MPGe In Only Gas Mode 1,000lbs Gauge Cluster Screen Climate Control 27-33-29 Standard 14 Bags Of Towel Ulimate Subcompact $35,500 Thousand Dollars!!!!!!!!!!
No spare no sale.
Not even a consideration for PHEV buyers, who can get the Outlander, with more range, power, interior space and cargo space for much less money. This is a compliance vehicle.
The Outlander gets closer to 25mpg in gas-only mode so it isn't exactly comparable. It is bigger so that makes sense if you need the space. They are also somewhat hard to find.
TheGerm24 people who buy PHEVs buy them for their plug-in range. These are people who would own an EV, if it wasn’t for their range anxiety. Otherwise they’d just get a RAV4 hybrid or something like it. It gets better overall MPGs than any PHEV CUV. No. These are people who typically drive less than 20 miles a day and plan on almost never using gasoline. In that use scenario, the Outlander is what they’ll choose. Also, the Outlander is actually easier to find than this Crosstrek.
Saving only 2k that needs a return rate of 5 yrs is garbage when the price tag is premium even against regular top model xv. Its not worth the price and efficiency
Aoru Not always accurate to just multiply miles per year by EPA estimate when it comes to electrics. Many Volt owners refuel once per month or less because they use electric-only for most drives and never touch the ICE. (Ask Tom about his Cadillac).
@@alliejr If you actually do the NPV of costs the premium on electric motor is actually much more costly than paying for gas. Btw govt rebates are not guaranteed.
@@441meatloaf It depends on the particular model and what comparison is used (e.g., since all Teslas are electric, you cannot compare the "electric version" vs the "gas version"). Electricity prices vary more widely across the U.S. ($0.06 to $0.20 per kWh) than gasoline prices. For this Subaru, you might be correct based on Subarus pricing strategy. I was just pointing out that it's too simplistic to multiply EPA estimate by miles driven without factoring miles driven on electricity which is done at a different price per mile than when operating on the ICE. True, government rebates are not guaranteed, but neither is the current absense of a carbon tax, so perhaps the ICE version of this Subaru might becomne hugely more expensive than the hybrid version in the future. Hybrids and electrics are not necessarily about saving cash money (although the price delta between most modern ICE and hybrid variants has shrunk to almost zero). There is an economic price to be paid for the carbon emissions as well, with or without a tax on it.
@@alliejr Im not comparing to Tesla im comparing Subaru against all other hybrids. Subaru is a terrible manufacturer of hybrids. They pulled out in 2016 when their first attempt of crosstrek hybrid was such a bad combo, people did not like it.
Hmm, 17 miles of EV range (12 in winter), less cargo capacity, still using gasoline unless you keep it under 65mph. Sorry, I'll keep my Honda Clarity PHEV, with 50 miles of EV range, big trunk, big sedan ride, and $7500 Federal Tax Credit.
This goes off road, which the clarity can't do. It has over 8 inches of ground clearance. If you don't need that capability then there are definitely better choices for PHEVs or EVs than this.
Would like to see how it goes offroad. The electric motor is from a Camry, but the all trasmission is designed for the Subaru.
WolfoxBenny The electric motor is NOT from a Camry, which relies on two electric motors.
@@afcgeo882 I red the main electric motor is from the Camry and knowing the system is the one connected to the output of the transmission. The first electric motor and all the PSD is built exclusively for Subaru, because no Toyota has this architecture.
WolfoxBenny You’re the perfect example of someone who reads, doesn’t understand what he’s reading, but feels informed anyway.
The Toyota Synergy drive is what makes Toyota’s hybrids so good. It uses two electric motors and a planetary gear set to drive the vehicle. One electric motor works as a generator to charge the battery and one to directly power the wheels. All that, powered by an Atkinson cycle engine.
The Subaru Crosstrek has the direct drive motor off the Camry/Rav4/Prius, but lacks the rest of the system. It has no charging motor. It doesn’t have a planetary gearset for a transmission and it doean’t have an Atkinson cycle engine. Comparing this Crosstrek to a Camry is like comparing a farm tractor to a Camry because both have wheels.
Great review Tom! Too much Toyota in current Subaru offerings...
S Newland Toyota owns a big chunk of Subaru. So...
Model 3 starts at 35k
CaliforniaMISC once you add AWD to the model 3 the price jumps well past the Crostrek (which comes standard with AWD)
The Crosstrek goes off road. If you don't need that then of course the model 3 is a better car for the same price.
Jesse James with CVT AWD is worthless
@@CaliforniaMISC Totally not true. I've had 2 Subarus with a CVT and they've both done just fine off road.
yet another compromised cargo space due to a battery being slapped on rather than designed into the chassis. 17miles EV range is terrible.
i was brand loyal to subaru until they killed all turbo hatches. bye bye subaru.
Woah that's a lotta shit paper
Close to 40k? No trunk space? 17 mile electric range? Most people drive more than 17 miles a day and way more on weekends. Anything less than 50 electric range on a PHEV is useless for most people. And not too many people can or allowed to plug in for free at work or school. Too many minuses to make it a practical car for most people. Would be cheaper to operate the regular gas version. Would take many years and many miles to break even on the extra 6k or so extra for the hybrid version assuming you keep the car long enough to even get to the break even point. And if the battery degrades there goes any savings you saved on gas by paying for replacing the degraded cells or reselling the car at a deep loss with a bad battery.
Don't get me wrong. PHEV's make sense as they have the best of both worlds. But the puny trunk space on this hybrid makes it a useless travel car for more than one or two people. It is basically a daily in town get around car with so many limitations and the 6k extra is too much to pay for so many sacrifices.
More like 38k which includes a $2,500 options package, without that package ours cost about 35k and we received a total of 6k in rebates and tax credits so our net cost was about 29k. Our electric range is around 20 miles on average which covers all our local trips. We're getting 50mpg overall and that mileage includes several road trips with a lot of driving in the mountains. Speaking of road trips, there's more than enough room for all the luggage and gear the two of us take along, with or without the rear seats folded down. It might not work for everyone but it's pretty much the perfect car for us.
@@timerney9767 Which state you live in? Tax credits aren't the same everywhere. And it's still kind of confusing on how the tax credit works and if one can take full advantage of it. Also the plug in hybrids are hard to get if not impossible for most states.
@@bubbalo3388 We live in Oregon where the Crosstrek PHEV is eligible for a $1,500 cash rebate from the state. The problem is these reviewers on youtube don't spend much, if any, time explaining that without the optional $2,500 accessories package and with the federal tax credit and potential state rebates and/or tax incentives, the net cost might be closer to 30k than 40k. Factoring in real world performance, i.e. up to 21 mile electric range, 50mpg, surprising acceleration in "sport mode", it's a way better value than what the reviewers make it seem. It's unfortunate that many states offer zero incentives for purchasing electrified vehicles, but I think all the CARB states where the Crosstrek PHEV is readily available do offer some sort of incentive. The federal tax credit is pretty straightforward, it reduces the amount of federal income taxes owed and with some basic financial planning most folks should be able to receive the full credit like we did. Anyone buying any electrified vehicle is going to encounter the same rebate/tax credit issues, though.
@@timerney9767 Yeah the tax credits help but varies from person to person and for me I would want to add the option package. And where I live, plug in hybrids are hard to come by so I would be paying premium prices if I can even find one at all. If you live in a state where you can take full advantage of all the write offs and get to use the HOV lanes for free as a single occupant then a PHEV makes an excellent choice. But the 17 miles electric range is way too little for me personally as the main reason for me to buy a PHEV is so I would have enough electric range so I wouldn't have to use gas at all unless I had a long trip. And also with more electric range it gives me a cushion if I forgot to or didn't have time to recharge. And the trunk is way too small for me to be useful.
Thumbs up for Tom, not the car.
So some religious people like Subaru.
Seems underwhelming. We need a full Toyota system with Subbie all-wheel drive.
Sorry Subaru, i wont be replacing my 3.0 Legacy so long as you go down the CVT path
Sounds like they took the worst parts of Toyotas hybrid tech and threw it in. Pass.
Dest Droid It has NO parts of Toyota hybrid tech. Toyota’s hybrids have always relied on Atkinson cycle engines, which Subarus don’t run. Toyota hybrids also have no direct driveshaft AWD capability.
Ah yes...Subaru.
From Bellingham down to Eugene, these dinosaurs probably make up a third of the cars in the I-5 corridor (and about 90% of the cars going 10 under in the passing lane). The self-righteous owners with their empty Thule caps, like they actually have sporting lives, have no idea how the company has been rotting for years and is full of major quality issues.
They have dogs in their commercials so how could they be this company: "Subaru has been reeling from far-reaching quality-control issues since 2017, when it admitted unauthorized staff had conducted vehicle inspections at two domestic plants for more than 30 years" Hmm. Maybe because not a single car reviewer would dare discuss this. Wonder why?
Their new sugardaddy Toyota (FHI is dumping this mess on them) throws in old Prius tech and US reviewers and US customers continue to fawn.
Because dogs...