Note to regular viewers: This video was filmed before we filmed our review of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, which which included the same locations. So when Ryan says he's never been here before... it was accurate at the time of this filming.
@@We-Cook-It I agree. I was kinda missing it. Here's hoping that the mid-cycle refresh coming up later this year will open the door to a lot more coverage from then on the Forester.
@Blabat Balabar the pricing we list is just destination and delivery. Not including taxes. Thanks for watching! The RAV4 is good, but I would pick the Outback from between the two. Between the RAV4 and Crosstrek, it’s harder because the Crosstrek is just smaller, which might be an issue.
Driving Sports TV This videos should be about WHICH IS MORE OF A BORING FAMILY CAR WITH AWD (not 4X4 High or Low) CVT (no gears) and looks like a Kia with less power than a ford toyota or most manufacturers Why do people buy these with so many better choices out there. I daily drive a wrangler and the new ones ride the same as a normal suv but the top and doors are off all summer long!!! Not to mention jeep communities and the only brand (jeep) that doesn’t look like a soccer mom car. Do videos showing Jeeps compared to Maserati (who makes them) and the jeep communities
@@chadhanson4369 My Onyx XT is far from boring. I can take it anywhere outside of rock crawling and it's a pleasure to drive on roads. The power is awesome as well. My jeep on 35's is great for what it is, but as far as which is more fun overall, the subaru is easily.
@@0HOON0 unfortunately it is looking like the answer to that is no. The manual leaked and it just says "CVT" for the transmission. Same as the other trims.
Basically it's going to be a scam. A minor lift with nothing else to really improve off-road ability. Sad, they really could have had something there. Imagine a real automatic/manual transmission with a dual range transfer case like they used to have.
What I've learned from all of Driving Sports TV's videos is, Subaru should bring back an all new and improved Baja (maybe under a different name?) so they can compete in the small truck segment, and give the other car companies a run for their money.
I agree. With Ford's Maverick, Hyundai's Santa Cruz, and Honda's Ridgeline, Subaru has a good position to dominate that market. I also think a Subaru small truck would look the best of them all, just imagining what it might look like.
Not having driven a crosstrek I am glad you did this review. I have an Outback and love it for the driving. I do CA to WA to WY back to CA and it’s one of the most comfortable cars in the highway I have ever driven. And it’s pretty good off-road. I plan on some Faulken A/T for my next tires.
Was looking at the Crosstrek for months as my first purchased car but ended up getting an Outback Onyx Edition. The Crosstrek just felt like a vehicle I would've bought when I was in my mid 20s but now that I'm 30 I just wanted to think ahead a little more.
So I just got home. I picked up the new 2021 crosstrek sport plasma yellow !!!! Oh man this car is sweet ! I honestly watch this video this morning and completely made up my mind. Went down to my dealer and picked one up thanks for the honest reviews.
My wife bought the exact same car and needed to take it back to the dealer the next day for a couple of tweaks. She got in a fender bender a block from the dealer!!! Almost SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS quoted from one repair shop. Apparently whenever there is an accident they are required to basically tear the fucking car apart to test every little thing. GREAT cars, but whatever you do...don’t damage the fucking things.
I have a 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx that I actually "ordered" so it has a few more "bells & whistles", mostly "protection", ie Bodyside Moulding, Door Edge Guards, Rubber Floor Mats, etc. I also later added the Engine Guard & Rear TransAxle Guard along with a Trailer Hitch for my Bike Rack! So far it's been perfect, and I love how it handles! Subarus are Fabulous cars! Great Video too!
What beautiful scenery - Thank you for taking us along for the ride! I kept finding myself thinking how cool would it be to watch you work the shifter in the Crosstrek when you hit the trails with the 2.5L (I know not available) and show the different way in which the AWD works with the manual. For the 10k+ savings, I'd go with the Crosstrek plus I also prefer a stiffer suspension.
I have a 2021 Crosstrek premium. I think the 2.0 engine is plenty... I understand more is better but I’ve been completely happy with it. Had a blast mudding it a bit today!
I really enjoy how you put the vehicles you guys test through such challenges. I will be searching for a new vehicle in the fall and I have been watching your videos a bunch and they have been so helpful as some of those mountain roads look like my daily commute to work in northern Maine haha.
I got the 2021 Crosstrek Sport and immediately lifted it 2", put on a set of 225/65 17" Toyo All Terrain III's and a skid plate in front. I now have 11 3/4" at the rear pumpkin .. I've run it in Death Valley and Moab and have surprised myself with how capable the Trek is .. it's 14" shorter then the Outback and about 500/600 lbs lighter. The Trek is very nimble .. I see that when driving my Ford Explorer with 33" tires .. the Trek easily outhandles it. I have a bed inside the vehicle and it's my main overlanding rig now. A friend sent me this review and I had seen it earlier as I had responded! In the mean time my son bought a Wilderness because of our time in the Crosstrek .. mainly because it's bigger and there are two of them. The Sport is 664 lbs lighter .. 14.8" shorter and 3.2" shorter wheelbase then his Wllderness. My Toyo's died .. long story .. and now the Trek is fitter with BFG KO2's and I'm still getting 30+ mpg. I think we figured that the Trek get's on average about 4 mpg better over the Wilderness.
Last November (2021) I bought my wife a 2019 Outback (with only 5,600 miles ), early for her 50th birthday. It’s underpowered (175hp), but it’s super comfortable on our road trips. It’s her commuter car. On 12/11/22 I bought a 2019 Forester Touring (with 4,700 miles) to replace my 2011 Rav 4WD Limited. We have found that our Subie’s are far superior over my previous Rav 4WD. We’re taking my Forester to Missoula MT over New Years (2023) to meet with family. I’m looking forward to seeing how comfortable it’ll be for the 6 hour drive from our home here in north central WA .
Outback XT no doubt. Who doesn't want more power and storage space. !! Currently drive a 16 Outback and it's my favorite car I ever owned. Throw a Yakima cargo box on top and you can pack golf clubs, baseball gear, beach stuff for family of 4 with no problems ...
Thank you for calling out the bright headlights on the Outback. We also have the Onyx and I couldn’t go more than 10min at night with out being flashed. I believe they are aimed too high from the factory. After I adjusted them lower, quick and easy to do, we have not been flashed once.
It seems they have improved the CVTs for off-roading. Glad to see that. I was rather concerned since they excluded the MT from future models short of the WRX, STi, and BRZ.
I have never been the type to say one brand was better than the other. Even people arguing over Ford and Chevy trucks of just dumb. But I'm on my second Crosstrek. Either myself or my wife will have a Subaru. My son's first vehicle will be a Subaru. After about 3 months with my first one, I got it. I understood what it is about Subaru.
"If there were two things I would wish for here, it would be additional ground clearance and more aggressive tires. If Subaru could deliver a car from the factory with those features, I think it would really open the door to even more amazing adventures to a much wider group of buyers." Well if that isn't a lead in to what's coming next week I don't know what is. 😂🤣
Look up cars guide 2021 Subaru Outback review. The review there shows a 2021 Outback with more aggressive looking wheel well mouldings like the Crosstrek and looks like it has higher ground clearance also. Maybe what the new Wilderness may look like here in the states.
Best reviews are here, great as always! I want to go to the mountains with my forester 2.5, here we have great places to have fun, greetings from Chile!
On something like this...I'd take my Forester Sport. I believe it's the best of both worlds. It's got the 2.5 L engine and it's got enough more room than the Crosstrek which makes saving 10K from the Outback definitely even sweeter. Just gotta get out there more often with it.
I have a Subaru Forester Premium and enjoy videos like this. It's a 2020 and I think it would do ok on trails like this. I'd like to take it camping overnight with a sleeping bag in the back and the seats down. It handled in the snow pretty well in Utah. Keep your videos coming!
Eh.. I used to drive the crosstrek a lot. I’d say it was about as fun from a performance perspective as a compact economy car like a Corolla or civic. I’ve only driven the turbo outback a couple of times, but just having enough power to comfortably punch it on to the highway and pass people would have me choosing it hands down
Yeah same here. Crosstrek would be great for everyday commuting and just a quick day trip with very light summer packing or a cooler for like 2 to 3 people. Winter packing then only 2 people if you want to have everything in the trunk hidden. Vehicle size better for maneuverability and easier to find parking in crowded free for all parking and better mileage. The Outback gas mileage isn't as great but it has more space for comfort on long trips and more trunk space to haul a little more stuff for a trip or to hide your purchases from shopping. I look at storage space from what I can store without folding down the seats and with the cargo shade pulled closed. I like my stuff hidden. If you have little ones then I would take that into consideration also for a little more safety since the Outback is larger. It's give and take and what you can afford. For me I need more storage and comfort because I go to the beaches and I need to pack a lot of stuff and I also like to take weekend trips so I need space for luggage and space for shopping. And I have a family so another reason I need more space. I have a Yukon XL that I can use but for those times it's just two of us it's overkill. So we are looking into possibly one of these Subarus or something similar now.
Rumor has it that you have a Wilderness Outback that you are testing so you can give us your impression soon after the reveal. I can’t wait to see what you think. I hope you got to test it in some snow too. Forum sleuths have determined that it has 9/10” more ground clearance and different front and rear bumpers for better approach and departure angles (plus dual recovery hook locations front and rear instead of 1) as well as factory skid plates and more aggressive tires. I have an Onyx XT which I love, suits my needs better and would pick, but I have a few friends with the Crosstrek that are very happy with them. We travel 6 hours to the NC Outer Banks to paddle our full size sea kayaks and bike. The low load height for the kayaks plus the smooth ride, comfort (I am 6’5”) and power of the Onyx make it a huge winner for me. Easily one of my favorite cars that I have owned. Thanks for the great reviews and content. Great photography too! By the way, I lowered the aim of my headlights just a tad to stop blinding people and it worked well. Subaru aims them too high. Especially with cargo in the back.
I had a 2021 Outback with an 1.5" lift and tires that were more off-road biased than stock until I totaled it. Now I have a Crosstrek Sport. Both had the 2.5 liter engine. As an all -around vehicle I prefer the Crosstrek Sport.
Since i have the crosstrek sport. I upgraded the tires to a 225 65r 17 AT and added some rallitek skid plate. As lighting Subaru install some super crappy bulbs on the CT. Definitely swap those out with some Diode Dynamic H11s LEDs and swapped out the standard fogs with DD SS3 pros.
Very nice video, appreciate your effort in putting across such nice videos and putting the right perspectives. Absolutely love your channel and I don’t miss a single video
Having a 2015 Outback and starting to take it off road more, I appreciate this video, and loyal to the Outback. Also appreciate the point about skid plates, and grateful that in my limited 2015 outback comes with a plastic skid plate, cuz in Joshua Tree I ended up needing it a few times! ...Crosstrek shorter wheelbase seems to be a key advantage in the challenges and would have helped me in the past too. For now, going to lift my 2015 1", swap my girlfriend's 17" Forester rims for my 18", and put the Geolander A/T tires on... and consider the Crosstrek for future purchase.
I just bought an Outback Onyx XT last week. I really like it but can't imagine ever over-landing like you folks. Looks like a lot of fun... maybe one day :)
These are good for light off-roading and mostly daily driving. There is one thing they are really made for and it’s for the Canadian Winters in Snow. On paved roads with WINTER TIRES they are unbeatable. They are made for snowy roads in urban and light off-roading. Certainly unbeatable in urban snowy conditions. But put on some good winter tires like Blizzacks or Nokian. No all seasons shitty tires.
Love these reviews! You guys bring so much good energy into the car review community! I bought a 2021 crosstrek, exact spec to your guys one you reviewed and i love it to peices! I love that you guys show subarus capabilities! Sure they may not make sports cars anymore, but theyre going back to their 80s way of making cars, small fuel efficient simple capable vehicles, theyre basically like a new subaru leone and i love it!🤣
I’m waiting on my 2022 Crosstrek to arrive. Heard nothing but great reviews. Better than the escape I’m currently driving. Family members all love there Subaru vehicles.
I would pick neither. As a 2018 Forester XT owner I chose the right Subaru. For me it's the ultimate sleeper/bread box. Great video production. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Saskatchewan, Canada.
The point where both vehicles lofted wheels and still climbed told me all I need to know. My Jeep YJ wouldn't climb with a wheel lofted unless I pumped the parking brake...until lockers were added. Old Wranglers are more suited for offroading, simply because they're not as vulnerable to damage, especially once sturdy armor is added. Then there is the considerable articulation once aired down and disconnected. Lofting a wheel is often a gamestopper with open diffs though. Props to the Subies for pulling through that, especially considering that they're AWD. I may not use my Crosstrek for serious trails, but it could still be a lot of fun with skids, aggressive 75R15 tires, a winch, disconnected anti-swaybar, and a rear locker.
People always say "but LEDs" while failing to focus on a glaring issue with them outside of how oncoming traffic responds to them. Unlike traditional bulbs that can easily be detached from their fixtures, integrated LED bulbs are built into multiple electrical circuit boards. This means that it cannot easily be replaced if a bulb blows, especially not by the average person. Instead, the whole integrated fixture must be replaced. The cost of OEM replacement units for the Crosstrek from Subaru is $785 each. Also, you will incur labor costs as the vehicle will most likely need to be done in a shop as most consumers couldn't do it themseleves. Once out of warranty if things go bad you will eat this cost. Halogens are a simple bulb replacement which is massively cheaper and can be done by the consumer. There are a littney of other pros to halogens but that is the large glaring omission I commonly see the most.
That large screen on the Outback makes it harder to find seat heaters HVAC settings, etc. I’ll take a smaller screen to be able to adjust those items with dedicated buttons. The Crosstrek is more fun to drive and doesn’t have that turbo lag at throttle tip in.
Great content ladies and gentlemen. Finally someone that doesn’t just outright hate the Crosstrek. I drive one and just ordered a 23’ Sport thanks to my 2014. The wilderness model is due to come next year. Maybe we will all get out wishes and get 9.7 inch of clearance and the 2.4 turbo boxer engine..
Love our Outback XT touring but three complaints - wish that their was an option for more comfortable seats (like Volvo), updated maps for the nav system and a permanent stop for the engine on/off.
@@kennetha.1937 we went to “Auto Start Eliminator” and bought the Outback software plug n play piece to stop the auto stop function. Took 5 minutes to install and it works perfectly!
The cross trek is similar to my forester, stiffer suspension and bouncy ride, they are on the same platform. The outback is very compelling especially the new raised version...
I’ve sold my BRZ and have a buyer for my WRX off-road wagon, so I can pick up an XT Onyx. Your videos sold it! Are there permits required for traversing the overland trails?
I used to take my 2008 Chevy cobalt down roads just like the overland road and drift it around corners going like 40 and it handled it perfectly fine. Driving on paths like that is more about maintaining momentum and taking the right line across sections with large divot’s. To be perfectly honest when I watched you do the dirt section it was pretty cringe for me because you could have done it much faster even without the skid plates and not worried about bottoming out or damaging your tires Atall. What the Crosstrek does really well is the type of stuff you would expect a rally car to do really well because it has pretty much the perfect suspension set up for just that kind of thing. No it’s not going to rock crawl very well but it will absorb medium sized bumps and potholes at speed really well which is what you need for rally.
Great video! I was interested I'm the Crostrek as I am thinking of ordering new. Best real world video I've seen. Will definitely add the plate to my undercarriage. I'm a Colorado native with an F250 so this willdo for small trips and economical for traveling to and from work.
I have an Onyx XT edition and the headlight issue is known. Apparently from the factory the Onyx trim levels came with the headlights angled too high. There are several TH-cam videos on how to adjust them yourselves with an 8 inch screw driver. The dealerships apparently still need convincing to do it for you according to some of the forums.
Excellent video production. I enjoyed the view and the information and history on the overland route, just as much the technical info on the vehicles. Just curious...do you have a video crew doing the drone shots, as well as the outside surface shots?
This shows you what you would expect. The longer wheelbase of the Outback makes it better on the highway. The shorter wheelbase of the Crosstrek makes it better offroad getting over obstacles. The Outback is quieter the Crosstrek gets better gas mileage. In the end, for a subcompact, you get a lot for your money with the Crosstek. Nearly the same capabilities in a daily driver for $11,000 less money. Wilderness edition will give you skid plates and more clearance - for another $10,000.
I disagree about the 2021 2l cross trek being underpowered for off-road. I have had mine climb up a 24 deg, rough, wet 200’ high grass farm paddock. I would have been interested in the angle from the dashboard when you said it was steep, it looked around 8degrees. My Crosstrek (XV in New Zealand) goes through rivers up to 400mm no problem - as long as you watch out for submerged rocks and don’t stop . Mind you a few 4x4 did look at us with amazement.
i consistantly make close to 34 mpg on my sport crosstrek on long trips. and thats going over mountains and such. love this car. thought this video has me wondering... does the crosstrek limited have dual Xmode? or is that a sport-specific specialty for crosstrek?
Ok, I'm convinced I need to do some overlanding in WA with my family when our 2023 Ascent arrives. We already ordered 18" wheels with Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires...and we are shopping for a skid plate. Will add a roof top box for cargo and then I just need to know where to take it!
Note to regular viewers: This video was filmed before we filmed our review of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, which which included the same locations. So when Ryan says he's never been here before... it was accurate at the time of this filming.
I would like the Forester Sport included in the pack on this amazing video.👌🏽👍🏽💯
@@We-Cook-It I agree. I was kinda missing it. Here's hoping that the mid-cycle refresh coming up later this year will open the door to a lot more coverage from then on the Forester.
@Blabat Balabar the pricing we list is just destination and delivery. Not including taxes. Thanks for watching! The RAV4 is good, but I would pick the Outback from between the two. Between the RAV4 and Crosstrek, it’s harder because the Crosstrek is just smaller, which might be an issue.
Driving Sports TV
This videos should be about WHICH IS MORE OF A BORING FAMILY CAR WITH AWD (not 4X4 High or Low) CVT (no gears) and looks like a Kia with less power than a ford toyota or most manufacturers
Why do people buy these with so many better choices out there. I daily drive a wrangler and the new ones ride the same as a normal suv but the top and doors are off all summer long!!! Not to mention jeep communities and the only brand (jeep) that doesn’t look like a soccer mom car.
Do videos showing Jeeps compared to Maserati (who makes them) and the jeep communities
@@chadhanson4369 My Onyx XT is far from boring. I can take it anywhere outside of rock crawling and it's a pleasure to drive on roads. The power is awesome as well. My jeep on 35's is great for what it is, but as far as which is more fun overall, the subaru is easily.
Your wish for more ground clearance and aggressive tires has been answered. Wilderness Edition reveal in a few days!
Just a so you know, that's why he said it. 😉
Hope they come with slightly more aggressive gearing as well.
@@0HOON0 unfortunately it is looking like the answer to that is no. The manual leaked and it just says "CVT" for the transmission. Same as the other trims.
Basically it's going to be a scam. A minor lift with nothing else to really improve off-road ability. Sad, they really could have had something there. Imagine a real automatic/manual transmission with a dual range transfer case like they used to have.
@@0HOON0 4.40 is what Outback Wilderness will have.
What I've learned from all of Driving Sports TV's videos is, Subaru should bring back an all new and improved Baja (maybe under a different name?) so they can compete in the small truck segment, and give the other car companies a run for their money.
Definitely don’t change the name. Either use the Baja nameplate or the other truck nameplate.
I agree. With Ford's Maverick, Hyundai's Santa Cruz, and Honda's Ridgeline, Subaru has a good position to dominate that market. I also think a Subaru small truck would look the best of them all, just imagining what it might look like.
Not having driven a crosstrek I am glad you did this review. I have an Outback and love it for the driving. I do CA to WA to WY back to CA and it’s one of the most comfortable cars in the highway I have ever driven. And it’s pretty good off-road. I plan on some Faulken A/T for my next tires.
the 2022 outback crazy offroading model literally directly addressed everyone of his complaints.
I like your unbiased reviews, unlike some other similar channels
The outback xt is a great car! Thank you for doing this. I just got 14k miles on it and notice how responsive it is now! Turbo speed!
So, this was filmed before Karleena went to Hawaii and Ryan had the Bronco Sport. Lol makes sense now! Love your videos and great work guys.
Was looking at the Crosstrek for months as my first purchased car but ended up getting an Outback Onyx Edition. The Crosstrek just felt like a vehicle I would've bought when I was in my mid 20s but now that I'm 30 I just wanted to think ahead a little more.
Oh,Outback is much better car.I have Crosstrek and I'm not very excited.
The outback with the 2.4L engine is a nice vehicle, I just can't get past the wagon style looks of it.
Same here. Crosstrek looks pretty cool, but the Outback is a much nicer and much faster car.
Outback for win
Crosstrek, always. Got a 2019 Crosstrek and I love it
So I just got home. I picked up the new 2021 crosstrek sport plasma yellow !!!! Oh man this car is sweet ! I honestly watch this video this morning and completely made up my mind. Went down to my dealer and picked one up thanks for the honest reviews.
My wife bought the exact same car and needed to take it back to the dealer the next day for a couple of tweaks. She got in a fender bender a block from the dealer!!! Almost SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS quoted from one repair shop. Apparently whenever there is an accident they are required to basically tear the fucking car apart to test every little thing. GREAT cars, but whatever you do...don’t damage the fucking things.
I have a 2020 Subaru Outback Onyx that I actually "ordered" so it has a few more "bells & whistles", mostly "protection", ie Bodyside Moulding, Door Edge Guards, Rubber Floor Mats, etc. I also later added the Engine Guard & Rear TransAxle Guard along with a Trailer Hitch for my Bike Rack! So far it's been perfect, and I love how it handles! Subarus are Fabulous cars! Great Video too!
The drone shots and slo-mo's are amazing! Can't wait to try this with my 21 Crosstrek.
Get 5 A/T tires! And skid plates!
What beautiful scenery - Thank you for taking us along for the ride! I kept finding myself thinking how cool would it be to watch you work the shifter in the Crosstrek when you hit the trails with the 2.5L (I know not available) and show the different way in which the AWD works with the manual. For the 10k+ savings, I'd go with the Crosstrek plus I also prefer a stiffer suspension.
"Higher clearance, more rugged factory tires."
Subaru: Say no more, Ryan!
How about Subaru listen to Outback costumers in Australia... Same the engine in the cross track, so poorly powered.
Get that awesome 2.4t US engine!!
Haha yess!! 2022 wilderness trim is back!!
I have a 2021 Crosstrek premium. I think the 2.0 engine is plenty... I understand more is better but I’ve been completely happy with it. Had a blast mudding it a bit today!
Same, got it for the 6spd
@ Get the 2.4T
@@JungleLoveOeOeO nah. I’m a putter. I don’t like voluntary local taxation, aka speeding tickets.
Enough power for passing and such?
Definitely the Outback because of the roominess. If you’re single and enjoy off-roading alone, then I guess the Crosstrek would do.
I like this video a lot!! Thank you, Ryan. Particularly, the drone shot
I own an outback and they are very comfortable, reliable, and off road capable with great mpg
I would like the Forester Sport included in the pack on this amazing video.👌🏽👍🏽💯
*2020 Onyx owner*
"Every single trucker would flash his high beams at me"
YUUUP
I really enjoy how you put the vehicles you guys test through such challenges. I will be searching for a new vehicle in the fall and I have been watching your videos a bunch and they have been so helpful as some of those mountain roads look like my daily commute to work in northern Maine haha.
So get Subaru and enjoy it... ✌️
I love those crosscut challenges. Let's see more of them!!!!
I got the 2021 Crosstrek Sport and immediately lifted it 2", put on a set of 225/65 17" Toyo All Terrain III's and a skid plate in front. I now have 11 3/4" at the rear pumpkin .. I've run it in Death Valley and Moab and have surprised myself with how capable the Trek is .. it's 14" shorter then the Outback and about 500/600 lbs lighter. The Trek is very nimble .. I see that when driving my Ford Explorer with 33" tires .. the Trek easily outhandles it. I have a bed inside the vehicle and it's my main overlanding rig now. A friend sent me this review and I had seen it earlier as I had responded! In the mean time my son bought a Wilderness because of our time in the Crosstrek .. mainly because it's bigger and there are two of them. The Sport is 664 lbs lighter .. 14.8" shorter and 3.2" shorter wheelbase then his Wllderness. My Toyo's died .. long story .. and now the Trek is fitter with BFG KO2's and I'm still getting 30+ mpg. I think we figured that the Trek get's on average about 4 mpg better over the Wilderness.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Planning to get a 2022 6MT doing dispersed camping in UT, CO area.
The outback onyx is a great car. Had it for a year next to my Ascent and its my daily driver.
Last November (2021) I bought my wife a 2019 Outback (with only 5,600 miles ), early for her 50th birthday. It’s underpowered (175hp), but it’s super comfortable on our road trips. It’s her commuter car.
On 12/11/22 I bought a 2019 Forester Touring (with 4,700 miles) to replace my 2011 Rav 4WD Limited.
We have found that our Subie’s are far superior over my previous Rav 4WD.
We’re taking my Forester to Missoula MT over New Years (2023) to meet with family.
I’m looking forward to seeing how comfortable it’ll be for the 6 hour drive from our home here in north central WA .
It's always nice to see Karleena in the video. Her smile and laugh is so contagious :)
Watching although it is middle of the night in Europe!
Yeah!
Watching although it is middle of the night in Steppe of Qazaqstan.
Outback XT no doubt. Who doesn't want more power and storage space. !! Currently drive a 16 Outback and it's my favorite car I ever owned. Throw a Yakima cargo box on top and you can pack golf clubs, baseball gear, beach stuff for family of 4 with no problems ...
Karleena's a keeper. Great video.
This feels like actually being there. Awesome review. Thanls for giving me a peek into something I pobabably wouldn’t do myself.
Thank you for calling out the bright headlights on the Outback. We also have the Onyx and I couldn’t go more than 10min at night with out being flashed. I believe they are aimed too high from the factory. After I adjusted them lower, quick and easy to do, we have not been flashed once.
Shame that they didn’t test for that or make changes to it.
It seems they have improved the CVTs for off-roading. Glad to see that. I was rather concerned since they excluded the MT from future models short of the WRX, STi, and BRZ.
I have never been the type to say one brand was better than the other. Even people arguing over Ford and Chevy trucks of just dumb. But I'm on my second Crosstrek. Either myself or my wife will have a Subaru. My son's first vehicle will be a Subaru. After about 3 months with my first one, I got it. I understood what it is about Subaru.
"If there were two things I would wish for here, it would be additional ground clearance and more aggressive tires. If Subaru could deliver a car from the factory with those features, I think it would really open the door to even more amazing adventures to a much wider group of buyers."
Well if that isn't a lead in to what's coming next week I don't know what is. 😂🤣
Look up cars guide 2021 Subaru Outback review. The review there shows a 2021 Outback with more aggressive looking wheel well mouldings like the Crosstrek and looks like it has higher ground clearance also. Maybe what the new Wilderness may look like here in the states.
Easy after market fix.
@@WoodshavenPatriot agreed, but he was referencing a product announcement happening Tuesday.
@@ZachMauch right. I saw that too. Just something else to be different than the herd.
Yeah I totally laughed and said ... hmm... Wilderness! :)
Best reviews are here, great as always! I want to go to the mountains with my forester 2.5, here we have great places to have fun, greetings from Chile!
On something like this...I'd take my Forester Sport. I believe it's the best of both worlds. It's got the 2.5 L engine and it's got enough more room than the Crosstrek which makes saving 10K from the Outback definitely even sweeter. Just gotta get out there more often with it.
But the forester is that “lesbian” car. No way around it.
@@WoodshavenPatriot only if you think that way. I'm sure Forester has alot more non lesbians
@@WoodshavenPatriot actually the crosstrek is known to be more of a lesbian car, but who cares.
You guys have too much fun! Thank you for the review!
This is why i like and sub to this channel. Cause no one does in brand comparison between two best sellers.
I have a Subaru Forester Premium and enjoy videos like this. It's a 2020 and I think it would do ok on trails like this. I'd like to take it camping overnight with a sleeping bag in the back and the seats down. It handled in the snow pretty well in Utah. Keep your videos coming!
I have a 98 legacy that seems to do pretty good on the trails in the mountains. Nothing like rock crawling or anything but she works
I’ve been waiting for this video forever! Can’t decide between the nimbleness and fun of having a smaller car or more usable space and power.
Same!
Eh.. I used to drive the crosstrek a lot. I’d say it was about as fun from a performance perspective as a compact economy car like a Corolla or civic. I’ve only driven the turbo outback a couple of times, but just having enough power to comfortably punch it on to the highway and pass people would have me choosing it hands down
Yeah same here. Crosstrek would be great for everyday commuting and just a quick day trip with very light summer packing or a cooler for like 2 to 3 people. Winter packing then only 2 people if you want to have everything in the trunk hidden. Vehicle size better for maneuverability and easier to find parking in crowded free for all parking and better mileage.
The Outback gas mileage isn't as great but it has more space for comfort on long trips and more trunk space to haul a little more stuff for a trip or to hide your purchases from shopping. I look at storage space from what I can store without folding down the seats and with the cargo shade pulled closed. I like my stuff hidden. If you have little ones then I would take that into consideration also for a little more safety since the Outback is larger.
It's give and take and what you can afford. For me I need more storage and comfort because I go to the beaches and I need to pack a lot of stuff and I also like to take weekend trips so I need space for luggage and space for shopping. And I have a family so another reason I need more space. I have a Yukon XL that I can use but for those times it's just two of us it's overkill. So we are looking into possibly one of these Subarus or something similar now.
Get the Forester and have both!
Rumor has it that you have a Wilderness Outback that you are testing so you can give us your impression soon after the reveal. I can’t wait to see what you think. I hope you got to test it in some snow too. Forum sleuths have determined that it has 9/10” more ground clearance and different front and rear bumpers for better approach and departure angles (plus dual recovery hook locations front and rear instead of 1) as well as factory skid plates and more aggressive tires. I have an Onyx XT which I love, suits my needs better and would pick, but I have a few friends with the Crosstrek that are very happy with them. We travel 6 hours to the NC Outer Banks to paddle our full size sea kayaks and bike. The low load height for the kayaks plus the smooth ride, comfort (I am 6’5”) and power of the Onyx make it a huge winner for me. Easily one of my favorite cars that I have owned. Thanks for the great reviews and content. Great photography too!
By the way, I lowered the aim of my headlights just a tad to stop blinding people and it worked well. Subaru aims them too high. Especially with cargo in the back.
Thank you for the review. I just got a 2018 Crosstrek, I’m happy you gave me confidence of my decision!🙏🏼🙏🏼
I had a 2021 Outback with an 1.5" lift and tires that were more off-road biased than stock until I totaled it. Now I have a Crosstrek Sport. Both had the 2.5 liter engine. As an all -around vehicle I prefer the Crosstrek Sport.
How did you total it?
@@中央政治局局长 I hit a Toyota Camry Hybrid head on. Totaled both vehicles.
@@JohnDoe-wy2py Dude, thank heavens you are alive
@@martingicemi8745 Thank you, I have no memory of the events leading up to the accident.
Since i have the crosstrek sport. I upgraded the tires to a 225 65r 17 AT and added some rallitek skid plate. As lighting Subaru install some super crappy bulbs on the CT. Definitely swap those out with some Diode Dynamic H11s LEDs and swapped out the standard fogs with DD SS3 pros.
Forgive my ignorance. What's a skid plate?
@@gretamoney8017 it helps prevent damage to the underside the vehichle.
@@gretamoney8017 extra aluminum plates that cover critical areas like the differential and oil pan. Necessary if you go off the beaten path
@@TeiTablor - thank you
You have some of the more real life videos of reviews that I love watching.Thank you!!
Very nice video, appreciate your effort in putting across such nice videos and putting the right perspectives. Absolutely love your channel and I don’t miss a single video
Having a 2015 Outback and starting to take it off road more, I appreciate this video, and loyal to the Outback. Also appreciate the point about skid plates, and grateful that in my limited 2015 outback comes with a plastic skid plate, cuz in Joshua Tree I ended up needing it a few times! ...Crosstrek shorter wheelbase seems to be a key advantage in the challenges and would have helped me in the past too. For now, going to lift my 2015 1", swap my girlfriend's 17" Forester rims for my 18", and put the Geolander A/T tires on... and consider the Crosstrek for future purchase.
I just bought an Outback Onyx XT last week. I really like it but can't imagine ever over-landing like you folks. Looks like a lot of fun... maybe one day :)
These are good for light off-roading and mostly daily driving. There is one thing they are really made for and it’s for the Canadian Winters in Snow. On paved roads with WINTER TIRES they are unbeatable.
They are made for snowy roads in urban and light off-roading.
Certainly unbeatable in urban snowy conditions.
But put on some good winter tires like Blizzacks or Nokian. No all seasons shitty tires.
I used to skip commercials inserted in the middle of TH-cam videos, but this one gave me Roger Federer and Anne hathaway🤩🤩😍😍. Thank you😍
Love these reviews! You guys bring so much good energy into the car review community! I bought a 2021 crosstrek, exact spec to your guys one you reviewed and i love it to peices! I love that you guys show subarus capabilities! Sure they may not make sports cars anymore, but theyre going back to their 80s way of making cars, small fuel efficient simple capable vehicles, theyre basically like a new subaru leone and i love it!🤣
I forgot to put, it was a 2021 crosstrek sport
Crosstrek, only because that’s what i own. 🤩 Excellent footage, amazing video.
I’m waiting on my 2022 Crosstrek to arrive. Heard nothing but great reviews. Better than the escape I’m currently driving. Family members all love there Subaru vehicles.
I guess the horses suffered the most on this beautiful Trail back then.
You guys have nice job!
Greetings from Switzerland
I would pick neither. As a 2018 Forester XT owner I chose the right Subaru. For me it's the ultimate sleeper/bread box. Great video production. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Saskatchewan, Canada.
Fuel mileage varies a lot by driver/route. I get 40MPG+ at 60MPH with a CVT/2.0L Crosstrek. I upgraded to a hi-flow, dry cotton airfilter by DNA.
Premium fuel seems to help my car.
The point where both vehicles lofted wheels and still climbed told me all I need to know. My Jeep YJ wouldn't climb with a wheel lofted unless I pumped the parking brake...until lockers were added.
Old Wranglers are more suited for offroading, simply because they're not as vulnerable to damage, especially once sturdy armor is added. Then there is the considerable articulation once aired down and disconnected. Lofting a wheel is often a gamestopper with open diffs though. Props to the Subies for pulling through that, especially considering that they're AWD.
I may not use my Crosstrek for serious trails, but it could still be a lot of fun with skids, aggressive 75R15 tires, a winch, disconnected anti-swaybar, and a rear locker.
Don't be afraid of saying it. "This is not overlanding".... this is just off roading. Good video comparison 👍
People always say "but LEDs" while failing to focus on a glaring issue with them outside of how oncoming traffic responds to them.
Unlike traditional bulbs that can easily be detached from their fixtures, integrated LED bulbs are built into multiple electrical circuit boards. This means that it cannot easily be replaced if a bulb blows, especially not by the average person. Instead, the whole integrated fixture must be replaced.
The cost of OEM replacement units for the Crosstrek from Subaru is $785 each.
Also, you will incur labor costs as the vehicle will most likely need to be done in a shop as most consumers couldn't do it themseleves.
Once out of warranty if things go bad you will eat this cost.
Halogens are a simple bulb replacement which is massively cheaper and can be done by the consumer.
There are a littney of other pros to halogens but that is the large glaring omission I commonly see the most.
Omg karleena is so pretty ❤️best car channel review good job to both of you just love what you do.
That large screen on the Outback makes it harder to find seat heaters HVAC settings, etc. I’ll take a smaller screen to be able to adjust those items with dedicated buttons. The Crosstrek is more fun to drive and doesn’t have that turbo lag at throttle tip in.
Forester Sport is the my choice, the right balance between these two vehicles.
I love my fully loaded 2021 crosstrek limited in horizon blue pearl mine has a 8 in screen and led headlights
Yep, looking forward to your Wilderness Edition review.
Really great content. Can’t believe you don’t have at least 500k subs.
Great watch as always.
Great content ladies and gentlemen. Finally someone that doesn’t just outright hate the Crosstrek. I drive one and just ordered a 23’ Sport thanks to my 2014. The wilderness model is due to come next year. Maybe we will all get out wishes and get 9.7 inch of clearance and the 2.4 turbo boxer engine..
You can simply adjust the headlights so they are NOT blinding other drivers. That's exactly what I did. Made all the difference.
Thanks Bro. I love my 4R Off Road!
Another amazing trip. Thx again for your reviews and those superb landscape.
Love our Outback XT touring but three complaints - wish that their was an option for more comfortable seats (like Volvo), updated maps for the nav system and a permanent stop for the engine on/off.
Is there a button now on the home screen to turn it off?
@@kennetha.1937 we went to “Auto Start Eliminator” and bought the Outback software plug n play piece to stop the auto stop function. Took 5 minutes to install and it works perfectly!
Thank you for bringing back Karleena! ^_^
The cross trek is similar to my forester, stiffer suspension and bouncy ride, they are on the same platform. The outback is very compelling especially the new raised version...
The Outback is smooooothing the road a bit more also due to the longer wheelbase. The shorter the wheelbase, the more the rocking.
I’ve sold my BRZ and have a buyer for my WRX off-road wagon, so I can pick up an XT Onyx. Your videos sold it! Are there permits required for traversing the overland trails?
Most of the areas need a Discovery Pass, but nothing else.
Subaru looking at this like ahh yess new commercial footage for the outback wilderness edition
Can’t wait for your review of the wilderness!! Sounds like Subaru listened c;
I am very surprised how good the stock tires held up. That said, if you take roads like this often a better set of tires is a must.
Love the Crosstrek! Super video :)
Excellent videography! Two of my favorite things, suby and quality video well edited.
I used to take my 2008 Chevy cobalt down roads just like the overland road and drift it around corners going like 40 and it handled it perfectly fine. Driving on paths like that is more about maintaining momentum and taking the right line across sections with large divot’s. To be perfectly honest when I watched you do the dirt section it was pretty cringe for me because you could have done it much faster even without the skid plates and not worried about bottoming out or damaging your tires Atall. What the Crosstrek does really well is the type of stuff you would expect a rally car to do really well because it has pretty much the perfect suspension set up for just that kind of thing. No it’s not going to rock crawl very well but it will absorb medium sized bumps and potholes at speed really well which is what you need for rally.
I love this comparison!
Great video! I was interested I'm the Crostrek as I am thinking of ordering new. Best real world video I've seen. Will definitely add the plate to my undercarriage. I'm a Colorado native with an F250 so this willdo for small trips and economical for traveling to and from work.
I have an Onyx XT edition and the headlight issue is known. Apparently from the factory the Onyx trim levels came with the headlights angled too high. There are several TH-cam videos on how to adjust them yourselves with an 8 inch screw driver. The dealerships apparently still need convincing to do it for you according to some of the forums.
Your right, my 19 forester sport has Led lights too and I get high beamed a lot
I would still go with the Crosstrek........but with the 6MT, which also means the smaller (and not so welcome) 2.0 engine.
Excellent video production. I enjoyed the view and the information and history on the overland route, just as much the technical info on the vehicles. Just curious...do you have a video crew doing the drone shots, as well as the outside surface shots?
Great video. I wonder when the Outback hybrid is coming.
Excellent video!!! and more reviews together with Karleena woul be very nice!!!
my choice would be outback onyx xt with pop up tent above it, with a coffee maker to enjoy the sunset
This shows you what you would expect. The longer wheelbase of the Outback makes it better on the highway. The shorter wheelbase of the Crosstrek makes it better offroad getting over obstacles. The Outback is quieter the Crosstrek gets better gas mileage. In the end, for a subcompact, you get a lot for your money with the Crosstek. Nearly the same capabilities in a daily driver for $11,000 less money. Wilderness edition will give you skid plates and more clearance - for another $10,000.
I disagree about the 2021 2l cross trek being underpowered for off-road. I have had mine climb up a 24 deg, rough, wet 200’ high grass farm paddock. I would have been interested in the angle from the dashboard when you said it was steep, it looked around 8degrees. My Crosstrek (XV in New Zealand) goes through rivers up to 400mm no problem - as long as you watch out for submerged rocks and don’t stop . Mind you a few 4x4 did look at us with amazement.
awesome video like usual. and again glad to see Karleena back too
Superb. Great editing.
i consistantly make close to 34 mpg on my sport crosstrek on long trips. and thats going over mountains and such. love this car. thought this video has me wondering... does the crosstrek limited have dual Xmode? or is that a sport-specific specialty for crosstrek?
Dual X-Mode is only available on the Crosstrek Sport (at this time).
@@MNsaint sounds like i really made the right choice between the two if i wanted to go off the beaten track then.
Ok, I'm convinced I need to do some overlanding in WA with my family when our 2023 Ascent arrives. We already ordered 18" wheels with Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires...and we are shopping for a skid plate. Will add a roof top box for cargo and then I just need to know where to take it!
I honestly can't wait to see you swap the Onyx XT for the new Wilderness on a similar route.
It's nice that Ryan and his daughter can make videos together.