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| The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. |
A little over a year ago
we drove---and loved---the all-new Subaru Crosstrek.
Now it turns out there's one we like even better. The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.
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| 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid charging. |
The Crosstrek Hybrid is a PHEV---Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Fully charged, it can travel 17 miles on a charge at speeds up to 65 miles per hour before going into hybrid gasoline and electric mode. And because electric motors have gobs of right-now power, it's a full second quicker from zero to 60 than the gasoline Crosstrek.
Seventeen miles may not sound like much, but if your commute is less than 17 miles a day (or if you have charging available where you work), you can go a long, long time before ever using a drop of gas or putting a particle of pollution in the air. A full recharge takes two hours at 240 volts, five hours on 120 volt household current.
Even yours truly, who has a 50-mile roundtrip commute and no available charging at the day job, can appreciate that I'm only using gas and being part of the problem of air pollution for 33 of those 50 miles. And the combined efficiency of that first 17 miles plus a hybrid powerplant after that results in an impressive range of 480 miles on a full charge and a full tank.
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| 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. |
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid uses two electric motors, plus a four-cylinder direct-injection boxer engine. The first electric motor generator functions as a starter and electricity generator. The second powers the Crosstrek for hybrid and electric driving and charges the hybrid battery through regenerative braking.
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| 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. |
The Crosstrek Hybrid comes one way---loaded. As a result, the base price is $34,995, a significant step up from the top-of-the-line gasoline model, the Limited, which starts at $27,195. But because it's a PHEV, you're eligible for some incentives---a $4,500 federal tax credit, for starters. And, if you're lucky enough to live in California as we do, there's another $1,500 state rebate. Now you're at $28,995, or $1,800 above the gas-powered Crosstrek Limited. And the EPA figures you'll spend $350 a year less on gasoline for the Crosstrek Hybrid, so in less than five and a half years, it's break-even.
Our tester had only one extra-cost option package, which brought a moonroof, heated steering wheel, navigation and a great-sounding Harmon-Kardon audio system for $2,500. A bargain.
Bottom line with destination and delivery ($975) is $38,470---$32,470 after federal and state incentives, or about $1,800 more than
the gas-powered Crosstrek Limited we reviewed last year. Money well spent, we think.
