- the subaru crosstrek will reportedly get a more powerful engine for 2021.
- a 2.5-liter boxer-four will join the lineup, offering more horsepower and torque than the current 2.0-liter engine.
- the engine upgrade will be available on the limited trim level and a new sport model.
subaru is giving the crosstrek a more powerful engine for 2021, according to a report from automotive news. subaru ceo tom doll told an that the updated crosstrek will have subaru's 2.5-liter boxer-four to supplant the current 2.0-liter engine that's standard equipment on the subcompact crossover. c/d reached out to subaru representatives, who did not confirm the new engine.
the 2.5l will reportedly be available in a new sport trim level and the top limited model. this engine makes 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque in other subaru models such as the outback and forester, a useful uptick of 30 horsepower and 31 lb-ft of torque over the current crosstrek's 2.0-liter boxer-four. we assume it will be available only with a continuously variable automatic transmission (cvt) and all-wheel drive, as we don't expect these upper-level crosstreks to offer a six-speed manual like the base and premium trim levels do.
this will no doubt improve the crosstrek's acceleration times, which aren't exactly quick. a cvt-equipped 2018 crosstrek with the 2.0-liter engine went from zero to 60 mph in a laggard 9.1 seconds in our testing, and made it through the quarter mile in 17.2 seconds at 84 mph. we'll be glad to have more power on board when we get the updated crosstrek in for testing, and we're sure owners will, too.