This just redesigned 2018 Subaru Crosstrek arrived on our long-term lot with just 25-miles on the odometer. In the month since, we’ve added 1,700 more, and mileage is off to a good start, averaging 33.5 miles-per-gallon.
We do expect that to drop as we continue to rack up miles. But before we do that, let’s get to know the Crosstrek a little more.
All new for ’18, our 2.0-liter 4-cylinder long-termer is outfitted in Limited trim; which means a back-up camera, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED steering responsive headlights, and automatic climate control are all standard; not to mention a CVT and of course, X-Mode all-wheel-drive.
To that we’ve added a moonroof, EyeSight Driver-Assist System, Reverse Automatic Braking, High Beam Assist, Navigation for the 8.0-inch Starlink touchscreen, and a 432-watt Harmon-Kardon Sound System. If nothing else, we’ll be rockin’ out for the next 11-months.
Date: June 2018
The warm weather has finally settled in here at MotorWeek HQ, and another 11-hundred miles have passed by in the redesigned 2018 Subaru Crosstrek.
It sure is Subaru solid, and standard all-wheel-drive provides great contact with any and all roads. The back-up camera has a higher vantage point than before, for a better view of what’s happening behind you, with a crystal clear image on the Starlink multi-media screen.
Engineers added 4-more horses to the now 152-horsepower 2.0-liter flat 4 matched with an updated CVT. It’s adequate with decent acceleration, but there’s no adrenaline rush. As we’ve mentioned before, they could improve noise control too.
So far we’re averaging 29.2 MPG of regular, right on the mark with the government’s numbers. And it is clear sailing for the summer roads ahead in our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek.
Date: August 2018 Mileage: 6,500
The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek seems to be the right vehicle for any season. 65-hundred miles have passed by in this rugged raised hatchback.
Now, we drove the 2017 model for a year, and we are noticing the differences. This ’18 is more refined, the ride is tauter, and overall has a more solid feel. The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder works with an updated CVT. They’re a capable team… but we’d like more thrill from the throttle.
Our long term fuel economy average is 32-point-4 miles-per-gallon of regular. While all-wheel drive is not as critical during summer months, the Crosstrek’s usefulness… has us forecasting a long and enjoyable road ahead.
Date: September 2018 Mileage: 8,500
The Subaru Crosstrek is a stalwart in the MotorWeek fleet. So far we’ve driven the 2018 model 8500-miles after spending a year with the 2017 edition. This raised hatchback continues to have the right amount of utility and ruggedness for all roads and weather conditions.
Subaru’s all-wheel drive system is readily up to the challenge everywhere we’ve gone so far.
The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder is paired with an updated CVT. They work well together, and while there’s decent low end torque… we’d like even more throttle response. Compared to our ’17, this ’18 Crosstrek drives more refined, solid, and secure.
Fuel economy is now 30-point-3-miles-per-gallon on regular… which is slightly better than the government’s Combined rating. Now, as the summer slips away, we’ll see how the Crosstrek handles our Autumn adventures.
Date: November 2018 Mileage: 12,000
We passed the summer season quickly in our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. And after 7-months total, we’ve put 12-thousand-miles on the odometer.
When we took delivery of this 2018 Crosstrek, we had just spent a year in the previous generation, but even if we hadn't the changes would still be obvious. The ride is much more refined thanks to the new global platform and technology, both for safety and convenience is top notch in this segment. We could still use some more horsepower, but to be fair, we say that a lot.
However, most buyers will find the 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with CVT powertrain more than adequate. Plus, we’re bettering the government’s combine rating at 30-point-1-miles-per-gallon on regular.
This raised hatchback has the right amount of room, utility and ruggedness. We’ll see how it handles the more frigid months that loom ahead.
Date: February 2019 Mileage: 16,000 Miles
Our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is designed to thrive in winter. But, so far, it hasn’t had much taste of snow and ice… as our Mid-Atlantic winter has been mostly devoid of the white stuff. But the cold has been a constant.
Regardless of temps, and the growing number of potholes, the refinement of the new global platformreally shined. The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with CVT is still up to every task we throw at it."The Crosstrek has been a steady workhorse in the MotorWeek long term test fleet. Our staff loves agood hatchback and this is certainly a good hatchback. Plenty of space, enough ground clearance toconfidently tackle bumpy gravel roads and a comfortable, upscale inrerior."
Our overall fuel economy average is 29-point-6 miles-per-gallon on regular… which is right in line withthe government’s combined rating.
Hopefully we’ll see the Crosstrek’s all-wheel drive in action during the snowy months to come.
Date: April 2019 Mileage: 19,000 Miles
One year and around 19-thousand miles have passed in our Subaru Crosstrek. It’s just back from a road trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. And all that seat time made it obvious how much more solid and refined this redesigned model is thanks in part to the new global platform.
"The Crosstrek is proving to be a pretty decent road trip car. There's enough space to pack larger gear in the back, the wide opening hatch makes it easy to access and it doesn't drink a lot of gas. Some road and wind noise creeps in, but that's only highlighted by the fact that no one in the car wants to talk to me."
The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and CVT are more than adequate. And no complaints when we fill up. We’re averaging 29.2 miles-per-gallon on regular… right in line with the government’s numbers… all while being a versatile member of our long term fleet.
Date: May 2019 Mileage: 19,748 Miles
It’s time to say good-bye to the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. We spent a year in this rugged-ute after testing the previous generation for the prior twelve months, so we’ve really gotten a feel for how versatile this raised hatchback can be… whether tooling around town doing chores… or taking long road trips. The new global platform stepped up the refinement, while Subaru’s symetrical all-wheel drive never let us down.
The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and CVT powertrain were well matched all along the way. 19,748-miles was our final tally, with an average 29.6 miles-per-gallon… just a hair better than the EPA’s combined calculations. So the Subaru Crosstrek proved to be up to the task of whatever we asked…. no matter how the forecast turned out.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a recurring name in our Long Term fleet, having tested a previous-generation plug-in hybrid in 2019, and a next-gen non-PHEV just last year. With the new-gen PHEV now available, we couldn’t wait to give it a go.
This is our 2023 Outlander PHEV, decked out in the SEL Premium trim.
Under the hood is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, assisted by front and rear electric traction motors for standard all-wheel drive. The combined output is 248 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, with an EV-only range of about 38 miles; 14 more than the last gen PHEV.
The Outlander PHEV is the most powerful Outlander available, which means it would definitely be our choice. Although to be honest, it’s not just about the extra power. Being able to hit a button and quietly cruise on battery power alone is another nice perk of this powertrain. As is the ability to hit the same button and add significant charge back to the battery just by driving on gas-power.
The SEL Premium Package adds semi-aniline leather upholstery with heated front and rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a Bose sound system. Most importantly, all SELs come with DC Fast Charging. An unusual feature for a PHEV, it can get the 20-kWh battery to 80-percent in under 40 minutes.
Date: August 2023Mileage: 3000
We kicked off the summer with a new addition to our Long Term fleet, this 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid. And after 3000 miles of fun in the sun, we have our first official update.
In the two months since it arrived, we’ve observed an overall 33.9 miles-per-gallon. That’s significantly better than the final tally of 31.4 miles-per-gallon for our 2019 Outlander PHEV long termer.
We attribute some of our newfound success to plenty of due diligence keeping the 20-kilowatt-hour battery juiced up. That’s pretty easy, since our SEL Premium packs DC Fast Charging capabilities.
It’s also easy to slip into EV-only driving. The Outlander PHEV is rated at 38 miles of electric-only range, meaning we can use the battery for most of our local driving and fall back on the 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder for longer and more intensive hauls.
With a decent driving experience and a luxuriously wrapped interior, this Outlander is exactly what we need to fill a minivan-shaped hole in our hearts.
Date: September 2023Mileage: 7,000
It’s been a busy summer for our 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. We’ve already logged another 4,000, mostly long-distance highway miles on the odometer. With a comfortable, quiet ride and a suite of amenities, we’ve all wanted it as our Road Trip companion.
But those high speed runs up and down I-95 have taken a toll on PHEV gas use. With highway trips quickly depleting the 38 electric-only miles, overall fuel economy has dropped about 10% to 30.2 mpg. Still, that’s just fine, thanks to this 2.4-liter inline-4’s efficient hybrid powertrain.
But, there is more to our Outlander PHEV experience than just saving at the pump.
We’ve raved about the Outlander’s looks both inside and out, but we all know looks only go so far. There needs to be substance behind the appearance. Well now that we’ve put in the road trip miles, we’re happy to report the Outlander holds up as a long-haul vehicle. On vacation my favorite feature was the massaging seats and, granted, they’re not as advanced as we’ve seen in of the high-end luxury vehicles, but they get the job done when back fatigue sets in.
With daily recharging, and shorter fall drives, we expect to see this Mitsubishi’s fuel economy tick up in the weeks ahead.
Date: October 2023Mileage: 10,000
Cooler weather and shorter days are upon us. So, it’s a good time to recap our summer spent with this 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. We’ve tallied another 3,000 miles, bringing our long term test total to just over 10,000 miles.
You may recall a recent dip in fuel economy, attributed to the high-speed, long-distance miles from seasonal road trips, which are not always kind to hybrids. With the change in seasons, our Outlander is spending more time on the plug followed by shorter, mostly commuting trips. And that means better fuel economy, climbing back up to 31.3 miles-per-gallon overall.
As we’ve mentioned before, juicing the 20-kWh battery back up to full is easy thanks to the SEL-trim’s DC fast charging capabilities. Rare for a plug-in hybrid. And now having spent some time trying it, not only does it sound good on paper… it’s a really great feature to have.
And out on the road, things are equally satisfying.
“Ten thousand miles into our test, we are officially over the “get to know you” phase with this Outlander PHEV. And personally, I’ve grown fond of two things: One: the ability to precisely dial in the right amount of regenerative braking on the fly with these steering wheel paddles. And two, the quick burst of electric torque when you stab the throttle.”
Everyone around the office is still impressed with the Outlander overall. It’s versatile, it’s comfortable, and it’s very well appointed. If we could lobby one complaint, the wireless device charger seems to not always jive with our devices. Still, in-vehicle wireless chargers aren’t yet a perfect science.
If we’ve learned anything over the last 42-years here at MotorWeek, it’s that numbers on spec sheets don’t make great cars.
Vehicles like this 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec, which we’ve had the pleasure of driving for the last 2-months, may not boast big numbers of any kind, but the high revving 200-horsepower turbo-4 and the short-shifting 6-speed manual transmission help make this car much greater than the sum of its parts.
There is a little turbo lag from this tiny 1.5-liter, but that just seems to make it even more fun. It really is just a blast to drive; and don’t say we didn’t warn you; this car does make you want to drive fast.
That’s mostly due to this 6-speed manual transmission, which raises the question, why would anyone settle for an Integra A-Spec Tech with CVT? Rhetorical questions aside, I’m liking this car more and more. Now that I’ve got the high engagement point of the clutch figured out, I’m really starting to appreciate how dialed in the suspension is. At this rate, on the next update I might upgrade my “likes” to “loves.”
All this and great fuel economy too, with our current average sitting at 33.6 miles-per-gallon over 5,500-miles. Plus, the Integra’s hatchback practicality delivers storage space that rivals many small crossovers.
While it may not boast quite the refinement as most of the Acura lineup, everything inside looks and feels sporty too, and hey, that’s why they call it entry level.
Date: July 2023Mileage: 6,000
Summer is speeding by quickly, but we’re getting our money’s worth of summertime driving fun in this 2023 Acura Integra.
We’ve racked up over 6,000-miles in just 3-months’ time, averaging a great 33.8 miles-per-gallon from the tiny but mighty 200-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo-4.
We were thrilled that Acura brought the Integra name back and have been even more excited to discover it delivers a driving experience worthy of the name; easily winning a MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award earlier this year.
“200 horsepower coming from the Integra’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder doesn’t sound like much, but trust us…it is. We’ve mentioned the turbo before and how there’s a bit of lag at low rpm. Yeah, you wouldn’t get that in a naturally aspirated engine, but you also wouldn’t get as much low-end torque, and torque is what brings a smile to your face.”
We mostly love the functionality and looks of its sporty interior, but do wish they would have poured just a tad more Acura into it, as in certain places, its Civic roots are a little too obvious.
Date: August 2023Mileage: 6,700
We are 4-months into our extended drive time with this 2023 Acura Integra sport luxury sedan. But after a host of early road trips it mostly seems to have settled into commuter duty, adding only about 700-miles since we last checked in.
On that score, the 200-horsepower turbo-4 and 6-speed manual makes for one highly entertaining commute, and most logbook comments agree the Integra feels more fun than luxury. And that’s just fine by us.
Since our last update, we have driven the high-performance Integra Type S, and while we really like that car, it doesn’t feel like we’re giving up all that much in this Integra. Sure, it doesn’t have as much power as the Type S, but it still feels quick and the suspension is more than capable of keeping momentum in tight corners.
We probably haven’t talked enough about how aggressively sporty it appears outside; our tester’s Liquid Carbon paint job looks fantastic, without being too flashy.
Despite a heavy foot or two, economy is very consistent, with our average hovering at 33.9 miles-per-gallon. And while the summer sun may be setting in the rear view, we’ve still got many miles to cover in this Acura Integra.
Date: October 2023Mileage: 12,000
The leaves are beginning to change here in the Mid-Atlantic and temperatures cooling down, but our fondness for this 2023 Acura Integra is still heating up, and some last-minute summer getaways helped tack another 5,000-miles on our tally since the last report.
We’ve reached the 5-month mark, having driven 12,000-miles, and this 200-horsepower turbo-4 really is a dream to operate even if the revs hang a little high on the freeway. Monitoring those revs is easy with the clear and precise digital gauge display, which ironically enough, is actually called Acura’s Precision Cockpit. And it’s worth noting the 6-speed manual transmission, not just for its novelty, but for the fact that it works so well.
“A lot of the charm and even credibility for the Integra being a sporty compact comes from the manual transmission option. Shifter throws are short and precise while the brake pedal and gas pedal are spaced perfectly for heel-toe downshift action… that is assuming you turn off the automatic rev matching feature. And, uh… don’t tell any purists… I’m starting to leave that function on.”
Some additional highway miles have helped the fuel economy average climb slightly to 34.5 miles-per-gallon; and so far, the only downtime for the Integra has been for regularly scheduled maintenance.
Everything inside is holding up quite well, including the Sport Seats with Microsuede Inserts that come with the Tech Package, which also gets you a nice head-up display and nicer 16-speaker ELS Studio Premium Audio which brings the noise with clarity. And there’s even plenty of room in the back seat for bringing some friends along.
