daniel chigunwe
The Subaru Crosstrek will be offered in Southern Africa in 2 variants: The mid-spec Crosstrek iL and the flagship trim Crosstrek iS.
Subaru Southern Africa introduces a new chapter in the Compact Crossover space here in South Africa.
The all-new Subaru Crosstrek is now available in South Africa offering next-generation vehicle safety, refinement, comfort, and capability.
The all-new Crosstrek replaces the previous generation Subaru XV presented as the compact SUV within the Subaru SUV range next to the Forester and Outback. Where the XV and Crosstrek names were used separately in different markets around the world, the Crosstrek name has now been adopted worldwide, including here in South Africa.
The name is coined from the words Crossover and Trekking, an impression into the car’s versatility and capability in a variety of terrains and environments.
The Subaru XV/Crosstrek made its worldwide debut 12 years ago making a bold step into the compact SUV segment, outperforming competitors with its leading ground-clearance and off-road competence as well as standout design.
The XV/Crosstrek has quickly become one of Subaru Southern Africa’s most popular vehicles next to the Forester. Now in its 3rd-generation, the new Crosstrek takes a bold step forward. Nteo Nkoli, Marketing Manager of Subaru Southern Africa says, “the new Subaru Crosstrek takes occupant safety and comfort to a whole new level. The attention to detail in refining and improving the formula is very impressive.”
A ground-up advancement
The new Subaru Crosstrek is built on a revised Subaru Global Platform. Torsional rigidity has been improved by 10percent . From here, the suspension has been re-engineered to be more stable and more durable with the engine mounts now being liquid-filled for greater balance and refinement. A new dual-pinion electric power steering adds to overall driver feel and vehicle dynamism.
Bold design
The Subaru Crosstrek’s evolutionary design presents the ethos of the Crosstrek: a bold and non-conformist form evoking a sense of playfulness and adventure.
The new hexagonal 3D grille, flanked by sharper headlight clusters and bulging wheel arches showcases the unmistakable versatility of the vehicle, yet also conveys a sense of lightness. Compared to the outgoing model, the Crosstrek features larger wheel arch cladding and rocker panels all around the vehicle. From the rear, the contours of the C-shaped tail light clusters are more pronounced.
The Subaru Crosstrek is presented in 9 exterior colours: Crystal White Pearl; Ice Silver Metallic;
Magnetite Grey Metallic; Crystal Black Silica; Oasis Blue; Offshore Blue Metallic; Sapphire Blue Pearl;
Sun Blaze Pearl and Pure Red. A choice of 17-inch and 18-inch diamond-cut, duo-tone black/silver alloy wheels are available and these too, add to the contrasting power of the body colour/cladding combination.
Comprehensive improvements of in-car refinement and technology
The Subaru Crosstrek has always favoured a feature-rich cabin experience but the new vehicle makes a significant step forward where in-car refinement and human-centered design thinking is concerned.
As a start, the Crosstrek carries forward Subaru’s latest interior design and operation architecture previously seen on the new Subaru Outback and Subaru WRX models in South Africa.
Crosstrek features the latest driver’s multi-function display and steering wheel as well as a new 11.6-inch central display.
The flagship Crosstrek iS features the portrait layout larger HD display with the latest SUBARU infotainment architecture. This touchscreen system integrates a number of on-board functions including a myriad smartphone connectivity and integration.
New on the Crosstrek compared to the outgoing model is Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration as well as Bluetooth® connectivity for audio and phone call operation and a wireless phone charging pad. The infotainment system also operates the vehicle settings such as EyeSight Driver Assistance features and X-Mode settings to name a few.
The iS is fitted with Subaru leather seats with 8-way adjustable power operation, and the base iL is fitted with fabric seats.
These new seats have been designed with a human-centric focus, prioritising occupant comfort and well-being with back, headrest and hip contours for the best support of the lower back. In addition to this, the new seat design reduces human body movement within the cabin reducing fatigue and improving the overall experience of comfort and refinement.
The Crosstrek range features a host of comfort features. Remote Keyless Access is standard across the range. The dual zone climate control is also standard across the range now with improved focus on the occupied seats instead of the whole cabin.
Added features include a new tyre pressure monitoring system and steering responsive LED headlights with Auto High Beam function.— IOL Motoring
Bongani Ndlovu