Subaru CROSSTREK SUV

2.0i e-Boxer Limited 5dr Lineartronic [2024]

Picture the scene. A farmer somewhere in the Scottish borders puts their shoulder to the wind, rain lashing at their face, and walks briskly across the muddy field to where they’ve parked the Subaru Crosstrek.

Another Crosstrek owner wipes their chalk-encrusted hands on their trousers before loading up the car after a day spent rock climbing on the gritstone crags of the Peak District.

And then there’s the horse rider who lobs the tack into the back of the boot before driving up the track to the stables.

This is the sort of people Subaru is pitching the Crosstrek at. The sort of folks who don’t just need a 4x4 so they can show off to their mates at the school gate, but rural-dwellers prone to getting snowed-in during the winter and who need a sturdy steed just to make it off their driveway.

The Crosstrek reflects its target demographic. It’s not particularly quick, but it gets the job done. It’s not the best-looking car on the lease market, but like a hard-working farm dog, there’s a charm that’s undeniable.

And while the cabin isn’t as plush as competitors, no Subaru Crosstrek owner wants to risk accidentally smearing dirt across pristine white, quilted fabric anyway.

That’s the mindset you need when you’re talking about the Crosstrek. If you find fault with it, it’s probably not the car for you in the first place.