What's the difference?
Among the many strange new car brands and names we're increasingly confronted with Subaru is an established and trusted beacon along with Honda, Hyundai, Mazda and Toyota. And Subaru’s Crosstrek SUV competes against rivals such as the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Corolla Cross.
So, what does the Crosstrek give you for your money and what’s different or better about the Crosstrek compared to those rivals?
We tested the mid-grade Crosstrek 2.0S and rediscovered what this small SUV does so well and what could probably be improved.
The Subaru WRX – do we even need to introduce this iconic beastie at all? With its rally winning roots to being a legend in its own suburb, the ‘Rex’ is a sports car that’s affordable and fun – although the one we’re testing here is one of the pricier versions: the WRX tS Spec B.
So what is a tS Spec B? Well, the old king of the WRX world – the STI – was retired at the end of the previous generation. Now this new grade – the tS Spec B – is the new WRX monarch.
So does this mean the tS Spec B has more superpower than the rest of the line-up? Does it have a bigger engine? How much more does it cost? Does it have a manual gearbox? So many questions – the answers are below.
The Crosstrek is good to drive with great ground clearance and an excellent all-wheel drive system for light off-road adventures. I’m also a fan of the styling and features for the money. But The letdowns comes in the form of limited boot space and cabin storage, a short warranty and pricey servicing. Still, it’s great to see Subaru has updated the car's safety systems, the most important part of any car.
Possibly one of the most perfect performance cars you can drive daily for the price. Dynamic and fun to drive, but also easy to live with thanks to the drive modes for extra comfort, the high ground clearance and the practicality that comes with four doors, lots of storage and a big boot.
The tS Spec B is the priciest WRX in the range, but compared to rivals it's also great value. A car I would buy with my own money for sure.