Featured 2019 Subaru Crosstrek PHEV will be company's first plug-in hybrid

For that money, the RAV4 hybrid is better option if not needing off-roading. Rav4 hybrid is rated at 39 mpg. Much bigger car. More features. And more comfortable.

 

Engine is atkinson cycle, CR ratio is higher 12.5 to 13.5


2019 Subaru Crosstrek PHEV! | Page 2 | CleanMPG

 

it's a suburu. most of their customers are not going to buy a rav4

 

Not so fast... I've been driving Subarus since 2006 and between the rav4 and this crosstrek, the Toyota is the more appealing of the two. I'm still contemplating a second prius c with a lift kit and some bigger wheels, though.

I need some ground clearance. I wouldn't mind AWD but experience has shown that I don't really need it. If I can save a few grand by lifting a FWD car, I will.

 

All new 2019 Rav4 hybrid spec is not out yet. I am hoping it will be >40mpg city (I don't care if lower on highway), but I have a suspicion it won't.

 

Thanks. Subaru's site doesn't show any difference.

And no plug.
You want a plug in crossover/SUV with AWD, your choices right now are the Outlander PHEV or a Volvo XC60/90, and the XC60 PHEV starts at over $50k with even less impressive efficiency and EV range metrics. The Outlander will get a higher federal credit than the Crosstrek, so can be the most affordable, but the current one only gets 25mpg combined. That is 10mpg less than the Crosstrek. Mitsubishi is putting in a better engine, but fuel economy isn't going to jump 40%. The other option is to wait for the Escape PHEV.

For a PHEV, the Prime is a great deal, but that is because Toyota can afford to offer it for those prices. Subaru is a smaller company, and is making fewer of these PHEVs.

 

in all fairness, i did say 'most'. of course, i have no idea. but all the suburu drivers i know wouldn't be caught dead in a prius.

 

Yap, I don't particularly care if it's PHEV or BEV or straight hybrid. But I am going to wait for an affordable AWD that has big enough cargo and over 40mpg or equivalent fuel efficiency (and for BEV at least 100 miles range). It does not have to be SUV but it is likely to be categorized as SUV or crossover if it has AWD and large cargo.

 

The Niro might betting AWD in the near future, though it is on the smaller SUV side.

I don't see the next Rav4 hybrid beating 40mpg combined. The Camry only beats 50mpg with the LE model, and only with the US spec one, which equipped for the best possible fuel economy. It is technically less equipped than the ICE LE model since it ditches the alloy wheels for smaller steel ones. I don't see such efforts helping a traditional style SUV much.

 

awd & only better than 40mpg? that's all? ok...
wana ride?


Now don't go moving (or adding to) the goalposts ...
.

 

Well, according to this review. 2019 RAV4 Hybrid will have 41/37/39 City/Hwy/Combined. I don't care about Hwy mpg, so city is all I need to be >40mpg. With new 2019 RAV4 Hybrid available in all 4 trims, there should be one that fit my budget. If true, I am all in.
2019 Rav 4 Hybrid reviews are coming in... | PriusChat

Thanks, but no thanks. I said, affordable. Just curious, which model is it, and how much?

 

Saw that after I posted here. A friend is happy with their Rav4h. It just isn't a solution for those wanting a plug.

A Model X, it makes the Volvo PHEVs look affordable. The Y will do well when it arrives. So should the Kona.

 

Yeah, looked at both Leaf and Clarity, but neither fit the bill. I considered Outlander earlier, but nearest Mitsubishi dealer had no plan to bring them in. Beside it's dismal mpg was downer for me. If there is any possibility of Toyota making RAV4PHEV in next few years, I don't mind waiting for that.

 

If a Rav4 Prime was coming, I'm pretty sure news would be posted here.
Supposedly, the Escape PHEV arrives for 2019 for the 2020 model year.

Back to the Crosstrek. It is a power-split hybrid, but it isn't a Toyota transaxle. Subaru built it and the AWD system as one unit.

 

It's pretty much the power system I was hoping for, honestly. I'm disappointed in the price, not the car.

 

Subaru making an Atkinson version of the boxer engine is an interesting development. Efficiency is a general weak point of Subaru's boxer engines, which is why it's an unusual engine design to Atkinsonize. I imagine they've taken some of Toyota's technology in design of the engine. Also, the challenge of getting the airflow right when you need to direct it far distances to opposing intake valves (as opposed to the airflow in a normal inline 4) that need to be precisely tuned to push out the right amount of air/fuel mixture for the Atkinson cycle I'm sure was a major engineering challenge. To me this sounds like it could make the engine quite "sensitive" to changes in airflow and sensor inputs. If not well tested, there are reliability issues that could stem from this - probably not issues that are likely to blow engines up, but more like gremlins where you've replaced the MAF sensor 3 times and it's still not working right. Therefore I would probably stay away from buying one of these until the reliability of the engine is proven.

That being said, the quirkiness of the car makes me want one. Subaru engine with Toyota technology, Toyota "transmission", Subaru AWD system, fuel efficient,17 miles of electric range, good on snow/dirt roads, and it's a hatch to haul your things. These will be great to buy used when they only command a small premium over a normal Crosstrek. I'm in agreement with others though that the $35k starting price versus the $22k of a normal Crosstrek will be too much of a premium for most buyers.

 

It's a stretch calling it a Toyota transmission since it is a Subaru design that incorporates the AWD system.

2019 Subaru Crosstrek PHEV! | Page 2 | CleanMPG

Toyota likely supplied and helped with the controlling software.

The hybrid(Subaru calls it a hybrid like Chrysler does for the Pacifica PHEV) is loaded up like the Crosstrek Limited that is $27k. The price is still steep, but I expect discounting once it is on dealer lots.

 

OK so they did a hydraulic clutch pack in the tail case to lock the normally-powered rear diff onto the front diff. That part is at least well proven in their Legacy & Impreza platforms from roughly 1990 onwards if not their best AWD system.

EDIT: I read it wrong, the front diff is normally powered and the rear is selectively coupled. That actually makes it identical to the AWD included in their D4-AT transmissions 1990-2009

 

Well I'll be honest... I want it. That's the transmission I would want in my next Subaru. Maybe depreciation will be enough to put a 2-year old in my reach.

 

Looks like the major problem for all PHEVs is packaging, there is just not enough room to hide the battery, it's a compromise I'm not willing to take.

I would have liked the independent rear el. motor more, not the 5 kW toy, but a normal sized 50+ kW rear motor. But I understand Subaru already had the Crosstrek, the layout for the transmission and drive shaft was already there so why not use it. I like the layout of the new RAV4 hybrid it will just have to prove off road capable, the old version was not.

What is the MPG in hybrid mode, do we only have MPGe numbers for now, I'm guessing around 35 MPG or even lower? Considering EV range I would be getting 1/2 of my miles in EV.