Subaru XV Crosstrek HYBRID to be announced at NYC auto show

I'm not sure if this got the details right, or it really is a toyota type hybrid
2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid: New York Auto Show Preview

Sounds like a hyundai style hybrid, but hitting a cvt 4wd system. It doesn't sound like it will get great milage. I'm hoping they are wrong, and work with toyota with a eCVT system and eAWD. That won't be as good off road, but it surely would provide better mpg.

 

Subarus are not meant for off road anyway, just poor roads.

A mild hybrid with stop-start, and a CVT of sufficient range to allow low engine RPM at highway speed, is a great advance. Add electric steering, decent variable valve timing, and a few other small feature. It won't compete in any mpg contest against a Toyota HSD, but it will do well against non-hybrids, and crush my old fuel-sucking-pig Legacy wagon. From the link:

"From such a system it’s likely that city ratings could be well above 30 mpg, while highway ratings could hit 40 mpg or higher. In the 2012 Impreza, with Lineartronic and the standard AWD system, EPA ratings are 27 mpg city, 36 highway."

I believe the current Impreza 2L CVT can turn as slow as ~1700 rpm at 60 mph. My 2.5L Legacy is severely hampered by gearing that requires at least 2700 rpm.

 

Perhaps I should start collecting Subaru bucks again.

 

With just a 10% increase in fuel mileage, it would not be a very competitive. Subaru would have to jump the combined mileage from the CrossTrek's current 28 mpg to 35 mpg. Especially with the Prius coming out with an AWD in the 50 mpg range.

Toyota's patents run out on the current system. I wonder what Crosstrek mileage would be dropping the current Prius engine, motor and battery into a Crosstrek with Subaru's AWD transmisson?

 

I like the idea, but if I was in the market I would buy a Prius V. To me the magic hybrid number is above 40mpg average.

 

Since it's a mild hybrid (most likely) and the non-hybrid CVT version gets 25/33, I'll estimate the mild hybrid version will get 30/34MPG.
Of course if it had a better engine, like Atkinson cycle, the highway numbers would go up significantly. But I expect it to be a mild hybrid

 

That would be pointless, no place in the market for it. Subaru Impreza already gets 30 mpg combined.

As Toyota noted in the thread on the 2015 Prius, the patent runs out on the current Prius system so I could see Toyota selling it in its entirety to Subaru who mates it with the Subaru AWD. But to work in the market place it would have get at least 35 mpg combined, 20% better than Impreza.

 

I'd be all for a Subaru Outback/Impreza/Crosstrek hybrid if combined mpg was around 40mpg! The ground clearance, AWD and ability to hit fairly rough roads makes Subarus a big hit here in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

 

Agree that 40 mpg Subaru AWD would be a big seller. The 35 mpg was the minimum it the CrossTrek would have be combined to have a hope of sales.

Prius is going to eat into Subaru in a big way when they come out with 50 mpg AWD Prius.

 

2013 gas-electric Subaru to feature mild hybrid setup, not Toyota's tech

seems like it wont utilize HSD... While Subaru is partially owned by Toyota, they are also fully independent.

 

If the comments from one of the previously linked articles are on target, it should get at least a 20% increase, 34 mpg or higher.

The Impreza is in a different vehicle family. Not comparable.

On the EPA SUV scale, the current Crosstrek is already within 4% of the highest mpg non-hybrid, and only 7% behind the best hybrid. It rates even better on the Consumer Reports SUV mpg scale, tied as the top non-hybrid and within 4% of the best hybrid.

If the hybrid Crosstrek meets the hype of the above article, it will be 20% better than the today's Crosstrek, and way ahead of all today's competitors except the RAV4 EV.

I thought you were hoping and waiting for your perfect vehicle in the American gas version of Volvo's V60 AWD Hybrid, 129 mpg.

 

dont understand your numbers, whats the best suv hybrid that you are quoting?

I dont think mild hybrid setup will ever bring significant gains in EPA measurements.

 

EPA SUV list: Fuel Economy of 2013 Sport Utility Vehicles
CU SUV list: The most fuel-efficient SUVs
(The later link is courtesy of Cwerdna's post here.)

 

so you are comparing 300hp large suv hybrid to 150hp small suv and calling it similar? .

i would guess that XV with Prius system would probably get 38-40 MPG. That would be good hybrid mpg increase, and not some mild hybrid crap that never worked and never will work.

 

No, I didn't make those lists. The EPA and Consumer's Union did. I see plenty of entries on them that cannot be described as '300hp large suv'.

 

let's face it, this is a european designed type tall car, a mpv over there, a CUV over here. As such it has similar dimentions to the ford c-max. I don't care if you pick epa or real world mileagage, I doubt it will beat the c-max. Will people flock to it because its 4wd hybrid, I don't know but I doubt it. I would bet the c-max and the lexus RXh outsell this beast. I'm witholding judgement until mpg, price, and acceleration figures are available.

 

CrossTrak is an modified Impreza, higher ground clearance which is why the lower mileage.

35 mpg would be the breakeven point on a hybrid CrossTrak to have viable, if very weak, market position.

 

Price will be the biggie imo. Tons of folks with little cash (at least in Montana) drive subaru 'till the wheels fall off. They must be inexpensive, because our area up there is in the bottom 25% of the wealth scale. If the hybrid version is similarly priced ... cost may be a major point with buyers (who need snow traction).