2020 Subaru Crosstrek XTi name comes from the 2008 Forester XTI concept which was shown at SEMA, and it had the WRX STI’s 2.5-liter turbo boxer engine, a six-speed manual transmission, 18-inch S204 wheels with high-performance Yokohama rubber, coilover suspension and huge Brembo brakes. Leather and Alcantara were offered in the cabin which also had an entirely new layout.
It offered astonishing 315 HP and 300 lb-ft of torque, but it wasn’t nearly as hardcore as a more aggressive design study for the Crosstrek called the Subaru XV Sport Concept, which was introduced at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2013. That design study had a completely new appearance, an upgraded suspension, LED lights, STI tower bar, a whole bunch of new aero enhancements, STI muffler, 17-inch Enkei wheels, Recaro seats, and Brembo brakes. After that, the Crosstrek XV Sport Concept became a reality and it is right here in front of you.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek XTi engine
As far as the business side of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek XTI is considered to come with a bit of outdated unit but a very reliable one. It will be the 2.5 L turbo boxer unit straight from the WRX STI, and it will offer around 305 HP and 290 lb-ft of torque which will be available as soon as the turbo kicks in. The unit will be attached to a six-speed manual transmission as standard while the option will be a CVT but any hardcore Subaru fan knows that there is only one right transmission and that is manual, of course.
Besides this, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek XTI will receive some of additional STI’s tech like high-tech drivetrain that comes together with new electronic center differential, and the same DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Differential). This is supposed to offer you a whole lot of freedom when adjusting settings to any surface, or just leave it at auto setting and let the computer tackle the task by itself. The last but not least from this list is the Subaru’s famous Symmetrical AWD system that is capable of sending power to any corner of the vehicle that needs it at a specific moment. Thanks to this the run to 60 MPH will take only 5 seconds flat, and you will be able to hit the maximum speed of around 140 MPH which is not all that bad since this is a crossover after all.
The platform and suspension
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek XTi underneath its fancy new skin has pretty much the same construction as the five-door Impreza, but with one significant change – the Crosstrek has a raised suspension and a taller ride height. The increase in the center of gravity shouldn’t concern you much because Subaru has a solution for that – a wider footprint and improved grip that comes courtesy of the upgraded Yokohama tires. But that is not all. Subaru has reinforced the chassis with additional bracings which is supposed to reduce the chassis flex while experimenting on various tracks. We are also getting six piston front and two piston back calipers attached to Brembo brakes to help you put a stop to all that fun instantly. The latest trend in this segment is to lift the SUV’s and make them handle and go just like a sports car. To achieve this, besides the stuff we already mentioned, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek XTi will have a new steering with a quicker ratio, while the company’s Active Torque Vectoring will make sure that the Crosstrek has the most grip possible.
2020 Crosstrek Interior
Subaru has never been a company that will offer you a whole lot of the extravagant interior for the money you pay. That is mostly because the money you pay goes towards the vehicle’s performance and engine. We predict that things in the interior of the 2020 Crosstrek will not change much and that it will mainly utilise the parts from the WRX STI. But do not get us wrong because the STI has a pretty decent interior and Japanese brand isn’t that bad at making them, they are just more performance oriented than elegant. As far as we are aware the Crosstrek will come with a fair share of Alcantara, as well as a little leather. To make this Subaru’s interior sportier, you can also expect carbon fiber bits and pieces mainly on the central stack and along the dash. It will also feature some red contrast stitching and the gauges that are behind a flat-bottom, three-spoke, multifunction sport steering wheel that will host some red coloring as well. Seats will be nice and snug with a lot of bolstering to keep you firm and in one spot when you decide to do some “sportier” driving. The infotainment segment is covered by an 8-inch unit which comes upgraded and will offer plenty information to the driver while supporting the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto apps and phone features. There will be optional equipment that will add some bling to the interior like leather seating, navigation, and an upgraded stereo.
The outside look
Although the Subaru’s interior, to some, is not its strength the outside is where this company shines. From the front, you will see a revised “face” and bumper that now has additional curves, bumps, and ridges – all pretty standard for a sporty edition. The bumper in its corners holds larger intakes that replace the stock fog light housing, which kinda reminds us on that of the WRX STI. The lower grill is somewhat larger while the headlight cluster held to the standard Crosstrek’s C-shaped daytime running lights. The hood, as you can see, has another thing that ties it to the WRX STI and it is the squared hood scoop which has a task of forcing colder air to the intercooler beneath it.
The sides of the 2024 Crosstrek retained pretty much the same look, but the side skirts got a brushed metal look that now goes neatly with the front skid plate. The ground clearance is the same as before, but now the wheels got larger in diameter – 18 inches and are now using a five split-spoke design, which looks awesome. To give the Crosstrek XTI a bit muscular and menacing stance, the company added flared wheel arches on the front. At the back of the vehicle the design remained the same – still chunky plus there is a skid plate under the bottom edge of the bumper. Besides all that, there are polished dual exhaust tips and an aggressive spoiler that adds to the overall sporty look.
2020 Subaru Crosstrek XTi price
All of the things listed on the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek XTI goes in favor of the speed and performance, but you must also know that this doesn’t come that cheap. Currently, the standard WRX STi goes for $36,096 which is not that affordable, while the regular Crosstrek is somewhat cheaper. As you know the entry level Crosstrek goes from $21,795 while the $26,295 price tag is on the 2.0i limited edition model. Knowing this we can predict that the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek XTI might start from $40,000 for the regular version and go up to around $45,000 for a “Limited” trim that will offer nicer interior equipment and tech.
