Subaru fans like to cling to the brand's sporty image, which was built upon decades of success on the World Rally stage and the popularity of its WRX STi cars in games like "Gran Turismo" on PlayStation, and cemented by its role in "The Fast and the Furious" franchise. However, Subaru has other qualities beyond the burbling appeal of a turbocharged boxer-four bolted into something like a WRX anniversary edition with a sick rear wing fitted onto it.
๐ The Core Development
Today, this is a company known for reliability, practicality, and the signature symmetrical all-wheel drive that features in almost all its vehicles. These are all attributes that serve an SUV well, and to that end, of the ten Subaru models on sale in the U.S. today, seven of them are SUVs. The Crosstrek is the company's most-popular model, with nearly 200,000 units sold in 2025 alone, though whether anyone believes the Crosstrek is an actual SUV is up for debate โ and not just because it is the smallest of the seven.
For enthusiasts in the market for the brand's practical and capable AWD models, here's a rundown of the Japanese automaker's current portfolio of new SUVs sold on the North American market, ranked from smallest to largest according to their total length in inches. Four of these use boxer-four gasoline engines or lightly hybridized versions of the same, while the other three are electric vehicles (EVs) that were born out of a tie-up with Toyota. From the Crosstrek to the Ascent and everything in between, there's serious off-road prowess available in all of these models and even the sort of off-the-line acceleration that can shame sports cars. Perhaps the development team at Subaru remembers the "good old days" after all.
๐ Background & Sector Context
One glance at the Subaru Crosstrek, and you may consider it nothing more than a jacked-up hatchback on chunky tires โ especially the base model, which doesn't even get roof rails. However, the Crosstrek is Consumer Reports' "Top Subcompact SUV" in 2026 and, like every Subaru off-roader, it features the company's symmetrical AWD, so in theory, it is at least somewhat equipped for the wilderness. Heck, there's even a Wilderness grade, which can walk the walk while talking the talk.
Starting at $28,415 for the base 2026 model, the Crosstrek gets its power from a 2.5-liter boxer-4 that delivers 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque in most versions. There's also a hybrid option for the Sport and Limited cars, which raises those numbers to 194 hp and 199 lb-ft, combined. Despite the extra performance, these hybrid Crosstreks are more economical, which might matter more to some buyers than its off-road prowess.
๐ Industry & Real-World Impact
At just 176.4 inches long, the Crosstrek is the most compact SUV Subaru makes, so it'll be easy to park and maneuver in urban areas. And while we perhaps wouldn't take it clambering up the Rubicon, the Crosstrek has 8.7 inches of ground clearance โ that's as good as anything else on this list, save for Wilderness versions of the Forester and Outback. Meanwhile, the Crosstrek Wilderness gets more clearance at 9.3 inches, along with better approach and departure angles.
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๐ฎ Strategic Outlook & What Lies Ahead
All Crosstrek trims weigh between roughly 3,300 pounds and no more than 3,700 pounds for the hybrids, and while every other version can tow up to 1,500 lbs, the Wilderness manages a massive 3,500 lbs thanks to various upgrades. That sounds like an SUV to us โ certainly more so than a Toyota Corolla Cross.
Born from a joint venture with compatriot Toyota, the arguably more appealing Subaru Uncharted represents the entry point to zero-emission Subaru ownership, starting from $36,945 with destination. It is a little longer than the Crosstrek at 177.8 inches long, and its trunk holds a little more cargo, but it offers slightly less ground clearance at 8.2 inches, which speaks volumes about its street-biased nature. In fact, if you want an all-wheel-drive Uncharted, you've got to avoid the Premium FWD. This model has just one motor on the front axle, providing a modest 221 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. That'll see the Uncharted from 0 to 60 mph in around 6.5 seconds (via Motor Trend ).
