2018 Subaru Crosstrek

2018 Subaru Crosstrek

Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

Date: May 2018
Mileage: 1,725

This just redesigned 2018 Subaru Crosstrek arrived on our long-term lot with just 25-miles on the odometer. In the month since, we’ve added 1,700 more, and mileage is off to a good start, averaging 33.5 miles-per-gallon. 

We do expect that to drop as we continue to rack up miles. But before we do that, let’s get to know the Crosstrek a little more. 

All new for ’18, our 2.0-liter 4-cylinder long-termer is outfitted in Limited trim; which means a back-up camera, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED steering responsive headlights, and automatic climate control are all standard; not to mention a CVT and of course, X-Mode all-wheel-drive. 

To that we’ve added a moonroof, EyeSight Driver-Assist System, Reverse Automatic Braking, High Beam Assist, Navigation for the 8.0-inch Starlink touchscreen, and a 432-watt Harmon-Kardon Sound System. If nothing else, we’ll be rockin’ out for the next 11-months.

Date: June 2018

The warm weather has finally settled in here at MotorWeek HQ, and another 11-hundred miles have passed by in the redesigned 2018 Subaru Crosstrek.

It sure is Subaru solid, and standard all-wheel-drive provides great contact with any and all roads. The back-up camera has a higher vantage point than before, for a better view of what’s happening behind you, with a crystal clear image on the Starlink multi-media screen.

Engineers added 4-more horses to the now 152-horsepower 2.0-liter flat 4 matched with an updated CVT. It’s adequate with decent acceleration, but there’s no adrenaline rush. As we’ve mentioned before, they could improve noise control too.  

So far we’re averaging 29.2 MPG of regular, right on the mark with the government’s numbers. And it is clear sailing for the summer roads ahead in our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek.

Date: August 2018
Mileage: 6,500

The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek seems to be the right vehicle for any season. 65-hundred miles have passed by in this rugged raised hatchback. 

Now, we drove the 2017 model for a year, and we are noticing the differences. This ’18 is more refined, the ride is tauter, and overall has a more solid feel. The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder works with an updated CVT. They’re a capable team… but we’d like more thrill from the throttle. 

Our long term fuel economy average is 32-point-4 miles-per-gallon of regular. While all-wheel drive is not as critical during summer months, the Crosstrek’s usefulness… has us forecasting a long and enjoyable road ahead.

Date: September 2018
Mileage: 8,500

The Subaru Crosstrek is a stalwart in the MotorWeek fleet. So far we’ve driven the 2018 model 8500-miles after spending a year with the 2017 edition. This raised hatchback continues to have the right amount of utility and ruggedness for all roads and weather conditions. 

Subaru’s all-wheel drive system is readily up to the challenge everywhere we’ve gone so far. 

The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder is paired with an updated CVT. They work well together, and while there’s decent low end torque… we’d like even more throttle response. Compared to our ’17, this ’18 Crosstrek drives more refined, solid, and secure.

Fuel economy is now 30-point-3-miles-per-gallon on regular… which is slightly better than the government’s Combined rating. Now, as the summer slips away, we’ll see how the Crosstrek handles our Autumn adventures.

Date: November 2018
Mileage: 12,000

We passed the summer season quickly in our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. And after 7-months total, we’ve put 12-thousand-miles on the odometer.

When we took delivery of this 2018 Crosstrek, we had just spent a year in the previous generation, but even if we hadn't the changes would still be obvious. The ride is much more refined thanks to the new global platform and technology, both for safety and convenience is top notch in this segment. We could still use some more horsepower, but to be fair, we say that a lot.

 However, most buyers will find the 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with CVT powertrain more than adequate. Plus, we’re bettering the government’s combine rating at 30-point-1-miles-per-gallon on regular.

This raised hatchback has the right amount of room, utility and ruggedness. We’ll see how it handles the more frigid months that loom ahead.

Date: February 2019
Mileage: 16,000 Miles

Our 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is designed to thrive in winter. But, so far, it hasn’t had much taste of snow and ice… as our Mid-Atlantic winter has been mostly devoid of the white stuff. But the cold has been a constant.

Regardless of temps, and the growing number of potholes, the refinement of the new global platformreally shined. The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with CVT is still up to every task we throw at it."The Crosstrek has been a steady workhorse in the MotorWeek long term test fleet. Our staff loves agood hatchback and this is certainly a good hatchback. Plenty of space, enough ground clearance toconfidently tackle bumpy gravel roads and a comfortable, upscale inrerior."

Our overall fuel economy average is 29-point-6 miles-per-gallon on regular… which is right in line withthe government’s combined rating.

Hopefully we’ll see the Crosstrek’s all-wheel drive in action during the snowy months to come. 

Date: April 2019
Mileage: 19,000 Miles

One year and around 19-thousand miles have passed in our Subaru Crosstrek. It’s just back from a road trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. And all that seat time made it obvious how much more solid and refined this redesigned model is thanks in part to the new global platform.

"The Crosstrek is proving to be a pretty decent road trip car. There's enough space to pack larger gear in the back, the wide opening hatch makes it easy to access and it doesn't drink a lot of gas. Some road and wind noise creeps in, but that's only highlighted by the fact that no one in the car wants to talk to me."

The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and CVT are more than adequate. And no complaints when we fill up. We’re averaging 29.2 miles-per-gallon on regular… right in line with the government’s numbers… all while being a versatile member of our long term fleet. 

Date: May 2019
Mileage: 19,748 Miles

It’s time to say good-bye to the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. We spent a year in this rugged-ute after testing the previous generation for the prior twelve months, so we’ve really gotten a feel for how versatile this raised hatchback can be… whether tooling around town doing chores… or taking long road trips. The new global platform stepped up the refinement, while Subaru’s symetrical all-wheel drive never let us down.

The 152-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and CVT powertrain were well matched all along the way. 19,748-miles was our final tally, with an average 29.6 miles-per-gallon… just a hair better than the EPA’s combined calculations. So the Subaru Crosstrek proved to be up to the task of whatever we asked…. no matter how the forecast turned out.

Specifications

  • Engine: 2.0 liter
  • Trim: Limited
2024 Mazda CX-50

2024 Mazda CX-50

Episode 4328
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

Long Term Updates

Date: January 2024


Mazda has always been sort of a niche brand relative to other automakers like Toyota and Honda. Well recently Mazda’s focused a little less on “zoom, zoom” and a little more on “room, room”. This 2024 Mazda CX-50 is a prime example of that philosophy and its the newest member of our long term fleet. So, let’s dive into the details.

Specifically, this is a CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. As you may have gleaned, power comes from a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. It sends 227-horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed automatic transmission. Power is boosted to 256-horsepower and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane gasoline.

All-wheel drive is standard for all CX-50s. Here those wheels are 20-inchers and they span quite a bit further front to back than paired with the CX-5. That means the CX-50 has a bit more room inside and, here in Premium Plus trim, an upscale feel. That comes via 10 and a quarter inch infotainment screen, heated front and rear seats, as well as a full color head-up display.

Adding up the cost of the Turbo Premium Plus package and a $450 charge for it’s Zircon Sand Metallic paint, this CX-50 stickers for $45,740 after destination.

We’ve only just begun our long term test on this CX-50 but we’ll have an update soon.

Date: March 2024Mileage: 3,000


This week, we’re kicking off some extended test time in this 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo compact crossover.

Sporting Zircon Sand Metallic paint over a Terracotta interior, our CX-50 sounds pretty fancy, and it is. Premium Plus trim means 20-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seating for 5 with heating elements for front and rear passengers, lots of fine stitch work, panoramic moonroof, and a 10-inch infotainment display are all included.

The engine is just as special, the turbo version of their 2.5-liter I4 which outputs 256 horsepower with 93-octane fuel to a six-speed automatic transmission, with standard all-wheel drive.

Crazy as it sounds, an automatic transmission with only six gears is borderline retro at this point, but it operates so smoothly with the CX-50’s 4-cylinder turbo, one could easily be fooled into thinking it’s an eight-speed. But there really aren’t any tricks here. Just good old-fashioned engineering on a tried and true powertrain.

We’ve already put a quick 3,000 miles on the odometer with a trip south to our winter testing grounds and our early fuel economy average of 25.2 miles-per-gallon is right on the Government’s Combined Rating.

Mazda seems to have thought of everything with this CX-50, even including a comprehensive Roadside Assistance Kit complete with jumper cables.

2023 Kia EV6 GT 3

2023 Kia EV6 GT

Episode 4313
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

Specifications

  • Motor Setup: Dual Motor
  • Torque: 545 lb-ft
  • Horsepower: 576
  • EPA Range: 206 miles
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Long Term Updates

Date: October 2023

Performance SUVs? Seen ’em. Battery electric SUVs? They’re pretty much everywhere. But a performance battery electric SUV? Now that’s something a little different.

This EV6 GT is Kia’s most powerful production vehicle EVER and the replacement for our current EV6 long termer. So, let’s dive into the details.

Saying goodbye is such sweet sorrow unless you’re immediately saying hello to a 576 horsepower four-door rocket. The extra 256 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque that the GT has over our outgoing EV6 comes courtesy of a 160-kW motor driving the front wheels and a 270-kW motor spinning the rears.

And it has no problem spinning the rears when set to drift mode. The under-floor battery pack is still 77.4-kWh but with all that extra “umph”, EPA-estimated range is down to 206 miles.

Draped in Runaway Red paint, the GT’s body looks even sleeker with more aggressive front and rear fascias. Wheels measure 21-inches and come wrapped in Z-rated Goodyear rubber. Brakes are considerably bigger and considerably greener.

Inside, dimensions are the same as our 2022 EV6 Wind. Notable additions are these sports seats and a special GT drive mode button the steering wheel which unlocks full power potential.

Keys to unlock this car’s potential come at a price of $63,575.

We’ll have our first long term update soon, but in the meantime, if you have any questions or comments during our year long test of this Kia EV6 GT…reach out to us on your social site at MotorWeek.

Date: November 2023Mileage: 1,500


We all know how awesome it is to get an upgrade; well we just replaced our 2022 Kia EV6 with this 2023 Kia EV6 GT and my oh my, what an upgrade!

While the EV6 was a very attractive SUV by any measure, it clearly sheds the commuter car vibe for a much more purposeful design here, with the GT’s lower stance and performance hardware on full display.

And not only is it a more powerful EV6, it’s the most powerful Kia ever, with 576-horsepower coming from a dual-motor setup featuring a 160-kW front motor and 270-kW rear.

That’s 256 more horsepower than what we were dealing with in our EV6 Wind.

But, with the same 77.4-kWh battery, the GT is rated for just 206-miles compared to 274.

Though as we’ve quickly learned over 1,500-miles so far, those miles are packed with a lot more smiles, and it’s plenty to get most of us through a weekend’s worth of errands.

In our short time so far with this EV6 GT we’re finding that, just like in our outgoing EV6 Wind, the range estimate is pretty spot on. Now I will say we’re watching those miles tick off a little faster due to our inability to ignore that little voice telling us to trigger GT Mode and go full send. But to be fair, that happens in gas-powered cars too.

It’s going to be a great year plugging into this one!

Date: January 2024Mileage: 2,500


This 2023 Kia EV6 GT is not the first EV we’ve had as a long-term test vehicle here at MotorWeek, but it’s definitely the most fun…by a wide margin! And miles have been adding up quickly, with some 2,500 over our first 2-months of driving.

Overall performance really is exceptional in this fast, cool, and smooth utility. But things truly get interesting when you engage GT Drive Mode, or “hit the NOS” as we like to call it around here. Supercar performance at the press of a button with power delivery, braking, steering, suspension, limited slip differential, and stability control all set to their most dynamic.

The all-wheel drive traction for putting power down out of corners can easily turn your commute into an amusement park ride. Though as we race into winter we’ll have to be mindful that colder temperatures won’t likely play nice with the performance tires currently mounted on these 21-inch wheels.

Even winter can’t grip this EV6 GT with all its bountiful torque, which in some cases, can be useful. For instance, compared to a standard EV6, the turning radius isn’t quite as tight. But under the right circumstances, Drift Mode can take care of that…

With its 77.4-kWh battery, the EV6 GT is rated for just 206-miles, but we’ve routinely seen over 230 available in the gauge display; and a recent attempt to take it down to zero had us traveling 215-miles before pulling up to the charger on whatever the EV equivalent to running on fumes is…let’s call it ‘rolling on electrons.’

Date: February 2024Mileage: 5,000


Our 2023 Kia EV6 GT has been on the move a lot recently, as we’ve just passed the 5,000-mile mark in only 4-months.

Winter hasn’t impeded things at all, just requiring us to take a little extra caution with the GT’s performance tires. Everything else remains solid as the EV6 GT truly is a joy to drive.

The cabin is lovely too, and the dash setup has it appearing more traditional than many EVs; though, the GT’s splashes of additional color and accent lighting go a long way in making it special, as do the aggressively bolstered sport seats, and the unique themes that appear when changing drive modes, which we occasionally do accidentally by grazing the large steering wheel buttons.

“Recently, every time I’ve hopped in for a cruise with this EV6 GT, the drive mode has been set to ECO, which is a bit unusual for us. But I think it’s because we’re all realizing that it’s been helpful in two ways this winter. One, it takes some of the responsiveness out of the accelerator, decreasing the likelihood of unwanted wheel spin; and two, we’re extending our range.”

Indeed, recent news headlines have pointed out that cold weather does have an impact on EVs, particularly when it comes to batteries, charging, and range. But it’s certainly not a deal-breaker as very cold weather impacts everything else too. EVs just require a little bit of thinking ahead, like making sure the battery and interior are warmed before unplugging to minimize range loss. Much like remote starting has done for internal combustion cars for years.