Subaru Reveals the Oddly Familiar Redesigned 2018 Crosstrek

At the Geneva Motor Show, Subaru made a somewhat surprising reveal, as it showed off the new-generation Crosstrek to the crowd.

The details on the 2018 Crosstrek are thin, but there are plenty of images and a short presser that gives us a little info. First, the new looks. Well, they’re not too new, as the basic design of the Crosstrek remains, but its styling is tweaked. As you can see in the images, the front end takes a slightly more upright look, and gains a larger grille, a new bumper and restyled headlights.

Down the side of the 2018 Crosstrek, the changes are a little subtler, but they are noticeable. There is a new scallop that runs from the front door, over the front door handle, and almost to the rear door handle. Also visible in the images is a new lower crease in the door that swoops upward near the rear wheel, and chunkier plastic cladding around the wheels for a more rugged look.

2018 Subaru Crosstrek (Credit: © Subaru)

Around back, the new Crosstrek appears to take on a more upright liftgate glass, which will help with larger cargo, wraparound taillights, and a new bumper with larger reflectors and chunkier body cladding.

The 2018 Crosstrek will sit atop the brand-new Subaru Global Platform architecture, which may contribute to what looks like a slightly higher ride height. This may also result in a larger footprint, but this has yet to be confirmed. What Subaru did announce is that this new architecture will lead to a stronger, more rigid chassis and body, which will help with safety ratings.

Speaking of safety, Subaru also announced that the 2018 Crosstrek will have new safety features to enhance hazard avoidance.

The powertrain remains unknown at this point, but my guess is it’ll be a refined version of the current 148-horsepower 2.0-liter boxer-four. We may see power tick up a bit, but the biggest changes will likely be to fuel economy, which is typically how Subaru handles redesigns.

Stay tuned for additional updates as we near the 2018 Crosstrek’s U.S. debut at the New York Auto Show on April 12.