The Crosstrek's Real Bill: $465 a Month Over Five Years

Our calculator puts the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek at $27,892 to own for five years, or $465 a month, on top of a purchase price we estimate at $15,600. That is a fair number for a small all-wheel-drive crossover. It is not a bargain number, and the Crosstrek's reputation makes many shoppers assume it is.

My verdict: buy it, but only at the right price and in the right trim. Pay $15,600 or less for a Premium or Sport with under 60,000 miles and a clean service history. Check Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds for local listings, because Subarus hold their value well and dealers know it. If a dealer asks $18,000 for a base model with 55,000 miles, walk away. You are paying a Subaru tax for a car that will cost you the same to run as a cheaper rival.

Where the $27,892 actually goes

Fuel is the biggest line at $9,626 over five years, about $1,925 a year. Insurance is second at $7,613. Our insurance figure is an estimate built from the car's value and class, not a quote, so your own number will differ depending on your age, ZIP code and driving record. Run a real quote before you sign.

Depreciation is only $3,556. That is the Crosstrek's real strength. A car bought at $15,600 should still be worth roughly $12,000 after five more years, and few vehicles in this price range lose value that slowly.

Maintenance comes to $3,510 and repairs to $3,332. Together that is $6,842, or about $1,370 a year. Registration is a rounding error at $255.

The lesson: the purchase price is not where you win or lose on this car. Fuel and insurance eat more than half the ownership bill, so a $1,000 haggle matters less than you think. Condition matters more.

Which Crosstrek to buy, and which to skip

The 2021 model year sits in the middle of the generation that ran from 2018 to 2023. The big 2021 change was a stronger 2.5-liter engine in the Sport and Limited trims. The Base and Premium trims kept the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2.0-liter is the one to think hard about. It is adequate around town and strained on a mountain highway with four people aboard. If you drive on interstates or in hills, get the 2.5-liter Sport or Limited. The extra power means the engine and the CVT (a type of automatic that uses a belt instead of gears) work less hard, and that helps long-term wear.

The smart pick for most people is the Premium or Sport. Both usually include the EyeSight driver-assist system, which uses a camera behind the windshield for adaptive cruise control and automatic braking. The Limited adds leather and a nicer stereo, and you will pay for those at resale time and not get them back.

Skip the base trim unless the price is far below market. It has little equipment, and shoppers tend to overpay for the badge. Also skip any car with a spotty maintenance record, a salvage title, or aftermarket lift kits and oversized tires. Those put extra strain on the CVT and drivetrain.

Before buying, run the VIN through the NHTSA recall database for the 2021 Crosstrek. Subaru has issued recalls across these years, including fuel pump and software items on various models, and an open recall should be fixed free at a dealer before you take delivery. Make that a condition of the sale.

The reliability picture: decent, with a CVT asterisk

RepairPal rates Subaru's Crosstrek around average to better than average for ownership cost, and our $3,332 repair estimate fits that. No part of this car is a disaster. But some things go wrong often enough to plan around.

The CVT. This is the expensive one. Subaru's Lineartronic CVT is more durable than the units that gave Nissan so much trouble, but it is not immortal. Problems show up as shuddering, a droning whine, or hesitation, usually past 80,000 to 100,000 miles, and more often when fluid service was skipped. A replacement runs $4,000 to $6,500. A used transmission is cheaper but a gamble.

Battery drain. Several Subaru models from this period have had complaints of batteries dying because electronics stay awake after shutoff. Often it is a software fix, sometimes a new battery at $200 to $300. Annoying, not ruinous.

Infotainment glitches. Screens that freeze, reboot, or lose Bluetooth are common complaints. Most are fixed with updates, but out of warranty a head unit replacement can top $1,000.

Wheel bearings and suspension wear. The Crosstrek's popularity with gravel roads and potholes means front wheel bearings and struts wear out around 70,000 to 100,000 miles. Expect $300 to $600 per bearing and $800 to $1,400 for a pair of struts with labor.

Windshield and EyeSight. A cracked windshield is not a simple glass job here. The camera must be recalibrated, and a replacement can run $800 to $1,500. Check your insurance glass coverage.

Oil use. Subaru's older 2.5-liter engines were known to burn oil. The newer engines in this car are better, but check the oil level and ask for service records. Low oil with no explanation is a reason to leave.

What you will spend each year, by mileage

These figures cover maintenance and repairs only, not fuel, insurance, or depreciation.

Under 50,000 miles: $700 to $1,200 a year. Oil changes, tires, a brake service, and little else. Some of the factory warranty may remain, depending on the original sale date and mileage.

50,000 to 100,000 miles: $1,500 to $2,300 a year. This is where the bills start. Tires, brakes, a CVT fluid service, spark plugs, a battery, and suspension parts all land in this window. Plan for one surprise repair of $1,000 or more.

Over 100,000 miles: $2,500 to $3,800 a year, and more if the CVT fails. One transmission replacement can wipe out two years of the savings you thought you had. Do not be optimistic about a Crosstrek past 100,000 miles unless the records show fluid changes every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.

Our calculator's five-year average of about $1,370 a year assumes typical mileage. If you buy a car at 70,000 miles, you will likely land above that.

Pre-purchase inspection list

1. Drive it for 20 minutes, including a stop-and-go stretch. Feel for CVT shudder, a whine under light throttle, or a lurch when you ease off the brake.
2. Ask for CVT fluid service records. If the car has 60,000 miles and no fluid change, budget for one immediately, or pass.
3. Check the oil level and color on the dipstick. Ask whether the owner has been topping it up between changes.
4. Test the infotainment screen. Connect a phone, switch inputs, run the backup camera. Freezing or reboots are a red flag.
5. Look for a replaced windshield. Check for aftermarket glass markings, then confirm EyeSight works without dashboard warning lights.
6. Listen for a humming noise that changes with speed. That points to a worn wheel bearing.
7. Inspect the underbody for scrapes, dents, and rust. Crosstreks get driven on trails and salted roads, and plenty are driven harder than the owners admit.
8. Check that all four tires match in brand and tread depth. Mismatched tires strain an all-wheel-drive system and can cause drivetrain wear.
9. Test the battery. Ask the seller about jump-starts or recent replacement, and have a shop run a load test.
10. Run the VIN for open recalls. Use the NHTSA link above and get proof any recall work was done.

Fuel costs

Fuel economy ratings for each trim are on fueleconomy.gov, where you can compare the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter versions directly. Our calculator's five-year fuel cost of $9,626 works out to about $1,925 a year, or roughly $160 a month, at 12,000 miles a year.

That is not cheap for a small crossover. Subaru's standard all-wheel drive costs fuel economy, and you pay for it every fill-up. If you live somewhere flat and dry and never see snow, you are paying for hardware you rarely use.

Two alternatives at a similar price

Mazda CX-30: Nicer interior and sharper handling than the Crosstrek, with available all-wheel drive, though it has less ground clearance and a smaller rear seat.

Honda HR-V: Roomier cargo area and a strong reputation for low repair bills, though the base engine is slow and the ride is plain.

The line where this car stops making sense

The Crosstrek is a good deal at $15,600 or less, under 60,000 miles, with CVT fluid records and no open recalls. Stretch to $17,000 only for a low-mileage 2.5-liter Sport or Limited in excellent shape. Above that, the price runs ahead of what the car delivers. Past 90,000 miles, it stops being a good deal unless the seller knocks real money off, because the CVT risk and the suspension bills are no longer far away. Past 100,000 miles, I would pay no more than a few thousand dollars below our estimate, and only with a clean inspection from an independent shop.