2026 Subaru Crosstrek Trim Guide: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, or Wilderness?

A perennial MotorTrend favorite that has consistently been ranked by us as one of the best subcompact SUVs on the market, the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is a smart buy for anyone in need of an affordable SUV with fantastic overall capability despite its size.

Although the Crosstrek recently went hybrid, a gas-only version remains available in the form of a 2.5-liter flat-four that produces 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. The gas model takes 7.9 seconds to hit 60 mph, and fuel economy sits right around 26/33 mpg city/highway. Inside, it’s pinch small, and it’s still running Subaru’s older infotainment setup; the new version that recently launched in the new Outback hasn’t had a chance to make it over yet.

But this bite-sized SUV still offers a ton of perks and stays well under $40,000 regardless of trim. And unlike other competitors in its class, the Crosstrek offers mechanical all-wheel drive that’s standard across all trims. Don’t know which trim to consider? We got you. (Editor’s Note: 2024 model year Crosstreks are shown.)

2026 Subaru Crosstrek: Pros and Cons

The base Crosstrek—simply known as “Crosstrek”—is far from a stripped-down model. Inside, there are two 7.0-inch touchscreens for the infotainment, with the top one for the radio, backup camera, and wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and the bottom one to control the dual-zone climate. Power front windows with automatic up/down, a USB charge port, and 60/40-split folding rear seats are also standard.

Cloth upholstery is found throughout, but the base Crosstrek offers something that’s typically reserved for luxury cars: steering-responsive headlights. Have you ever been driving when it’s super dark out, and you were about to turn? The Crosstrek’s headlights turn with the wheel so you can better see where you’re going.

Finally, you also get Subaru’s excellent EyeSight suite of driver assists. Prices for the base Crosstrek start at $28,415.

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Premium: Pros and Cons

Premium builds off everything offered on the base. Technology upgrades include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a bigger 11.6-inch infotainment screen, and a six-speaker sound system rather than four. Both USB-A and USB-C charging ports are found in the center console, as well as in the rear console for those passengers.

Exterior differences include 17-inch dark gray aluminum alloy wheels, raised roof rails, LED foglights, body-color door handles, and metallic exterior mirrors also in dark gray.

Premium Crosstreks sticker starting at $29,415. However, for $2,245, an optional package gives you two-stage heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, a power moonroof, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 10-way powered driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support. These are all nice features, especially if you live in a cold climate.

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Sport: Pros and Cons

You can immediately tell Sport-trimmed Crosstreks apart because of the yellow accents on the front, sides, and rear of the car. Wheels size up slightly to be 18-inch alloys finished in dark gray, and the black wing mirrors have integrated turn signals.

The cabin sees the biggest upgrades. Not only do you get heated front seats as standard, but the Sport also comes with a cargo area cover, leather-wrapped shift lever and steering wheel, sound-insulating windshield, and wireless phone charger. The yellow accents continue with contrast stitching on the steering wheel and cloth seats, as well as yellow trim rings around the tach and speedometer. There are also imitation carbon-fiber details.

Prices for the Sport begin at $32,045.

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Limited: Pros and Cons

The Limited grade is where the cabin sees the most luxurious appointments. The carpeted floormats say “Limited” on them (in case one needed reminding), and the leather-wrapped steering wheel is heated. No cloth seats here: gray or black perforated leather seats are what you can choose from. Two-way adjustable lumbar support accompanies the 10-way powered driver’s seat. Contrast orange stitching climbs over the center console storage lid, door armrests, shift lever cover, and instrument panel. Finally, power window switches trimmed in chrome finish complete the interior.

Tech-wise, the Limited builds on the lower grades by offering a bunch of stuff as standard. There’s emergency lane keep assist, a driver distraction alert, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking.

Limited prices start at $34,415.

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: Pros and Cons

The Wilderness is the most Subaru-ish Crosstrek. Rather than some aesthetic updates, the Wilderness gets legitimate off-roading hardware and its own collection of interior appointments to match.

From the outside, Wilderness Crosstreks are immediately distinguishable due to their copper-colored accents, taller ground clearance, exclusive bumpers, unique foglights, bigger wheel arch cladding, and an anti-glare matte-black hood decal. These cars run around on matte-black 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. Mechanically, Subaru updated the gearing for better low-end power and increased the towing capacity to 3,500 pounds, up from 1,500 pounds for other Crosstreks.

Inside, all the upholstery comes in a water-resistant material with copper contrast stitching, so you don’t have to feel bad about dirtying it up. More copper-colored accents dress up the gauge meter rings, shifter, and leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel. The front headrests wear embossed Wilderness logos.

An option package for $2,270 brings you a 10-way powered driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support, the 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, and a power moonroof.

Like everything else in the Wilderness family, the Crosstrek Wilderness impresses with legitimate off-road chops. Fuel economy suffers slightly because of the all-terrain tires and lift, dropping to 24/29 mpg city/highway, as well as its acceleration to 60 mph, which falls to 8.3 seconds.

But for a little off-roader? The $35,215 starting price isn’t bad at all.

Which 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Trim Is Best?

There’s no bad Crosstrek, but there are Crosstreks for different lifestyles.

Unless you regularly travel off-road, we don’t think the Wilderness’ higher price and lower fuel economy are worth it. Ultimately, we like the Crosstrek Sport the best because of its lower price and cloth upholstery. Yes, the usual instinct is to reach for the leather, but the Subaru cloth upholstery is easy to clean. Cloth also doesn’t become molten-hot under the sun in the summer, so there’s that.

Plus, we like all the yellow details on the Sport. They make the car feel younger and more athletic, which is the Crosstrek’s whole vibe anyway.

2026 Subaru Crosstrek Prices

• Base: $28,415
• Premium: $29,415
• Sport: $32,045
• Limited: $34,415
• Wilderness: $35,215