We Like: Tidy capability, excellent CVT response; plush ride; strong off-road; overall value

We Don't Like: Weak engine; manual transmission's vague clutch and notchy shifter

With base prices of just over $23,000 (Crosstrek Premium) to a few dollars over $27,000 (Limited), the lifted Subaru Impreza wagon carries a burly demeanor and playful color palette.

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This all-wheel-drive problem solver will safely and comfortably get you around town with its new EyeSight safety suite, fuel-sipping 2.0-liter direct-injection engine, and newfound infotainment connectivity—but it also has the capability to get you to the ski slopes, trailheads, and fishing holes as well as any full-blown, full-scale SUV would.

The 2018 Crosstrek impressed the judges with its smooth and sorted ride, its true off-road capability, its 8.7-inch ground clearance, and the prompt and smart responses from its revised continuously variable transmission.

The novelty of the available six-speed manual transmission quickly wore thin, however, because it emphasized the Crosstrek's biggest liability—a real lack of power. The Subie stumbled on our Highway 58 uphill merge with 18-wheelers looming large. Although it's more than a second quicker to 60 mph than its predecessor, this only makes it tolerably slow. We're eagerly waiting for Subaru to add the 2.0-liter turbo to the lineup. The positive trade-off is more than 30 mpg combined in our Real MPG testing.

We were impressed with the Crosstrek's excellent sight lines, the amount of rear passenger space, and the base infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EyeSight safety suite, reverse cross-traffic automatic braking, navigation, and Harman Kardon audio option is a steal at $3,445. The value here is off the scale. Just a bit more power, please.

Read about 2018 SUV of the Year contenders:

Read about other 2018 SUV of the Year Finalists:

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2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i (Limited) 2018 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0i (Premium) DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Front-engine, AWD ENGINE TYPE Flat-4, alum block/heads Flat-4, alum block/heads VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DISPLACEMENT 121.7 cu in/1,995 cc 121.7 cu in/1,995 cc COMPRESSION RATIO 12.5:1 12.5:1 POWER (SAE NET) 152 hp @ 6,000 rpm 152 hp @ 6,000 rpm TORQUE (SAE NET) 145 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm 145 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm REDLINE 6,250 rpm 6,300 rpm WEIGHT TO POWER 21.6 lb/hp 20.7 lb/hp TRANSMISSION Cont variable auto 6-speed manual AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 3.90:1/2.17:1/ — 4.44/3.28:1/— SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; control arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar STEERING RATIO 13.0:1 13.0:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.6 2.6 BRAKES, F; R 11.6-in vented disc; 10.8-in disc, ABS 11.6-in vented disc; 10.8-in disc, ABS WHEELS, F;R 7.0 x 17-in cast aluminum 7.0 x 17-in cast aluminum TIRES, F;R 225/55R18 98H (M+S) Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S 225/60R17 98H (M+S) Yokohama Geolander 691 DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 104.9 in 104.9 in TRACK, F/R 61.0/61.2 in 61.0/61.2 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 175.8 x 71.0 x 62.6 in 175.8 x 71.0 x 62.6 in GROUND CLEARANCE 8.7 in 8.7 in APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE 18.0/29.0 deg 18.0/29.0 deg TURNING CIRCLE 35.4 ft 35.4 ft CURB WEIGHT 3,284 lb 3,143 lb WEIGHT DIST, F/R 59/41% 58/42% TOWING CAPACITY 1,500 lb 1,500 lb SEATING CAPACITY 5 5 HEADROOM, F/M/R 37.6/37.8/— in 39.8/38.0/— in LEGROOM, F/M/R 43.1/36.5/— in 43.1/36.5/— in SHOULDER ROOM, F/M/R 56.7/55.6/— in 56.7/55.6/— in CARGO VOLUME BEH 1st/2nd/3rd 55.3/20.8/— cu ft 55.3/20.8/— cu ft TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 3.4 sec 2.7 sec 0-40 5.0 4.4 0-50 6.8 6.5 0-60 9.0 8.8 0-70 11.7 12.0 0-80 15.2 — 0-90 — — 0-100 — — PASSING, 45-65 MPH 4.4 4.9 QUARTER MILE 16.9 sec @ 80.8 mph 16.7 sec @ 77.4 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 131 ft 125 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.80 g (avg) 0.79 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 28.4 sec @ 0.58 g (avg) 28.2 sec @ 0.59 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1,700 rpm 2,450 rpm CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $27,210 $23,510 PRICE AS TESTED $30,655 $23,510 STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/Yes Yes/Yes AIRBAGS 7: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, driver knee 7: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, driver knee BASIC WARRANTY 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 5 yrs/60,000 miles 5 yrs/60,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles FUEL CAPACITY 16.6 gal 16.6 gal REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB 20.9/33.8/25.2 mpg 25.9/38.9/30.5 mpg EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 27/33/29 mpg 23/29/25 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 125/102 kW-hrs/100 miles 147/116 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.66 lb/mile 0.76 lb/mile RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded regular Unleaded regular