The 2018 Subaru Crosstrek is appealing for a number of readily apparent reasons, ranging from its handsome and rugged looks to its competitive pricing and ample cargo and passenger room. However, what many won't know without driving it is the amount of ride comfort the Crosstrek provides. This was a nice surprise—and one of my favorite qualities—because compact vehicles are not always known for ride quality. The Crosstrek's is one of the best I have felt.

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The raised hatchback does a superb job of ironing out rough patches of road and excels at not transmitting much vibration or noise into the cabin.

I recently drove our long-term Audi A4 Quattro for a few days, a Subaru Outback 3.6R Touring that I reviewed, and a Volvo XC60 T5 for a three-day weekend of SoCal cruising. The Crosstrek's ride quality is on par with those three larger and more expensive vehicles, and surprisingly it also mutes out and absorbs much of the sound and juddering that accompanies road imperfections better than the above vehicles. It's worth noting that those vehicles ride on lower-profile tires, but I would still expect the ride quality to be better than my $26,899 Crosstrek.

I am not the first editor to feel this way about Subaru's latest compact. "The ride quality is downright plush with luxury car levels of suspension compliance and rally car-rivaling suspension travel," features editor Christian Seabaugh said during a three-way comparison against the Jeep Compass and Nissan Rogue Sport, which the Subie won.

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International bureau chief Angus MacKenzie summed it up best during his First Test review of the Crosstrek. "The little Subaru rolls down the road with the quiet comfort and dignified composure of a mini luxury car," he said. "The ride is exceptional for a vehicle this size, the long-travel suspension calmly damping body motions while ably suppressing impact harshness where the rubber meets the road."

So if you are considering a Subaru Crosstrek, add "premium ride quality" to the list of pros. It's among the best in class.

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