Edmunds Thinks the Subaru Crosstrek is a Wrangler Competitor
JL Wrangler is better than ever before, but is the Subaru Crosstreck really competent enough to steal some off-road space?
The folks here at JK-Forum think that the editors who posted the recent video on Edmunds’ official YouTube page might want to talk to a few Jeep Wrangler owners. We only say that, because they drummed up this interesting comparison between a Subaru Crosstrek and a Jeep Wrangler. Some relevant points were made by editors Travis Langness and Calvin Kim, but we just can’t see too many people shopping both of these rides at the same time. Anyway, let’s get on to the test.
Coming from a consumer mindset, manners on the road are very relevant. Here is a place where the Subaru obviously shines over the Jeep. “When it comes to on-road comfort and what I want to drive on a daily basis,” Langness says, “the Subaru is the one.” But at the same time, the Crosstreck is woefully under-powered. 152 horsepower is closer to the realm of most sub-compacts, and not at all what you’d associate with off-road prowess.
Edmunds’ ‘Skewed’ Results
Granted, the Jeep isn’t really all that great on the highway, but the sacrifices are worth it when the going gets tough…so long as you can deal with those sacrifices. Kim points out that it does have a price that’s elevated above the Subaru, but the Wrangler’s V6 has a “tremenduous amount of power, more an any Wrangler has any business having.”
Once the comparison moves to off-road adventures though, the Subaru isn’t really tasked with any terribly difficult terrain. Edmunds‘ version of off-road testing seemed more like a leisurely drive, since off-road capabilities were talked about, but not tested. For instance, where the Subaru’s lack of articulation had it lifting a wheel every now and then and struggling on up-hill sandy bits, the Wrangler didn’t even need to leave its two-wheel drive setting. We actually think the trails used here were so easy, they could be conquered by a front-wheel-drive CUV.
What Edmunds seems to have done is tried to compare things the wrong way. They looked for a road car that could do a tiny bit of off-roading, rather than finding the off-roader that can do it all.
Join the JK-Forums now!
