Subaru Crosstrek vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek retained much of its predecessor's design, yet introduced new elements like fresh sheet metal, a new chassis, and additional color options such as Sun Blaze and Sapphire Blue. The Wilderness trim offered an exclusive Geyser Blue paint job. While the wheelbase and overall length remained similar, the Crosstrek featured a steeper departure angle and slightly reduced cargo space. The base trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it suitable for off-road adventures. The new wing bar design on the grille gave the Crosstrek a distinctive front fascia, while black plastic cladding with air inlets and outlets improved aerodynamics and reduced road noise. The split taillight design from the second generation continued, enhancing trunk access. The Wilderness trim added unique exterior elements like a hexagonal grille and increased ground clearance to 9.3 inches, along with a ladder-style roof rack.

Inside, the Crosstrek Wilderness featured StarTex synthetic leather upholstery and copper accents, with standard all-weather floor mats and an LED light in the cargo area. Interior dimensions remained largely unchanged, with slightly reduced cargo volume. A new 11.6-inch touchscreen display was a notable addition, aligning the Crosstrek's interior design with the larger Subaru Outback. The Crosstrek's interior was designed with practicality in mind, offering easy-to-clean materials and thoughtful features like a protective cargo tray and Nalgene-compatible cupholders.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered a range of powertrains, including a turbocharged gas engine, a hybrid powertrain with up to 36 mpg, and a powerful Hybrid Max configuration with 362 horsepower. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum trim, priced at $61,770, featured a Storm Cloud paint job and a conservative design reminiscent of the RAV4. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. The climate system was user-friendly, but the infotainment interface had a small volume knob and lacked a tuning knob.

The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max delivered impressive performance with its turbocharged 2.4-liter engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 horsepower. It offered a smooth ride and secure handling, although the tires scrubbed early in corners. The Hybrid Max's fuel economy was lower than the standard hybrid, but it could tow up to 5,000 pounds. The infotainment system featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Toyota Connected Services. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the user experience. The Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max included advanced features like a head-up display and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter flat four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and a smaller 2.0-liter engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Subaru had refined to minimize droning and improve driving experience. The Crosstrek Wilderness trim featured a shorter final-drive ratio, enhancing off-road capability and towing capacity to 3,500 pounds. The Crosstrek's steering was improved with a new dual-pinion steering rack, and the stiffer structure reduced body roll. Subaru's X-Mode traction management system was standard across all trims, with enhanced features on higher trims. Fuel economy was competitive for a subcompact crossover, with the 2.0-liter engine achieving 27 mpg city, 34 highway, and 29 combined, while the 2.5-liter engine offered slightly lower figures.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with its turbocharged 2.4-liter engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 horsepower. The Hybrid Max's six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning common in CVTs, providing a satisfying driving experience. While the Hybrid Max's fuel economy was lower than the standard hybrid, it offered impressive towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. During testing, the Hybrid Max achieved 26 mpg on a balanced city and highway route, with slightly lower figures on mountainous terrain. The powertrain's acceleration was smooth and confident, aided by electric motors that eliminated turbo lag. The Grand Highlander's ride quality was soft and isolating, although it exhibited some vertical bounding and lateral rocking on uneven surfaces. Handling was secure, but the tires scrubbed early in corners, and the vehicle felt large on narrow roads.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, built on the Subaru Impreza platform, offered competitive cargo space and utility for a subcompact SUV. Rear-seat legroom and headroom were adequate, though taller passengers might prefer the front seats. The Crosstrek provided 19.9 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 54.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior featured durable, easy-to-clean materials, with a protective cargo tray standard on higher trims. The Wilderness trim added adventure-oriented features like Nalgene-compatible cupholders and all-weather floor mats.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered spacious seating in all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, providing a premium feel. The front and second-row seats were heated and ventilated, with supportive cushions. The second-row captain's chairs allowed easy access to the third row, which offered reasonable comfort for adults and tall teens. The Grand Highlander provided 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. However, some storage areas were unlined, potentially contributing to cabin noise.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek featured an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, standard on all but the Base trim. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad available on higher trims. While the infotainment system was visually impressive, it suffered from glare in bright sunlight and required navigating through multiple menus for some features. In states with Right to Repair laws, Subaru removed certain features, such as remote start via the Starlink app.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard across all trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like a Wi-Fi hotspot and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the user experience. The Platinum trim included advanced features like a head-up display and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek was equipped with Subaru's EyeSight safety system, offering features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The system's wider-angle lens and automatic emergency steering enhanced safety. While the 2024 model had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, previous models received high safety ratings.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. The system included lane-keep assist and Proactive Driving Assist, though the latter was found to be irritating in some situations. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.