Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Subaru Crosstrek

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was priced at just over $50,000, with the base Hybrid LE starting at $51,435, including destination charges and fees. In Canada, all-wheel drive was standard, while a front-wheel drive version was available in the U.S. The Highlander Hybrid offered upgrades to the XLE AWD with a Special Edition package or the Limited trim with a Platinum package. The Limited trim with the Platinum package had an MSRP of $61,800 in Canada. The 2023 model saw minimal appearance changes, with a new Cypress Green paint colour. The design was considered over-styled, with exaggerated forms and a lack of subtlety both inside and out. The interior featured large elements like a 12.3-inch touchscreen and big climate control knobs, but the quality was questioned due to mismatched textures and inexpensive-feeling controls.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek closely resembled its predecessor but featured new sheet metal, a new chassis, and additional paint colours like Sun Blaze and Offshore Blue. The wheelbase and overall length remained similar, with a steeper departure angle and slightly reduced cargo space. The base trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels and 22 centimetres of ground clearance, making it suitable for off-road conditions. The Crosstrek's design included a frameless grille with a wing bar, giving it a distinctive look. Black plastic cladding protected the wheel arches, and air inlets and outlets improved aerodynamics. The split taillight design allowed for wider trunk access. The Wilderness trim added unique design elements, increased ground clearance, and a ladder-style roof rack. Inside, the Crosstrek Wilderness featured StarTex synthetic leather upholstery and copper accents, with all-weather floormats and an LED light in the cargo area.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators, plus a third motor for the rear wheels, providing standard AWD. It delivered 243 combined horsepower, moving a weight of 2,060 kilograms in Limited trim. The electric motors assisted with acceleration and allowed for low-speed electric-only driving. However, the gas engine's 175 pound-feet of torque limited high-speed passing power. The Highlander Hybrid had a towing capacity of 1,588 kilograms, but it struggled with power and brake performance in mountainous terrain. It offered Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with a Trail mode for light off-road use. The Predictive Efficient Drive system aimed to maximize fuel efficiency, but the test vehicle returned 8.2 L/100 km, higher than the expected 6.7 L/100 km. The driving experience was described as uninspiring, with soft suspension and a noisy CVT.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek offered a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque on the Onyx, Limited, and Wilderness trims. The Touring trim tested had a smaller 2.0-litre engine with 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Crosstrek was not quick, but the CVT was well-tuned, with simulated shift points and minimal droning. The Wilderness trim had different gearing for off-road capability and a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms. The updated 2.0-litre engine reduced vibration, improving comfort. The steering was light but not sloppy, thanks to a new dual-pinion steering rack. The Crosstrek featured standard AWD and Subaru's X-Mode traction management system, with different levels of capability depending on the trim. Fuel economy was estimated at 8.8 L/100 km city and 7.1 highway for the 2.0-litre engine, with slightly higher figures for the 2.5-litre engine.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was designed to accommodate family life, seating seven or eight people depending on the configuration. Most models featured second-row captain’s chairs, making the third row suitable only for occasional use. Standard equipment included three-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated seats in the Platinum package. The front seats offered power adjustment but lacked thigh support. The second-row seats were comfortable, with sunshades for rear-facing child seats. Access to the third row was tight, and the seats were uncomfortable for adults. The Highlander had a dashboard shelf with a wireless charging pad and rubber-lined cupholders, but other storage areas were unlined. The centre console design was complex, with limited access to the storage bin. Cargo space was 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,387 litres with the second-row seats folded.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, built on the Subaru Impreza platform, offered competitive cargo space for a subcompact SUV. Rear-seat legroom and headroom were good, though tall passengers might prefer the front seat. The trunk provided 564 litres of space, expanding to 1,549 litres with the second-row seats folded. The interior materials were robust and easy to clean, with a protective cargo tray standard on higher trims. A heated steering wheel was available on all but the base trim, and the centre console bin was designed to fit two 32-ounce Nalgene water bottles, catering to outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured new technology, with upper trims receiving a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display. The controls for the screen were not intuitive. The infotainment system included an 8.0-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen, with over-the-air updates, dual-device Bluetooth pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Connected service plans were standard, with varying trial lengths. Remote Connect allowed remote access to vehicle functions via a smartphone app. The Drive Connect service plan offered an Intelligent Assistant and cloud-based navigation. The test vehicle had a head-up display and an 11-speaker JBL sound system, which provided decent sound quality. The Toyota Audio Multimedia platform was user-friendly, though the graphics could be clearer.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek featured an 11.6-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, standard on all but the base trim. The display was crisp and retained physical controls for essential functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, with a wireless charger standard on higher trims. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. All trims had access to SiriusXM satellite radio. Subaru Starlink technology was impressive but suffered from glare in bright sunlight and required navigating through menus for some features.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, with additional features on higher trims. The ADAS performed well, though it struggled in certain situations. Safety Connect provided emergency assistance and collision notification. The Highlander Hybrid received excellent crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek was expected to maintain its Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It featured Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology, with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The 2024 model included a wider-angle lens for better road visibility and automatic emergency steering on models with blind-spot monitoring.