Does the Subaru Crosstrek require premium gas?
The short answer is no, the Subaru Crosstrek does not require premium gasoline. The Crosstrek's engine is designed to run on regular unleaded fuel, which is the recommended fuel type for this vehicle.
Subaru Crosstrek Fuel Requirements
According to Subaru's official specifications, the Subaru Crosstrek is designed to use regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87. This means that you can fill up your Crosstrek with the less expensive regular gas, rather than having to use the more costly premium fuel.
Subaru engineers have tuned the Crosstrek's engine to perform optimally on regular gasoline. Using premium fuel will not provide any additional benefits in terms of power, fuel efficiency, or engine performance.
Why Some Vehicles Require Premium Gas
- Higher-performance engines, such as those found in sports cars or luxury vehicles, often require premium gasoline to prevent knocking or pinging during operation.
- The higher octane rating of premium fuel helps these engines withstand the higher compression ratios and boost levels without experiencing pre-ignition or detonation issues.
- However, the Subaru Crosstrek's engine is designed to run on regular 87-octane fuel, so there is no need to pay the premium price for higher-octane gas.
In summary, the Subaru Crosstrek is engineered to operate perfectly well on regular unleaded gasoline, and there is no benefit to using more expensive premium fuel in this vehicle.
Do subarus run better on premium gas?
Regular gasoline has an octane level of 87 or so, while premium gasoline has an octane level of 90 or above. This can be a huge advantage for luxury and performance cars specifically, like the Subaru WRX and BRZ.
Why is Subaru discontinuing the Crosstrek?
Subaru is not discontinuing the Crosstrek model line entirely, but the Crosstrek Hybrid (PHEV) was discontinued in the U.S. due to slow sales and Subaru's strategic shift toward new hybrid and electric vehicle (EV) platforms that will be shared with Toyota. Subaru is still producing the standard Crosstrek and is developing new hybrid and EV models based on its new Global Platform, which will offer a new hybrid system for the Crosstrek in the future. The discontinuation of the manual transmission option was also driven by declining demand.
This video discusses the reasons behind the discontinuation of the Crosstrek Hybrid and Subaru's future plans for electrification: 46sAlex PrestigiacomoYouTube · Jun 9, 2025
- Hybrid model discontinued: The Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid was dropped after a short run in the U.S. because it only accounted for a small percentage of total sales.
- Strategic shift to new platforms: Subaru is focusing on developing new hybrid and EV models using its new Global Platform, which is designed to accommodate these powertrains. The company is working with Toyota on future EV platforms to improve profitability and innovation.
- Manual transmission phased out: The manual transmission option was discontinued due to declining sales, as a small percentage of buyers opted for it compared to automatic transmissions.
- Standard Crosstrek remains available: The gasoline-powered Crosstrek continues to be a popular and available model.
- Future hybrid return: Subaru has stated that it will launch a new hybrid Crosstrek in the future, likely with a new hybrid system and on the new Global Platform.
This video explains the changes coming to the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek, including updates to the powertrain options: 55sAlex PrestigiacomoYouTube · Nov 4, 2024
What kind of gas should I put in my 2025 Subaru Crosstrek?
The 2025 Subaru Crosstrek requires regular unleaded gasoline, or 87 octane. Using a higher octane fuel will not provide any performance benefits and is a waste of money, as the engine is designed to run efficiently on 87 octane.
- Fuel type: Regular unleaded (87 octane).
- Higher octane is unnecessary: Premium gas is not needed for the Crosstrek's engine, unlike Subaru's high-performance WRX or BRZ models.
- Savings: Sticking with 87 octane can save you money compared to premium grades without any compromise on performance.
Does a Subaru Crosstrek need premium gas?
Familiarize yourself with these and use them to your advantage. Use the Recommended Fuel: As mentioned earlier, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87. Avoid using higher-octane fuels, as they will not provide any benefits and may even reduce fuel economy.
