What is the difference between a Crosstrek Limited and a Crosstrek premium?
The Crosstrek Limited is the higher-end trim, while the Crosstrek Premium sits one rung below. The Limited adds upscale seating, upgraded exterior lighting and wheels, and more comprehensive tech and safety features. The Premium focuses on value, offering essential technology and comfort without some of the luxury touches found on the Limited.
In recent Subaru Crosstrek model years, the exact equipment can vary by year and region, so it’s wise to check the current spec sheet for the year you’re considering. Below is a year-to-year style of comparison that captures the typical differences you’ll encounter between the Premium and Limited trims.
Interior and Comfort
Below are the common interior differences you’ll see between the Premium and Limited trims.
- Upholstery: Premium generally uses cloth seating, while Limited typically includes leather-trimmed seats.
- Seat adjustments: Limited usually features a power-adjustable driver’s seat (often with eight-way adjustment), whereas Premium often has a manual or fewer adjustments.
- Climate control: Limited commonly adds automatic climate control; Premium tends to use manual climate control in many years.
- Seat comfort features: Limited may include additional comfort touches such as heated front seats as standard, whereas Premium may offer them as an option depending on the year and package.
In short, the Limited trades some basic comfort for higher-end materials and a more adjustable seating experience, while the Premium emphasizes value with cloth seating and fewer luxury touches.
Technology and Safety Features
Technology and safety equipment often mark the clearest split between these trims.
- Infotainment: Premium typically includes a touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Limited keeps that capability and may offer a larger screen or additional audio options depending on the model year.
- Audio system: Limited is more likely to include a higher-quality or extra speaker setup as part of its package; Premium generally provides a solid system sufficient for most buyers.
- EyeSight and safety tech: Both trims commonly offer Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, but Limited more often includes a broader set of standard safety features (e.g., Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert) as standard, while Premium may have these features as part of optional packages or later-year updates.
Overall, the Limited tends to deliver more advanced safety and infotainment options out of the gate, with Premium offering essential tech and driver aids that can be upgraded via packages.
Exterior Features and Wheels
Exterior styling and wheel/toggles are another practical area of difference.
- Wheels: Premium is typically equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, while Limited often switches to larger or more premium 18-inch alloy wheels depending on the year.
- Lighting: Limited usually gains upgraded exterior lighting (often LED headlights) compared with the Premium’s standard lighting setup, which may include halogen headlights on lower trims in some years.
- Other exterior touches: Limited may include additional chrome or accent styling and sometimes upgraded exterior trim compared with Premium.
In practice, the Limited presents a more polished exterior profile with more distinctive lighting and wheel choices, while Premium focuses on practical, value-oriented styling.
Pricing and Value Considerations
Pricing generally reflects the feature gap between the trims, with the Premium priced lower than the Limited. The difference typically rests in a few thousand dollars before options and destination charges, reflecting the jump in interior materials, seating adjustability, and safety/tech features found on the Limited.
When deciding between the two, consider how much you value leather seating, a power driver's seat, upgraded lighting, and enhanced safety/infotainment features. If you’re budget-conscious but still want solid tech and comfort, the Premium is a strong choice; if you want a more luxurious interior and extra safety/lighting features as standard, the Limited is the better fit.
Summary
The Crosstrek Limited represents the higher-end option with leather seating, a power-adjustable driver seat, upgraded lighting, and enhanced safety/infotainment features. The Crosstrek Premium emphasizes value with cloth seating, essential technology, and fewer premium touches. Both trims share core Crosstrek capability, but the Limited lines up closer to luxury in the compact SUV segment, while the Premium focuses on affordability without sacrificing essential Subaru practicality.
What year of Subaru Crosstrek to stay away from?
Years to potentially avoid for the Subaru Crosstrek include the 2016 and 2018 models due to issues like drivetrain vibrations, infotainment problems, and oil consumption. The early years of the first generation, specifically 2013-2015, should also be approached with caution due to common issues like oil consumption and head gasket problems with the 2.5-liter engine.
Years with more reported issues
- 2016: Has been associated with drivetrain vibrations and faulty infotainment systems.
- 2018: This model year is known for excessive oil consumption, glitchy technology, and a serious safety concern regarding the rear wheels kicking out, causing fishtailing.
- 2013-2015: These early models, particularly with the 2.5L engine, are prone to head gasket problems and excessive oil consumption. The 2012 Impreza shared this generation and also had issues with its CVT and oil consumption.
Other years to consider
- 2017: Generally considered a safer bet with fewer reported issues and recalls.
- 2019: While some sources suggest avoiding it due to numerous recalls and a significant number of complaints related to the ECM software causing unexpected engine stalls, other owners have reported it as reliable.
- 2021: This model year has received positive marks for reliability.
- 2023: This year is often recommended as one of the better choices in the second generation.
What is the difference between Subaru Premium and Limited?
The main differences are that the Subaru Limited trim level adds more luxury and technology features over the Premium, such as leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a premium sound system, and heated rear seats, while the Premium trim is a mid-range option with popular features like a larger touchscreen and heated front seats. Essentially, the Limited builds upon the Premium's foundation with a more upscale and comfort-oriented experience.
This video explains the differences between the Subaru Outback Premium and Limited trims: 56sDELLA SubaruYouTube · Sep 21, 2019
| Feature | Premium Trim | Limited Trim |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstery | Cloth with some orange stitching on the Crosstrek | Leather with orange stitching on the Crosstrek |
| Front Seats | Manual adjustment | Power adjustment, including driver's seat with memory settings |
| Rear Seats | Typically not heated | Heated rear outboard seats |
| Audio | Standard 6-speaker system | Harman Kardon® premium audio system (12 speakers) |
| Safety | Standard EyeSight® safety features | Adds features like rear automatic braking and a more advanced adaptive cruise control |
| Other Tech | Wireless smartphone connectivity on an 11.6-inch screen | Built-in navigation, keyless entry/start, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror |
| Exterior | 17-inch alloy wheels on Outback | 18-inch alloy wheels on Outback |
| Convenience | Standard | Hands-free power rear gate |
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What is the lawsuit against the Subaru Crosstrek?
The class-action lawsuit that claimed Subaru's Starlink infotainment systems are defective has reached a final settlement. The agreement affects the 2018 Subaru Forester, 2018 Subaru Outback, 2018 Crosstrek, 2018 Legacy, 2017-2018 Impreza, and 2018 BRZ.
What's the difference between the Subaru Crosstrek Premium and Limited?
Each trim is outfitted with a different engine, which means you'll get different performance specs. Part of the reason for this difference in performance specs between the Crosstrek Premium vs. Limited trim levels is the standard Lineartronic® CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) found with the Limited trim level.
