2026 Subaru Crosstrek Limited e-boxer

[Blueprint]

Last minute press car swap as the Polestar4 I was supposed to drive was ... sold.

Good on gas in town, zero drama stop-start and very little drivetrain NVH - three things my '22 fails with.

[GreatBigAbyss]

So, I'm looking for tech specs on how this thing works, and I'm having a hard time. 

So far, what I can see is it uses a 2.5FB25 modified to run atkinson.  That checks out for a hybrid.  Then, it has an e-CVT with a smaller motor acting as a generator, and a larger motor connected to the wheels.  Checks out again.  Starting to sound a LOT like Toyota's Synergy Drive.  It would not surprise me to hear that Subaru is licensing Toyota's Synergy drive, considering how much partnership they do together. 

Where I'm starting to lose the plot here, is Subaru's AWD system.  It seems as if they are mating the output of the e-CVT to the center differential, which functions like a regular Subaru AWD system. 

I'm trying to think of any other time this was accomplished?  To my knowledge, every other iteration of hybrid that uses Synergy Drive is either FWD only, or uses e-AWD.  This includes the Mazda CX-50 hybrid. 

Hmmm, looks like the Maverick uses an eCVT with a PTO that sends power to the rear differential, on-demand.  But their system is Ford designed, although it uses the same principals as the Toyota eCVT. 

[GreatBigAbyss]

Hmmm, according to AI:

Yes, Subaru licenses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology for the Crosstrek Hybrid, specifically utilizing Toyota's electric motors, battery management, and control systems combined with Subaru's 2.5 L boxer engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. This collaboration enables a "strong hybrid" system aimed at improving efficiency while retaining Subaru's traditional, mechanical AWD capability

[RRocket]

Hmmm, according to AI:

Yes, Subaru licenses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology for the Crosstrek Hybrid, specifically utilizing Toyota's electric motors, battery management, and control systems combined with Subaru's 2.5 L boxer engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. This collaboration enables a "strong hybrid" system aimed at improving efficiency while retaining Subaru's traditional, mechanical AWD capability

The AWD in my BZ was co-developed with Subaru. It's extremely competent and sophisticated. In a couple of videos I saw it went places the Crosstrek struggled.

[Blizzard]

Hmmm, according to AI:

Yes, Subaru licenses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology for the Crosstrek Hybrid, specifically utilizing Toyota's electric motors, battery management, and control systems combined with Subaru's 2.5 L boxer engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. This collaboration enables a "strong hybrid" system aimed at improving efficiency while retaining Subaru's traditional, mechanical AWD capability

The AWD in my BZ was co-developed with Subaru. It's extremely competent and sophisticated. In a couple of videos I saw it went places the Crosstrek struggled.

I can vouch to this. My girlfriend's bZ replaced a first-generation Crosstrek, the bZ's AWD system definitely feels superior to the Crosstrek's. We go to the country a fair amount in winter, where it snows a lot and the roads are often poorly plowed or frozen and full of ruts. Both cars used the same winter tires (Michelin X-Ice Snow), and the bZ feels way more confident. I never got stuck or lost control in the Crosstrek, but if I tried I was able to swing the rear end fairly easily. With the bZ, almost impossible even when trying. I'm no scientist, so the weight may also help things. The Crosstrek is not a heavy vehicle whereas the bZ feels heavy and is heavy.