Hey Scotty I am considering trading in my 2019 MINI countryman AWD for A 2021 Subaru cross trek, with A 6 speed manual transmission. what’s your opinion on them what kid of life can I expect? I religiously take care of my vehicles.
With manual trans it should last a very long time if maintained properly. The only real complaint I've heard about the Crosstreks is is some consider them underpowered with the 2.0 engine.
Take care of it and it should last a very long time. The life of thsoe are usually 100-150k miles with the CVT automatic but the manuals can last forever if you take care of them.
It should last a lot longer than your mini. When it comes to short term minor kinks, Subaru mostly addressed those in 2018, and 2021 is still part of that generation so I think you should be fine.
Like Chuck Tobias said above, some say that its underpowered and don't like how the manual transmission shifts so test drive it yourself again its a bit of an older set up if you like it why not.
The Topher on Youtube drives the last generation Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 Manual
US News and World Reports-"The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek places in the top half of our subcompact SUV rankings. It has a nice interior and a comfortable ride, but its uninspiring powertrain holds it back."
Autoguide:
"Subaru didn’t rock the boat with the revised Crosstrek. It’s stuck to the brand’s core tenets—value, safety, a sense of adventure, and a sprinkling of driving fun—while tweaking the details. The brand could’ve sat on its laurels: the Crosstrek outsells the Impreza, Legacy, WRX and BRZ combined in the US, and just had its best-ever sales month in Canada.
Instead, Subaru listened to its customers, and addressed the single biggest issue they had with the previous model. The new 2.5-liter engine transforms the Crosstrek, making it an easier car to drive on the highway. That the extra power rings in at a reasonable price, and barely registers at the pumps, only adds to the value equation. The Crosstrek was already high up on our list of sub-compact crossovers, and the 2.5-liter makes it an even more attractive option now."
I think if you like the driving experience go ahead and buy it.
The Mazda CX-30 should also be on your shopping list.
My daughter has a 2018 Crosstrek (CVT), which was the first year of the new model. It's over 60K miles without a single mechanical issue. We do all the maintenance - she does the oil and I do the rest. Maintenance has been very cheap and easy... except the spark plugs, what a nightmare (though I did get it done it myself with hand tools).
The manual, as has been well-rehearsed here and on Scotty's youtube channel, is a much stronger transmission for Subaru than the CVT. If Subarus have a weakness (other than being loud and somewhat unrefined), it's the CVT's and automatic transmissions; though as I said, no hiccups in 60K.
However, be aware that the Crosstrek is known for being somewhat slow and the manual isn't enough to overcome that. And although this year they added a (slightly) larger motor (FB25) as an option, it is NOT AVAILABLE with the manual gearbox; you only get the smaller FB20 with a manual. Also, the manual gets worse gas mileage than the CVT.
But to directly answer your question: new vehicle reliability is always a question, but based on past Subarus of similar form factor and engine displacement, I think you are looking at a 200,000 miler, easy. And considering how cheap and easy Crosstreks are to work on, you shouldn't have any trouble getting it there.
[PS: my son has a 2017 Crosstrek with the 5-speed manual and it has also had rock-solid reliability, even though he beats it up pretty hard off-road. But that's the older model.]
Good cars with a good reputation for reliability, especially with the manual transmission.
Definitely better built than your MINI.
See here:
(Yours would be manual so even better for longevity)
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/mother-bought-a-2020-subaru-crosstrek/#post-61655
The one thing to keep in mind is Subaru is a niche carmaker so parts will be much more expensive when you do need repairs, and often can only get at the dealer. And then the boxer engine - while it should last, if it ever needs repair down the line it can be hard to find a good mechanic that knows how to work on them. So just be mindful of that if you plan to keep the vehicle a very long time and drive into the ground.
"The one thing to keep in mind is Subaru is a niche carmaker so parts will be much more expensive when you do need repairs, and often can only get at the dealer. And then the boxer engine - while it should last, if it ever needs repair down the line it can be hard to find a good mechanic that knows how to work on them. " When I read this it felt like you quoted Scotty from his Outback video.