Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2022 Lexus UX

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek CVT are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The UX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crosstrek. But it costs extra on the UX.

Both the Crosstrek and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Lexus UX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Lexus UX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 25 points higher than the UX.

The Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 1 more horsepower (182 vs. 181) than the UX 250h’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Crosstrek Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the UX 250h 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The UX doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Both the Crosstrek CVT and the UX Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Crosstrek CVTs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Crosstrek uses regular unleaded gasoline. The UX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Crosstrek has 6 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (16.6 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Crosstrek has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX’s standard fuel tank (16.6 vs. 12.4 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus UX (6 to 7). This means the Crosstrek produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the UX every 15,000 miles.

The Crosstrek stops much shorter than the UX:

The Crosstrek has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Crosstrek Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the UX 200 Luxury pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the UX 200 (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Crosstrek CVT (except Manual) has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The UX uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Crosstrek has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (100.9 vs. 90.4).

The Crosstrek has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 3.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

The Crosstrek has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (20.8 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the UX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The power windows standard on both the Crosstrek and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crosstrek is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The UX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Crosstrek and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Lexus UX by almost 8 to one during the 2021 model year.