Sometimes, it pays to have a vehicle that can be used for various activities and keep its occupants in safe condition. Michael Taylor writes about one such vehicle for SFGate.com's TopDown blog:
I once knew a man who did not like what he called the "technical side of living." ... he bought what he thought would be a kind of all-purpose tool ... It was a small hammer whose handle-end would unscrew and reveal a selection of screwdriver bits - Philips, straight, an awl, a few other things...In all, it was pretty useless. None of it worked satisfactorily and, all in all, it was a waste of money...
All this by way of throat-clearing to introduce today's road test car, the 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid. I should state, up front, that while the Crosstrek is kind of a multi-purpose car, in the same design theory as the tool I just talked about, that's where the similarities end. The Crosstrek actually works and works well and you don't have to throw it out and call someone in to drive you some place.
The thought of owning a highly-versatile vehicle may pull in hardened outdoorspeople in Louisiana. The state has a good mix of swampland in the coast and prairie woodlands well to the north, which may be appropriate for a good off-road platform. If you are looking around for a wonderfully mobile SUV such as the XV Crosstrek Hybrid, why not check out dealers that sell a Subaru around New Orleans like Baldwin Subaru?
Power
The XV CrossTrek Hybrid is no slouch in the power department. It sports a two-liter, four-cylinder Boxer engine rated at 148 horsepower and augmented by an electric motor churning out 13.4hp. The torque available from the electric motor alone is already impressive for its power output level-48 pounds per foot at 2,000 rpm. When combined with the gas engine, the final rating is pegged at 160hp and 163lb/ft, and a Lineartronic continuously-variable transmission also ensures smooth power distribution.
Mileage
Fuel economy is the raison d'etre of many hybrid vehicles like the CrossTrek in New Orleans Subaru showrooms and others, like Covington's Baldwin Subaru. Taylor says the CrossTrek Hybrid can go up to 29 miles per gallon for city driving against 33mpg on the highway.
Safety
The CrossTrek can be a viable investment if you want a vehicle for leisure runs and for protection. It has seven airbags across key locations, plus traction/stability control and antilock brakes. A rearview camera is standard, but the Touring Limited carries GPS navigation, leather upholstery and a sunroof. The main cabin and the engine mounts are also heavily soundproofed.
(Source: 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek hybrid - a multi-purpose tool that works, SFGate.com, 22 September 2014)
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