Even as one of the smaller vehicles in our new Subaru SUV lineup in North Franklin, the new Crosstrek provides a spacious, comfortable and smartly designed cabin. The raised ground clearance is a big boost for driver and passengers entering and exiting, while the rear seats are easy to fold down to create more space for cargo. Choosing higher trims of the Crosstrek will lead to upgrades for upholstery and materials, including with simulated leather or actual leather seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and more. Other upgrades in the cabin include heated front seats, a rear cargo cover, a sunroof, and a power-adjustable driver's seat, among others.

On the tech front, the new Crosstrek includes all kinds of intelligent Subaru features. You'll start off with a touchscreen infotainment center with smartphone integration. Moving up to the top trim will give you a larger touchscreen, while you can also add an upgraded premium sound system, in-car navigation and other features you may want for your Hartford and Middleton area travels.

The latest Crosstrek editions - and not even counting the separate hybrid version that we'll either have in stock here in North Franklin or we can help you specially order - are the first for this small crossover to offer a pair of engine options. The base engine is a fairly standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder, providing 152 horsepower with 145 pound-feet of torque. That will be fine for your daily travels around Hartford and New London, but we really recommend that you consider the available 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which provides a boost to 182 horsepower with 176 pound-feet of torque. Remarkably, it's that larger engine that actually earns you better fuel economy, topping out at 34 mpg on the highway.

The latest Crosstrek editions - and not even counting the separate hybrid version that we'll either have in stock here in North Franklin or we can help you specially order - are the first for this small crossover to offer a pair of engine options. The base engine is a fairly standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder, providing 152 horsepower with 145 pound-feet of torque. That will be fine for your daily travels around Hartford and New London, but we really recommend that you consider the available 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which provides a boost to 182 horsepower with 176 pound-feet of torque. Remarkably, it's that larger engine that actually earns you better fuel economy, topping out at 34 mpg on the highway.

That fuel economy rating, which is only a little lower with the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder, is especially impressive when you consider the Crosstrek is equipped with the standard Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system our favorite brand is known for. The added layers of traction and control from that standard AWD will really help out when traveling the roads of Middleton and North Franklin during the cold, snowy and icy winter months.