The Subaru Crosstrek, also called the “XV”, is a competent subcompact crossover SUV that has appealed to many due to its balance of comfort and affordability.
However, many people are unaware of how it actually performs in the towing department.
Thus, for this guide, we’re going to be discussing everything that you need to know about the Subaru Crosstrek’s towing capabilities. Let’s first start with its towing capacity below.
What is the Subaru Crosstrek’s maximum towing capacity?
The Subaru Crosstrek has an unbraked towing capacity of 1,000 lbs (453 kg) and a braked towing capacity of 1,500 lbs (680 kg).
All model years of the Subaru Crosstrek are limited to a maximum towing capacity of 1,000 lbs (453 kg) when towing an unbraked trailer, and 1,500 lbs (680kg) when towing a braked trailer.
This already takes all of the Crosstrek’s petrol engine options into consideration. So whether you opt for the 1.6-liter or 2-liter boxer-4 engine, you will get the same towing capacity.
Now that we how much the Subaru Crosstrek can tow, the next question is what kind of trailer can you actually tow with its towing capacity.
In the next part, we’ll be listing down and discussing the different kinds of trailers that the Subaru Crosstrek can and cannot tow.
Can the Subaru Crosstrek tow a trailer?
With a towing capacity of only 1,000 lbs to 1,500 lbs (453 kg to 680 kg), the Subaru Crosstrek is only able to tow a limited number of trailers.
The only fully-loaded trailer that the Subaru Crosstrek can tow is a canoe or kayak trailer.
The table below shows a variety of different trailers and towable objects as well as their corresponding average weights when unloaded and loaded.
Using the table will allow you to gauge what kind of trailer the Subaru Crosstrek is able to tow safely.
There are still a few trailers that the Crosstrek can tow given that they’re unloaded or you load them without going over the 1000-lb unbraked and 1,500-lb braked towing capacity.
Such trailers include a jet ski trailer, a motorcycle trailer, a fishing boat trailer, a tow dolly, a small open utility trailer, and a small enclosed utility trailer.
However, do take note that the small enclosed utility trailer already weighs 1,000 lbs (453 kg) unloaded, which is the same as the Subaru Crosstrek’s unbraked towing capacity.
Thus, without trailer brakes, this is as heavy as you can tow with a Subaru Crosstrek.
Furthermore, even with trailer brakes included, the rest of the trailers in the table are just way too heavy for the Subaru Crosstrek to tow.
The Subaru Crosstrek is unable to tow teardrop trailers, A-frame campers, pop-up campers, car trailers, and large boat trailers even when they’re empty.
As you continue down the list of heavier trailers, a lot of them already weighs over 10,000 lbs when loaded.
At that point, even most SUVs bigger than the Subaru Crosstrek will be unable to tow that kind of load.
This is where heavy-duty pickup trucks such as the Chevy Silverado HD and the Ford F-series Super Duty come in handy, as they are built with 5-figure towing capacities.
Can the Subaru Crosstrek tow a boat?
The Subaru Crosstrek can tow small boats under 1,500 lbs such as canoes, kayaks, jet skis, and jon boats.
Canoes and Kayaks
Canoes and Kayaks are two of the lightest boats that you can tow with the Subaru Crosstrek due to their lightweight construction materials and lack of an engine.
While kayaks weigh 35 to 65 lbs on average, canoes have a slightly heavier average weight of 50 to 75 lbs.
Regardless, the Subaru Crosstrek can make quick work of these two even when you factor in a 200-lb canoe or kayak trailer.
Jet Skis
Although jet skis are classified more as “personal watercrafts” than boats, they are still one of the smallest and lightest objects that you can tow with the Subaru Crosstrek.
A single jet ski weighs an average of 300 to 950 lbs depending on the exact model. Add a 300-lb jet ski trailer into the equation, and you’re still well within the Crosstrek’s 1500-lb towing capacity.
Jon Boats
Jon boats are small flat-bottomed boats usually made out of aluminum, and despite having a motor, they are actually light enough to be towed with the Subaru Crosstrek.
A jon boat weighs a total of 900 lbs with its respective trailer included on average, so the Crosstrek is more than capable of towing its weight around.
Can the Subaru Crosstrek tow a camper?
The Subaru Crosstrek can tow small campers like the Meerkat Camper, the Timberleaf Pika, the Polydrop, and the Sylvan Sport Go.
Meerkat Camper
The Meerkat Camper has all the basic amenities that you need in a small and lightweight package that can easily be towed by the Subaru Crosstrek.
The Meerkat Camper has a curb weight of 900 lbs, so you still have a lot of breathing room in terms of loading extra cargo without going over the Crosstrek’s towing capacity.
Polydrop
Polydrop campers are branded as “portable private spaces” with a lot of innovative amenities and modern geometric design.
In order to not go over the Subaru Crosstrek’s 1500-lb towing capacity, you should specifically go for the Polydrop P17 Essential, which weighs between 820 to 1,100 lbs.
Other Polydrop models such as the P17A1 and the P17X weigh between 1,200 to 1,600 lbs, which can easily put you at risk of exceeding the Crosstrek’s capacity.
Timberleaf Pika
The Timberleaf Pika is one of the smallest and most compact teardrop trailers out there, so it makes a perfect candidate to be towed by the Subaru Crosstrek.
With a starting weight of 1,025 lbs for the basic model, the Pika can easily be towed by the Subaru Crosstrek with enough room to spare for extra cargo.
Sylvan Sport Go
The Sylvan Sport Go is a small and versatile trailer that actually combines the features of a tent, a camper, and a utility trailer into one package.
The Sylvan Sport Go, including its equipment rack, only weighs 840 lbs, so you shouldn’t run into any problems towing it with the Subaru Crosstrek as long as you stay under its towing capacity.
How well can the Subaru Crosstrek tow against its competitors?
The Subaru Crosstrek already has quite a low towing capacity of 1,000 lbs (453 kg) to 1,500 lbs (680 kg), which is not as much as those of most of its competitors.
Also, its towing capacity doesn’t even reach the 750 kg (1,653 lbs) legal limit for towing unbraked trailers imposed in most places.
To further give you an idea of where the Subaru Crosstrek stands in terms of towing capacity, we have listed each of its competitors’ braked and unbraked towing capacities below.
Do take note that any vehicle without an official unbraked towing capacity from the factory will be given the legal unbraked towing limit of 750 kg (1,653 lbs) by default.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Buick Encore GX and Chevy Trailblazer Towing Capacity
The Subaru Crosstrek ties both the Buick Encore GX and the Chevrolet Trailblazer with their 1,000-lb (453 kg) unbraked towing capacity.
However, since their braked towing capacity is also limited to just 1,000 lbs (453 kg), the Subaru Crosstrek beats them with its own 1,500-lb (680 kg) braked towing capacity.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Honda HR-V Towing Capacity
The Honda HR-V has a higher unbraked (1,653 lbs/750 kg) and braked towing capacity (1,763 lbs/800 kg) than the Subaru Crosstrek, making it a slightly better towing vehicle.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Hyundai Kona Towing Capacity
The Hyundai Kona, despite not reaching the 750-kg legal limit, still beats the Subaru Crosstrek’s 1,000-lb (453 kg) unbraked capacity with its own 1,322-lb (600 kg) unbraked capacity.
The Hyundai Kona also beats the Subaru Crosstrek with an impressive braked towing capacity of 2,866 lbs (1,300 kg), over 1,300 lbs more than the Crosstrek’s maximum towing capacity.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Jeep Renegade Towing Capacity
The 2022 Jeep Renegade, with its 2000-lb (907 kg) braked towing capacity, is able to beat the Subaru Crosstrek’s 1,500-lb (680 kg) capacity by 500 lbs (227 kg).
Still, this is only possible when the Jeep Renegade is equipped with its own “Trailer Tow Package” for 4×4 models.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Kia Niro and Kia Seltos Towing Capacity
The Subaru Crosstrek is easily beaten by both the Kia Niro (2,866 lbs/1,300 kg) and the Kia Seltos (2,948 lbs/1,337 kg) in terms of braked towing capacity.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Mazda CX-30 Towing Capacity
The Mazda CX-30’s 2000-lb (907 kg) braked towing capacity enables it to tow 500 lbs (227 kg) more than the Subaru Crosstrek’s 1,500-lb (680 kg) maximum towing capacity.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Toyota RAV4 Towing Capacity
The Subaru Crosstrek’s 1,500-lb (680 kg) braked towing capacity is completely overshadowed by the Toyota RAV4’s own impressive 3,500-lb (1,588 kg) braked towing capacity.
Subaru Crosstrek Towing Precautions
Besides staying below its maximum towing capacity, there are still other important precautions that you should keep in mind before you start towing with the Subaru Crosstrek.
Subaru Crosstrek Towing Precautions
- Synchronize the vehicle and trailer brakes.
- Use the correct tow hitch.
- Evenly distribute the weight.
- Drive at a safe speed.
- Consider the state towing laws.
- Read your user manual for more information about towing.
Synchronize the vehicle and trailer brakes.
If you’re towing with a braked trailer, then the trailer’s brakes will have their own separate mechanism that should be synchronized with the vehicle’s brakes.
Properly synchronizing the vehicle brakes and the trailer brakes with each other will minimize the delay when stepping on the brake pedal, thus, avoiding potential safety hazards.
Furthermore, you should make sure that your trailer’s emergency brakes (breakaway system) are also connected properly via its own special cable.
In the event that your trailer disconnects from your vehicle, the breakaway system’s cable will pull a pin attached to your trailer brakes, thereby activating them and slowing down the trailer.
Use the correct tow hitch.
Each vehicle intended for towing will need the correct trailer hitch in order to tow safely, and the Subaru Crosstrek is no exception.
There are various trailer hitches out there, but we’ve found that the “etrailer” Class III trailer hitch works really well for the Subaru Crosstrek, which you can also watch a video of below.
The Class III trailer hitch has a maximum gross trailer weight rating of 3,500 lbs, which is more than enough for the Subaru Crosstrek’s 1,500-lb towing capacity.
However, it’s still important to note that the maximum tongue weight rating of this trailer hitch is 525 lbs. To put it simply, this is the maximum weight that can push down on the trailer hitch.
Dimensions-wise, the etrailer hitch for the Subaru Crosstrek has a 2×2-inch receiver tube opening.
Assuming that your Subaru Crosstrek is still at stock factory height, the etrailer hitch will have a ground clearance of 15.5 inches from the top inside edge of the hitch.
Evenly distribute the weight.
When loading up the trailer that you’re going to be towing, you need to make sure that you distribute the weight as evenly as possible.
In order to achieve an even distribution of weight on the trailer, there is a “60/40” rule that should be followed.
60% of the total weight of your cargo should be placed towards the front of the trailer, while the remaining 40% should be placed towards the back.
Following the 60/40 weight distribution rule will keep your trailer from swaying too much and potentially tipping over while turning.
Drive at a safe `speed.
Another simple but very important consideration to remember while towing a trailer is the speed of your vehicle.
Apart from obviously not driving too fast and following the speed limits, you also need to keep in mind that you need to brake earlier compared to when you’re not towing a trailer.
This is because your vehicle’s weight combined with the trailer’s weight now requires a greater distance in order to slow them down or come to a complete stop.
Consider the state towing laws.
If you plan on going on a long trip with some cargo in tow, you need to consider the individual towing laws of the states or areas that you’re going to be passing through.
For instance, most places have a legal unbraked towing capacity limit of 750 kg (1,653 lbs), but this may not be the case for some areas.
Read your user manual for more information about towing.
A good source of extra precautions for towing would be your vehicle’s owner’s manual, as it may contain specific towing instructions that are unique to your vehicle.
In the case of the Subaru Crosstrek/XV, Subaru provided tow charts that indicate the maximum total trailer weight that should be followed under certain conditions.
Other than the 1,000 to 1,500-lb towing capacity of the Subaru Crosstrek, there’s also a 750-lb (340 kg) weight limit indicated when towing for over 5 miles (8 km) uphill in 104°F (40°C) heat or more.
What is the best Subaru for towing?
The best Subaru models for towing are the Subaru Ascent and the Subaru Outback.
Subaru Ascent Towing Capacity
The Ascent is Subaru’s largest-ever vehicle, and it has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) with a braked trailer for its top-level trims.
Aside from its impressive towing capacity, the Subaru Ascent also comes available with a Class III trailer hitch, a powerful 260-hp engine, and a unique “X-MODE” all-wheel-drive system.
This makes the Subaru Ascent the best Subaru that you can use for towing while also having the capability to traverse over all sorts of terrains with ease.
Subaru Outback Towing Capacity
The Subaru Outback’s maximum towing capacity, while not as high as the Subaru Ascent’s, still pulls a respectable 3,500 lbs (1,587 kg) of weight for its turbocharged 2.4-liter trims.
That means that the Subaru Outback’s towing capacity is 2,000 lbs more than the Subaru Crosstrek’s 1,500 lb towing capacity, making it quite an impressive towing vehicle for its class.
To further aid in towing, the 2022 Subaru Outback also has symmetrical all-wheel drive, hill descent control, a rear camera, “EyeSight” Driver Assist, and a 180-degree front-view monitor.
