Back in the 90s—as an 18-year-old who had just learned to drive—my father bought a 1998 Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon as a shared family vehicle. It was technically for my mum, but she didn’t use it much, so my brothers and I got to drive it on occasion. I grew up in Sheffield, UK, which is notoriously hilly; in winter, the roads become icy and treacherous. That was the selling point for my father. Back then, SUVs weren’t really a “thing,” but with Colin McRae dominating the World Rally Championship, my brothers and I (two of us being total petrolheads) convinced my father that the Impreza was the perfect car for Mum. We cited its market-leading safety features and its “class of one” Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.
Of course, we just wanted to feel like Colin McRae—but please don’t tell my father that! It wasn’t the WRX version for two reasons: insurance for an 18-year-old would have cost as much as the car itself, and the price tag was out of reach. However, it was the “Sport” model, featuring a 2-litre engine, alloy wheels, bucket seats, and a body kit. It lacked the turbo, bonnet vent, and gold wheels of the WRX, but for a young enthusiast in the working-class town of Sheffield, it was still quite the show pony.
In the early 2000s, my uncle took over the vehicle. He was in his late 60s at the time and drove it right into his early 80s—a true testament to the longevity of Subaru vehicles.
Fast forward to the last four years: I’ve been driving two different variants of Suzuki’s iconic Jimny (both the 3-door and 5-door). They have excellent ground clearance and ‘low-range’ 4×4 as standard, matching my adventure lifestyle perfectly. But, to be honest, I haven’t actually needed that full 4×4 capability all that often.
Fuelled by nostalgia and Subaru’s reputation for “legendary” AWD, I was keen to see what Subaru offered these days in their modern compact SUV lineup. Walking into Subaru Edenvale and chatting with the passionate staff, it became clear that Subaru still holds onto several “standout features” that make it unique in today’s “copycat” market.
These pillars include their AWD system (refined over 50 years), market-leading safety technology (with a goal of zero fatalities by 2030), class-leading ground clearance, and, of course, the unique Boxer engine.
The Crosstrek immediately caught my eye. It’s compact, stylish, and the most accessible entry into the Subaru family.
Working in the vehicle media space has its perks. Last November, I arranged a Crosstrek for a weekend trip to the quaint, mountainous town of Kaapsehoop in Mpumalanga. It was my first real experience with adaptive cruise control and lane-centring functionality. Heading out of Johannesburg toward Benoni, I engaged both. The adaptive cruise control is impressive—you dial in the distance to the car ahead, and the car manages the gaps perfectly.
What really blew my mind was the lane-centring function. As the road curves, the car automatically steers to stay within the lines. The display reminds me of the “bumpers” at a bowling alley that make it impossible to throw a gutter ball. I found this particularly reassuring when driving home through heavy rain and thick mist. Knowing the car had an extra “eye” on the road while I was protecting my loved ones was a massive plus. (Note: This is designed for highways; the system will promptly tell you to put your hands back on the wheel if you get too relaxed!).
Protecting your loved ones shouldn’t be undervalued. In modern Subaru vehicles, Nader pins (also known as striker pins) are reinforced high-tensile steel pins integrated into the door frames. These pins serve a critical safety function during a side-impact collision by hooking into the door structure to prevent the doors from being crushed inward or shearing off, ensuring the passenger cabin maintains its structural integrity to protect those inside.
On the mountain passes, the Crosstrek didn’t disappoint. It reminded me of driving that 90s Impreza through the South Yorkshire countryside—sporty, planted, and a hoot to drive.
Yet, on the rutted dirt roads of Kaapsehoop, the suspension was plush, soaking up every irregularity. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
Inside, the cabin feels more “Premium German” than Japanese 90s-chic. The seats are mounted directly to the unibody chassis, which is said to reduce car sickness, and I can confirm they are incredibly comfortable. Having driven automatics since the 90s, I found the CVT gearbox to be modern, smooth, and seamless.
Even with the slanted roofline, there was plenty of room for a weekend’s worth of luggage and our two medium-sized dogs.
In conclusion, I absolutely loved my time with the Crosstrek. It doesn’t have the low-range 4×4 I’m used to, but I realised I don’t actually need it for 90% of my travels. What makes sense for me is having off-road capability paired with the luxury and sporty “on-road” pleasure of a premium crossover.
The only thing missing for me was the “adventure practicality” I’ve built into my Jimny. However, my Jimny didn’t come that way; I added the extras myself. To make the Crosstrek a true lifestyle tool, I’d look to outfitters like Front Runner or Thule for roof racks, luggage pods, or a roof-top tent.
As a regular reader of ZA Bikers / ZA Lifestyle, you know we love to tinker with our rides. So watch this space—we may just put this theory to the test in the near future.
The Subaru SA & LIQUI MOLY SA Giveaway
If you followed our journey over the last few months, you’ll know that we teamed up with Subaru Southern Africa and LIQUI MOLY South Africa to give one lucky reader a massive head start on their own adventure.
We ran a competition offering a premium hamper valued at R10,000, packed with high-performance LIQUI MOLY lubricants and exclusive Subaru lifestyle gear. It was our way of celebrating the partnership between two brands that live and breathe “Passion Drives Performance.”
The response was overwhelming, and we’ve spent the last few days sorting through the entries. We are excited to announce that we have officially drawn our winner!
Congratulations to our lucky winner!
We recently caught up with the winners of the Subaru SA and LIQUI MOLY South Africa Giveaway, Arvind and his wife, Shaleen.
Unfortunately, Arvind had a packed schedule on the day, but Shaleen happily stepped in to collect their prize—and what an arrival it was. Pulling into the parking lot at Vida e Caffè in Rivonia, Shaleen rolled up in their outgoing Subaru Forester Sport, still looking immaculate. It immediately became clear that this wasn’t just a lucky competition entry; this was already a proper Subaru household.
What made the moment even more special is that the giveaway itself was a pure lucky draw. We had no idea that Arvind and Shaleen were already part of the Subaru family, which somehow made the win feel even more fitting.
Naturally, curiosity got the better of them. The couple recently visited their local Subaru dealership to experience the latest 2026 Subaru Forester for themselves and took it out for a proper test drive. While the idea of upgrading is definitely brewing, they admitted it won’t be an easy decision—their current Forester has served them incredibly well and still holds a special place in their hearts. For now, they’ll be enjoying their prize and continuing their Subaru journey, one adventure at a time.
For more information on Subaru’s Crosstrek, visit: www.subaru.co.za
