Can you flat tow a Subaru Crossstrek?

[Old Harry]

We are about to go from a tow dolly and Prius to something we can flat tow. Wife and I like the Subaru Crosstrek.

I have looked up the owner's manual and on flat towing it says for both CVT and MT, the key must be ON ACC and gear put in neutral. The CVT can be flat towed but only under 20 MPH and a max of 31 miles but says nothing about the MT.

We do not care for the jeeps and are looking for a small SUV to also be our second car when home. There are times when we have to pick up some of our grandkids from schools, so a sub-compact does not work for us.

I'm aware that I will have to put in a braking system, lights, power to keep the battery charged, etc.

The salesman thought it could be done but wasn't positive. So, I'm asking for people who have the Crosstrek what did they have to do to flat tow one.

[NevadaNick]

Does anyone make a base plate for it ?

[Bill 3rd]

This is a link about flat towing from Subaru Dealer

https://www.willowdalesubaru.ca/faq/...20the%20ground.
It states: Subaru vehicles with manual transmission can be towed with all four wheels on the ground and the transmission in neutral. Subaru vehicles with automatic transmission can only be towed with all four wheels OFF the ground.
I guess keeping the key ic acc allows the steering to be unlocked. You need to check how to keep the battery from draining.

[tuffr2]

Can't you find a SUV that for sure can be flat towed? Like a Honda CRV? I see a lot of them being flat towed. I would not be married to any SUV that was doubtful it could be flat towed if that is your goal.

[dons2346]

Pull out the owners manual and look for the subject "recreational towing". Go by that and not by what someone tells you. And, even then, the manual could be wrong.

[deandec]

Originally Posted by dons2346

Pull out the owners manual and look for the subject "recreational towing". Go by that and not by what someone tells you. And, even then, the manual could be wrong.

Great Advice above

[Old-Biscuit]

As you have read the manual.....
I have looked up the owner's manual and on flat towing it says for both CVT and MT, the key must be ON ACC and gear put in neutral. The CVT can be flat towed but only under 20 MPH and a max of 31 miles but says nothing about the MT.

And as you see by the LINK in Bill 3rd's post

YES for MT (Manual Transmission)
YES/NO for CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission)
*Speed/distance restrictions

Originally Posted by Bill 3rd

This is a link about flat towing from Subaru Dealer

https://www.willowdalesubaru.ca/faq/...20the%20ground.
It states: Subaru vehicles with manual transmission can be towed with all four wheels on the ground and the transmission in neutral. Subaru vehicles with automatic transmission can only be towed with all four wheels OFF the ground.
I guess keeping the key ic acc allows the steering to be unlocked. You need to check how to keep the battery from draining.

Buy one with MT if you want to use as Toad

[theroc]

Remember, Subaru completely stopped approving any of their vehicles for "recreational towing" back in 2016 ...2016 was the last year.

Therefore, you will not find any explicit instructions that address "recreational towing" any longer in any of the owner's manuals including the Crosstrek.

Dealers will give varying information. Since there's nothing mechanically prohibiting flat towing a manual transmission Subaru some dealers will say it's okay to do and some will take the company line and say it's not.

However, many are continuing to flat tow the manual transmission Crosstrek from 2017 to the current model without issues as others have indicated in this thread.

Both Roadmaster and Blue Ox make baseplates for the 2023 Crosstrek:

Blue Ox BX3622, 2023 Subaru Crosstrek (Manual) Baseplate

Roadmaster Baseplate Kit 52927-5, 2023 SUBARU CROSSTREK

We towed several Subaru manual transmission toads through the years and they were great.

[Mighty_J]

Unfortunately, 2023 is the last production year for manual transmission Crosstreks in North America. So 2024 going forward, another potential toad is off the list.

[777 Driver]

IIRC, for the 2016 model years, Subaru moved all reference to flat towing any of their vehicles (regardless of transmission) into the "Emergency" section of their operating manuals. In prior model years, for the manual transmission vehicles, there were instructions in the normal operating section for "Recreational Towing" that authorized towing manual transmission vehicles four down.

That move into the "Emergency" section of the owner's manual essentially put liability for drive train damage onto the owner. My sense was that post 2016, the burden of proof that any warranty claim for damage done to your drive train was NOT as a result of towing would be on the owner.

I towed a 2010 Outback (6 speed manual transmission) more than 75,000 miles with no difficulty.

Take care,
Stu

[theroc]

Originally Posted by Mighty_J

Unfortunately, 2023 is the last production year for manual transmission Crosstreks in North America. So 2024 going forward, another potential toad is off the list.

I remember reading about that awhile ago (from 2021) but was hoping it wouldn't happen. But now I see it was "officially" confirmed last month that the 2024 Crosstrek will lose the manual transmission. What a disappointment.

No More Manual Trans in 2024 Subaru Crosstrek...

[MarylandRich]

The answer is yes you can flat tow any manual Subaru, but not the automatic transmissions. Put Manual in neutral and go no speed restrictions, no complicated procedures. Have been towing 2 outback’s since 2016, first a 98 and now a 2011. Great Toads. yes Subaru stoped officially supporting it in 2016, but nothing changed in the car, just what the lawyers say.

[monte hersh]

Read the owners manual specific to the model most cvt Can NOT be flat towed.

[Harry B]

Watched a YouTube video on a 2023 Crosstrek last night and a statement was made that it is nolonger available with a MT. Looks like no MT is an issue already