I’m still really enjoying mine. I think it’s a fun and engaging drive for what it is, but having a manual is a big part of that. I did test drive a ‘23 2.0 CVT and it was better than I expected, though. I think the 2.5 with the CVT would still be fine, but I do understand the lack of love from some.
I’m alone in the car probably 85% of the time, and I have a blast driving it. Kind of reminds me of being a teenager in my grandmother’s Volvo 240 or my mom’s Chevy Cavalier: you just drive with your foot to the floor all the time! Yeah it’s noisy and the engine sounds kind of gruff, but it’s smooth and loves to rev (slowly!) out to redline. I feel like I’m driving it like a hooligan, while hardly breaking the speed limit.
But then I’ll have a passenger in the car (my wife or 83-yo mother) and I feel a little self conscious and silly. I was in traffic on the freeway the other day and kept it in fourth gear, just to have some jam to get around traffic and get up a small hill. It will do whatever you need it to, you just have to work for it. The engine is revving around 4k and making its usual noise, and my wife just turns to me and gives me “the look.”
So, maybe not the greatest vehicle for family use and road trips, but we have the Yukon for that. Overall, I’m not missing the GTI at all: I’d say the Crosstrek is more fun to drive in the winter and damn near as
much fun enjoyable to drive in the summer.