2022-2024 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0L Base Engine (FB20D): Longevity, Problems, and Specs

In 2018, Subaru offered the absolutely new Crosstrek which was also called XV in other countries. The US buyers have always been really mad about these small SUVs that resemble hatchbacks but have a more aggressive design and higher ground clearance. But what do we know about the engines in these popular Subaru models?

Today, we'll tell you more about the base engine that is now available in the new Subaru Crosstrek. This is the 2.0L non-turbocharged boxer engine with 152 horsepower. We should say that the technology is not revolutionary and the engine is quite simple in design and construction. But still, we have a lot to say to you regarding its features and durability.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2016-now
• Average lifespan of FB20D:150,000-180,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:direct injection
• Power range:150-156 hp
• Fuel efficiency:good
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:medium
• The most common problems:carbon buildup on intake valves, oil consumption due to ring wear, oil leaks, no lifters, weak phasers and chain tensioner.

So, what should you know about the 2.0L Crosstrek engine?

In 2021, Subaru sold over 120,000 Crosstrek SUVs in the US and over 20,000 in Canada. This is a lot given the vehicle is not the flagman of the company. This made the car one of the top 25 best-selling cars among all types of bodies and this is a big win for the Japanese company.

In 2023, the Crosstrek will change generations. As far as we are concerned right now, the SUV will get rid of all simple engines and will only be offered as a hybrid model for the American market. But what's interesting: the Crosstrek will still have the same 2-liter engine under the hood (the engine coded FB20D. This is exactly the motor we'll be talking about today, so the things we say are going to be true for the next-gen Crosstrek.

Here are some facts about this engine:

• the FB20D is the little brother of the more popular and worldwide-known FB25D;
• the engine offers 2 liters of displacement, 152 horsepower, and also 145 lb-ft of torque - not a lot, but enough for the small SUV;
• this is the boxer engine and the location of its cylinders is weird as hell - they are located horizontally and they seem to be boxing against each other as they work;
• the AVCS technology provides variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust valves;
• the timing chain is used in these engines instead of the traditional timing belt used in former Subaru engines;
• these engines offer very soon available power (you feel the peak power at lower RPMs which makes them more dynamic and faster);
• also, the FB20D engines have a direct injection which causes some problems and buildups but provides wonderful fuel economy.

So, you should know that Subaru uses this engine for the e-BOXER trim of the Crosstrek that features the hybrid powertrain. The same engine will be used in the next generation of this vehicle. But we are talking about the pure version without the electric systems attached to this engine. And we think this is a very decent unit for all purposes.

Yes, you may see that the power and torque aren't that high, but you get access to a lot of power and torque from the lower RPM level. This makes your Crosstrek faster and more flexible than its predecessors. One more important advantage is fuel consumption. You will get around 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on highways.

How many miles will the Subaru Crosstrek 2.0L engine last?

Officially, Subaru claims that the engine is capable of covering around 120,000 miles. But this engine has been around for a dozen years now and we perfectly know that it can withstand much more.

The average estimated lifespan of a well-maintained Subaru Crosstrek 2.0L engine should be about 170,000 miles. Of course, this depends much on the way you drive your vehicle and the quality of maintenance you provide it with.

Some factors may cause the premature death of the 2.0L Subaru engine:

• irregular oil change and filters change;
• bad oil that is not recommended to use;
• any tuning of the ECU for more power and torque;
• active and aggressive driving with high RPM for a long time;
• off-roading - this engine and the vehicle aren't made for that;
• bad fuel with low octane level or some particles in it;
• poor repair when it comes to fuel supply and electrical systems.

Yes, this engine will sometimes ask for a certain repair. For example, you have to regularly change spark plugs and sometimes even coils because the direct injection doesn't give them any chance for long life. But it's not that simple for a boxer engine to do this, so mechanics may overlook the problem.

Of course, bad maintenance and driving the vehicle with engine problems will lead to the premature death of the engine and other units. For example. massive misfires in this engine may easily destroy the cylinders due to specific cylinder and piston location.

What are the common problems with the FB20D 2-liter Crosstrek engine?

Most issues have been solved by the company once the engine appeared on the market. In 2013, Subaru made some adjustments and since then, the FB20D engine that is used in the Crosstrek has never had really bad problems. But some specific issues still need to be considered.

We've found these problems really important and worth mentioning in our article:

1. Carbon buildup due to direct injection

The injection system is wonderful in terms of fuel efficiency. But unfortunately, it leads to inevitable carbon buildup over time. You will have to clean or even replace the injectors and this will cost you a fortune.

The ignition system is not that reliable. Spark plugs and coils need to be checked and replaced pretty often. Don't allow this engine to misfire for a long time because this will destroy the block and lead to huge expenses.

2. Impractical construction for maintenance

Boxer engines are known to be a real pain in the neck for mechanics. Sometimes, Subaru mechanics need to take the engine off a vehicle to provide it with some common service. And it's not only time-consuming. This will lead to big sums in the labor bill.

Also, parts are not that cheap. They are available at dealers' stores, but the prices are far from reasonable. Also, we can say that aftermarket parts are not recommended and are sometimes even dangerous to install.

3. Oil consumption

In the Crosstrek, this problem is not as bad as in early FB20D engines. But still, high compression leads to more pressure on the piston rings in the 2.0L Subaru Crosstrek engine and this leads to quick degradation of the rings.

Because of bad rings, oil can manage to get into the combustion chamber and burn there. This leads to low oil levels, black soot in the engine head, bad catalytic converter contamination, and black smoke from the tailpipe. Bad signs, we would say.

4. Different minor problems

We wouldn't write about it because all engines have their little sins. But in the case of this boxer engine, it's hard and expensive to deal with pretty much every trouble. The price of repair is huge because it's hard to find somebody who knows what to do and has the needed tools to repair your engine.

So, a little problem with a misfiring 2.0L engine in your Crosstrek may turn into huge trouble because of the complicated construction and specific repair requirements from Subaru.

So, is this a good engine or not?

The Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 FB20D engine is not bad and not perfect. It's very reliable but it still won't go over 200K miles. It's small and light but really hard to maintain. It has enough power but it's hard to say it's a performance-oriented engine.

We love this unit for its output from only 2 liters of displacement. Also, we like that Subaru Crosstrek owners mainly say good things about the engine and never say it's bad and isn't worth your money. In reviews, people say they would obviously buy their new car now with the same engine.

But we also see all the problems and disadvantages of the 2-liter Subaru boxer engine and we understand that it has a lot of wonderful counterparts on the market.

Final words

The Crosstrek is going to get the new generation soon and we'll only have the hybrid version. At least this is what we know about it right now. If you are about to buy the new Crosstrek, you may still get the non-hybrid version with the 2.0L boxer engine. We've tried hard and told you everything you need to know about this engine.

You will be glad about how it drives, but you won't like the bills from your mechanic. Until this engine has a Subaru warranty covering all its potential problems, you'll be happy. After that, you should consider selling the vehicle and looking for a new one.