New Subaru Hybrid First Step of Automaker's Electric Vehicle Plans

Subaru's new XV Crosstrek Hybrid can go up to 25 mph on electric power alone before getting an assist from its gas engine, but a fully electric car is also on the horizon.

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The decision is being driven by California regulations that mandate automakers sell electric vehicles by 2017, according to Tom Doll, president of Subaru of America. The new XV Crosstrek Hybrid, which combines a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, is "the first step in that process," Doll said. The Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i are among a handful of electric cars available today.

Doll wouldn't say whether the hybrid technology in the XV Crosstrek Hybrid will appear in the brand's Impreza small car (the two models share a platform). He said the hybrid system was launched on the XV Crosstrek because Subaru buyers tend to prefer crossovers. The brand's sales bear that out as the Outback and Forester models were the automaker's sales leaders in 2012.

2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid at the 2013 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Jeep Compass, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
• Looks like: A Crosstrek with badges; the hybrid model is available in an exclusive green color
• Drivetrain: 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a 13.4-hp electric motor, a 13.5-kw nickel-metal-hydride battery and a CVT
• Hits dealerships: End of this year

Subaru's first hybrid powertrain will go into its newest vehicle. The XV Crosstrek was first unveiled last spring in New York and the automaker launched the hybrid version at this year's New York International Auto Show.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

On the outside, the cues that differentiate the new hybrid from the gas-powered lineup are minimal. Specific wheels, hybrid badges and a unique Plasma Green Pearl color are all that set it apart visually, and Subaru says the XV offers the same 8.7 inches of ground clearance as non-hybrid models.

Subaru to Debut First Hybrid at 2013 New York Auto Show

Hybrid cars and SUVs have become so commonplace that it can be a surprise when an automaker doesn't have one in its lineup.

Today, Subaru announced it will introduce its first hybrid at the 2013 New York International Auto Show next week. The Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid gets the honor of adding a more fuel-efficient option to the surprisingly popular XV Crosstrek, which is based on the Impreza hatchback.

More information will be revealed next week about the hybrid's powertrain. Subaru also says it will debut a new concept performance car in New York.

Recall Alert: Subaru Legacy, Outback, Impreza and XV Crosstrek

Subaru is recalling 47,419 model-year 2010-13 vehicles due to a problem with the remote start system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles use an Audiovox remote engine starter accessory and either a continuously variable automatic transmission or an automatic transmission. They include model-year 2010-13 Outbacks and Legacys, 2012-13 Imprezas and 2013 XV Crosstreks.

If the key fob is dropped, it could malfunction and randomly start the engine and continue to start and stop it until the battery in the fob is depleted or the car runs out of gas. According to Subaru, original equipment keyless entry fobs integrated on the vehicle key are not affected.

Subaru will notify owners starting in April, and dealers will replace the affected key fobs for free. Owners can call Subaru at 800-782-2783 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

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Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

The 2013 RAV4 held off the competition once again to retain the top spot among our most-read reviews of the week. It was joined by some fresh faces this week: the 2013 models of the Hyundai Sante Fe Sport, Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Fusion Hybrid landed at Nos. 6, 7 and 8, respectively, squeezing the Cadillac ATS, Mazda CX-5 and Acura RDX out of the top 10. Meanwhile, the Toyota Avalon, Ford Fusion and Ford Escape gained some ground, as the Ford Explorer, Nissan Altima and Subaru XV Crosstrek lost their footing.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Toyota Avalon
3. 2013 Ford Fusion
4. 2013 Ford Escape
5. 2013 Ford Explorer
6. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
7. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
8. 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
9. 2013 Nissan Altima
10. Subaru XV Crosstrek

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Despite some midlist musical chairs, this week's most-read reviews played a familiar tune. The 2013 Toyota RAV4 and 2013 Ford Explorer held their ground at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. The 2013 models of the Toyota Avalon, Acura RDX, Subaru XV Crosstrek and Ford Escape simply rearranged third through sixth place. Meanwhile, the 2013 Ford Fusion entered at No. 7, bumping the Nissan Altima to No. 8; the 2013 Mazda CX-5 ascended one spot to No. 9, forcing out the Honda Accord to make room for the 2013 Cadillac ATS in 10th.

Check out what was popular this week:

• 1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
• 2. 2013 Ford Explorer
• 3. 2013 Toyota Avalon
• 4. 2013 Acura RDX
• 5. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 6. 2013 Ford Escape
• 7. 2013 Ford Fusion
• 8. 2013 Nissan Altima
• 9. 2013 Mazda CX-5
• 10. 2013 Cadillac ATS

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

There wasn't a lot of movement among our most-read reviews this week, with six of the top 10 spots going unchanged and the 2013 Toyota RAV4 holding onto first place. The Toyota Avalon jumped two spots to No. 5, bumping the Acura RDX and Nissan Altima down to sixth and seventh place, respectively. The Chevrolet Equinox entered the list in eighth place, knocking the Audi A4 off completely as the Honda Accord and Mazda CX-5 held their places at ninth and 10th.

Check out what else was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4

2. 2013 Ford Explorer

3. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek

4. 2013 Ford Escape

5. 2013 Toyota Avalon

6. 2013 Acura RDX

7. 2013 Nissan Altima

8. 2013 Chevrolet Equinox

9. 2013 Honda Accord

10. 2013 Mazda CX-5

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

In the 2013 BMW M5 video, Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek notes the high-performance sedan's class-consistent "big engine, big brakes, big wheels." The video put up commensurately big numbers, landing in the top spot among the most watched of the week. That knocked previous champ, the $26,000 Midsize Sedan Showdown video, to No. 3 while PickupTrucks.com's peek at Chevy's and GMC's new heavy-duty trucks for 2014 held its ground in second place. Check out the M5 video above and see which others were popular this week:

• 1. 2013 BMW M5
• 2. First Look: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra
• 3. Cars.com/USA Today/MotorWeek $26,000 Midsize Sedan Shootout
• 4. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 5. 2013 Toyota RAV4

Most-Watched Videos of the Week

It was a something of a comeback for the Honda Accord when the 2013 model took first place in the $26,000 Midsize Sedan Showdown following its previous generation's fifth-place finish in the 2010 contest; judges said it goes to show what an automaker can accomplish with a sincere redesign. Piggybacking on the Accord's success, the Showdown's video is the most watched of the week. Check out that video above and see which other videos were popular this week:

• 1. Cars.com/USA Today/MotorWeek $26,000 Midsize Sedan Shootout
• 2. First Look: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and 2014 GMC Sierra
• 3. Raptor vs. Ram Runner: Head to Head
• 4. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 5. Icon D200 at 2012 SEMA

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

With the new year comes some new blood, at last, in the No. 1 spot among Cars.com's most-read reviews of the week. In 2013's first top 10, the Toyota RAV4 has supplanted the Subaru XV Crosstrek — the reigning champion for nearly six weeks. Meanwhile, the consistently popular 2013 Ford Explorer review found its way from the bottom half of the list up to No. 2 this week, bumping the XV Crosstrek down to third.

Check out what else was popular this week:

• 1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
• 2. 2013 Ford Explorer
• 3. 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek
• 4. 2013 Ford Escape
• 5. 2013 Acura RDX
• 6. 2013 Nissan Altima
• 7. 2013 Toyota Avalon
• 8. 2013 Audi A4
• 9. 2013 Honda Accord
• 10. 2013 Mazda CX-5