See Photos of the 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Extra bulk fitted low in the chassis can't hurt the Crosstrek's ride and handling, but Subaru's estimated 3726-pound curb weight is 424 pounds more than the last Crosstrek automatic we tested.

At $35,970, the Crosstrek hybrid digs itself into an even more precarious hole than its 2016 predecessor, which started at just over 27 grand and topped out below 31.

Subaru's Starlink connectivity includes a remote climate and battery charging feature accessible via a smartphone app, along with a 10-year subscription to more remote functions like vehicle tracking, unlocking, and maintenance alerts.

At 120 volts, Subaru claims a five-hour charge from dead to full; that time drops to about two hours on a 240-volt or Level 2 connection.

But like most plug-in hybrids, that capacity is barely half a gallon's worth of gasoline. The EPA hasn't published estimates, but Subaru says the combined city/highway rating is 35 mpg after the battery's EV-only range depletes.

Instead of the continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission pairing to one tiny electric motor that, on its own, could manage 25 mph for brief stints, this time the tranny hooks up to two large motors that produce enough juice to maintain a gas-free 65 mph until the battery runs out.

More blue accents and contrast stitching brighten the attractive interior, which features two-tone leather seats in light gray and dark blue.

This Crosstrek has additional upgrades including SI-Drive (essentially, a sport mode for the throttle) and bigger rear brakes (from solid 10.8-inch rotors to vented 11.2-inchers).

Exterior dressings include silver strips on the grille and fog light surrounds, a silver chin spoiler and rocker panels, blue-tinted headlight casings, and two-tone 18-inch wheels.

As opposed to those in most plug-in hybrids, the charging port is installed opposite the fuel door at the rear instead of the front.

The 13.2-gallon fuel tank loses 3.4 gallons, which puts the hybrid's 480-mile range within one mile of the regular Crosstrek's.

That 8.8-kWh battery, using an energy-dense lithium-ion chemistry instead of nickel-metal hydride, is nearly 15 times larger in capacity.