Deep snow is a little different from normal snow. Up here in the Midwest, we know that an inch or so of snow can result in slippery pavement where tires might lose their traction. But when there’s a foot of snow, the whole dynamic changes. It’s no longer just about keeping the vehicle straight and trying not to slide off the road; it’s all about not getting stuck completely.
Fortunately, during my test of the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, I activated X-Mode and selected the deep snow option after getting about seven inches on an early spring day. Other vehicles have modes that help you stay centered in your lane in the snow, often by reducing acceleration. The Crosstrek is different. In X-Mode, you are providing more power to all four tires and adjusting the throttle to help pull you through the thick stuff, rather than just trying not to swerve out of control.
I tested it three times in one day, all under different conditions:
- Test 1: Fresh, Deep Snow. The first test was right after it snowed when the depth was at its highest. I drove out of my driveway and tried to gun it up a hill. No problem. The Crosstrek barely blinked as I moved through the snow easily at a low speed, experiencing no tire slip at all.
- Test 2: Unplowed Parking Lot. Next, I went to an unplowed parking lot later in the day. I was already impressed with how the vehicle had gripped the road on the hill, and the parking lot didn’t prove to be a challenge, either. I will say, the 8.7-inch ground clearance on the Crosstrek helps, because another thing that can happen in deep snow isn’t related to traction at all: your vehicle can get stuck simply because the snow gets compacted underneath it, impeding any forward progress. Seven inches isn’t even the most snow we’ve had in one day up here, but it was a good test for the Crosstrek. I wondered if maybe a little more snow would have been a bigger problem.
- Test 3: Snow-Covered Roads at Night. My last test was in the evening after some of the roads had been plowed. I checked the local 511 website, which lists whether roads are partially or fully covered in snow. I chose a route that was marked as fully covered and had absolutely no trouble. In fact, the Crosstrek kept plowing through the snow just fine to the point where X-Mode naturally turned itself off (since it only operates at low speeds). I felt like I was in a truly winter-ready car that I would buy purely for the X-Mode feature.
A good point to make here is that this is not a common feature. I’ve tested many vehicles that have a general “snow mode” that works at all speeds, but few actually have a dedicated low-speed extraction mode unless they are a Jeep Wrangler or another truck-like vehicle.
Subaru has cornered the market on this stuff. Their cars use a low center of gravity based on the engine’s location, which helps keep the wheels firmly (and evenly) planted.
After my testing, I realized X-Mode on the Crosstrek Hybrid is not only a great safety feature but also an incredible convenience. I was able to get out of my driveway and up a hill with zero problems. I drove through a parking lot like a boss. I ventured onto a snow-packed road and never once thought I would get stuck. That peace of mind is entirely worth it if you live in an area where deep snow can otherwise ruin your day.