Subaru->ke86 has recently strayed from its roots of building quirky cars that did things others couldn't think of doing. Funky do-it-all cars like the Legacy Outback, Legacy Wagon and the Brat define yesteryear for Suby, but now the Japanese automaker seems more focused on mainstream cars. That said, the XV Crosstrek->ke4049 with its funky looks, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, compact hatchback-->ke304like size, and standard all-wheel drive is everything Subaru one was. Since its debut in 2013, the funky XV Crosstrek has scratched and clawed its way to becoming the automaker's No. 3 selling car. For 2015, Subaru has decided to celebrate the perched hatchback's success by releasing a limited-edition XV Crosstrek Special Edition.

Limited to only 1,000 units, this special XV Crosstrek is based on the middle-of-the-pack 2.0i Premium trim level and adds in a slew of upgraded features and an exclusive paint job. Sure, it may not be packed with super-exclusive features, but its limited availability and smattering of premium features may make it worth the extra bucks you'll need to shell out to get one.

Click past the jump to read more about the Subaru XV Crosstrek Special Edition.

Exterior

There is little to say about the look of XV Crosstrek that hasn't already been said. It's quirky, high-riding, and fairly simple; yeah, it is a classic Subaru. Getting away from the mainstream designing it has become accustomed to as of late, Subaru went all out in making the XV Crosstrek attractive to the more cultish sect of its customer based (yours truly included).

With the Special Edition model, things kick off with an exclusive Sunrise Yellow paint job that contrasts nicely against the off-road-ready body cladding. The exterior is further enhanced with a set of roof rails, a body-color roof spoiler, 17-inch wheels, and privacy glass, all of which come standard on the 2.0i Premium trim level that the Special Edition is based upon. The Special Edition package tosses in a set of body-color folding mirrors with integrated turn signals and blackened headlight bezels.

Overall, unless you know the XV Crosstrek's color palette like the back of your hand, there is little that distinguishes the exterior of the XV Crosstrek Special Edition from its standard siblings.

Interior

*Standard XV Crosstrek interior shown here.

Because it is based upon the 2.0i Premium trim level, the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek's cabin is rather well-equipped. It comes standard with high-end features like heated seats, power doors and windows, keyless entry, a CD player with six speakers, and a cargo cover.

On top of the 2.0i Premium's standard bits, the Special Edition model adds in leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, push-button start, a moonroof, a STARLINK Multimedia system with a seven-inch touchscreen, multi-touch control, voice-activated controls, SiriusXM, a vehicle-information display, SMS text messaging, iTunes tagging, and dual USB ports.

Overall, Subaru appears to have done the vast majority of its work on the inside of this Special Edition, loading it up with all sorts of gadgetry that its younger audience craves.

Drivetrain

As much as I'd like to say Subaru dropped the turbocharged, 2.0-liter Boxer-four under the hood of this Special Edition, I sadly cannot. It carries over the same 2.0-liter Boxer-four as the base XV Crosstrek, which puts out 148 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 145 pound-feet of twist at 4,200 revs. This power goes through the much maligned continuously variable transmission on its way to all four corners. This gets the XV to 60 mph in a meh-it's-good-enough 10 seconds.

Fuel economy, on the other hand, is the XV Crosstrek's stronger point, as it gets 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with the CVT.

Prices

The base 2015 XV Crosstrek checks in at a fairly low $21,595 and jumping to the 2.0i Premium trim level that the Special Edition is based upon raises the price to $22,295. The Special Edition package adds on an additional $2,995 for a final price of $25,290, plus $850 for delivery. The biggest thing about the 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek is that it's limited to only 1,000 units, so you'd better put your reservations in early. It will arrive in dealerships in the spring of 2015.

Competition

2015 Nissan Juke

Competition for the XV Crosstrek is rather limited, but the most direct competitor has to be the equally quirky Nissan Juke. Looks are in the eye of the beholder in this competition, as it really depends on your liking. In my eyes, I find the angular body lines and creases of the XV more attractive.

The Juke's base price starts at $20,250, but adding AWD jumps the base price to $22,100. To get it more on the level of the XV Crosstrek Special edition you'll need to bump up to the $24,150 Juke SV and add in the $1,490 Tech Package and the $435 rear roof spoiler. This brings the Juke to a total of $26,900, which is slightly more than the XV Special Edition.

Where the Juke has the XV Crosstrek's number is the drivetrain, as the Juke comes with a turbocharged, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that puts down an impressive 188 ponies and 177 pound-feet of twist. The 0-to-60 sprint takes about 7.5 seconds with all-wheel drive, making the Juke significantly quicker than the XV Crosstrek.

Conclusion

The XV Crosstrek is an awesome piece of machinery. It combines the compact size of a hatchback, the ground clearance of a small SUV and very good fuel economy. Unfortunately, save for the special color, there is very little that is "special" about the Special Edition. I do, however, like the fact that it is limited to only 1.000 units, so the chances of you running into an XV Crosstrek in the same color are very slim. Let's just hope Subaru doesn't decide to expand the reach of this hue in the future.