I'm trying to have subcaption labels of the form (a), (b), etc. references of the form fig. 1(a), and ranges of the form figs. 1(a--c). I cannot seem to get the last requirement. Here's my MWE (adapting the second answer in Adding parentheses around subfig references) that gives me references of the form figs. 1(a)--c):
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{subcaption,cleveref}
\renewcommand\thesubfigure{(\alph{subfigure})}
\captionsetup[subfigure]{labelformat=simple}
\crefrangeformat{figure}{figs.~#3#1#4--#5\crefstripprefix{#1}{#2}#6}
\begin{document}
\cref{1,2,3}
\begin{figure}
\subcaptionbox{\label{1}}[0.3\textwidth][c]{}
\subcaptionbox{\label{2}}[0.3\textwidth][c]{}
\subcaptionbox{\label{3}}[0.3\textwidth][c]{}
\end{figure}
\end{document}

figs. 1(a—c), my instinctual reaction is to start looking for a single subfigure labeled(a—c). Then, after sime hesitation and stumbling around, I’d probably figure out that 3 separate subfigures are being cross-referenced... – Mico Apr 17 '19 at 21:58