The Subaru Crosstrek has long offered a more rugged take on the subcompact crossover segment. Now the automaker is taking the popular 'ute even further down the trail with a new Wilderness variant. As it has done with the Outback and Forester before it, the Crosstrek Wilderness gets more ground clearance, exclusive body cladding, a skid plate, and a load of off-road-inspired styling touches that make it stand out from the rest of the lineup.
Subaru equips the Crosstrek Wilderness with the uprated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine offered in sportier trims of the 2024 model. It powers all four wheels through a retuned continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Pricing sets the Wilderness between the Crosstrek Limited and Hybrid in the lineup. It will arrive on dealers' lots later in 2023.
With unique front and rear bumpers, tons of black plastic body cladding, and bright "Wilderness" badging, one won't easily mistake the new Crosstrek Wilderness for its less rugged counterpart. It rides 9.3 inches off the ground and has a metal front skid plate, a matte-black hood, and LED fog lights. The roof rack boasts a 700-pound static load limit, which can support larger rooftop tents. Additionally, Subaru offers an exclusive Geyser Blue color for the Wilderness trim.
Subaru's StarTex synthetic upholstery comes standard and offers a water-resistant finish with copper contrast stitching. The copper theme carries throughout the cabin, with accents on the steering wheel, gauge cluster, and shifter. Like the outside, the interior has no shortage of Wilderness logos, and all-weather floor mats come standard.
Subaru equips the Crosstrek Wilderness with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine making 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with a specially-tuned CVT that has a different final drive ratio that Subaru says provides better off-road capability. It also comes with a transmission oil cooler that enables a 3,500-pound tow rating.
The 9.3 inches of ground clearance is more than a half-inch taller than the other Crosstreks. Subaru also fits longer-travel shocks in the Wilderness that soak up more bumps on the trail. Unique 17-inch wheels wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires provide traction, and an X-Mode off-road driving function is available that brings snow/dirt and deep snow/mud drive modes. The settings modulate engine output and transmission behavior to maximize traction.
The 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness comes standard with Subaru EyeSight technology, which brings adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and more. The Wilderness also gets blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning and an automatic emergency steering system that can add steering support at speeds below 50 mph.
An 11.6-inch touchscreen comes standard in the new Crosstrek Wilderness with full-screen wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also brings Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and integrated climate and vehicle settings controls. Subaru's StarLink infotainment software runs well on the large, portrait-oriented display. Though touchscreen controls for things like the air conditioner and heated seats can be annoying and confusing, Subaru positions them on the top "layer" of the system, so most interactions don't take multiple taps to access.
A wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate controls, and front/rear USB ports also come standard. A 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is available as part of a $2,270 option package.
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness holds a unique position in its market segment, offering more off-road capability and a more adventurous look than most of its rivals. The new Honda HR-V is more refined and useful than before, but it's far from the Subaru's level of ruggedness. The Hyundai Kona is all-new for 2024 and offers an electric powertrain. Still, it is an on-road-only affair, despite its exciting name. The Jeep Renegade is the Crosstrek Wilderness' most direct rival, offering surprising off-road capability and a solid 2,000-pound tow rating.
Subaru is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of April 5, 2023, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Chris Teague is an experienced writer in the automotive and technology fields. In addition to JDPower.com, his work appears at Forbes, The Drive, Your Test Driver, and others.
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