2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: A Budget-Minded Mountain Goat

Light, capable and cheap, the Subaru Crosstrek is already a very popular adventuremobile for outdoor adventurers. But hot on the heels of a major refresh, the Japanese automaker has dropped an even more capable Crosstrek for folks who want to venture even further off the beaten path, taking the wraps off of the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness at the New York International Auto Show Wednesday morning.

This new Crosstrek variation will be the third member of Subaru’s Wilderness line, joining the Outback and Forester, both of which have proven very popular with Subaru fans. As the least expensive member of the trio at $33,290 (including destination), the Crosstrek Wilderness may end up being the best seller of the lot. It’s also $4,000 to $6,000 less expensive than some competitors, like the Jeep Compass Trailhawk.

Of course, Subaru’s decision to “Wilderness-ize” the Crosstrek isn’t surprising. Go to any forest trail in the Pacific Northwest and chances are good you’ll encounter modified Subaru Crosstreks with lift kits, fat all-terrain tires, chunky skid plates and other aftermarket off-road modifications

Since some owners were already opting for these extras and the Crosstrek and Forester share many components, the Wilderness treatment is a natural extension of the lineup and one likely to find a receptive audience. The Crosstrek Wilderness won’t be as extreme as some of the aftermarket builds you might see on the trails around Crater Lake, but its size and weight will likely make it a serious mountain goat of a vehicle.

Crosstrek Wilderness: Upgrades

The regular Crosstrek is fresh off of a major update for 2023, and the redesign hasn’t really changed the formula. With generous ground clearance, Subaru’s X-Mode all-wheel drive system and soft springs that make the bump and grind of trail driving tolerable, it is already a strong player off the pavement, so the Crosstrek Wilderness promises to take it to the next level. 

To that end, all-terrain tires are standard and the dual-function X-Mode system gets additional drive modes for snow, dirt, deep snow and mud. The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) gets a higher final drive ratio (4.11:1 compared to 3.70:1) for more torque down low, helpful for towing and for low-speed crawling. Speaking of, the Crosstrek Wilderness is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds, which is quite a bit for its size.

Ground clearance is also raised to 9.2 inches from the standard 8.7. As a result the Crosstrek’s approach, departure and breakover angles rise from 18.0, 30.1 and 19.7 degrees to 20.0, 33.0 and 21.1 degrees, which means a whole lot more terrain flexibility when the going gets really rough. Black 17-inch rims shod in Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires are standard.

Sadly, there won’t be any additional power, but at the very least the Crosstrek Wilderness will use the larger 2.5-liter engine from the Sport and Limited trims. This same motor is under the hood of the Forester Wilderness, with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. It won’t be lightning quick on the road, but it is quite a bit more powerful than the 152 hp 2.0-liter engine in the base-model Crosstrek.

While many of these changes are lifted from the Forester Wilderness, the Crosstrek version is about 300 pounds lighter, 6.3 inches shorter and 5.3 inches lower than the Forester. Although both have less power than the Outback Wilderness, the Crosstrek Wilderness is likely to be quicker and more agile than the Forester.

The Crosstrek is also considerably lighter than the Jeep Compass Trailhawk and up to 400 pounds lighter than the Ford Bronco Sport, two more SUV-like crossovers that are aimed at the same off-road crowd. Both offer more power, particularly the high-end versions of the Ford, but they also cost a whole lot more, anywhere from $6,000 to $16,000.

Wilderness Visuals

Like the other Wilderness models, there are beefy-looking fender flares and lots of bronze accents to telegraph the Crosstrek’s new identity. There’s also a sturdier roof and roof rack, capable of supporting 700 pounds while the vehicle is static. That’s more than enough for a rooftop tent or a sizable cargo box. Many older Crosstreks already sport rooftop cargo boxes and kayak racks.

While this car isn’t meant to sell on style, the Wilderness treatment looks quite good on the revised Crosstrek hatchback, a close relative of the similarly redesigned 2024 Impreza and just as nicely proportioned.

Inside, the seats are upholstered in water-resistant StarTex fabric just like those in the Forester and Outback Wilderness, and a water-resistant mat lines the cargo bay. The Crosstrek isn’t all that engaging on the road, but it’s meant to be a car that gets you to the destination, usually one with dust, mud or ice, and these changes are aimed at making it more livable once you get there.

2024 Crosstrek Wilderness: When and How much?

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is just about the top of the line, priced just above the Limited but below the forthcoming PHEV version. It’ll start at $33,290 including a $1,295 destination fee. 

That’s about $2,000 less than the Forester Wilderness and $6,300 less than the Outback Wilderness. While you do get more space and cargo room in those vehicles, the Crosstrek’s price is undeniably attractive, particularly for first-time buyers. There’s also the fact that most competing vehicles are either larger or pricier, with Jeep and Ford costing thousands more and similarly sized SUVs like the Volkswagen Taos lacking the Crosstrek’s off-road ability.

Since the Crosstrek Wilderness gets virtually all of the available features of the regular Crosstrek, including the full EyeSight safety suite and the big 11.6-inch tablet infotainment system, there’s not much to add. Options are limited to a single $2,270 package that includes a power moonroof, power driver’s seat and an upgraded Harmon-Kardon audio system.  

Expect to see Crosstrek Wilderness units arrive at the dealer early this summer, and to see them on the trail soon after.