Subaru Crosstrek homeowners have been turning to the aftermarket—or their very own welders—to make their high-riding hatchbacks able to fairly severe off-road adventures. 

With the introduction of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, they’ll be capable to purchase that automobile as an alternative of try to construct it. Subaru’s taken its lifted hatchback and given it much more floor clearance, higher angles for off-pavement driving, and minor powertrain tweaks that make it simpler to climb up and over a hill.

After spending a day driving round Zion Nationwide Park and on a course utilized by motocross riders, the TL;DR model is that this: The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is a extra Subaru-y Subaru that’s going to resonate even higher with out of doors varieties for an inexpensive value.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness fashions are powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine

2024 Subaru Crosstrek feels peppier

Earlier within the 12 months Subaru launched the brand new Sport and Restricted Crosstrek fashions with the two.5-liter 4-cylinder with 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. That equates to 30 extra horsepower and 36 lb-ft extra torque than the bottom engine, and it in all probability shaves almost two seconds off the Crosstrek’s gradual 9.0-second 0-60 mph time. It’s nonetheless not fast, but it surely’s not excruciatingly gradual.

The Wilderness mannequin takes issues a bit additional. Whereas there’s no further energy on faucet, Subaru swapped out the ultimate drive ratio from the remainder of the Crosstrek mannequin’s 3.7 to the next 4.11 out of the bigger, heavier Outback. Subaru’s crew additionally given the Crosstrek Wilderness its personal set of shift ratios when the manually-selectable paddle shifters are engaged. The explanation behind this was to provide the Wilderness mannequin extra gumption when heading up and over a hill. However a facet impact is extra pep within the Crosstrek’s step off the road in all driving. It’s not going to shave any time without work the 0-60 mph or quarter mile occasions, as a result of aerodynamics and physics are nonetheless a factor, but it surely makes taking off from a cease extra pleasant for many who dream about this getting a turbocharger.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness options two drive modes for the powertrain together with Clever and Sport

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness options two drive modes for the powertrain together with Clever and Sport

Sadly, the CVT, and remainder of the powertrain, will nonetheless run out of concepts at about 80 mph within the Crosstrek. This isn’t a WRX. The usual Clever drive mode is ok for day by day driving, however tapping the S button on the steering wheel to have interaction the Sport mode powertrain profile kicks the transmission’s ratios up a handful of notches to maintain issues on boil.

Crosstrek Wilderness fashions achieve a transmission cooler to maintain issues from getting too sizzling and double the strain sensor depend to 2 for higher communication between the engine administration system and trans at low speeds. These two modifications, mixed with a beefier rear differential and stronger radiator fan, enabled Subaru to extend the Crosstrek’s tow ranking from 1,500 kilos to three,500 kilos.

It isn’t that arduous to get the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness to hold a wheel

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness goes excessive and tight

Subaru swapped out the Crosstrek’s springs and shocks for taller items. The change takes the usual mannequin’s 8.7 inches of floor clearance to a powerful 9.3 inches. For context, a For d Bronco Sport Badlands has 8.8 inches of floor clearance and the brand new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser has 8.7 inches of floor clearance. Whereas certainly not a measure that marks true functionality, it does make a automobile make contact with what’s under, whether or not it’s rocks, mud, and even snow. The onerous mounting factors for the suspension didn’t change, which suggests suspension journey has elevated by the identical 6 inches, in keeping with Subaru. It’s nonetheless fairly simple to hold a wheel up within the air.

The taller suspension induces just a little extra lean round corners and softer trip on pavement, but it surely’s nonetheless managed. On washboard and tough sand surfaces don’t anticipate something like a hardcore off-roader’s Fox distant reservoir setup absorbing blows. Speeds will should be stored in verify or else you’ll shake your kidneys and the automotive till one provides out. Based mostly on my expertise outdoors Zion it’ll be the kidneys that cry uncle first.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness gives 9.3-inches of floor clearance

Subaru’s given the Crosstrek Wilderness thicker physique cladding for extra safety. However extra importantly it’s swapped out the entrance and rear bumpers with a brand new design that’s excessive and tight within the again with tucked-in corners. In a slightly neat transfer, Subaru’s given the unpainted bumpers replaceable panels, so ought to one get crunched all the bumper doesn’t should be changed. That’s good.

The suspension and bumper modifications equate to the Crosstrek’s 18-degree method, 19.7-degree breakover, and 30.1-degree departure angles growing to 20-, 21.1- and 33 levels respectively. It’s certainly not a boulder climber like a Bronco Raptor, but it surely had zero situation conquering the motocross course at the next fee of velocity than most individuals will in all probability drive their very own Crosstrek off-road.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness rolls on Yokohama Geolander All-Terrain 225/60R17 tires

A set of Yokohama Geolander All-Terrain 225/60R17 tires supplied extra grip off-road than the usual Crosstrek’s all-season rubber, however these tires aren’t that aggressive for all terrains. I think about many consumers will swap them for cool wanting BFGoodrich K02 or the lighter-than-K02 Toyo Open Nation A/T III tires.

Subaru stated it added a skid plate up entrance to guard the susceptible engine bits, however one journalist smacked it fairly good and famous how skinny and flimsy it was. 

Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system nonetheless runs an open-differential setup. This will result in points when a wheel both has no traction or is within the air, because the system will in essence nonetheless ship the identical quantity of energy to the wheel with little to no traction as the opposite wheels. Subaru engineered round this with its X-Mode software program. In Snow and Dust mode the system makes use of the brakes to chop energy to the wheels with out traction enabling the automotive to maneuver ahead. Crosstreks with the two.5-liter motor, together with the Wilderness, achieve a further Deep Mud and Snow mode.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness options Deep Snow and Mud X-Mode to allow extra wheel slip to get by means of slippery stuff

That second mode does the precise reverse by loosening the digital stability management system’s reigns and permitting wheel slip to get by means of slick, messy conditions like in sand, mud, or rutted trails. It received’t conquer the Rubicon Path, however in apply it fixes this all-wheel-drive’s system’s largest weak spot that normal X-Mode can solely sort out in sure conditions. X-Mode can solely be enabled whereas both stopped or almost stopped (you’re barely transferring), and it’ll robotically flip off the second the automotive goes over 25 mph. If engaged, it’ll flip again on as soon as the velocity drops under 25 mph. Every time it dings and dongs time and again. Subaru engineers must allow this technique for greater speeds because it permits for extra enjoyable on filth and gravel roads. Isn’t this the corporate that makes rallycross automobiles that spend a lot of their time piloted sideways?

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness options an idiot-proof hill descent management system

Different automakers, taking a look at you Toyota, ought to be aware of Subaru’s hill descent management. It’s an idiot-proof setup that’s robotically engaged when X-Mode is on. As quickly because the automotive crests a hill and or begins heading down a hill the system engages and maintains no matter velocity the automobile was going upon cresting and heading downwards—no buttons to click on or variables to verify. The system operates a lot smoother and quieter than Toyota’s with no clunks or thunks that instantly induce concern.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness comes normal with an 11.6-inch touchscreen

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness delivers worth

The Crosstrek Wilderness comes with all the things you want, need, after which some—from an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to actual onerous buttons and knobs, heated entrance seats, and even adaptive LED headlights. Like different Wilderness fashions, the Crosstrek variant beneficial properties machine-gun-like LED fog lights with a hotter colour temp that helps reduce by means of rain and fog in my expertise, and it additionally will get seats lined in water-repellent materials that doesn’t really feel sticky like marine-grade vinyl. These seats can be simpler to keep up than leather-based and extra sensible for each household and journey life. 

However whereas that lifted suspension, high-and-tight bumpers, and all-terrain tires mixed with X-Mode’s Deep Mud and Snow are all nice, someway the Subaru crew neglected a front-facing digicam. The Crosstrek’s small, and the hood is brief with a matte black appliqué to stop glare on Wilderness fashions, but it surely nonetheless made cresting a hill or turning down a hill a bit more durable with out a spotter as a result of I couldn’t see what I used to be turning into or over. 

At $31,995 together with a $1,295 vacation spot cost, the Wilderness, which is the most costly Crosstrek mannequin, undercuts the interesting competitors by 1000’s, corresponding to a Bronco Sport Badlands. A base Bronco Sport prices principally as a lot as a Crosstrek Wilderness.

Not everybody wants a Wrangler or a Bronco. When you aren’t desert working, boulder climbing, or forging that deep into the unknown wild the Crosstrek Wilderness is greater than able to getting you there, and can achieve this simpler than different inventory Subies. Purchased, not constructed.

Subaru paid for airfare and had me sleep in a tent the place I killed a spider the dimensions of my palm and noticed two subject mice scurry throughout my ground to carry you this firsthand report.