2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: What We Know So Far

Subaru's smallest crossover gets the hiking-boot treatment.

Andrew Ganz | 

Apr 5, 2023 | 3 min read

Subaru

If the standard Subaru Crosstrek is a cross-trainer, the new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness that bowed in April at the New York International Auto Show is a proper hiking boot.

Its lifted suspension and chunkier looks help it stand out from the Crosstrek mold. Powertrain tweaks give it the lineup's top trailer-weight rating, too.

Let's get down and dirty as we explore what makes the third model in the Subaru Wilderness lineup unique.

Subaru

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: Off-road suspension

More ground clearance means the ability to trek over bigger rocks and through deeper ruts when the pavement disappears. The new model features longer coil springs and shock absorbers that are unique to the Wilderness trim, helping to give it a half-inch boost for 9.3 inches total of ground clearance. Those shocks also have special tuning to help the Crosstrek traverse uneven terrain.

Between the higher ride height and distinct styling — more on that in a moment — the Crosstrek Wilderness sees its angles of approach and departure increase to help it nudge its way up and down steeper hills without snagging its bumpers.

The model's 17-inch wheels wear Yokohama all-terrain tires with raised white letters projecting outward, rather than the standard model's black sidewalls.

Behind the scenes, the Wilderness trim sticks with the automaker's X-Mode off-road setting, plus it adds a lower differential ratio for slower driving in a new "Low Speed/Low Ratio Gradient Control" mode. It's not quite the same as the low-range option you might find in a Toyota 4Runner, but it could help the Crosstrek Wilderness navigate especially tricky situations.

Subaru

Crosstrek Wilderness styling and performance

Subaru sets the Crosstrek Wilderness apart visually with unique front and rear bumper designs, upsized fender flares, and LED fog lights. A matte black anti-glare decal sits on the hood, too.

The bright Geyser Blue paint color available on the Wilderness versions of the Outback and Forester makes its way to the Crosstrek. Inside, look for copper stitching and gray accents, plus standard rubber floor mats.

The Crosstrek Wilderness comes with a 182-hp 2.5-liter flat-four paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. According to Subaru, a standard transmission cooler allows the Crosstrek Wilderness' towing capacity to more than double, reaching a 3,500-pound maximum.

Subaru

2024 Crosstrek Wilderness pricing

The Crosstrek Wilderness starts at about $33,000, while another $2,300 or so buys a sunroof, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and Harman/Kardon-branded audio.

That price makes the Wilderness one of the costliest models in the Crosstrek lineup, even though its set of convenience and entertainment features is more in line with mid- to upper-trim versions. For instance, it lacks the leather upholstery found in the Crosstrek Limited, which costs about $32,000. Then again, perhaps the Wilderness' high-riding suspension will be a fair trade-off for drivers seeking additional capability.

Andrew Ganz

Andrew Ganz has had cars in his blood ever since he gnawed the paint off of a diecast model as a toddler. After growing up in Dallas, Texas, he earned a journalism degree, worked in public relations for two manufacturers, and served as an editor for a luxury-lifestyle print publication and several well-known automotive websites. In his free time, Andrew loves exploring the Rocky Mountains' best back roads—when he’s not browsing ads for his next car purchase.