1. SHARP DESIGN IN AND OUT
The exterior design of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness that I tested was superb. It featured a Lithium Red paint color (two-tone design with red/black) as well as unique copper-colored accents on the roof rails and other parts of the vehicle, which make it quite the looker.
The exterior also looks bold and rugged, and lets you know it’s ready for the backroads. The bumper design is unique to the Wilderness model, which also features LED lighting, tow points on the front and rear bumpers, black wheel arch and side cladding, It’s a short and light vehicle at 176.4 inches and just over 3,400 pounds, and you can opt for a power moonroof.
Even the interior of the Crosstrek Wilderness is quite stylish, featuring anodized copper-finish stitching and accents on the seats, steering wheel, and shifter. Lower-trim Crosstrek models get a more no-frills interior; but the Wilderness steps up the quality.
The vehicle is a tight fit, being a subcompact crossover/SUV, so the back seat is not overly comfy for passengers in the rear.
A retractable cargo cover is included in the rear of the Wilderness model, and seats fold down 60/40. Cargo space is 20 cubic feet with seats up, and 54.9 cubic feet with rear seats down. Roof rails are another option for expanding your cargo capacity.
2. DESIGNED FOR OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, as the name implies, is built to power off-road adventures, and offers a lot of adventure-friendly features at a lower cost than rival off-roaders.
Under the hood is a four-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine, paired with a CVT transmission, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Towing capacity on Wilderness models is 3,500 pounds, for folks who want to drag some toys out on your adventures. The Crosstrek’s roof rails are also made to support rooftop camping.
Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is featured on the Crosstrek Wilderness, allowing you to venture off the beaten path more comfortably, and the Active Torque Vectoring system helps the vehicle accelerate better on slippery roads or through tight corners.
An upgraded suspension and a 9.3-inch ground clearance on the Crosstrek Wilderness are other standout off-road friendly features. Also, X-MODE is a feature that improves traction in mud and snow, while also providing improvements when climbing steep inclines or descending on steep roadways.
Keeping you rolling on the ground are Yokohama GEOLANDAR all-terrain tires.
Paddle shifters are also available for the driver to use if so desired. And seats in the Wilderness are made of StarTex water-repellent upholstery.
Drive modes include Snow/Dirt, Normal, and Deep Snow/Mud. These are nice options to have for poor weather or off-road situations..
At the end of the day, the Crosstrek Wilderness handles well on both paved and unpaved paths, but is designed to perform especially well far from the city lights.
3. SIMPLE BUT FUNCTIONAL TECH
At the center of the Crosstrek’s tech setup is the Subaru Starlink 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus system.
Compared to other vehicles, this is not a fancy tech setup, but the important part is that it works great — featuring easy-to-master touch controls as well as reliable voice commands. Most rivals will have a snazzier-looking setup with better graphics, but Subaru's setup is just as functional.
Connecting phones to the car is easy via wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. I would recommend the optional 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, which sounds bold and clear and is worth the upgrade. Other key tech features on the Crosstrek include a 12-volt power outlet, a wireless phone charger and several USB ports.
4. SOLID SAFETY SOLUTIONS
Subaru has long been a safety leader in the automotive world, and that is evident on the Crosstrek.
The Crosstrek features Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which is among the best safety systems in the business, and is upgraded to more quickly identify pedestrians and bicycle riders in addition to other vehicles. In situations where crashes are imminent, it’s set up to self-apply brakes on the vehicle.
Other safety features that are helpful include the Rear Vision Camera, tire pressure monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a rear seat reminder. If you step too far out of a lane, you’ll know quickly with a loud warning coming your way from the vehicle.
Among other key safety features on the Crosstrek Wilderness are Blind-Spot Detection with Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Reverse Automatic Braking. And it includes SOS Emergency Assistance and Automatic Collision Notification.
5. REASONABLE PRICE
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness that I tested was priced at just under $36,000; and the base price starts about $26K for the Crosstrek.
Trim levels offered are Base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Wilderness.
This is not a bad overall price range for the Crosstrek, even at the top range, considering the Wilderness’ off-road capabilities and the prices of its off-road competitors. Adventure lovers will be wise to seek out the Wilderness version of the Crosstrek and give it a test drive.
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