Road Test: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

Having already driven the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Limited, I was recently given the opportunity to test out its more off-road ready stablemate, the Wilderness edition.

While there are unique styling cues that give this model away, such as copper accents inside and out, the Wilderness trim also gets an extra 0.6 inches of ground clearance, for a total of 9.3 inches.

The crossover also benefits from a revised suspension and an increased towing capacity to make this version of the Crosstrek more versatile.

At the top end of the model lineup, it is priced at $40,662.50, which isn’t much more than the Limited trim.

Powertrain: The Crosstrek Wilderness is powered by the larger and more powerful of the two engines available on the model.

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder Boxer engine, paired to a CVT, delivers 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, which are good numbers for this size vehicle.

Also equipped with Subaru’s stellar all-wheel drive system, the Crosstrek Wilderness is ready to go just about anywhere you want to take it.

The trim has an estimated fuel efficiency of 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres, with my result coming in at 10.6 L/100 km.

Exterior: The Wilderness trim has more than just those copper accents that give its unique nature away.

There’s also an abundance of cladding around the rocker panels and wheel arches that are specific to the trim, as well as different bumpers that including copper finish tow hook covers.

The hood also features a matte black decal, and the front grille has a hexagonal design.

And to complete the exterior appearance, the Wilderness also comes equipped with 17-inch aluminum alloy split 5-spoke wheels in a matte black finish.

The Crosstrek was already a nicely styled crossover in my view, but the Wilderness edition takes it to a more aggressive level, and I am here for that.

 Interior: The chrome accents continue inside, and the accent stitching throughout the cabin also adds a touch of higher-level refinement.

The seats are covered with an all-weather soft-touch fabric that makes them easy to clean should they get a little dirty when taking the Crosstrek Wilderness into the – well – wilderness. The trim also comes with all-weather rubber floor liners with the Wilderness logo.

Once again, Subaru still has old-school toggle switches for the heated seats in the centre console. I am starting to wonder if, despite the multitude of modern choices available to them for these types of controls, Subaru is intentionally keeping things old school.

Overall, the cabin is comfortable and quite spacious given its size, with a very generous amount of cargo room.

Infotainment: The system is powered by an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen, featuring all the now ubiquitous features like satellite radio, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Wilderness trim a premium 10-speaker Harman Kardon system with subwoofer and amplifier, providing some sweet tunes to you while you go on your adventures.

As with previous experiences with the Subaru system, this one too was excellent. The menus are clear and easy to navigate, with response time being excellent.

Drive: With plenty of power from the engine and a solid all-wheel drive under you, the Crosstrek Wilderness delivers a solid performance on the road. And the CVT, often a source of frustration for me, is quite good in this iteration.

This trim of the Crosstrek takes Subaru’s X-Mode up a notch, with a dual-function setup that allows the driver to select either the snow/dirt setting or a deep snow/mud setting.

In the Wilderness trim, the towing capacity increases to 1,588 kg (3,500 lbs) from 680 kg (1,500 lbs) thanks to the addition of a more powerful cooling fan and a new oil cooler. That is quite a significant increase that makes this version of the Crosstrek far more utilitarian for those who will use it as the name intends.

Conclusion: With a more aggressive look and increased capabilities, the Wilderness trim of the Crosstrek provides consumers with a vehicle that won’t shy away from what lies ahead – whether it’s a highway or a rugged dirt road.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
Price as tested: $40,662.50
Freight: $2,295.00
Configuration: Front engine/All-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder/ Lineartronic CVT
Power/torque: 182 horsepower/ 178 lb-ft of torque
Fuel (capacity): Regular (63 L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 8.8 L/100 km
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 10.6 L/100 km
Warranties: 3-years/60,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Jeep Compass, Mazda CX-30
Website: Subaru Canada