Subaru Crosstrek house owners 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 car as an alternative of try and 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 sorts for an inexpensive worth.

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

2024 Subaru Crosstrek feels peppier

Earlier within the yr 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 additional 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 workforce additionally given the Crosstrek Wilderness its personal set of shift ratios when the manually-selectable paddle shifters are engaged. The rationale behind this was to provide the Wilderness mannequin extra gumption when heading up and over a hill. However a aspect 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 pleasurable 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 okay for every 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 acquire a transmission cooler to maintain issues from getting too sizzling and double the strain sensor rely 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 score from 1,500 kilos to three,500 kilos.

It is not that onerous 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 models. The change takes the usual mannequin’s 8.7 inches of floor clearance to a formidable 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 not at all a measure that marks true functionality, it does make a car make contact with what’s beneath, whether or not it’s rocks, mud, and even snow. The arduous mounting factors for the suspension didn’t change, which implies suspension journey has elevated by the identical 0.6 inches, in keeping with Subaru. It’s nonetheless fairly straightforward to hold a wheel up within the air.

The taller suspension induces a little bit extra lean round corners and softer journey on pavement, but it surely’s nonetheless managed. On washboard and tough sand surfaces don’t count on something like a hardcore off-roader’s Fox distant reservoir setup absorbing blows. Speeds will must be stored in test or else you’ll shake your kidneys and the automotive till one provides out. Primarily based 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 the whole bumper doesn’t must be changed. That’s good.

The suspension and bumper modifications equate to the Crosstrek’s 18-degree strategy, 19.7-degree breakover, and 30.1-degree departure angles growing to 20-, 21.1- and 33 levels respectively. It’s not at all a boulder climber like a Bronco Raptor, but it surely had zero subject conquering the motocross course at the next charge 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 offered 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 could 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 Grime 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, acquire 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 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 slick, messy conditions like in sand, mud, or rutted trails. It gained’t conquer the Rubicon Path, however in follow it fixes this all-wheel-drive’s system’s largest weak point that normal X-Mode can solely deal with in sure conditions. X-Mode can solely be enabled whereas both stopped or almost stopped (you’re barely shifting), and it’ll mechanically flip off the second the automotive goes over 25 mph. If engaged, it’ll flip again on as soon as the velocity drops beneath 25 mph. Every time it dings and dongs time and again. Subaru engineers must allow this method for larger 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, you Toyota, ought to be aware of Subaru’s hill descent management. It’s an idiot-proof setup that’s mechanically 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 car was going upon cresting and heading downwards—no buttons to click on or variables to test. 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 pieces you want, need, after which some—from an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to actual arduous buttons and knobs, heated entrance seats, and even adaptive LED headlights. Like different Wilderness fashions, the Crosstrek variant positive factors machine-gun-like LED fog lights with a hotter shade temp that helps minimize by rain and fog in my expertise, and it additionally will get seats coated in water-repellent materials that doesn’t really feel sticky like marine-grade vinyl. These seats will probably be simpler to take care of 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, by some means the Subaru workforce missed a front-facing digicam. The Crosstrek’s small, and the hood is brief with a matte black appliqué to forestall glare on Wilderness fashions, but it surely nonetheless made cresting a hill or turning down a hill a bit tougher and not using a spotter as a result of I couldn’t see what I used to be turning into or over. 

At $33,290 together with a $1,295 vacation spot cost, the Wilderness, which is the most costly Crosstrek mannequin, undercuts the interesting competitors by hundreds, comparable 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 flooring to carry you this firsthand report.