Wild Thing: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

Subaru created and has mastered the art of creating a new vehicle by jacking up the suspension and tacking on some cladding. It has been immensely successful with this marketing ploy.

First, the Legacy was transformed into the Outback. The latest is the Crosstrek, which is a taller Impreza.

For the 2024 model year, Subaru has put some frosting on the Crosstrek cake

They’ve hiked it up further, tacking on some additional cladding and other bits and pieces, making it the Crosstrek Wilderness. The Crosstrek becomes the third Subaru to wear the Wilderness badge, joining the Outback and Forester.

Subaru claims they bring additional off-road capability over their lower-to-the-ground siblings.  But they share the same drivetrain, so the only advantage might be the 15-mm of additional ground clearance and more rugged tires.

The Crosstrek Wilderness sits in the middle of the five-model Crosstrek lineup between the Convenience and Touring and the Onxy and Limited. It starts with the extensive standard equipment of the Touring but gets the more powerful 2.5-litre engine found beneath the hood of the Onyx and Limited models.

It also gets a raft of visual reminders that it is different: anodized copper accents throughout, black painted Wilderness badges, black rocker panels, wheel arches and bumpers with those copper accents, a unique grill, matt black hood decal, etc.

More significantly, it gets a full-on 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system.

Haul off-road toys to off-road places thanks to the features in the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

For those interested in the off-road capability, the 17-inch alloy wheel are wrapped in Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires. Should you actually venture off the beaten path, the belly is partially protected by an aluminum skid plate.

The Wilderness also gets a cooler for the transmission, different differential ratios, and unique suspension tuning. As a result, it has more than double the towing capacity of its sibling, of interest to those who haul their off-road toys.

Subaru has made it a practice of ensuring owners get the latest and best active and passive safety features.

The active (help prevent crashes) features are included in the award-winning EyeSight system: a wide-angle mono camera, pre-collision braking and throttle management, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency steering, lane keep and centre assist, and sway warning. Also standard are rear, side vehicle and blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and automatic reverse braking.

On the passive (protect occupants in a crash) front are: airbags everywhere, height-adjustable  seat belt anchors, whiplash reducing front seats and a collapsible steering column.

Every Subaru also comes with a bundle of features under the Starlink name, that take advantage of the ability to go online: automatic collision notification, enhanced roadside assistance, SOS emergency service, service appointment scheduler, stolen vehicle immobilizer and recovery.

Owners will also feel safer with Subaru’s security alarm notification, boundary, curfew and vehicle health alert, remote horn, lights, lock and unlock, engine start and stop, tailgate unlock and vehicle locator.

The large (30-cm) tablet-style touchscreen has a crisp/clear display, has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto, audio streaming and hands-free phone functionality.

Phew! Enough of that. How’s the Crosstrek to drive?

First off – power. The 2.5-litre boxer (flat) four is a well-proven engine.

It’s 182-horsepower and 178-lb.ft. of torque is sufficient to get the job done as well as, but not better than, the competition.

Getting from rest to 100 km/hr under full throttle takes a leisurely and loud 9.4 seconds. The Wilderness upgrades (revised final drive and transmission ratios) are not readily evident.

But, if you do venture into the ‘wilderness’, you might notice a slight improvement in climbing ability and low speed grip and be able to take advantage of the improved approach and departure angles.

X-Mode: Engage!

The Wilderness has Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode transmission with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. Activate X-mode and, at low speeds, the system adjusts the transmission to cope with steep inclines and repeated on/off throttle motions. The hill-descent control uses individual braking at all four wheels to maintain speed on steep downgrades.

Despite the slightly-raised suspension and soft/compliant ride, the Crosstrek Wilderness does not disappoint or embarrass if you tackle a turn or offramp quickly. The long-travel suspension makes light work of poor road surfaces

The third generation Crosstrek, dressed in Wilderness duds, is well-suited to a variety of tasks.

FACTS & FIGURES – 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

PRICE

Base: $37,995

As tested: $40,190 including freight

SAFETY

Steering responsive LED headlights with automatic high beams, rear & side vehicle detection, EyeSight driver assist, reverse automatic braking

INFOTAINMENT

30-cm tablet style infotainment screen with three-word navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, USB A & C ports front and rear, wireless phone charger, satellite radio, 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Power sunroof, proximity key with push button start, automatic dual zone climate control, power driver’s seat, 17-in alloy wheels, heated steering wheel and front seats, power folding and heated mirrors, tilt & telescope steering wheel, power windows and locks, tonneau cover, aluminum alloy driver’s foot rest

SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS

None

MECHANICAL

2.5-litre four-cylinder, 182- horsepower, 178 lb.-ft. of torque, regular fuel, Continuously variable automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive. NRCan rating (litres/100km city/highway): 9.4/8.1

DIMENSIONS

Length, 4,480; mm; width, 1,800 mm; wheelbase, 2,670 mm

COMPETITION

Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro & Soul, Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross, VW Tiguan