2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Review: Off-Road Capable, Real-Life Ready

The Crosstrek may be the best value in the small SUV segment. The Crosstrek Wilderness is that, but enhanced.

a car with a boat on top of it in a field with mountains in the background

Published November 7, 2023

Updated November 8, 2023

After launching in 2012 as a smaller, more chuckable Outback, the Crosstrek has become a standout hit for Subaru. It’s our choice for best small crossover. It even outsold the Honda Accord last year, despite that being an outgoing model year. Subaru debuted the all-new 2024 Crosstrek earlier this year; now, it’s getting a Wilderness model.

In case you’re unfamiliar, the Wilderness package first debuted on the Outback and Forester. The premise is simple, yet clever: to take already capable Subarus and add cool performance mods customers want (and many were already adding): extra ground clearance, all-terrain tires, a skid plate and an upgraded suspension. The Crosstrek — more trail-friendly than the larger Outback and closer in size to the plucky Subaru 4x4s of yore — may be the most natural fit for the Wilderness setup.

This fall, I headed out to southern Utah with other members of the media to test the Crosstrek Wilderness for a day on-road and off. I drove the incredible road through Zion National Park and a few trails that somehow managed to be even more stunning. And the Crosstrek Wilderness proved itself the ultimate tool for that job — at least in the affordable, sub-$35,000 realm.

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: What We Think

The standard Subaru Crosstrek may be the best all-around value play in the small SUV market. The Crosstrek Wilderness is that, but enhanced. It’s formidable, nimble and fun off-road, yet a relaxed ride on-road. And it delivers Subaru character and practicality in a pint-sized package. It made me look at anyone dropping $50,000-plus on a Jeep Wrangler and wonder … “Why, exactly?”

The downside to the Wilderness treatment is it takes an already not-super-efficient combustion car and makes it even less so. The Crosstrek Wilderness dips down to 29 mpg on the highway from 33 mpg in the standard model. If it had a more efficient powertrain, I’d consider buying one.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

The Crosstrek Wilderness is a mountain goat when you leave the pavement

Subaru describes the Crosstrek Wilderness as a vehicle for communing with nature, rather than conquering it. But within reason, you can still do about as much conquering as most Wrangler owners will ever do. Subaru’s AWD tech is some of the best available, and the Wilderness package gives you 9.3 inches of ground clearance — more than a new Land Cruiser and only 0.1 inches off the base Jeep Wrangler.

We took the Crosstrek Wilderness on an array of moderate off-road trails, traveling up and down steep grades. It scampered over every obstacle, displaying impressive flex and articulation. My car didn’t bottom out or deliver any heavy hits to the bump stops at any point.. The only obstacles Subaru had us avoid were foot-plus deep side-by-side ruts we had to straddle the top of. The only occasional hiccup was Subaru’s AWD software taking a beat to recalibrate if you lifted off the throttle approaching an obstacle.

One missing component — present on other Subaru Wilderness vehicles — is a front-facing camera; Subaru needed to cut some features to keep the cost down for the Crosstrek version. As a result, you do wind up blinded when pointing upward (which may be more unnerving in real life without spotters and a Subaru-curated route). Fortunately, hill descent control kicks in automatically in X-Mode, so even if you can’t see over that crest, you don’t go hurtling down the hill.

The Crosstrek Wilderness also delivers a comfortable on-road experience (by Subaru standards)

The Wilderness treatment does not compromise the Crosstrek’s on-road performance. It’s not a sporty corner carver, and it has a steering weight designed for weathering bumps. But it still delivers a pleasant, laid-back ride. The all-terrain tires don’t add much road noise or affect the handling too badly. And rolling on wheels that are just 17 inches in diameter adds to the general ride comfort.

A sticking point for some will be the engine. The Crosstrek Wilderness packs a 2.5-liter flat-four with 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. There’s no turbo, and there’s a CVT instead of a manual or traditional automatic.

That engine isn’t so exciting, but it’s fit for its intended purpose. The car feels fairly lively at lower speeds, although it shows its limitations and inefficiency when you hit highway pace; the CVT gets a bit drone-y (though not untolerably so) and the oomph peters out quickly past 60 mph or so. At one point I bailed on a highway overtake because I wasn’t sure I’d make it.

And the Crosstrek Wilderness brings that beloved Subaru practicality

Like pretty much every non-vapey Subaru, the Crosstrek thrives by appealing to a broad range of buyers. The same features that make Subies capable outdoor vehicles that can port your gear also make them great for families and older people; the Crosstrek Wilderness — though Subaru says it’s aimed at a younger buyer — does not mess with that formula.

The Crosstrek Wilderness has Subaru’s easy-to-clean, water-resistant StarTex upholstery — great for both muddy gear and the myriad fluids that emanate from children. The rear door is wide, for easy entry — again, great for parents and older people. Subaru offers physical controls for vital functions and clear, wide, easy-to-press buttons for functions that are controlled via touchscreen.

The Crosstrek Wilderness’s cargo space (20 cubic feet behind the rear, 54.9 cubic feet total) is decent for this size of vehicle. The second row is spacious and comfortable, though the roofline may create issues for passengers six feet or taller; I just about fit at 5’11”. And while I didn’t take the Crosstrek Wilderness camping, those who do so will appreciate the 700-pound static and 176-pound dynamic roof rail ratings and the bump up to 3,500 pounds of towing capacity.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: Alternatives

If you’re thinking “small but still quite capable off-road crossover,” there are two main alternatives: the Jeep Compass Trailhawk ($36,890) and the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands ($38,390).

Both of those cars offer more power, particularly the Bronco Sport with its 250-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost inline-four. But the Crosstrek Wilderness offers at least a half-inch more ground clearance than both SUVs. And starting at $31,995, it’s markedly cheaper (my tester came out to $35,560 total).

The Crosstrek Wilderness buyer may also be cross-shopping within the Subaru lineup. A Premium-trim Outback is less expensive, and the WRX is also comparably priced … though I’d expect there may be more WRX buyers procreating and shifting into a Crosstrek rather than the other way around.