– Springdale, Utah
Subaru is aware of its house owners higher than most different carmakers. The corporate truly spends time tenting with core patrons to see precisely how their autos are getting used and what they need going ahead. And that led on to the brand new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness.
As the primary title implies, it is a new model of the not too long ago redesigned Crosstrek that was so warmly obtained. And the Wilderness badge makes it the most recent Subaru automobile to get extra critical about off-roading, following the Forester and Outback Wilderness fashions earlier than it.
More durable By Nature
Beneath the hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that is good for 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. That is the upgraded engine over the bottom Crosstrek’s 152-hp 2.0 liter. Energy is routed by a constantly variable transmission to all 4 wheels.
The Wilderness distinguishes itself from its Crosstrek siblings with a reworked suspension tuned for extra aggressive off-roading. Floor clearance will increase from 8.7 inches to 9.3. To place that in perspective, the bottom Jeep Wrangler Sport can clear 9.7 inches. The added elevation mixed with some sculpting of the entrance and rear fascia and all-terrain tires give the Wilderness an method angle of 20 levels, a 33-degree departure angle, and a breakover of 21.1 levels.
Subaru additionally claims the Crosstrek Wilderness can scale an incline of 37.8 levels. Beneath are some strategically positioned skid plates and vivid orange metallic accents (Subaru calls them anodized copper) which can be distinctive to the Crosstrek Wilderness.
The roof rack can carry as a lot as 165 kilos when in movement and might assist as much as 700 kilos when parked. That is lots for kayaks, canoes, gear packing containers, and overlanding tent platforms, taking part in into the current pattern of potential house owners’ need to get out and to some adventuring after being cooped up throughout the pandemic, in addition to an enormous element of Subaru’s core viewers. Add in a 3,500-pound towing capability which ought to simply pull a teardrop camper, and the Crosstrek Wilderness is a compelling selection for these seeking to go off-grid.
Over The Hill
I had the chance to wring out the Crosstrek Wilderness round Zion Nationwide Park in Southern Utah, each on- and off-road. Since its focus is on journey, let’s begin there. I chosen the X-Mode drive setting from the highest of the massive infotainment display when stationary as a result of the system nannies will not allow you to select when the automobile is in movement. No large deal although, as as soon as the deep mud and snow setting is chosen it stays lively till you attain 25 miles per hour and can reactivate if you dip again beneath that velocity.
X-Mode is basically a traction management setting that additionally engages hill descent management and alters the EyeSight suite of security options to scale back false alarms. There isn’t any want to determine if you would like four-high or low, or to lock hubs, disconnect sway bars, and so forth. Simply hit the button and go. Over the deep powdery pink sand that appears to coat all the pieces within the area, the Wilderness tracks nicely within the ruts with little or no squirming until you deliberately provoke it.
On steep climbs the place you solely see the blue sky by the windshield, sluggish and regular is the best way. A continuing quantity of throttle simply previous idle will get the Crosstrek trudging over rocks as X-Mode figures all the pieces out for you. Coming again down, the hill descent management maintains the velocity you crested with. With my toes off the pedals, the mild crunching of the antilock brakes get you again to stage floor with zero drama. Over washboard surfaces and bigger undulations, the suspension does really feel a bit too agency, although.
I contemplate the Crosstrek Wilderness able to average off-road terrain. It’ll actually deal with far more than a dust path, although doubtless cannot scale obstacles {that a} Jeep Wrangler Rubicon or Ford Bronco can, but it surely ought to simply suffice for the adventure-bound Subaru proprietor. Much more importantly, the Crosstrek Wilderness does not suck when it is on pavement.
I contemplate the Crosstrek Wilderness able to average off-road terrain.
You do not get any of the Jeep’s body-on-frame wobble and the steering does not wander away heart. By comparability, it is downright gratifying and the cabin stays pleasantly quiet, even with the Yokohama all-terrain tires. The suspension is on the smooth aspect, which makes good sense for the highway. It does not encourage you to drive it like a BRZ or WRX, but it surely’s not out of its factor on a serpentine highway, both.
The largest disadvantage is an absence of preliminary energy. From a standstill, it feels just like the engine wheezes and labors because the CVT drones as you barely get transferring. You may additionally must plan for uphill passes prematurely, however all the pieces is ok when you’re cruising. It looks like an eight-second zero-to-sixty time, which is not more than satisfactory. One other 50 horses and a turbo would go a great distance, particularly if you happen to’re at elevation.
Play Arduous, Pay Much less
So yeah, the Crosstrek Wilderness delivers the place you wish to go in addition to the place it’s important to. It begins at $33,290 (together with $1,295 in vacation spot charges) and that compares nicely to the bottom Ford Bronco Sport at round $32,825 and the bottom Jeep Compass at $29,995. The extra off-road-capable variants will ship the value taking pictures nicely previous that by a number of thousand, although.
For instance, the highest Bronco Sport in Badlands stickers at $40,630 whereas a Jeep Compass Trailhawk will set you again $37,990 to begin. In case your adventures are extra excessive, it could make sense to step as much as these fashions for his or her quite a few mechanical and tech upgrades. For everybody else, the milder Crosstrek Wilderness appears extra wise.
The Crosstrek can be fairly respectable on gasoline consumption, too. It is estimated to return 25/29 miles per gallon metropolis/freeway and 27 miles per gallon in mixed driving. The Compass will get 27 mpg mixed, and the Bronco Sport comes shut at 26 mpg.
Altogether, the brand new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is a dashing little runabout that may get dazzling urbanites to their favourite campground. And let’s not neglect in regards to the canine, as Subaru sells loads of equipment that embody ramps, harnesses, and even an inside door guard to maintain your pooch from scratching the panel or activating the facility window.
It serves as proof that Subaru understands its customers’ want for journey in an inexpensive and well-mannered bundle. As a lot as I detest parroting a advertising and marketing line, Garrick Goh, Subaru’s Car Planning Supervisor completely encapsulated the Crosstrek Wilderness by saying, “That is the automobile that REI would promote.”