Subaru just debuted an off-road version of the beloved Crosstrek — the little underpowered all-wheel drive wagon that folks who love the outdoors but don’t love high gas prices have been buying for years. It’s about damn time; here’s what we know.
The Subaru Crosstrek has been printing money for years now. Lots of people love the outdoors and want a vehicle that can get them there, but for the longest time, finding something with four-wheel drive has been either too expensive or too big of a compromise in terms of fuel economy (not everyone wants to deal with the Toyota 4Runner’s sub-20 MPG combined fuel economy). The Crosstrek has filled the “cheap AWD Japanese car” niche beautifully, especially since the Suzuki SX4 left the U.S. market about a decade ago.
A few years ago, Subaru announced its “Wilderness” line — essentially just their standard models, except raised a bit to improve ground clearance, styled with fun yellow accents (which highlight the recovery points) and tough-looking body cladding, and outfitted with all-terrain tires. The Outback Wilderness and Forester Wilderness have been rather popular, so it only makes sense to Wilderness-ify the brand’s best-selling model — the baby in the lineup — the Crosstrek.
.
The Wilderness version of the Subaru Crosstrek adds half an inch of ground clearance to the standard model for a total of 9.3 inches thanks to longer springs. It’s not a huge change, so it’s not surprising that the approach, breakover, and departure angles aren’t that different:
The approach angle is increased from 18.0 degrees in other Crosstrek models to 20.0 degrees on the Wilderness; the angle of departure increases from 30.1 to 33.0 degrees, and ramp breakover angle moves up from 19.7 to 21.1 degrees.
The Crosstrek Wilderness comes equipped with Yokohama GEOLANDAR® all-terrain tires for optimal performance in mud, gravel or snow. Mounted on exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels in matte-black finish, the tires are embossed with raised white letters.
A couple of degrees does help, though. And so will those all-terrain tires. Towing capacity is up from 1,500 pounds to 3,500 pounds. That’s a huge leap. And the starting price is a reasonable $31,995.
Here are some more pictures of the new Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness in all of its tough, cladded-up glory, which — let’s be honest — will be half the reason most folks buy it:
[Editor’s Note: I would just like to take a moment here to re-iterate that this is indeed a wagon. This isn’t an opinion, or some fuzzy feeling, it’s motherflapping math and science.
Remember, there are rules for this! I’m not pulling this ex recto, the Crosstrek meets all three wagon rules: a two-box design, window for the rear cargo area, and a roofline that covers 50% or more of the cargo area floor.
It likely also meets Crossover Clause A and Crossover Clause B which makes it possible to be classed into crossover or SUV categories, but the body design is still clearly within wagon parameters. – JT]
This story is breaking news and being updated.
i could live with this. Hopefully a hybrid or PIH is available too.
This is the car I wish my in-laws had purchased.
Clearly they wanted the trendy off-roader look. That’s fine, I’m getting tired of caring what people want when it comes to image. But these are people who are barely interested in walking, much less taking their SUV to hard to reach trailheads and things of the like. Something like this is far more appropriate as a mallcrawler versus the Pathfinder ROCK CREEK (lol) that they just bought. It’s enormous, they genuinely cannot see out of the thing, and it gets something like 21mpg combined. They have no need for a third row, and I’m not sure they could even get anything on top of the massive 220# rated roof rack that it has. Was fryshocked.gif when it showed up at my house one day.
Anyway, I’m cool with a slightly beefier Crosstrek with some doofy extra cladding for 32k. Sure beats ROCK CREEK at least.
32k ? For a compact hatchback ??? Wasn’t that a 20k car all day long ?
In the before times maybe. But in 2023 it’s pretty tough to find even a low trim compact hatch for less than 25k. This is going to be a mid to upper trim level equipment + the appearance package, lift and whatever else. Since Crosstreks already tend to sell for the low 30’s this isn’t insane for today, even if today happens to be insane.
If we go back to the example that is my in-laws, they paid something around 43k for ROCK CREEK. Soooo yeah, if people are going to throw money at their plastic cladding fetish, I’d prefer they consider this over the extra 11k and interest for (probably) 6 years to buy the enormous version of this.
While I’m here, I assume we’re going to get an Ascent Wilderness at some point. If you all think this Crosstrek Wilderness is hideous…
How is the tow rating higher?
Wheels same overall wheel diameter? If bigger, combine that with the extra angle of the axles and that’s even more stress on the CVT, plus the greater likelihood of offroading (or “offroading”). Do any dealers factor transmission replacement into the monthly payment? If not, I have a business idea…
Say what? They more than doubled the rated tow capacity of an off-road version? Shouldn’t taller suspension and beefier tires hurt tow rating? I would really like to know how they pulled it off because none of the changes mentioned in the article scream “increased towing” to me.
per ‘another website’: A new transmission oil coiler more than doubles the maximum tow rating from 1500 pounds to 3500 pounds.
That makes more sense, thanks!
The towing capacity on my Outback XT is 3500 pounds; I was
soldtold that it was because of the 2.4 turbocharged 260 hp four. Do we dare hope the Crosstrek Wilderness has the turbo four? Seems unlikely, but….the towing capacity of my 17 wrx is 0. The impreza and crosstrek of the same generation are like 1500lbs
The higher spec Crosstreks (including the Wilderness) get the 2.5L Boxer rather than the 2.0L. Adds 30 hp and 33 lb-ft.
Hope they also added some sound insulation b/c given how loud my wife’s 2019 Crosstrek is, this thing must be deafeningly so with those tires.
Then compare that to the previous generation Impreza/Crosstrek…..which was even louder. Subaru’s strong point is not road noise deadening!
Good point, and agree.
“Affordable offroad wagon America always wanted:”
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a42816796/1980-amc-eagle-by-the-numbers/
Ex Recto 🙂
I know Torch made all these rules about what is and isn’t a wagon, but I just don’t consider this a wagon. The cargo window is barely a window, and the hatch leans too far forward, impeding on the cargo area. It’s a hatchback.
While I don’t disagree on the size of the window, the slope of hatch is pretty normal for late-gen wagons. Look at the profiles of the Cadillac CTS wagon and Buick Regal wagon as examples. Even the current gen of Volvo Vs have some slant to their rear windows.
I’ve always considered my wife’s Impreza a small wagon and my Fiesta a hatch by the rules based on roof/trunk area, the window is there in both and these are nothing but a jacked up Impreza with plastic cladding and off-road tires. I hope the plastic is bashable, the trim is not particularly resilient on the Impreza.
Jason is rarely wrong, and his wagon rules are generally solid, but yeah, this is a hatchback.
If I wanted black wheels on my car, I’d just leave the brake dust on them
Needs an STi edition to interest me. If only they’d bring the Levorg stateside.
Please bring the Levorg stateside……baby-WRX longroof? Yes, please.
Wish they didn’t spec the grovel with CVT only though 🙁
I’ve enjoyed watching the recent MCM levorg build.
They won’t even give us a WRX STi.
A revival of the XT badge would be good for the Crosstrek, though. If they could fit the BRZ engine and a manual, it’d be great. Instead, we’ll keep getting CVTs, because people keep buying them. I don’t get it.
That’s the same towing capacity as a Jeep Wrangler, and within 0.4″ of the ground clearance of the same… Geometry is obviously not as good, but that’s still pretty crazy. I doubt any Subaru owners are seriously going to be doing real deal Jeep stuff with this (though to be fair, neither are owners of otherwise stock Wranglers), so this is deep in “more than capable” territory. Impressive.
Haven’t “off-roaded” mine, but did drive right by a couple off-roady SUVs (read: family haulers with extra plastic) stuck on a logging road one time. CVT is crap but I have never worried about being unable to drive out of something that I wasn’t worried about driving into in the first place (mud, small water crossings, snow, ruts, etc).
Manual option is gone for 2024. I was almost excited seeing this. I don’t care about the cladding, but a smallish, cheapish lifted wagon is something I’d been doing since about 94 in my 80s Roos.
While I am still physically capable of taking shitboxes into inappropriate places, I will avoid any cvt like the plague. My left knee is holding up pretty well, so I’m hoping to have another 15+ years of 3 pedals before my car becomes only an appliance to cart me to doctor appointments.
but, even as I want to rant, I’m mellowing fairly quickly these years: I can admit the possibility of buying one in 5-6 years anydamnway (never towed & fluid changed @ 40k)
Remove the non-sensical “hat” cladding above the wheel arches and I kinda like it….but with those, wow too much going on.
Coming soon to malls, sorority houses, Starbucks lines, and Whole Foods parking lots near you!
Boy I hope so. At least these things are small enough and at least fairly economical outside of the tires.
Amen. I’d rather the posers drive these than friggin kitted out Wranglers or Broncos…
Should have just gone full VehiCross with the body cladding on the bottom half. Looks super slapped-on as an afterthought now.
It looks like they started with the full cladding, then someone took the crop tool in Photoshop and made some cuts, but with their mouse instead of a precise input device like a digital pen. There are just some bizarre cutlines all over this thing.
subaru please stop this thing looks like the bass pro shops version of an aztec
Great call: you nailed it perfectly!
*COTD consideration*
Second.
Now turbo it, cowards.
STi all the things.
Hell yeah. Wife got an Ascent last year and was strongly pushing me towards an Outback. Now that VW is killing the Golf stateside, I think I’m going to start looking at this.
Wouldn’t the affordable offroad hatchback that we always wanted be this but with the WRX motor and a six-speed manual for $25,995?
Pretty much. I am not a new car guy, but that combo under $30k would have me at my bank post haste (almost instantly if I could spec 4.44s like the old Forrester XT)
Will all that cladding protect me from mall curbs or tiny pine trees? If so, I’m all for it
I hate it less than I wanted to. but David, you know that isn’t a wagon. Don’t add wagon just to get the clicks – I was going to read this anyway.
Do they still chew through CVTs when off roading?
in other subaru news, I saw a new WRX on the street for the first time – they sure know how to make a car ugly
I think he’s using the term “wagon” figuratively. Or maybe he discussed it with Torch and decided that it checks all the boxes?
https://www.theautopian.com/the-rules-of-what-makes-a-car-a-station-wagon-need-to-be-restated-and-updated/comment-page-1/#comments
It is indeed a wagon. In fact! Check the post again!
On behalf of the commentariat, I’m sponsoring an amendment to the wagon rules, named the Indubitably Meritless Proposal Rectifying Erroneous Zeal Act, to restrict the use of the designation “wagon,” as follows:
Add language: “none of the wagon rules apply if it looks like a Crosstrek.”
That’s the thing, it fits the rules, but still does not look/feel like a wagon.
https://youtu.be/–szrOHtR6U
I have some issues with their wagon classification system, but I agree with it here since the 5-door Impreza has always been a bit of a gray area, doing double duty as hatch and wagon rather than produce dedicated versions of each like some of its competitors from larger companies.
Since the levorg is the wagon of this model, this is an hatchback. Cqfd
I don’t necessarily even agree with Torch’s whole wagon system, but if this isn’t a wagon, what is it? Subaru has always made wagons. This has a much lower roof than the van bodies that crossovers use.
The levorg is the wagon of this body
It’s an hatchback. As easy as that, a use to be compact hatchback.
Like the mazda 3 or the focus.
Her black plastic door clads
For her fake Japanese off-roading car
In the fake plastic earth
That she bought from a salesman
In a dealership full of cvt rubber bands
To get rid of itself
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out
It wears her out
She lives with a blown head gasket
A cracked cylinder wall
Who just crumbles and burns
It used to rallies
For fans in the nineties
But gravity always wins
And it wears it out
It wears it out
It wears it out
It wears
She looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can’t help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
And it wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
It wears me out
And if I could be who you wanted
If I could be who you wanted
All the time
All the time
Comment of the month right here. Shut it down folks.
Boyoboy, did they ever ugly-up the Subie! That front-end plastic reaches near-BMW levels of homeliness. And it isn’t cute-ugly like the old Forester; it’s just plain unattractive.
No company can reach the ugliness of the current BMW bionic beavers; I say that as a person who thought the pinnacle was the E38/E39/E46. I also owned an original ’02 Chevy Avalanche, so cladding doesn’t bother me.
I’m sure Subaru will sell every one they can manufacture.
This is the ugliest Subaru since the early Tribeca. Let’s just slap a giant badge into excess cladding on the door!
If you don’t have a bunch of hideous cladding, how will anyone know you once considered driving off-road?
(Not actually off-roading. That would be too much adventure.)
Surprised it took so long. The Wilderness models basically print money for them, and the Crosstrek is already a big seller. Should be an easy win.