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2024 Subaru Crosstrek Review: Why the Wilderness Wins on Trails

The 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness stands out for trail hardware and a 3,500-lb manufacturer towing rating, but its lower listed fuel economy makes it a conditional win.
Entry199 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is the best-equipped choice for buyers who regularly tackle rougher trails, need more clearance or value a higher manufacturer-rated towing capacity. It is not the best Crosstrek for everyone: Sport and Limited share its 182-hp engine, while the Wilderness has the lowest fuel-economy figures in Subaru’s trim comparison. This U.S. model-year review draws on Subaru specifications and attributed road-test reporting, not a firsthand Wilderness drive.

What makes the Wilderness different?

All five 2024 Crosstrek trims include standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, so AWD alone does not set the Wilderness apart. Its advantage is the hardware and calibration built around that system: more ground clearance, all-terrain tires, revised gearing, additional underbody protection and a higher published towing limit.

Subaru describes it as its most rugged Crosstrek, a manufacturer characterization rather than an independent comparison test. The Wilderness adds a metal front skid plate, exclusive exterior cladding and suspension changes intended for rougher terrain. Subaru says its revised gearing and CVT calibration improve climbing and low-speed traction.

Clearance and trail equipment

The Wilderness has 9.3 inches of ground clearance, compared with 8.7 inches on the other trims. Subaru also lists increased approach, departure and breakover angles. It wears Yokohama GEOLANDAR all-terrain tires and includes dual-function X-MODE. Those specifications make it better prepared for obstacles and loose surfaces, though they do not make it a substitute for a dedicated off-road vehicle or guarantee passage on a particular trail.

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Engine, gearing and acceleration

The Wilderness uses a 182-hp, 2.5-liter BOXER engine producing 178 lb-ft of torque, paired with a retuned continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a 4.111 final-drive ratio. Sport and Limited use the same engine, so Wilderness does not win by having more horsepower; its distinction is the gearing and trail-focused equipment.

Consumer Reports’ 2024 Crosstrek road-test reprint says the base 152-hp, 2.0-liter model reached 60 mph in 10.1 seconds and describes its acceleration as modest. It reports that the 2.5-liter is stronger and less noisy under load. Those are model-range observations, not a Wilderness-specific test by this writer. Consumer Reports recommends Premium for its equipment mix and Sport for more acceleration—useful reminders that the Wilderness is not the automatic choice for road-focused buyers.

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How does the Wilderness compare with the Limited?

Both trims have the 2.5-liter engine, 182 hp, 178 lb-ft and standard AWD. The practical difference is their priorities: the Limited emphasizes comfort equipment, while the Wilderness concentrates on trail capability and utility. The Wilderness adds the clearance, all-terrain tires, revised gearing, skid plate and higher towing rating; it also has water-resistant StarTex upholstery and roof rails.

Subaru’s brochure shows equipment by trim and model-year configuration. Check the specific vehicle’s window sticker and package list before treating any feature as standard or included on an individual car.

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What are the towing and roof-carrying limits?

Towing

Subaru lists a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lb for the Wilderness and 1,500 lb for each other 2024 Crosstrek trim. Subaru attributes the Wilderness increase to a transmission oil cooler. These are manufacturer maximum ratings, not a blanket recommendation for a particular trailer: confirm the vehicle’s manual requirements, loaded trailer weight, tongue weight and applicable local rules before towing.

Roof rails

Subaru lists the Wilderness roof rails at 165 lb dynamic load and 700 lb static load, and describes them as suitable for a variety of carrying accessories, including rooftop tents. The figures apply to the vehicle’s rails under the relevant loading condition; they do not authorize exceeding the lower limit of any rack, tent, mounting hardware or other component. Follow the vehicle, rack and accessory instructions and verify fitment for the exact model year.

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What does the Wilderness give up in fuel economy?

Subaru’s U.S. trim comparison lists the following figures. The order is highway / city, matching Subaru’s published comparison; these are manufacturer figures, not results from an independent test.

2024 trim Subaru-listed highway / city fuel economy
Base 34 / 27 mpg
Premium 34 / 27 mpg
Sport 33 / 26 mpg
Limited 33 / 26 mpg
Wilderness 29 / 25 mpg

The Wilderness therefore trades some of the range-topping economy in Subaru’s comparison for its trail hardware and capability. The brochure separately lists Sport and Limited at 29 mpg combined; combined figures use a different measure from the highway / city values above.

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How much did the 2024 trims cost new?

Subaru’s U.S. comparison document gives these 2024 model-year starting prices. They are original starting prices, not estimates of today’s used-car value or current inventory pricing.

2024 trim Model-year starting price Engine Maximum towing capacity
Base $25,195 2.0-liter, 152 hp 1,500 lb
Premium $26,345 2.0-liter, 152 hp 1,500 lb
Sport $29,195 2.5-liter, 182 hp 1,500 lb
Limited $31,095 2.5-liter, 182 hp 1,500 lb
Wilderness $32,195 2.5-liter, 182 hp 3,500 lb

All trims have standard AWD. The table’s towing figures are Subaru’s maximum manufacturer ratings; they do not establish what any particular used vehicle can safely tow today.

Which Crosstrek trim should you choose?

  • Choose Wilderness if greater ground clearance, all-terrain tires, trail-oriented gearing, underbody protection or the higher rated towing capacity directly suits how you plan to use the vehicle.
  • Compare Sport and Limited if you want the 2.5-liter engine without the Wilderness-specific trail hardware. Sport is the lower-priced 2.5-liter option in Subaru’s model-year list; Limited puts more emphasis on comfort equipment.
  • Consider Base or Premium if the 2.0-liter engine meets your needs and you value the higher fuel-economy figures in Subaru’s comparison. Consumer Reports favors Premium’s equipment mix.

Subaru lists EyeSight driver-assistance technology as standard on every trim. Its Wilderness announcement also identifies blind-spot detection with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency steering and reverse automatic braking as standard Wilderness equipment. Verify the equipment on the specific car you are considering.

Sources and scope

This review concerns U.S. 2024 model-year specifications. Subaru’s 2024 Crosstrek Compare Specs provides trim prices, engine output, fuel-economy labels, standard AWD and towing ratings; the 2024 Crosstrek brochure provides engine and equipment context. Subaru’s April 5, 2023 Wilderness announcement describes the engineering, dimensions, roof rails and equipment. Consumer Reports’ model-level road-test observations are reproduced in Subaru’s Consumer Reports PDF; Cars.com reports that its reviewer drove the redesigned 2024 Crosstrek at a Subaru-invited Palm Springs event, but that does not establish a Wilderness-specific drive here.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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