Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness 2024: more adventurous

In 2023, Crosstrek rose to first place in sales in its segment, surpassing the popular one the corner, which is also available in an electronic version. Success, you say? And how! It must be said that the Crosstrek is a perfect product for the Quebec market, with high ground clearance and excellent wheel drive.

Its compact design, which is more popular here than in the United States, also explains its success. Thus, in 2023, no less than 42% of Subarus sold in the country were Crosstreks, while 34% found buyers in Quebec.

Naturally, this success can be explained by the renewal of the range, which now does not have a hybrid plug. A model that no one will get tired of, as it was disappointing in terms of performance as it was expensive to buy. That said, the range which is now made up of five versions offers an original and different solution in the face of very stiff competition. Think about Honda HR-Vfor two sons of Korean Kona/Seltosor Mazda CX-30 together with Toyota Corolla Cross and Volkswagen Taos.

Despite two versions with a 2-liter engine (152 horsepower) and three variants with a 2.5-liter engine (182 horsepower), there is still no supercharged version. For example, we can have to absorb the engine WRX in the Crosstrek version, just to answer the Mazda CX-30 Turbo, whose performance is exceptional. Alas, this is not the case. On the other hand, Subaru arrives this year with the Wilderness version of the Crosstrek, the third in the large Subaru family after outside and Forester.

Here, the goal is to push the limits of its capabilities, with ground clearance raised by 15 mm, even the most impressive angles of attack and departure with off-road capabilities worthy of a true off-road vehicle. Subaru boasts the highest capacity vehicle in the segment, which can also tow up to 3,500 pounds.

And for good reason, the integration of a high-efficiency radiator used to cool the transmission oil, which of course remains the continuously variable gearbox. In addition, for 2024, Subaru is removing the manual, even in the Convenience version.

More potential, but…

The Desert, which, unlike other Crosstreks sold on Canadian soil, is made in the United States, is usually the most expensive of the lot. However, its level of luxury and, above all, comfort, does not match that of the Limited, offered for $ 1,000 less. In fact, Nyika has a firmer suspension designed for off-road driving, making the experience less pleasant every day.

So you have to have special needs or drive on bad roads to pass it. Please note that with less comfort, this version consumes more than 10% fuel, the result of a higher ratio of axle to weight, as well as less efficient aerodynamics. Oh, and how can we ignore the Yokohama Geolander A/T’s noisy tires, which are surprisingly characterized by white lettering!

Desert aesthetics may put off some buyers, who will prefer a more modest offering. In fact, Subaru has increased the presence of plastic on the sidewalls to give it a more attractive, but overall underappreciated look. On the other hand, a buyer who accidentally damages a corner of the bumper can fix the situation without replacing the entire bumper. Subaru has actually designed the plastic parts to be detachable, given that the target customer is likely to venture more often, increasing the risk of breakage or scratches.

Can’t wait for the 2.5 liter

If Wilderness meets your taste and needs, then it is perfect. Please note, however, that you can get the Onyx version starting at $36,510. The latter uses a 2.5-liter engine, which is more adequate. A mechanism that provides more torque and 30 horsepower to support the 2-liter engine, which uses the same thing. This is explained by the engine having to work harder to move a mass of around 1,500 kg, while the larger of the four cylinders is better.

Without being the best quiet SUV in this segment, the Crosstrek has improved a lot on this point. It also gets quieter, more confident and pleasant to drive. What’s more, and although it has EyeSight technology that includes several driving assistance features, it allows some latitude in terms of smart assistants. Reason in its advantage, compared to models like Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Corolla Cross.

Unless you’re aiming for the best possible fuel economy (where the Corolla Cross Hybrid takes the prize), there’s no doubt that the Crosstrek remains the first choice for many drivers.

Spacious, versatile, robust and reliable, it also has the advantage of standing the test of time and maintaining excellent resale value. As proof, a ten-year-old Crosstrek with less than 200,000 kilometers on the odometer still sells for between $12,000 and $15,000, or about 30% of the original cost.

See also: How much does the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek cost?