2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness vs 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness

In our article, we take a look at two competing off-road-oriented trims from the Subaru family of SUVs.

First off, there is an obvious difference in size since the Crosstrek competes in the compact SUV segment of the market, while the slightly larger Outback is a full-size SUV and has a higher starting price tag than its smaller sibling.

Either way, the Wilderness trims of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek and 2024 Subaru Outback are both five-passenger SUVs, so what are the differences? 

Read on as we take a detailed look at what's on offer from both of these Japanese SUVs.

2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness 

Introduced in February 2023, the third generation Crosstrek model continues as Subarus subcompact SUV offering, and in April of that same year, Subaru revealed the more off-road oriented Crosstrek Wilderness, which is the third model to be launched under Subaru's "Wilderness" brand. 

2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness

The Outback nameplate has been around since 1994 and is now in its sixth generation, which was last updated in 2023. The Outback Wilderness was introduced in 2022 as the first Wilderness-branded model in Subaru's SUV lineup.

Exterior

The first thing most observant buyers will notice when comparing the regular versions of both nameplates alongside the Wilderness branded models is the raised ride height and additional rugged exterior finishes.

The Subaru Crosstrek measures 176.4 inches in overall length, with a wheelbase length of 105.1 inches. Being off-road themed means that the Crosstrek Wilderness is treated to 9.3 inches of rock-clearing ground clearance.

The Crosstrek adds a sporty roof spoiler and offers additional body cladding and under-armor protection of front skid plates. The hood wears a matte black decal to help reduce glare, and hex-design LED fog lights complete the front look. The Crosstrek Wilderness also receives exclusive anodized copper-finish accents.

The Crosstrek Wilderness features manual-folding side mirrors with the option of a power tilt/sliding moonroof. The Wilderness is available in an exclusive Geyser Blue exterior paint. Roof rails on the Crosstrek Wilderness can carry up to 700 pounds for convenient loading up of bikes, kayaks, or even a rooftop tent for camping out.

To aid off-road performance, the Wilderness rides on 17-inch alloy wheels in a matte-black finish wrapped in Yokohama Geolander 225/65 R17 102T all-terrain tires for optimized mud, gravel, or snow traction.  

The bigger Subaru Outback is 191.9 inches long and sports a wheelbase measurement of 108.1 inches. Like its smaller sibling, the Outback Wilderness boasts an increased ride height to clear rocks and obstacles, but at 9.5 inches, this is a nearly one-inch increase over the standard Outback model's 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The rugged looks of the Outback Wilderness also feature the additional body cladding and under-armor protection, anodized finishes, as well as the same off-road suitable wheel and tire combination of the Crosstrek. The Outback offers standard black-finish folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals plus the optional power tilt/sliding moonroof.

Powertrains

The significant difference between the Crosstrek Wilderness and Outback Wilderness trims is seen in their engines. 

The 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness is fitted with a retuned 2.5-liter normally-aspirated Boxer engine that makes 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine is coupled with Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) retuned for better low-speed performance. The addition of a CVT cooler and the standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, plus a stronger rear differential, means that the Crosstrek Wilderness is able to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The 2024 Outback Wilderness is powered by a turbocharged version of Subaru's 2.4-liter Boxer engine, offering 260 horsepower and 277 pounds of torque.

Like the Crosstrek, the Outback Wilderness is equipped with the same drivetrain boasting revised transmission gearing with a shortened final drive ratio, resulting in improved low-speed climbing.

The standard dual-function X-MODE drive function has also been upgraded and retuned, with settings for dirt/snow and deep snow/mud, allowing additional wheel slip to power through any adverse conditions.

Interior

The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is made to enhance every outdoor experience, which means the interior needs to be just as durable and hard-wearing as the exterior to stand up to the elements.

The Crosstrek Wilderness cabin features advanced StarTex water-repellent and hard-wearing upholstery, which is offset with contrast stitching for both high-quality comfort and durability. 

Loading in the dark is made easier with a standard LED lamp fitted in the cargo area, and the cabin also features anodized copper-finish accents complimenting the modern exterior finishes.

Infotainment is taken care of in the Crosstrek Wilderness with a standard 11.6-inch high-resolution touchscreen offering STARLINK Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. 

Standard wireless device charging makes for convenient charging and connecting of your smartphone.

Cargo space in the Crosstrek Wilderness measures 20.0 cubic feet with all seats in the upright position and growing to 54.9 cubic feet with the rear seat down.

Mirroring the cabin appointments of the Crosstrek Wilderness, the Outback Wilderness sees similar features like the dual-zone climate control but adds a 10-way power driver's seat plus an 8-way power front passenger seat with both front seats being heated along with the rear outboard seats. The steering wheel is heated and leather-wrapped along with the shifter handle.

Cargo space measures 32.6 cubic feet with all seats up, extending to 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seat lowered.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Both these Wilderness branded models are well equipped when it comes to protecting their occupants; standard key passive and active safety features on both models include:

• 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System
• Traction Control System
• Vehicle Dynamics Control
• Subaru advanced frontal airbag system
• Side curtain airbags Seat-mounted front-side impact Front passenger seat cushion airbag
• Driver's knee airbag
• Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
• Blind-spot detection featuring Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Purchase your 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness or Outback Wilderness at Granite Subaru

Make contact with us at Granite Subaru, located in Hudson, NH, where our knowledgeable Subaru team will show you more about these Wilderness models.

Experience the awesome capabilities of these vehicles by booking a test drive. Not only are we happy to put you in the driving seat of these Wilderness Models, but we also have an impressive selection of quality new and pre-owned Subaru cars and SUVs to meet your next purchase.