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The 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness and the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness are Subaru of America's two rugged off-road all-wheel-drive vehicles built for more extreme outdoor adventures. Both have the equipment for outdoor enthusiasts to get further off the grid than the standard Forester and Crosstrek SUVs. So which is the best Wilderness trim for getting further off the grid?
We compared the 2023 Forester Wilderness Vs. 2023 Outback Wilderness. Check the comparison report here.
Which all-wheel-drive vehicle is best for outdoor adventures between Forester and Crosstrek Wilderness trim levels? There is a clear winner. Check out the differences, and you decide.
The Forester Wilderness has 9.2 inches of ground clearance, a half-inch increase over the other models. In addition, it has longer coil springs, shock absorbers, and unique tuning for ride and handling performance, as does the Crosstrek Wilderness.
The new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness has an extra inch with 9.3 inches of rock-clearing ground clearance.
Advanced dual-function X-Mode
The Crosstrek Wilderness features the advanced dual-function X-Mode that allows the midsize SUV to switch automatically from low-speed managed driving to speeds over 25 mph without interruption of power or performance. The 2023 Forester Wilderness also features dual-function X-Mode like the Crosstrek.
Safety scores
The 2023 Forester Wilderness earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness has yet to be tested by the IIHS.
Outdoor enthusiasts were disappointed Forester Wilderness did not get the FA24 2.4-liter turbocharged engine upgrade. Instead, Forester Wilderness is powered by a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated Boxer engine producing 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque.
The rugged 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness comes with the newly retuned 2.5-liter Boxer engine with additional power. The engine now delivers a more responsive 182 horsepower and 178 lb.-ft. of torque.
Crosstrek and Forester Wilderness towing capacity
The Crosstrek Wilderness will tow up to 3,500 lbs. The 2023 Forester Wilderness comes with a 3,000-lb. towing capacity (vs. 1,500 for the standard model) and features standard trailer stability assist.
The additional tow rating will now allow customers with active lifestyles to pull a small boat or camper. The Crosstrek has a 500 lb. advantage over Forester Wilderness.
Cargo capacity
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek's cargo space measurements are 19.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 54.7 cubes with the seats folded flat. Cargo volume for the Forester is 26.9 cubic feet behind the rear rows of seats and 69.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. Advantage Forester.
Cost
What is the price of the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness?
The 2023 Forester Wilderness costs $35,245, including destination and delivery fees.
What is the price of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness?
The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness will be the most expensive Crosstrek trim level. The all-new Crosstrek Wilderness costs $33,290, including dealer destination and delivery fees ($1,295).
An available option package for Crosstrek Wilderness includes a power moonroof, a 10-way power driver seat with 2-way lumbar support, and a Harman Kardon 10-speaker system with a 432-watt equivalent amplifier for an MSRP of $2,270.
The good news is the Crosstrek Wilderness will be built at Subaru's manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana. As a result, customers in the U.S. will now have shorter wait times for the outdoor-themed model. The Forester Wilderness is built in Japan and could have longer delivery times for U.S. customers.
The Crosstrek Wilderness has additional ground clearance, more torque, and towing capacity for outdoor enthusiasts who want to get further off the grid. The Crosstrek Wilderness is the more capable model to handle extreme off-road terrain. The Crosstrek Wilderness is also $1,955 less than the Forester Wilderness.
Besides the cargo volume, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness is the clear winner over the 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness. So which rugged Wilderness model would you choose if you could buy one this year?
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Comments
Did you actually drive both
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Did you actually drive both cars, or is this article based on reading the specs?
The article claims the
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The article claims the Crosstrekhas better ground clearance but both are listed at 9.2 inches. Perhaps the author should do his homework first. Less embarising.
The article states that the
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In reply to The article claims the by Craig (not verified)
The article states that the Crosstrek Wilderness has 9.3 inches of clearance, versus the 9.2 of the Forester Wilderness.
But what of the Outback
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But what of the Outback “Expedition”? Where does it fit in?
For less than $2k, I'd take
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For less than $2k, I'd take the Forester all day, every day. The Crosstrek Clearance is possible + 0.1 Inch taller. Wow. The wheelbase has very little difference as well, so the break-over metric isn't improved much. Overall length is a legitimate argument for trails, but I'd still rather have the 6-7 extra inches in the Forester. Also, I would much rather have the Japenese built Forester over the Indiana-built Crosstrek. Go camping in a Forester and tell me you are good with less space.
I agree. Forester all day…
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In reply to For less than $2k, I'd take by Greg Jones (not verified)
I agree. Forester all day. The 2.5 engine is not a bad engine, just enough power to get the job done. The turbo would blow up the price.
The Crosstrek has much less useable space, less rear leg room, worse visibility, and terrible seats. The cost is nearly the same as the Forester.
Why is it good news that the
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Why is it good news that the Crosstrek wilderness is being built in the us? My family has owned 7 Subarus dating back t I 2003. The ones built in japan are better built. The fit and finish were better . Not saying they were bad just that the Japanese cars were noticeably better.
I'll never get that time back
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I'll never get that time back. What a total waste of space is an article.
This article reads like it
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This article reads like it was written by a bot that pulls specs from a spec sheet and plugs them into a generic fill-in-the-blank form. They both have the same practical ground clearance and torque, but it claims that those make one the “clear winner”? Clickbait garbage.