The 2023 New York International Auto Show is just a few days away, and the entirety of the automotive industry is absolutely buzzing with anticipation. While there’s endless lists of rumors and news, Subaru has stolen the spotlight with a major tease of what could be a monumental announcement. More specifically, Subaru may be announcing an all-new Crosstrek Wilderness trim level at the 2023 New York International Auto Show. While the automaker has yet to confirm which vehicle will receive a Wilderness trim level, we do have a few reasons why we think it will be the Crosstrek. As always, our team at Centennial Subaru has everything you need to know, so keep on reading below!
Read more: 2024 Crosstrek Debuts At Chicago Auto Show
Reasons Why We Think It Will Be the Crosstrek
Subaru of America recently posted the picture above with the following caption: "There's an all-new member of the Subaru Wilderness family out there, and it's heading to the New York International Auto Show. With all-terrain upgrades, rugged style, and trusted safety, Subaru Wilderness vehicles bring the legendary capability of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive to a whole new frontier of adventure, and we'll be streaming the reveal live from the auto show." In our estimation, we believe that this means Subaru will be announcing an all-new Crosstrek Wilderness at the New York International Auto Show, which begins on Friday, April 7, 2023. Now, you may be wondering, what makes it the Crosstrek? Couldn’t it be another model? While we can’t guarantee that it will definitely be the Crosstrek, here’s our train of thought.
First of all, we know the mystery vehicle won’t be the Forester or Outback, as they have already achieved Wilderness status. Furthermore, it just doesn’t seem likely that Subaru will create a Wilderness version of the WRX, Legacy, or Impreza, let alone the BRZ. This leaves us with three possibilities: the Solterra, Ascent, and Crosstrek. As electrifying as the Solterra would be, our team wouldn’t bet on it. What’s more, as interesting as the Ascent would be, we just can’t shake the feeling that the Crosstrek makes the most sense, especially out of these three. As for why Subaru would choose the Crosstrek, the list of reasons is positively staggering. First, the smaller size of the Crosstrek makes it an excellent choice for off-road adventures – one of the cornerstones of the Wilderness trim level. Next, the Crosstrek has already received a ton of updates and additions for the 2024 model year, so the timing would line up wonderfully. Finally, the Crosstrek was the automaker’s best-selling vehicle in 2022. When you take all of these facts into account, it just becomes more and more apparent that a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness would make the most sense. Of course, all of this is just speculation. Your guess is as good as ours! What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Read more: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Trim Level Options & Pricing
Which Accessories Come with a Wilderness Model?
Before we go, let's take a moment to discuss what a Wilderness model would mean for the 2024 Crosstrek. As the name suggests, Subaru Wilderness vehicles are built with adventure in mind. In fact, Subaru has specifically equipped them with tons of added features and accessories that will serve you well wherever you might go. So, which accessories come with a Wilderness model? Well, to quote the automaker, “Every Wilderness model is specifically engineered for off-road exploring with upgrades to its ground clearance, drivetrain, and all-terrain capabilities, along with rugged exterior styling and a high-tech cabin that’s as comfortable as it is practical.”
As for the specifics, the Wilderness badge normally merits the following accessories: LED interior and cargo-area lighting, exclusively available Geyser Blue exterior paint, black exterior trim with Anodized Copper finish accents, glare-reducing hood decal, matte black alloy wheels, exterior cladding, the aforementioned Wilderness badging on the interior and exterior, and more. The added features, meanwhile, include all-terrain tires, redesigned bumpers, a re-tuned suspension, revised gear ratios, Enhanced dual-function X-MODE, water-resistant StarTex upholstery, upgraded roof rails, nine or more inches of ground clearance, a front skid plate, and, of course, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Suffice it to say, everything about Wilderness vehicles receives significant upgrades, including some exclusive treats like the Wilderness badge, Geyser Blue exterior paint, etc. So, if the all-new 2024 Crosstrek receives a Wilderness edition, you can expect it to be exceptionally well-equipped inside and out, not to mention optimized for any possible adventures – on or off the road. For reference, we've included some pictures of a 2024 Outback Wilderness below.
Contact Our Team at Centennial Subaru
At the end of the day, whether or not Subaru is announcing an all-new Crosstrek Wilderness at the New York Auto Show, we simply can’t wait to see what the automaker has in store. For more information about this or anything else, please feel free to contact our team at Centennial Subaru. To do so, simply fill out and submit our online form, give us a call at 725-800-7415, or visit the dealership in person at 6350 Centennial Center Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89149. Whatever you may need, our entire team will always be more than happy to help. We hope to serve you soon!