2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness: The Most Capable Outback Ever

Subaru is well-known for making vehicles that are reliable, versatile, and capable of handling any weather or road conditions. The Outback is one of the most popular models in the Subaru lineup, as it offers a spacious and comfortable wagon with a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and plenty of features. But for the 2024 model year, Subaru has added a new trim level to the Outback family: the Wilderness.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness is designed for drivers who want to take their Outback to the extreme, as it has several enhancements that make it more off-road-ready than ever before. It has higher ground clearance, improved angles, revised suspension, all-terrain tires, a turbocharged engine, upgraded all-wheel drive, and unique styling cues. Here are some of the details that make the 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness a wagon for all seasons.

Higher Ground Clearance and Improved Angles

One of the main differences between the 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness and the other Outback trims is the higher ground clearance. The Wilderness has 9.5 inches of ground clearance, which is 0.8 inches more than the standard Outback. This means that it can go over more obstacles and rough terrain without scraping or getting stuck. The Wilderness also has better approach, departure, and break-over angles, which measure how steep an obstacle the vehicle can climb or descend without damaging the front or rear bumper or the underbody. The Wilderness has an approach angle of 20 degrees, a departure angle of 23.6 degrees, and a breakover angle of 21.2 degrees. These are much better than the standard Outback’s angles of 18.6 degrees, 21.7 degrees, and 19.4 degrees, respectively.

Revised Suspension and All-Terrain Tires

Another difference between the Wilderness and the other Outback trims is the revised suspension system. The Wilderness has a suspension system that provides more stability and travel. The suspension system consists of specially tuned shock absorbers and springs that can absorb more impact and vibration from rough roads. The Wilderness also has exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels that are wrapped in Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires. These tires have a more aggressive tread pattern that can grip better on mud, snow, sand, and gravel. They also have reinforced sidewalls that can resist punctures and cuts from sharp rocks or debris.

Turbocharged Engine and Upgraded All-Wheel Drive

The Wilderness is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine that delivers 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This is the same engine that is available on the other XT models of the Outback, but it is not offered on the base, Premium, Limited, or Touring trims. The turbocharged engine provides more power and responsiveness than the standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine that produces 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine also has a higher towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, compared to 2,700 pounds for the standard engine.

The Wilderness also has an upgraded version of Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel-drive system with X-MODE. This system optimizes the engine, transmission, brakes, and traction control for various driving conditions. It also has an exclusive dual-function X-MODE that allows the driver to select between Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. These modes adjust the throttle response, transmission shift points, torque distribution, and brake pressure to provide more traction and control on slippery or loose surfaces.

Unique Styling Cues

The 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness also features unique styling cues that set it apart from the rest of the Outback lineup. It has a redesigned front and rear bumper, a hexagonal grille, black cladding, a matte-black hood decal, LED fog lights, and roof rails with integrated tie-down points. The roof rails can support up to 700 pounds of static weight, which is ideal for rooftop tents or cargo carriers. The Wilderness also comes in four exterior colors: Crystal Black Silica, Crystal White Pearl, Autumn Green Metallic, and Geyser Blue. The Geyser Blue color is exclusive to the Wilderness trim.

Inside, the Wilderness offers a spacious and comfortable cabin with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. It has water-repellent StarTex upholstery with copper contrast stitching and embossed logos. It also has anodized copper-finish accents on the steering wheel, shifter, vents, and dashboard. The cabin also features all-weather floor mats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, a power moonroof, heated front, and rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry and start, and a hands-free power liftgate.

The Wilderness also comes with an impressive array of technology features. It has a standard 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a Wi-Fi hotspot capability, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a 180-degree front-view camera. It also has a rear-vision camera with washer, front and rear parking sensors, and a suite of safety and driver-assist features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, pre-collision braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic braking, and blind spot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system.

Price and Availability

The Wilderness is the second most expensive trim level of the Outback after the Touring XT. The base price for the Wilderness is $38,120 USD, which is $1,850 USD more than the Onyx Edition XT trim that it is based on. However, it is still cheaper than some of its competitors, such as the Ford Bronco, Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 or the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Wilderness is expected to be available in dealerships by late summer or early fall of 2023.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness is a great option for drivers who want to take their Outback to the extreme, as it has several enhancements that make it more off-road-ready than ever before. It offers a unique blend of performance, capability, style, and features that make it stand out from the crowd. If you are looking for a wagon for all seasons, look no further than the Subaru Outback Wilderness.