Subaru Cross Trek Wilderness: The Affordable Off-Road Beast for Adventure Seekers

The Subaru Cross Trek Wilderness, oh dear, what a name. But I must say, this little off-road beast is a surprisingly capable machine. It's got a slightly lifted symmetrical all-wheel drive, which means it can tackle the rough stuff with ease. Under the hood, you'll find a 2.5L 4-cylinder boxer engine, pumping out a respectable 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. Not bad, not bad at all.

Now, this is the first Wilderness version of the Cross Trek, and let me tell you, it looks the part. With its rugged exterior, complete with extra plastic cladding and orange accents, it's ready to take on any adventure. And let's not forget the roof rack, with a whopping 700 lb static load capacity. You could practically set up camp up there!

Inside, things are a bit hit and miss. The seats, while water-resistant and easily wipeable, have these headrests that are as hard as rocks. Not the most comfortable thing in the world, I must say. But fear not, my friends, for there are some redeeming features. The steering wheel is wrapped in a texture that feels rather nice, and we've got paddles for those who like to take control. And of course, we can't forget about Subaru's Eyesight system, which includes adaptive cruise control and lane centering. It works pretty well, I must say.

On the road, the Cross Trek Wilderness is a mixed bag. The powertrain is upgraded, making it the fastest Cross Trek you can get. But let's not get carried away here, it's still slow by most standards. However, it does handle surprisingly well, thanks to Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive system. And with the Dual mode X mode, this little beast can handle some serious off-roading. All in all, the Cross Trek Wilderness is a capable and rugged little machine that won't break the bank.