You see them everywhere. Usually, they’re covered in a thin film of dried mud with a Thule box strapped to the roof. The 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness isn’t exactly a sleeper car, but it is deeply misunderstood by two specific groups: the hardcore off-roaders who think it’s just a "station wagon with a lift kit" and the suburban commuters who think it’s just a "tougher-looking trim."
Both are wrong.
Honestly, after spending real time behind the wheel, the Wilderness feels less like a trim level and more like Subaru finally admitted what the Outback was always meant to be. It’s a specialized tool. If you’re buying it to look cool in the Whole Foods parking lot, you’re going to be annoyed by the fuel economy. If you’re buying it to crawl over boulders in Moab, you’re going to miss having a low-range transfer case. But for the 90% of adventure that happens in between? It’s basically unbeatable.
The Ground Clearance Reality Check
Let’s talk about the 9.5 inches. That’s the magic number everyone quotes. For context, a standard Outback has 8.7 inches, which is already better than most "rugged" SUVs like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. That extra 0.8 inches in the 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness sounds like a rounding error until you’re staring at a frozen rut on a forest service road.
It’s not just about the height.
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Subaru re-tuned the dampers and added longer springs. This isn't some cheap spacer lift. The approach, departure, and breakover angles are all improved—specifically 20.0, 23.6, and 21.2 degrees respectively. You can actually feel the difference in the suspension travel. It’s plush. On a washboard road where a standard SUV would be rattling your teeth loose, the Wilderness just... floats. It’s sort of eerie how well it masks surface imperfections.
2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness: The "Laggy" Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about the screen. You’ve probably read the forum rants. The 11.6-inch vertical tablet is the centerpiece of the interior, and yeah, it has its moments.
When you first start the car on a cold morning, the system takes about 20 seconds to "wake up." If you try to mash the heated seat button the second you sit down, it might ignore you. Or it might wait five seconds and then register three taps at once. It’s a common gripe among owners, and frankly, it’s a valid one. Using a touchscreen to adjust fan speed while bouncing down a trail is objectively more distracting than a physical dial.
But here’s the nuance: once it’s warmed up, it’s fine. The 2024 model year actually received some software tweaks that made the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration more stable than the 2022 versions. Is it iPad-smooth? No. Is it a dealbreaker? Probably not, unless you’re someone who lacks the patience for a 15-second boot-up sequence.
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What You’re Getting (and Losing) Under the Hood
The Wilderness comes standard with the 2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer engine. 260 horsepower. 277 lb-ft of torque. It’s punchy.
If you’re coming from a non-turbo Subaru, the acceleration will surprise you. Merging onto the highway is a non-issue. However, that power comes at a literal cost. The EPA says you’ll get 21 city and 26 highway MPG. In the real world? If you have a lead foot or a roof rack, expect those numbers to dip into the high teens.
The CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) is another "love it or hate it" feature. Subaru "geared" the Wilderness differently than the standard Outback. They used a shorter final-drive ratio (4.44:1) to give it more low-end grunt for climbing hills. It makes the car feel peppier off the line, but it also means the engine spins at higher RPMs on the highway, which is why your gas mileage takes a hit.
The Gear You’ll Actually Use
The roof rails on this thing are beefy. We’re talking a static load capacity of 700 pounds. That’s enough for a heavy-duty rooftop tent and two adults who didn't skip dessert. Most "lifestyle" SUVs have rails that are mostly decorative; these are industrial.
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Then there’s the StarTex upholstery. It feels like a mix between rubber and high-end vinyl. It’s not "luxury," but if you’ve ever spilled a coffee or climbed into your car with wet gear, you will thank the Subaru gods for it. You can basically wipe it down with a damp cloth and it looks brand new. No more worrying about mud staining the leather or dog hair weaving itself into the fabric fibers.
Real World Capability vs. Marketing Hype
- Towing: It’s rated for 3,500 pounds. That’s enough for a small teardrop trailer or a couple of jet skis. Don't try to pull a massive Airstream with it.
- Tires: It comes with Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires. They are "three-peak mountain snowflake" rated, meaning they’re legal for winter passes. They have more road noise than an all-season tire, but much less than a dedicated mud-terrain.
- The Spare: It’s a full-size spare. This is huge. If you pop a tire 40 miles into the woods, a "donut" or a repair kit isn't going to get you home.
Is it Worth the Premium?
The 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness usually sits around the $41,000 to $43,000 mark depending on options like the sunroof or navigation package.
If you spend 99% of your time on paved city streets, you are paying for capability you won't use and gas you don't need to burn. The Outback Limited or Touring will be quieter, more fuel-efficient, and more comfortable.
But if your weekends involve trailheads, mountain bikes, or sketchy gravel roads, the Wilderness is a bargain. To build a standard Outback to this spec using aftermarket parts—lift, skid plates, tires, transmission cooling—would cost you significantly more than the price gap between trims. Plus, you’d probably void your warranty.
Actionable Next Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re seriously considering pulling the trigger on a 2024 Subaru Outback Wilderness, do these three things first:
- Test drive it on the highway. Don't just crawl around the block. Get it up to 70 mph. Listen to the tire hum and the wind noise from the beefier roof rails. Some people find it charming; others find it annoying after an hour.
- Play with the screen while the car is cold. Ask the dealer to let you sit in a unit that hasn't been running. See if the "boot-up lag" is something you can live with daily.
- Check your garage height. With the lift and the specialized roof rails, the Wilderness sits nearly 67 inches tall. If you have a low garage door and plan on adding a roof box, get the measuring tape out now before you bring it home.
The Wilderness isn't a perfect car. It’s thirsty, the infotainment can be finicky, and the styling is... loud. But it is one of the few vehicles on the market that actually delivers on the "adventure" promise without requiring you to drive a massive, lumbering truck every day. It’s a niche tool, but it’s sharpened to a very fine point.