My wife, fellow writer Mercedes Lilienthal, and I decided to run the TransAmerica Trail (TAT) in June of 2025. The TAT spans from Nags Head, North Carolina, to Port Orford, Oregon, and employs as much dirt as possible. We considered a host of vehicles for the trip. The route was originally intended for adventure touring motorcycles, and many 4WD trucks and SUVs have completed TAT. But what about something all-wheel drive like a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness? Could a Subaru even make the trip? Up for a challenge, we figured we’d find out.
TAT wouldn’t be our first grand adventure in a Subie. We ran the 2022 Alcan 5000 Summer Rally in the larger, more powerful Outback Wilderness, and it was a champ. Would its smaller sibling be up for such a grueling trip? (Hint: Yes.)
Adventure Accoutrements
Out of the box, the Crosstrek Wilderness has 9.3 inches of ground clearance, significantly more than most subcompact crossovers. It also includes factory 225/60R17 Yokohama Geolandar G015 all-terrains. We, however, swapped them for more aggressive, slightly larger 225/65R17 BFGoodrich KO2s. But the Crosstrek, the smallest of Subaru’s Wilderness models, is more than just all-terrains and ground clearance. It has a roof rack rated at 165 pounds, dynamic/700 pounds static; there’s a larger rear differential than standard Crosstreks; it features improved cooling for its engine, and has a 3,500-pound towing capacity. It also has gobs of black cladding, gold accents, unique front and rear facias, and X-Mode driving modes.
Its underbody protection, however, was lacking. We added a set of Primitive Racing front, mid, and rear skid plates for our TAT excursion, which proved essential. We made a few other modifications, including:
- Rally Innovations light bar mount
- Baja Designs XL-R Pro LED auxiliary lights
- Rig’d Supply UltraSwing Spare Tire Carrier with UltraTable and SideHack (holding a jerrycan)
- Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0 recovery point
- ARB soft case awning (2.0M)
- Thule Approach rooftop tent on Thule crossbars (via Subaru Accessories)
- Reika Seeker wheels (17×8, +38)
- Bilstein B6 struts and rear King Springs (via Primitive Racing)
Additionally, we carried ARB’s Classic Series II fridge/freezer, a portable single air compressor, and Speedy Seal tire patch kit; an EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus and 800-watt alternator charger; MaxTrax Extreme boards (although the Lite models would’ve worked, too); and a Starlink Mini in a Pelican case among our clothes, cameras, computers, and food.
Overlanding In a Subcompact Crossover
Strategically, we packed a month’s journey in (or on) the Subaru. We used every square inch to make it fit, and played Overland Tetris when gear needed to come out and be put back. The Bilsteins and King Springs were last-second upgrades, and even with the upgraded springs in the back, we still rode lower than desired (we’d go one level stiffer next time). Despite this, we rarely bottomed out or ran out of suspension travel, even off pavement.
The car’s rally racing DNA was apparent on the TAT. Based on the Impreza chassis, the Crosstrek Wilderness is fun to fling around and would devour dirt roads with responsibly employed reckless abandon. When it came to technical off-road sections, like those found in Appalachia or the Rocky Mountains, as long as you picked a good line, the car was surprisingly capable, especially when in the correct X-Mode setting: dirt/snow for slow going, mud/deep snow for sticky clay, sand, or anything requiring more wheelspin.
We needed to be mindful of how much stuff we brought with us, not only from a space perspective but also weight. In its modified state, but without our gear, we weighed 3,999 pounds. Thankfully, the Crosstrek Wilderness has an impressive 4,817-pound GVWR, so we stayed below the max rating.
Inside, you’ll find StarTex synthetic upholstery that’s durable and water-repellent, easily cleaned with water and a microfiber cloth. The air-conditioning was a champ. We had 28 days over 90°F, six of which were 100°F or higher, so it was on constantly. The massive touchscreen looks great, although it lagged and would restart semi-regularly.
My only other thought is the use of easily scratchable piano black finishes on adventure vehicles. Subaru isn’t the only offender, but the area around the gear shift was significantly scuffed up after this trip.
On- and Off-Road Performance
The car’s 2.5-liter boxer four-pot makes 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, but we could’ve used about 50 more horsepower crossing over the high-elevation Rockies in Colorado. Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-liter would provide such a fantastic upgrade in a Crosstrek, but if you want that, you’ll need to buy the larger Outback Wilderness.
The boxer engine is mated to a CVT, generally not the transmission of choice for performance, off-roading, or durability. While I was concerned about its robustness on this trip, especially crossing over 12,000-foot Colorado mountain passes, it provided steadfast service. The CVT could simulate a low gear ratio for control over obstacles, proving better than expected.
In fact, this Crosstrek repeatedly impressed us with its off-road ability. Our slightly taller tires and aftermarket skid plates added reassurance when clearing obstacles. While it’s not going to replace your Land Cruiser or Wrangler, for what it is, the Crosstrek Wilderness is remarkably good, even if it’s not the most rapid form of transit. It’s also fairly frugal at the pump, rated at 25 city, 29 highway, and 27 combined in regular use. We saw significantly less mileage, though, due to bigger tires, added weight, and over 3,000 miles of off-pavement driving throughout our 29-day trek.
A Willing Wilderness
This Crosstrek Wilderness did nearly everything we asked of it during our 7,163-mile (3,184 off-pavement), month-long cross-country trip. It was surprisingly easy to live with, had zero problems, and was an overachiever off-road. I’d prefer more gusto, but as equipped, it got the job done.
Subaru has been making AWD vehicles for over 40 years. They know how to build durable, reliable vehicles for the adventure set, some of which can get you much farther than your favorite kayak spot. I’m happy to report we successfully made the journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific in this Crosstrek Wilderness, proving it has what it takes to take on some serious adventure travel. Remember: Not everyone needs or wants a massive overland vehicle. Some prefer the small-but-mighty approach, and the 2025 Crosstrek Wilderness is indeed both.
$41,701 as tested | subaru.com
Images: Andy Lilienthal and Mercedes Lilienthal
Read more: Subaru Outback Pricing for 2026 Announced
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