2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Interior Review: Strengths and Limitations

A brand-new car can feel special, no matter what it is. It’s easy to overlook small flaws on a test drive or gloss over potential issues in pictures. Now that we’ve had our 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness for five months and are piling on the miles, the new car smell is long gone, and we’ve had time to really take in the interior. What stands out—both good and bad—after nearly half a year?

Subaru Crosstrek Front Seats: The Good

When you climb inside a Crosstrek for the first time, the first thing that’ll likely catch your eye is the massive touchscreen. At 11.6 inches, it demands your attention. However, the more time I’ve spent in our long-term test vehicle, the more I’ve come to realize I don’t need to use it that often. (I still use it, but by choice more than necessity.) The key function I use most often, namely the audio volume and climate control, have physical knobs and buttons. About the only time I find myself relying on the screen is if I need to use navigation (good luck doing that without a screen in 2024). Even when listening to music or podcasts via Apple CarPlay, which here is wireless Bluetooth-compatible, voice commands and the buttons on the steering wheel handle everything pretty well without having to take my eyes off the road.

When it comes to keeping devices charged, the Crosstrek gives you options: two wired charging outlets (one USB-C and USB-A) for front passengers, a wireless charger, and a 12-volt outlet. (The Crosstrek also has an aux outlet if you want to play audio the old school way.)

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The seats themselves are comfortable. On my longest trips, they kept me satisfied for hundreds of miles per day. MotorTrend search manager Thomas Rosquin reported the same after a recent road trip of his own. The center console has a deep bin that will likely fit anything you really need while driving, and its four cupholders (two in the center console, one in each door) afford plenty of space to keep your caffeine plus backups handy. 

If you look up, you might notice the power moonroof (part of a $2,270 options package). So far, I haven’t spent much time looking up. We’ll endeavor to make use of that over the summer months, but at this point I haven’t found that package money well spent. It also adds a Harman Kardon stereo upgrade (I’m no audiophile, but it doesn’t strike me as noteworthy; Rosquin, however, called it “totally worth it”) and a power driver’s seat (a nice feature, but not nice enough to warrant the package if you don’t care about the other stuff). 

Subaru Crosstrek Front Seats: The Bad 

There’s very little to complain about here. Only one thing consistently bugs me. That deep bin can get annoying if you’re using it to store a lot of smaller items. Its dimensions (about 8.5 inches deep with a 9.5-by-5.5-inch opening) might have you digging through clutter to reach the bottom if you’re the sort of person to keep a lot of things on hand “just in case.” Best to keep crucial things you know you’ll need elsewhere. The Crosstrek does have a little nook in front of that bin to store small items, but its shape limits its utility. 

The only other “storage space” houses the wireless phone charger, which isn’t a place you want to toss spare change or keys. If Subaru could find a way to squeeze in another little nook or shelf somewhere up front (perhaps within the storage bin), that could come in handy for everyday items. 

Other potential issues? Rosquin noted the “annoying” seat belt chime, though I find it cheerful. He’s also miffed that the drive mode resets to “Intelligent” every time you shut the engine off; there is no way to keep the Crosstrek in Sport mode, so you have to press the button on the steering wheel each time you start the car. I agree with him there, though I have yet to feel the need to explore Sport vs. Intelligent drive mode in much depth yet.  

Subaru Crosstrek Rear Seats: Depends on Where You Sit 

The rear seats offer a surprising amount of space—if you’re in the two outboard ones. Average-sized adults should have no problem getting comfortable back there; I’m 5’11”, and with the driver’s seat set for myself, I had plenty of room in the rear. I have yet to spend much time ferrying multiple passengers, but for quick stints they feel just as comfortable as the front seats.

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As in most vehicles, the center seat is a different story. The backrest contains a fold-down armrest with cupholders, and it sure feels like that’s what you’re leaning against when you sit there. The transmission tunnel eats up virtually all your foot space. Even the seat belt feels awkward; when not in use, it stows behind the seats in the cargo area. It’s simple enough to pull over and connect, but it might take a minute to figure out if you’re not using it every day. 

The cupholders in the fold-down armrest are shallow, only about 2 inches deep. They seem to work well enough to prevent a drink from spilling, but not so well that I wouldn’t constantly worry about whether a drink could spill. Thankfully, each door also has a bottle holder. 

Rear passengers also get two charging ports of their own—like the front, one USB-A and one USB-C. But the back doesn’t have any air vents. Only the front passenger seat has a seat-back pocket, though outside of road trips with two kids in tow, each wanting a spot to keep a phone, a tablet, maybe even an actual book, that might not be a problem for most. If you want to fit a third kid back there, be prepared to break up fights. But if you’re hauling a brood that big on the regular, perhaps a subcompact SUV isn’t an ideal choice anyway. If you can swing the extra $7,000 or so for a similarly equipped Subaru Outback, you’ll likely be glad you did. Your kids will be, too, because the center rear seat is the only place where passenger comfort seems to suffer for the Crosstrek’s tidy dimensions.

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Subaru Crosstrek Cargo Area: Compact but Convenient Enough 

Like with the rear seats, a lot here depends on how many folks you have in tow. For everyday duties with a small family, it’s perfectly adequate in size. On a road trip for two, you won’t have any problem fitting all your stuff, either. But if your destination includes camping and all the requisite gear, space might be tight. And being a Wilderness model, you probably will at least consider camping. Rosquin reported fitting three suitcases, a cooler bag, and backpacks without a problem.

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Aside from its dimensions, which you’ll notice immediately on opening the rear hatch and can determine for yourself if it’s of adequate size, the cargo area also has a few less obvious features, including multiple bag hooks and tie-down anchors to keep items secure. The cargo area floor also has a rubber mat to protect it from whatever you happen to throw back there, which is a nice feature when dealing with dirty items. It’s a bit of a pain to remove if you need to clean it or access the spare tire, but the extra couple minutes you spend fighting with a floppy mat are worth knowing the carpet will stay clean. (All-weather floor liners are a $141 extra on other Crosstrek trims but included with the Wilderness.) 

There’s also a cargo cover to keep your things out of sight. It’s easy to pull into place and release, and if you need to remove it entirely, that’s pretty straightforward, too. The owner’s manual suggests it can stow in the underfloor storage area, but in practice, doing so requires giving up the cargo area’s flat load floor. That area also houses the spare tire, and there isn't room for the cargo cover to fully nestle below the floor; it works, but it’s awkward. If I needed to remove it, I’d prefer to leave it at home. 

Some other convenient touches back there: cupholders molded into the floor and the rear gate light, both of which would come in handy while camping or tailgating. I’ve arrived at many a campsite well past nightfall and struggled with a headlamp to unload the essentials just so we can sleep. All Crosstreks can have that little light installed by a dealer for $65, but it’s standard equipment on the Wilderness trim.

Just-Right Size For Two, Tight For Four or More 

Whether the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness has an appealing interior or leaves too much to be desired heavily depends on how many people you need to accommodate. For two people, the front passenger space has everything you need from a mainstream crossover and little you don’t. The rear space forces a few more compromises, though many of them are inherent to the subcompact SUV class and not flaws with the Crosstrek in particular. As long as you don’t plan to transport four or five people regularly and keep your in-car clutter to a minimum, you’ll be happy choosing the Crosstrek Wilderness as your new companion.

For More On Our Long-Term 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: 

• 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Arrival: Ready for Adventure? 

• 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Yearlong Review: An Unplanned Road Trip and Surprise Snow Present Learning Opportunities 
• 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Yearlong Review: On-Road Compromises?