New Subaru Crosstrek to gain Wilderness and upgraded hybrid variants

Subaru Australia is looking to expand its newly released 2023 Subaru Crosstrek range to include the tougher Wilderness flagship and upgraded hybrid powertrain technology in the future, local executives have confirmed.

Speaking at the local launch of the all-new small SUV, which replaces the popular XV, Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read said there are more variants in the pipeline that will broaden the initial five-grade Crosstrek portfolio.

The strategy comes amid high sales hopes for the new Crosstrek, which replaces a model that found almost 110,000 Aussie homes during its 10-year run.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so far,” said Read of Crosstrek.

“In the pre-orders that we’ve had and the cars that have reached dealerships so far, people are positive and they understand the evolution. The name change hasn’t been a sticking point.

“Until now, the XV has been about 25 per cent of the total sales volume for Subaru, so a strong sales mix in the SUV range between Forester, Outback and XV playing for a similar share of sales. Our ambition is for this model to carry on from where XV has been – to keep that going and growing.”

One Crosstrek variant that doesn’t appear likely for Australia is a version powered by the new 2.4-litre turbo-petrol boxer engine employed in the new Subaru Outback XT.

However, the new Crosstrek Wilderness model launched in the US last month is being closely looked at by Subaru Australia, Read said.

Finished in a signature Wilderness blue and orange colour scheme, the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness rides 21mm higher than the standard model, boasting 236mm of ground clearance via upgraded suspension and chunky Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tyres. It also features significant underbody upgrades and a beefier 136kW/239Nm 2.5-litre engine.

“With Crosstrek Wilderness just being launched, there is an opportunity with that as well. We’ll look at that,” said Read.

Further afield, Read said improved hybrid technology loomed for the Crosstrek – but not overnight.

Globally, Subaru has communicated its intention to establish a dedicated hybrid production line in Japan, tasked with delivering a raft of new hybrid models by the mid-2020s.

“Our preference would be hybrid evolution,” said Read.

“There is evolution coming in the Subaru hybrid range and in that technology, not just yet but in the pipeline to come here soon.

“So there will be evolution in this product over its lifecycle. It won’t be this year but it will come across in some of the product.”

Until then, Read promises strong supplies of the new Crosstrek across Australia, with the exception of hybrid variants.

“We have a good supply of stock to begin with and good ongoing support from the factory,” he said.

“In our initial pre-orders, 20 per cent has been for hybrid. That’s meant with the allocation that we’ve got there’s a six- to eight-month lead time. That’s the time from placing the order to it arriving if you place an order today. But it’s something we’re working on improving.

“For the rest of the range, cars will either be coming in and available, or on hand in a four- to six-week period.”

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