Before I buy the Wilderness...
I'm *this close* to pulling the trigger on a '26 Crosstrek Wilderness w/ the speakers/moonroof package, but first I wanted to see if I could get any last words of objection or encouragement, because truth-be-told, I REALLY struggled with this decision.
I am a current Crosstrek owner — 2016 Premium. Being the first car I'd ever purchased brand new, I loved it. It was simple and straightforward, no bells and whistles to distract me. It's at 120k miles now and has had no major issues. But I know it's time to move on.
Consideration 1: 2026 Premium = it's a NO :(
From the jump, I was fully prepared to get another CT Premium, but let me tell you, I HATE (hate hate hate) the fabric of the seats. It feels so unbelievably cheap IMO. And the steering wheel also feels whack (industry term). Overall, it feels like it would be a downgrade from my current vehicle, even though it's trim to trim. So that makes it a no for me.
Consideration 2: 2026 Sport = NO
Since the Sport is essentially the same vehicle with some cosmetic differences, that's a no too. (Plus there's no moonroof package option in the Sport, which I would like.)
Consideration 3: 2026 Limited = NO?
Then there's the Limited. On paper, it has everything I need and want, but I don't want leather seats. It gets hot to the touch in summer (esp b/c it only comes in dark colors), it holds heat/doesn't have much breathability, and it can get damaged easily (I have a dog and am a regular yard-saler/trash-picker). So when it comes to the Limited, the seat fabric is the ONLY thing that makes it a no for me.
(Weird that these are all coming down to seat fabric, right? But here we are...)
*Edit to note: Overall I don't want a hybrid because my husband does maintenance on my car, and this adds some unknowns, and I also want a spare tire on board, which the hybrids don't have.
Consideration 4: 2026 Wilderness = YES-ish
So I'm about a month into my quest/research/overthinking, and am seriously considering the Wilderness. I like the lifted feel (even though it's not that much taller, after test driving it a couple of times back-to-back with a Sport, it does feel a little higher.) I like the StarTex fabric, which I've read doesn't get as hot or hold as much heat as leather. And it's easier to clean/tougher for more rugged use. I like the package offering (moonroof, speaker upgrade, power seats). However, I do NOT need it for its ruggedness. My husband and I camp, but we take his truck. I don't need to tow, I don't need the torque, and the height off the ground isn't make or break for me. I DO live in New England, so knowing it will handle snow, ditches, and potholes easily is a plus. I also do love to explore randomly as I'm driving, so it's not uncommon for me to "see where this little dirt road leads to...oops, it's a house, sorry, bye."
So now I turn to you, my trusty Crosstrek diehards. Please be honest: will I regret getting this vehicle knowing it would be my daily driver, and not so much an adventuring vehicle (though I would use it from time to time on some interesting roads or to camp here and there). But essentially, I'm looking at city/suburban roads, paved country roads, and highway. Will I feel a difference on, say, highway, where I will have wished I didn't get this car? Is the vibration from the rugged tires obnoxious? Or is that negligible? I know gas mileage is something to consider, but I'm not as worried about that.
Thanks so much for any input/advice. You've all already been super helpful in another post from when my research first started, and just from reading about everyone's experiences in other threads. 🙏