Four-year-olds across America screamed, "I want that now!" when the 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness debuted at the New York Auto Show earlier this month. Adult Crosstrek fans across the country were immediately let down upon learning the compact crossover trim they'd been clamoring for is powered by the same naturally aspirated 2.5-liter boxer as the previous generation.

Full disclosure: This writer owns a 2022 Crosstrek Sport with that tried and true (and now updated) 2.5 and accepts it for what it is and what it isn't but is far less forgiving of that consistently noisy CVT.

While it came as no surprise that Subaru stuck with the CVT - which to its credit, it managed to quiet down - the lack of the new 2.4-liter four-cylinder that powers the BRZ and WRX (with a turbocharger) is a painful loss.

It's technically and mechanically possible for it to work because the WRX and Crosstrek both ride on the Subaru Global Platform. They're essentially the same vehicle, so why didn't Subaru go with an engine with 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque over 182 hp and 176 lb-ft?

Fix The Design

"The Crosstrek Wilderness joins our Wilderness family as the most affordable and accessible member. The specifications and contents of the vehicle were carefully chosen [to] deliver significant improvements in off-road capability while maintaining this position within the Wilderness family and also within the Subaru portfolio," a Subaru spokesperson told CarBuzz.

This brings us to the little matter of exterior styling. Did Subaru poach designers from the Tonka Toy art department? One of the many reasons Subaru has millions of enduring owners - half of whom live in Boulder, Colorado (just sayin') - is the quirky but not quite ugly styling. Subarus will never win a beauty contest, but they do have the potential to move adventure-influenced styling forward in ways no other automaker does.

But the Crosstrek Wilderness just has Way. Too. Much. Body. Cladding. The yellow trim on the roof rack and front bumper is fine, but the black plastic fest happening almost everywhere else ruins what could be a much cleaner and - dare we say - mature design.

WRX It

How's this for an idea; the Crosstrek WRX? Subaru, you have everything necessary to make that happen. Engine? Check. Improved CVT? Six-speed manual possibility? STI tuning assistance? All check.

Tack on a set of all-terrain tires with an appropriate offset and a WRX badge that anyone can source from eBay, and you've got an incredible rally-inspired jacked-up hatchback. If neither a proper Wilderness nor WRX happens, then some owners such as this one will be forced to take matters into their own hands.

Here's how. An engine swap by waiting for someone to wreck their new WRX or BRZ but somehow managed to avoid damaging the powertrain. Buy the rest of what you need, like the tires and wheels elsewhere, and find a spare WRX or Wilderness badge, and you're golden.

Please don't make the people wait too long, Subaru.