As the SUV craze of the past decade has continued to evolve, automakers have leaned into a tougher aesthetic, spinning up more rugged versions of crossovers that are still far more at home on grocery runs than blazing new trails. That shift has given rise to trims like TrailSport, first introduced on the Honda Passport, and Wilderness on the Subaru Outback, both arriving for the 2022 model year with a promise of added capability and attitude.In practice, these packages deliver modest upgrades aimed at improving life off the tarmac, including slightly increased ride height, extra underbody cladding, and all-terrain tires, and typically in combination with styling tweaks meant to project a harder-edged persona. It's a formula that doesn't radically transform the driving experience, but it has struck a chord with buyers, at least for some brands, if sales figures are anything to go by. Shoppers Can't Resist The Off-Road Image Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetAutomakers generally don't break down sales by individual trims, but Honda provided a glimpse when announcing its first-quarter 2026 results for the US market. According to the company, 80% of Passport buyers opted for the TrailSport trim. Total Passport sales for the quarter were 14,045 units, up 20.1% year over year.Mind you, the Passport is positioned as the most rugged SUV in the Honda lineup, so it's natural that it has the highest take-up rate for the TrailSport trim. Still, 80% is a significant number, especially as TrailSport is one of the more expensive trims. Buyers can also choose TrailSport on the Pilot, Ridgeline, and hybrid versions of the CR-V, but Honda has not disclosed take-up rates for those models.Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/ValnetThe popularity of Honda’s TrailSport appears to be eating into sales of other brands with similar rugged trims. Subaru, which helped pioneer the soft-roader segment with multiple generations of the Outback, experienced much lower take-up rates for its Wilderness trim in the first quarter. Crosstrek and Forester buyers selected Wilderness a little over 10% of the time, while Outback buyers chose it around 14%, which a Subaru spokesperson told CarBuzz was slightly lower than usual.Nissan is another brand operating in this space with its Rock Creek trim, first introduced for the 2020 model year on the Nissan Pathfinder and more recently on the Rogue. Like Honda, Nissan is somewhat upbeat on the trim’s performance. Without providing specific numbers, a Nissan spokesperson told CarBuzz that the brand is seeing continued demand for rugged trims and is catering to this with Rock Creek, which particularly resonates with younger buyers, many of whom are new to the brand. Hybrid Power Could Give Wilderness A Lift Brett Evans / CarBuzz / ValnetFor decades, Subaru had the soft-roader segment largely to itself, at least among mainstream brands. While Audi and Volvo offered limited wagons with off-road upgrades similar to the Outback, Subaru was the go-to choice for budget-conscious buyers seeking all-weather capability with car-like handling. Now, with rivals like Honda’s TrailSport and Nissan’s Rock Creek also in the mainstream arena, Subaru faces increased competition, which may help explain the lower take-up rates for its own Wilderness trim.The launch of the 2027 Subaru Forester Wilderness Hybrid at last week’s New York Auto Show could help provide a lift. By combining the rugged styling and enhanced capability of the Wilderness trim with hybrid power, buyers get the same adventurous look and feel while also benefiting from improved fuel efficiency. That combination is especially appealing amid rising gas prices and growing interest in electrified powertrains.