Subaru plans to turn its SUVs into long-range hybrids

Subaru has confirmed working on a breakthrough powertrain meant to make its Crosstrek and Forester models much more drivable in long trips. Although both are already available as hybrids, this new powertrain promises more power and range at the same time.

The old 2.0-liter engine gets ditched in favor of a carefully tuned 2.5-liter unit rated at 160 PS (158 hp / 118 kW) and 209 Nm (154 lb-ft) of torque. An electric motor assists it with 120 PS (118 hp / 88 kW) and 270 Nm (201 lb-ft) of its own. The peak combined output remains to be confirmed, but Subaru claims both SUVs will shave off two full seconds from their 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint times.

Another improvement comes in the form of a battery pack almost twice as large as the original. It is still tiny at 1.1 kilowatt-hours, meaning you won’t be able to charge it up from external sources, but Subaru assures that drivers will nonetheless be able to go in all three modes (ICE, hybrid and full-electric) whenever they want. This innovative approach to hybridization is called serial-parallel.

As a result, both the new Crosstrek and the Forester will consume 20% less fuel from their larger 63-liter gas tank. The Crosstrek in particular will run more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) on a single tank in most scenarios. The company actually reckons that both may go down in history as its longest-range vehicles. Oh, and the usual crankshaft-based AWD system stays in place, in case you were wondering.

Subaru plans to launch the new Crosstrek in Japan this December, with the Forester set to follow in April 2025.