A Hybrid Subaru Outback Could Be Coming Soon

Subaru’s Electrification Journey

Subaru doesn’t have the operational scale of Toyota or Honda, which likely explains why it’s taking baby steps towards electrification. The company’s electrification journey began in 2013 with the Crosstrek hybrid, followed by the Forester e-Boxer in 2019.

With a bit of help from Toyota, Subaru launched its first EV with the Solterra in 2023. It’s currently complemented by the new Crosstrek hybrid and the Forester hybrid. But soon, there might be a third model joining the range.

The Outback Could be Next

Nearly all of Subaru’s competitors have a hybrid model for every class, whether in the U.S. or abroad. However, Subaru is limited to only two models, and perhaps it’s about time they expanded their electrified lineup.

Now, it seems that it could happen soon. Australia’s Drive reports that the newly redesigned Outback could quickly get a hybrid option. Subaru Outback product manager Toshihiro Ohya told the publication during the Japan Mobility Show, “Hybrid… we are considering some power unit, but we have not decided the next power unit.”

That was in response to Australia’s looming emissions rules that penalize automakers with higher-than-average emissions. Think CAFE standards, but Down Under, and yes, they’re pretty strict down there too.

What Could Power It?

The likeliest candidate we can think of could be found in the Crosstrek and Forester hybrid. It’s a 2.5-liter engine paired to two motors and a 1.1kWh battery that’s good for 194 horsepower, with the electric motor putting out 199 lb-ft of torque.

It’s not exactly a ball of fire, but Subaru’s current hybrid setup delivers more punch than the base engine in the current Outback, which we found a bit lethargic. For reference, the non-turbocharged models make 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. It also does 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. Sprinkling in some electrified bits should help it consistently stay above 30 mpg, even with some traffic.

That said, the Outback is a larger vehicle so that it might need a little more grunt. Could there be a turbo-hybrid in development? It’s hard to tell at the moment, but Subaru does have the hardware to get the Outback hybrid started.