Why Subaru plans to go electric

Subaru is one of the smaller Japanese car makers, and yet it is embracing electrification in the face of enormous Chinese competition. How come? 

While big car makers can hedge their bets selling both electric and combustion vehicles, Subaru cannot. That’s why Solterra is essentially a Toyota co-development, as are the upcoming E-Outback and Uncharted. And while Subaru only sells 30,000 vehicles in Europe per annum, it has to offer a full battery-electric vehicle there to be competitive. 

The company is struggling in China where electrification is going gangbusters but it sells 700,000 new vehicles per annum in the US. America accounts for around three-quarters of its volume. Subaru was the eighth-best selling brand last year, ahead of Volkswagen. Initially the brand didn’t sell that well in the US but new pricing and a fresh marketing strategy with an outdoors focus changed all that. 

The Japanese firm aims to increase global sales from almost one million last year to around 1.2 million by 2030. It hopes that half of those will be electric. 

While Subaru has developed a full-hybrid powertrain (e-Boxer), it isn’t looking at plug-in hybrid or range-extender EV technology on account of cost.

Dello Stritto, Subaru’s European boss, says the company will transition directly to EV as it doesn’t have the resources to develop a PHEV.

He added: “I have to convince long-standing loyal Subaru buyers that it’s okay not to have a boxer engine any more.” That’s quite an ask.

Since the STI and rallying glory days, the current line-up is rather different, SUV dominated. It includes the Crosstrek, Outback, Forester and Solterra electric SUVs. These aren’t the high-performance cars of a bygone era. The brand survives in some parts because of loyal customers, many onto their fifth or sixth Subaru. It also brings in new buyers who prioritise safety.

The plan in the EU is to use EV technology to double down on Subaru features. Solterra, for example, is only offered as a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain.

E-Outback aka Trailseeker

The E-Outback is Subaru’s third electric vehicle. Also known as Trailseeker in the US, it sits on the same Toyota-developed platform but features more Subaru parts and technology and will be built by Subaru itself. Compared with the Solterra, it is boxier, more estate-like, akin to the current Outback. 

Like Solterra, this has a six-element headlight signature. Both cars also have 211mm of ground clearance. The E-Outback also features faux skid plates, roof rails and large sections of black plastic cladding for a more rugged look.

The cabin highlight is a 14-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, and buttons for adjusting the cabin temperature. There’s a small instrument display and a rotary gear selector on the centre console.

Chassis updates result in less cabin NVH and improved handling, like with new Forester. 

The E-Outback’s chassis and powertrain have been tuned to handle tough off-road conditions. There are Snow/Dirt or Deep Snow/Mud, and HDC.

Read our review of Subaru Solterra.

Its motors offer combined power output of 280kW, so a sprint time of 4.4sec is the result. Braked towing capacity is a claimed 1588kg. Its 75kWh battery pack offers up to 446km of range. An optimum 10 to 80 per cent top up will take 35min. No luggage capacity details are to hand but expect more than Solterra. There is no frunk storage.

Uncharted territory

The other EV coming is the Uncharted, a rugged reworking of Toyota’s C-HR+. It will have identically sized electric motors on each axle to offer balanced all-wheel drive capability. 

Compared to the Crosstrek, the Uncharted is 35mm longer, 70mm wider, and 25mm taller. The wheelbase is also 80mm longer than the Crosstrek’s but some 100mm shorter than that of the Solterra so it is the compact offering in the electric line-up. However, ride height is raised to 210mm, and there’s body cladding and solid roof rails. 

Based on the e-Subaru Global Platform, the Uncharted has two battery sizes, with front- and four-wheel-drive powertrains available.

The electric Subaru has a different suspension and steering tune to the C-HR+, giving it added agility, says Subaru. It also gets the same suite of off-road driving modes as the Forester. 

The entry-level model is fitted with a 123kW front-mounted electric motor and a 58kWh battery pack giving up to 442km of range.

Models fitted with the 77kWh battery can be had as a single-motor, front-wheel drive model that makes 165kW and has range of 580km. The twin-motor model has 467km of range. With 252kW it zips to 100km/h in 5.0sec and tows up to 1500kg. Hooked up to a 150kW fast charger, any of these models can recharge in 30min.

Both Uncharted and E-Outback will launch next year, the former early in 2026, the latter soon after overseas.

Electrification offers Subaru a means to reconnect with its STI performance heritage. The future STI will be electric, fast and feature a characteristic blue colour with gold wheels.

Subaru also has several more EVs in the works, some developed entirely in-house, due for release from 2028 onwards.