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Subaru’s Next EV Won’t Be Small—and It Won’t Be Alone

Subaru is about to get a lot more serious about electric family hauling. After dipping its toe into the EV world with the compact Solterra, the brand is preparing to add something much bigger, bolder, and more suburban-friendly: a three-row electric SUV aimed squarely at the heart of today’s electric crossover boom.

And no, Subaru isn’t developing it from scratch.

Just like the Solterra is essentially a Toyota bZ4X in hiking boots, Subaru’s upcoming three-row EV will be a rebadged version of Toyota’s new all-electric Highlander-sized SUV. Toyota and Subaru first confirmed the shared project back in 2023, promising production would begin in 2025. That timeline has slipped, but Subaru of America COO Jeff Walters recently reassured Automotive News that the project is very much alive—and due to hit showrooms later this year.

Subaru is positioning the new EV as a second car for households that already have a garage and a charger. In other words, this isn’t meant to replace your Outback just yet—it’s meant to park next to it. It will slot above the Solterra and alongside Subaru’s other Toyota-derived EVs, the Uncharted and Trailseeker, forming the backbone of Subaru’s still-nascent U.S. electric lineup.

A Highlander in Subaru Clothing

If you’re expecting Subaru to dramatically rework Toyota’s design, don’t. History suggests we’ll see the usual playbook: a unique front and rear fascia, Subaru-specific trim pieces, and some brand-appropriate badges, but otherwise the same vehicle underneath. That’s been the story with the Solterra and Toyota bZ4X, and it’s how the Uncharted borrows heavily from the Toyota C-HR.

That said, Subaru could give this new three-row EV a slightly tougher look. The company has made a habit of leaning into its outdoorsy image when given the chance, and the Uncharted already wears more rugged styling than its Toyota counterpart. Expect plastic cladding, roof rails, and just enough visual muscle to convince buyers this thing might actually see a gravel road.

Underneath, though, it will be Toyota’s SUV through and through.

Toyota Finally Enters the Big-EV Fight

Toyota’s new three-row electric SUV is expected to closely follow the bZ Large concept it previewed a few years ago. If that show car was any indication, the production version will look like a stretched and slightly bulked-up version of the current Toyota bZ, with a clean, futuristic design and the proportions needed to challenge the big dogs of the segment.

And it needs to. The electric three-row SUV market is no longer empty. The Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 have already planted their flags, offering real space, real range, and real family-friendly features. Toyota’s entry—along with Subaru’s clone—finally gives the Japanese brands something to fight back with.

A Lexus Version Is Probably Coming Too

Toyota won’t be the only one spinning this platform into something new. Reports suggest Lexus is also preparing a premium version of the same electric three-row SUV, likely called the TZ. It would serve as the electric counterpart to the gas-powered Lexus TX, further spreading Toyota’s EV architecture across multiple brands.

So from one electric SUV platform, Toyota will get a mainstream family hauler, Subaru will get a ruggedized version, and Lexus will get a luxury one. That’s modern automotive efficiency at work.

For Subaru, this three-row EV could be a turning point. The Solterra has struggled to stand out, but a practical, family-sized electric SUV—especially one that doesn’t cost luxury-car money—could be exactly what the brand needs to finally gain traction in the EV space.

And if nothing else, it proves one thing: Subaru’s electric future will be built not alone, but side-by-side with Toyota.

Source: Subaru

NEW CARS

Subaru WRX STI Sport# Prototype: Close Enough to Dream, Too Far to Care

Subaru has never been shy about rolling concepts onto brightly lit auto-show turntables, especially when three little letters—S, T, and I—are involved. The latest to wear that promise is the awkwardly titled WRX STI Sport# Prototype, a car that sounds like a limited-edition keyboard shortcut and drives expectations straight into a wall.

After weeks of teasing that strongly hinted at a proper Impreza-based STI revival, Subaru instead unveiled this prototype at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and the collective enthusiasm of rally faithful immediately dropped a gear. What stood before them wasn’t the long-awaited return of a fire-breathing STI, but rather a mildly sharpened WRX wearing a name that implies more ambition than execution.

That disappointment stings more sharply when you consider the WRX’s current status. Subaru quietly pulled the plug on the model in the UK back in 2017, but the rally-bred sedan has soldiered on elsewhere, reaching its sixth generation in 2023. The bones are still there: symmetrical all-wheel drive, boxer power, and a chassis that wants to be driven hard. What’s missing, once again, is the sense of escalation that made past STIs legends rather than trim levels.

Subaru is being characteristically vague about the mechanical specifics of the STI Sport# Prototype, which usually means there’s nothing particularly exciting to report. Under the hood sits the familiar turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four, shared with the standard WRX and producing around 270 horsepower. That output would’ve impressed us a decade ago; today, it barely raises an eyebrow in a segment crowded with turbo fours pushing well north of 300 horses. Power is routed to all four wheels—because of course it is—through a six-speed transmission, but Subaru hasn’t suggested any meaningful drivetrain upgrades beyond that.

Visually, the prototype sticks close to the existing WRX playbook. You get the same wide bodywork, aggressive bumpers, quad exhaust tips, and lip spoiler. Subaru spices things up with red-accented extended side skirts, 19-inch wheels, gold Brembo brakes, and Recaro bucket seats inside. It looks purposeful enough, but it’s also unmistakably familiar—more “special edition” than “engineering statement.”

And that’s the core problem. Historically, the STI badge meant more than bolt-on aggression. It stood for harder suspension tuning, sharper steering, beefier diffs, and an engine that made a clear case for its existence. The STI Sport# Prototype doesn’t appear to deliver any of that. There’s no bump in power worth mentioning, no talk of chassis reengineering, and no visual cues bold enough to separate it meaningfully from a well-optioned WRX.

This is especially frustrating given that Subaru clearly knows how to do better. Just a few months earlier, at the Japan Mobility Show, the company showed off far more compelling performance concepts. The Performance-B STI, based on the current WRX, looked like a proper heir to the badge, while the all-electric Performance-E STI suggested a future where Subaru performance might evolve rather than stall. Subaru even claimed the latter “represents the future of the Performance Scene,” which makes this prototype feel even more like a placeholder.

For diehard fans, the STI Sport# Prototype lands in an uncomfortable middle ground. It’s not offensive, but it’s not inspiring either. It wears the uniform, carries the name, and checks the marketing boxes—but it never quite earns its badge. In a world where competitors are pushing boundaries with hybrid assist, adaptive chassis tech, and serious power gains, Subaru’s latest STI tease feels like a reminder of what once was, not a preview of what’s coming.

If this is Subaru testing the waters for an STI comeback, let’s hope the final version dives deeper. Because right now, the WRX STI Sport# Prototype doesn’t so much light the fuse as it gently taps the match against the box—and walks away.

Source: Subaru

NEW CARS

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Keeps It Simple—and That’s the Point

Among subcompact hybrid SUVs, the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid lands comfortably near the top of the class—not because it’s flashy or futuristic, but because it understands something many automakers seem to have forgotten: most people just want a car that works.

The Crosstrek Hybrid Subaru sent over was a Limited trim, second from the top of the lineup, with a starting price of $36,415. Add a $1,600 options package and the as-tested sticker climbs to $38,015. That money buys you a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10-way power driver’s seat, and Subaru’s usual all-weather, all-roads confidence. Hybrid badge or not, the Crosstrek’s mission remains unchanged—be dependable, predictable, and easy to live with.

The Tech: A Mixed Bag

Let’s address the biggest flaw early, because you’ll notice it immediately: the touchscreen. Subaru’s portrait-oriented infotainment display looks modern enough, but its performance is anything but. Inputs are met with hesitation, occasional lag, and the kind of delays that make you tap the screen twice just to be sure it heard you the first time.

The screen’s layout doesn’t help matters. The vertical orientation and small fonts can make information difficult to read at a glance, which is exactly what you don’t want while driving. Climate control is partially handled by physical buttons—temperature and defrost get real switches—but everything else lives inside the touchscreen menus. Adjusting fan direction or digging into deeper climate settings requires too much attention away from the road.

Our advice? Connect Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and minimize your interaction with Subaru’s native interface. The saving grace here is that Subaru had the good sense to keep the heated-seat and heated-steering-wheel controls as physical buttons—simple, tactile, and usable without looking.

Driver Assists Done Right (Mostly)

Every 2026 Crosstrek comes standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance suite, including adaptive cruise control with lane centering. The controls are neatly arranged on the right-hand side of the steering wheel, and on the highway, the system works smoothly and confidently. It keeps the Crosstrek centered in its lane and manages traffic without the jittery corrections that plague some competitors.

The downside is the EyeSight sensor pod itself, mounted high on the windshield near the rearview mirror. It does intrude slightly into your forward view. That said, placing the sensors there also keeps them safer from road debris and winter grime, which is a very Subaru trade-off to make.

Digital Gauges, Analog Humor

This Limited-trim Crosstrek Hybrid gets a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster. As with many modern digital clusters, it proudly displays… a pair of analog-style gauges. There’s something unintentionally funny about replacing physical dials with a screen, only to recreate the dials digitally. Still, the display is clear, legible day and night, and features a starlit mountain backdrop that feels appropriately outdoorsy.

The backup camera, however, is underwhelming. The wide-angle view is useful, but image quality is low, and the camera feed appears small relative to the amount of screen real estate available. Subaru could—and should—do better here.

A Small Win for Old-School Audio

In an era where physical media has all but vanished from new cars, the Crosstrek Hybrid sneaks in a delightful anachronism: an auxiliary audio jack. No, there’s no CD player, but the presence of a 3.5-mm input feels like a small act of rebellion. It’s practically useless for most modern phones, but if you’re still clinging to an old iPod or dedicated music player, you’ll appreciate it.

And yes, the removal of the smartphone headphone jack remains one of the worst “advancements” in consumer tech. We’ll die on that hill.

Comfort and Space: Sensible Priorities

Inside, orange contrast stitching adds a bit of visual flair to the otherwise straightforward cabin. The front seats are comfortable over long drives, with power adjustment for the driver and manual controls for the passenger. Both front seats are heated, with buttons located exactly where you expect them to be—on the center console.

The rear seats are more upright but still supportive. Headroom is acceptable, though taller passengers may find legroom a bit tight. Rear-seat amenities are sparse: no air vents, just two USB ports (one USB-A, one USB-C) and hard plastic door panels. This is par for the course in the subcompact segment.

Cargo space takes a small hit compared to the nonhybrid Crosstrek—18.6 cubic feet versus 19.9—but the difference is barely noticeable. Even with the second row up, the Crosstrek Hybrid is competitive, suggesting Subaru prioritized cargo utility over rear passenger space. The load floor is slightly high, thanks to the Crosstrek’s extra ground clearance, which shorter users may notice.

The Subaru Feeling

What stands out most about the Crosstrek Hybrid is how quickly it feels familiar. The ergonomics are intuitive, visibility is excellent thanks to a low beltline and large windows, and thoughtful storage touches—like staggered cupholders and door-handle pockets—make daily driving easier. There’s even a wireless charging pad positioned exactly where your phone naturally ends up.

Subaru claims this generation is quieter than before, and while that’s probably true, the engine still makes its presence known under hard acceleration. It’s not offensive, but it’s far from refined.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid isn’t trying to reinvent the subcompact SUV. It doesn’t wow with cutting-edge tech or futuristic design. Instead, it offers something arguably more valuable: a sense of ease. It’s approachable, predictable, and thoughtfully laid out—a car that feels like it was designed by people who actually drive.

And in a market obsessed with novelty, that kind of competence feels refreshingly old-school.

Source: Subaru; Photos: Caranddriver