- Subaru just announced the most powerful Crosstrek yet—a 2026 Hybrid due later this year
- Gas-powered trims make either 152 hp or 182 hp, while the new Hybrid punches out 194
- Ground clearance remains 220 mm, and there doesn’t seem to be a Wilderness version (yet)
Jumping on board the electrification train, Subaru said mid-January that it will introduce a hybrid variant of its popular Crosstrek later this year. It will be powered by Subaru’s own boxer engine, meaning what’s under the hood isn’t a total shack-up with some other manufacturer. A 2.5L boxer-style four-cylinder engine, familiar to anyone who has driven a Subie recently, will be paired with an electric motor generator and electric traction motor to combine for 194 horsepower. The non-electrified 2.5L Crosstrek makes 182 ponies. A lithium-ion battery has a 1.1-kWh capacity.
The all-wheel-drive system is said to remain mechanically coupled to the front and rear wheels, unlike some other vehicles in the field which produce all-wheel-drive solely thanks to an electric motor hanging out on the rear axle. That’s not a bad approach, just different than the one Subaru is choosing to take. Likely, this method allows for greater parts sharing with non-hybrid Crosstreks, and permits the brand to accurately maintain its marketing schtick of so-called Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive.
Ground clearance is said to remain 8.7 inches (220 mm), same as all other trims save for the chunky Wilderness, a detail which inadvertently seems to confirm there isn’t a Wilderness Hybrid—at least not at launch.
While there are sometimes a few trim differences between what’s on offer in in American and Canadian showrooms, it would make sense for Subaru to make this powertrain available in the Great White North.
According to the bumf from south of the border, the Hybrid trim will arrive with snazzy features such as the brand’s EyeSight driver assist system; and an optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which should drag the car nicely in line with competitors.
It isn’t immediately clear if the Hybrid comes standard with the jumbo 11.6-inch infotainment tablet; or if there will be a base model with the weirdo double-decker arrangement as well. We look forward to seeing this thing in the new Citron Yellow paint option.
In Canada last year, Subaru had banner sales of 68,043 units shuffling out the door, far exceeding the previous annual sales record of 58,070 deliveries set in 2018. All by itself, the Crosstrek accounted for 28,303 (41.6%) of those sales, a ratio which is likely to climb even higher with the introduction of a hybrid powertrain.
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