Better Subaru hybrid powertrains coming

Subaru Australia has moved to assure customers it is working on a more efficient hybrid drivetrain, following a lacklustre response to the brand’s current petrol-electric technology.

Hybrid versions of the Subaru XV and Subaru Forester were met with a lukewarm response upon their arrival in Australia in 2020, delivering minimal fuel savings while imposing hefty premiums over their petrol stablemates.

Now, Subaru Australia has revealed there is a fix in the works, and it could arrive as early as the first quarter of next year with the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek – the all-new replacement for the Subaru XV small SUV.

“It will happen short-term… advancements in hybrid technology are in the pipeline and are coming,” confirmed Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read.

“I can’t share a timeline at this stage,” he added.

The Crosstrek appears a likely candidate to debut Subaru’s updated hybrid technology, given it’s a next-generation model that will replace the long-running XV.

Asked directly whether the Crosstrek would be first to introduce Subaru’s new hybrid technology, Read said: “I can’t comment on that”.

Further afield, Subaru Australia says there is appetite for updated hybrid technology to feature in the next-generation Subaru Forester, which is also set to appear in Australia in 2023.

“We would absolutely love an advancement in Forester with hybrid,” Read said. “There’s a really strong place for that.”

“With Forester coming out next year and with new Impreza having just been announced, we’ve gone full circle. Forester is the next logical model that’s due for a next generation.”

Subaru also remains open to plug-in hybrid technology in Australia, having witnessed a lift in engagement for the technology amid increasing electrification.

“Australia hasn’t really adopted plug-in hybrid technology and in a lot of markets it has been that case,” Read admitted.

“But as EVs become more prominent to a lot of people, plug-in hybrid technology seems to be coming back as a focus.

“Subaru does have a limited plug-in hybrid range that they’ve trialled on a couple of products, so we keep looking at the variety of options as for what’s right. But no immediate plans for plug-in technology.”

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