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Hybrid power is being weighed up for Subaru's new-generation, SUV-styled wagon to cut fuel use and CO2 below today's thirsty petrol engines.
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An electrified boost is being considered for the Subaru Outback high-riding wagon, as a more fuel-efficient alternative to the current 2.5-litre non-turbo and 2.4-litre turbo petrol options.
It comes as the new-generation turbo Outback is set to emit more CO2 – and consume more fuel – than its predecessor, despite the introduction of emissions rules on new cars in Australia that will penalise manufacturers for selling too many high-CO2 vehicles.
Subaru is in the midst of a rollout of improved hybrid models combining its 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and battery sourced from Toyota, debuting in the Forester and Crosstrek SUVs.
It would be a logical fit for the Outback, which offers the same 2.5-litre petrol engine in most models in Australia.
"Hybrid... we are considering some power unit, but we have not decided the next power unit," Subaru Outback product manager Toshihiro Ohya told Drive at the Tokyo motor show.
A hybrid Outback would slot between today's petrol engines and the Trailseeker, an Outback-esque, electric wagon-SUV mash-up that is sold by Subaru as the e-Outback in Europe.
If the Forester is a guide, fitting Subaru's latest 2.5-litre hybrid system could cut fuel consumption in the Outback from 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres, to about 6.4L/100km.
It could also lower lab-tested CO2 emissions from 183 grams per kilometre, to 142g/km, it would allow the Outback Hybrid to meet Australian NVES CO2 rules and earn emissions 'credits' for its maker to offset sales of other, higher-emissions Subarus.
That is based on the CO2 targets for 2025, however, and the rules are due to become more stringent from next year, so by the time the Outback Hybrid was to launch, it would likely be back in the black.
The Forester Hybrid produces 145kW, up from 136kW/247Nm in the regular petrol-only 2.5-litre version, from a combination of a detuned 121kW/212Nm engine and 90kW/276Nm electric motor.
Hybrid power commands a $5000 premium in the Forester range, when comparing equivalent variants.
The regular, petrol-only Outback is priced from $48,990 plus on-road costs in its cheapest, new-generation 2.5-litre form, up $4800 compared to the previous model.
Flagship Outback Wilderness Apex examples with a 2.4-litre turbo engine are priced at $62,690 plus on-roads, $5200 more than the previous most expensive Outback.
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
