Subaru Crosstrek to score Toyota hybrid upgrade – report

The Subaru Crosstrek looks to be next in line to get the company's revamped e-Boxer hybrid powertrain.

Japanese newspaper Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun is reporting the Crosstrek will one of the next models in line to receive the next-generation e-Boxer hybrid engine – combining a Subaru flat-four petrol engine with Toyota hybrid technology.

While yet to be confirmed by Subaru Australia, the publication claims the change will occur in 2024, though it's not clear if – or when – the updated Crosstrek could arrive in local showrooms.

As reported by Drive, the Subaru Forester is also due to receive the next-generation e-Boxer powertrain – however, this isn't expected to arrive in Australia until 2025, in line with a facelift.

It was May 2023 when Subaru announced it was moving to adopt Toyota's hybrid technology – including batteries and electric motors – with Toyota owning approximately 20 per cent of Subaru.

The change follows criticisms of Subaru's current hybrid system, which has been found to deliver negligible fuel savings over non-hybrid models.

For example, the non-hybrid 2.5-litre Subaru Forester has claimed fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km, while the current hybrid version uses 6.7L/100km.

Compare that to the non-hybrid 2.5-litre Toyota RAV4, which uses a claimed 7.0L/100km, versus the RAV4 Hybrid which consumes just 4.8L/100km.

"We look forward to [Forester’s] arrival in Australia in 2025 with the addition of the next generation e-Boxer strong hybrid technology," Subaru Australia Managing Director Blair Read told media in March 2024.

"[The Subaru Forester] will go into production for America initially in 2024. [Australia] will be 2025. The next generation of the strong hybrid will be part of the launch, and that's part of the reason to focus on 2025."

"Subaru Corporation have previously confirmed the start of production of strong Hybrid from 2025, and the next-generation Forester will be the first Subaru in Australia to offer the next-generation Hybrid powertrain. More information on future models will be shared in due course," a spokesperson for the company told Drive.