Posted Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 9:47pm
Subaru has introduced a new hybrid powertrain for the Japanese market Crosstrek subcompact crossover, and all indications suggest that it may soon find its way under the hood of the US-market 2025 Crosstrek and likely (for the first time) the larger Forester compact crossover. This would be a welcomed arrival, as Subaru’s hybrid offerings have historically come up a bit short regarding technology and efficiency.
Automotive enthusiasts recall that the first-generation Crosstrek Hybrid was fitted with a gasoline-fed 2.0-liter Boxer flat-4 engine with an electric motor integrated into its continuously variable transmission (CVT). Electrical energy from braking regeneration was stored in a tiny 0.6-kWh battery pack. Its EPA ratings were a modest 29 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined—about a 3 mpg improvement overall.
