2026 Subaru Crosstrek Finally Gives Americans What They Want

That a brand focused more strongly on the outdoors than virtually any other didn’t offer its outdoorsy and conservation-minded shoppers across the country a hybrid model is one of the strangest automotive decisions of the last decade, but Subaru has finally fixed that. The Japanese automaker has just announced the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, set to hit dealers this fall.

Before you say it, yes, we know that Subaru offered a Crosstrek PHEV model before. It was a compliance car, sold only in a handful of states at a very high price, and the company sold only a couple of thousand per year. As soon as Subaru added the Solterra EV, the Crosstrek PHEV was gone.

Crosstrek Hybrid Boosts 2.5-Liter Four

This new-generation Crosstrek Hybrid looks like Subaru actually wants to sell some. It pairs the company’s 2.5-liter boxer-four with new electric motors, boosting the output from the regular 2.5’s 182 horsepower to 194. That makes it the most powerful version of the Crosstrek, though we’ll have to wait to find out if it’s the quickest.

Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.

It should also be the most fuel-efficient. Subaru hasn’t announced an EPA figure, but it shouldn’t be hard to beat the 26/33 mpg cit/highway of the 2.5 or 27/34 mpg of the lower-powered 2.0-liter model. Similarly sized and powered hybrids from other automakers, including the popular Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, achieve around 40 mpg combined.

Related

Driven: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Is The Best Crosstrek Has To Offer

The Crosstrek is all-new this year with a new Wilderness trim and interior improvements that make it more road-trip worthy.

It will be all-wheel drive, and Subaru says it maintains the gas Crosstrek’s off-road capability. It will have the X-Mode off-road drive mode of Subaru’s best off-roaders as well as 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Adding the system cuts into cargo space slightly. Subaru says it will have 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 54.7 with them folded versus the 20/54.9 of the standard Crosstrek.

2026 Crosstrek Hybrid On Sale This Fall

Subaru will offer the new Crosstrek Hybrid in multiple trims, offering a 12.3-inch digital dash and the brand’s 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen infotainment system. Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist system is standard, and it includes the brand’s Emergency Stop Assist, which can respond to an unresponsive driver by stopping the vehicle and contacting emergency services.

The Crosstrek Hybrid will get its own set of 18-inch wheels in a dark grey finish. It will also debut a pair of new paint colors, Sand Dune Pearl and Citron Yellow Pearl. Subaru will offer the 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid for sale nationwide. Pricing and the full list of standard equipment, as well as the all-important mpg figure, will be announced later in the year. It will officially go on sale in fall 2025. A Forester Hybrid is expected not long after.

Related

Subaru Finally Has A Powertrain Worth Getting Excited About

Subaru’s new powertrain has a name that gets straight to the point.