After lagging behind in the race to electrify its lineup, Subaru is finally catching up with a more diversified lineup. The new Forester Hybrid began rolling off the production line earlier this month, but Subaru is also expanding its EV range at a rapid rate. The Solterra was the first to arrive, and the new Trailseeker and Uncharted EVs are both arriving this spring. But a fourth Subaru EV is also coming, and it will be the automaker’s largest one yet.
A Subaru EV For Big Families
Subaru
In an interview with Automotive News, COO of Subaru America, Jeff Walters, confirmed that a new three-row electric SUV is coming later this year. Although no further details were shared, it seems likely that this new vehicle will share a lot with the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV. Toyota and Subaru already have several EV duos that share platforms and components, including the Toyota bZ/Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ Woodland/Subaru Trailseeker.
The electric Highlander’s specifications aren’t available yet, but we know it will come with all-wheel drive, which suggests dual electric motors. Subaru’s only model that doesn’t have standard AWD is the much smaller Uncharted, so the three-row SUV is fully expected to get standard AWD.
Subaru’s only other three-row crossover is the Ascent, a vehicle that struggles to stand out in a competitive segment. It has a cramped third row and a rather unrefined powertrain, elements we expect its electric sibling to improve upon. Considering that three-row electric SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 start at around $55,000, the three-row Subaru EV will probably be the Japanese brand’s priciest model in the United States.
A Risky Time To Launch An Expensive EV
Subaru
Subaru’s decision to expand its EV lineup to four models comes at a questionable time, given the cooling demand for EVs in recent months. Many other automakers have canceled EVs or redirected resources to more popular hybrid/gas models, so Subaru (and Toyota, too) are outliers in this regard.
The Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 are the main players in the electric three-row SUV segment right now, but both have seen declining sales recently. Kia sold just 674 EV9s in January 2026, down from 1,232 units in January 2025. The Ioniq 9 managed 580 units last month, far behind the 8,604 three-row Palisades sold by Hyundai. Making things more complicated for Subaru is the fact that, if given a choice between a Toyota and a near-identical Subaru model, most people will choose the Toyota.
Walters did say that Subaru’s EV sales strategy will be to focus on households with two vehicles and access to a charger, saying there are “a lot of people like that” in the market. Subaru hopes this group will help it achieve record market share of 4.2% in 2026.
About the author
Karl Furlong
Senior Editor, Autoblog