Subaru Drops Mild-Hybrid Engine, Puts Full Weight Behind Toyota-Based System

Subaru is pulling the plug on its mild-hybrid e-BOXER powertrain this September, a move that splits the brand’s lineup into three clear categories: pure gasoline engines, full hybrids, and fully electric vehicles. The decision, first reported by Japanese outlet Nikkei, comes as stricter emissions rules and shifting market demands push the automaker to simplify its offerings.

0-liter e-Boxer that debuted in 2018 and spread across Europe, Oceania, and Asia, though it never reached North America.

The change reshuffles several popular models. The Impreza hatchback becomes a straight gasoline-only car, while the Crosstrek moves exclusively to Subaru’s S:HEV strong hybrid system, borrowing key technology from Toyota. 5-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine with a single electric motor and a Toyota-sourced battery, but keeps power flowing through Subaru’s mechanical Symmetrical AWD system instead of Toyota’s electric E-Four.

8-liter engine or the S:HEV hybrid, while the Levorg wagon, WRX S4 sedan, and BRZ stick with turbo or naturally aspirated Boxer engines. On the EV front, the lineup includes the Solterra, Uncharted, Trailseeker, and Getaway crossovers.

Despite this push toward electrification, Subaru hasn’t forgotten its performance roots. The company has confirmed three upcoming manual-transmission, gasoline-powered models: a WRX hatchback, a WRX sedan, and an updated BRZ. So while the mild-hybrid era fades, the brand is keeping one foot firmly in the enthusiast camp for the foreseeable future.