Preview: All-New 2027 Subaru Getaway Is a Powerful Three-Row Electric SUV

Unlike other Toyota-Subaru partnerships, the Getaway is Sube-d and souped up. It comes with more power and more standard features than the Highlander EV it shares a design with, and every version gets all-wheel drive. Although pricing and full specs have yet to be released, we wouldn’t be surprised if the trade-off is a little bit of driving range and a slightly higher starting price. When it goes on sale, it will add to the now-thin ranks of non-luxury three-row EVs. We plan to purchase one for our test program as soon as it goes on sale.

The Getaway looks a lot like the Toyota Highlander EV. The biggest difference between the two is up front: The Subaru has a flatter nose and a more rugged bumper than the Toyota. From the side, the two vehicles are almost identical. Every Getaway gets backlit Subaru emblems front and rear. Buyers can choose from 19- or 20-inch wheels, and most Getaway trims come with roof rails. Ground clearance is 8.3 inches.

Subaru says the Getaway’s daytime running lights can also indicate charging status when the vehicle is plugged in.

The resemblance between the two vehicles continues when you open the door. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel, and other controls—including climate—are managed through a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen. As with other newer Toyobaru EVs like the bZ, there are two wireless chargers and a wide center console between the front seats. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard. Second- and third-row passengers can share four USB ports.

Depending on trim level, buyers can choose between a bench seat or captain’s chairs in the second row. The second-row has one-touch folding, and power-folding third-row seats come standard. Heated front seats are also standard, although heated second- and third-row rear seats, ventilated front and second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel are optional, as is a panoramic sunroof. 

Subaru makes a big deal about the Getaway’s storage capacity and compartments. There’s a cup holder and a bottle holder for every seating position, and places to store phones and tablets. The automaker claims 15.9 cubic feet of space behind the third row and 45.6 cubic feet of total storage with the third row folded down, which is about the same as the gas-powered Subaru Ascent, around the same as the Kia EV9 EV, and a little less than the Hyundai Ioniq 9 EV.

Subaru says the Getaway’s dual electric motors are good for a 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of less than 5 seconds and can be configured for Snow/Dirt, Deep Snow/Mud, Grip Control, and Downhill Assist Control, thanks to Subaru’s X-Mode powertrain control. It is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds, although our tests have shown that towing with an EV can significantly decrease driving range.

We don’t yet know how Subaru squeezed an additional 82 hp out of the Getaway’s powertrain compared with the Toyota, but the automaker says the version with the larger 95.8-kilowatt-hour battery gets “above 300 miles” between charges. (Toyota claims 320 miles and 338 hp out of the Highlander EV with that same battery.)

Like the Toyota, the Subaru Getaway has a North American Charging System (NACS) port, and the automaker claims it can go from 10 to 80 percent charge (in ideal conditions) in about 30 minutes at a public DC fast charger. There’s a standard battery preconditioning system for cold-weather charging.

The Getaway comes standard with Subaru’s EyeSight suite of active safety and driver-assistance technologies. These include automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control (ACC), and a traffic jam assist system that blends ACC and lane centering assistance for hands-free driving at lower speeds. Optional features include front cross traffic warning, parking assistance, and a digital rearview mirror.