A closer look at the Subaru e-Boxer Hybrid

Jokes about Subaru's fuel economy, or lack thereof, will be thing of the past thanks to the introduction of the e-Boxer Hybrid powertrain.

- Words and photos by Ulysses Ang

Now standard in the all-new, sixth-generation Forester, it's time we look at the technology in greater detail.

Contrary to popular belief, e-Boxer isn't a new term per se. The first-generation e-Boxer was introduced in other global markets, including Motor Image (the exclusive distributor of Subaru's other markets such as Taiwan and Singapore in 2019. At the time, it was a mild-hybrid setup, meaning it offered pure electric driving but only during limited scenarios. And while it did improve the overall emissions of the trademark horizontally-opposed engine, it only provided a 10 percent improvement in fuel consumption; not much considering the added complexity and weight of the system.