I stood three rows back as Subaru rolled the Getaway onto the New York Auto Show stage, and for a second the room split between surprise and a quiet, calculating approval. You could feel dealers and buyers tallying options in their heads—more size, more choice, another electric box to check. I watched that small pivot and realized Subaru just stitched another thread into a very deliberate strategy.
Subaru’s new 2027 Getaway is not a radical new experiment. It’s a deliberate expansion: the company now has an electric SUV to match every gasoline model it sells in the U.S., and that has implications for buyers, dealers, and rivals. I’ll walk you through what matters—performance, off-road cred, charging, and price—so you can decide if this is the Getaway you should reserve a spot for.
At the New York Auto Show, the Getaway looked familiar
The Getaway shares its bones with the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV: same dimensions, same 14-inch infotainment and a 12.3-inch driver display. Those shared parts are the reason Subaru could move fast—Toyota’s engineering and Subaru’s tuning created a product that’s efficient to build and convincing to drive.
But Subaru didn’t copy everything. The Getaway ships only as a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive model with 420 horsepower, not the Highlander EV’s 338 hp dual-motor or the 221-hp single-motor option. They both use a 95.8-kWh battery pack. Subaru plans a 77-kWh variant in 2027 for lower-trim buyers.
How does the Subaru Getaway compare to the Toyota Highlander EV?
You get the Highlander’s bones with Subaru DNA added. That means more power in the Getaway and Subaru-specific systems such as X-Mode for varied traction conditions. Where Toyota offers a lower-cost single-motor Highlander, Subaru has chosen a single, more performance-oriented SKU—simplifying choice for buyers who want AWD as standard.
On dealer lots, customers ask about range and charging
Subaru estimates 10%–80% charging in about 30 minutes on a Tesla Supercharger or other DC fast chargers using the NACS port. That’s the practical stat people use to plan trips, and Subaru made sure the Getaway has that connector on every trim.
What is the range and charging time of the Subaru Getaway?
Exact EPA range numbers are pending, but expect competitive highway figures thanks to the 95.8-kWh battery. The headline: a 10%–80% charge in roughly 30 minutes via NACS/Tesla Supercharger or equivalent DC fast charging. If you drive long distances regularly, that parity with Tesla’s network matters more than a few extra miles of theoretical range.
At a service bay you’d notice Subaru’s off-road tweaks
Subaru fitted the Getaway with its X-Mode drive system, selectable settings for snow, dirt, and mud, and 8.3 inches of ground clearance. That’s a claim the company will sell hard: Subaru expects Getaway owners to spend more time off-pavement than Highlander owners.
That off-road focus turns the Getaway from a plain commuter SUV into something more like a Swiss army knife for rough weekends and slide-out roofs—useful in a way that matters to a subset of buyers.
At the showroom you compare interiors and safety
The cabin mirrors the Highlander’s layout: choice of six or seven seats, the same screens, and Subaru’s EyeSight suite standard (adaptive cruise, lane-change assistance, blind-spot monitoring). Don’t expect a GM SuperCruise-class hands-off experience here—the focus is practical driver assistance rather than L2+ autonomy.
How much will the Subaru Getaway cost?
Subaru is targeting the Getaway at roughly $60,000 to $70,000 (≈€56,000–€65,000), putting it squarely against the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. Expect pricing to follow Hyundai and Kia’s approach: start at the upper-mid range and add options or trim levels that push the sticker higher.
On comparison charts the Getaway shifts the market picture
Subaru points to cargo space behind the second row as a strength versus the Kia EV9, and it positions the Getaway against the Hyundai Ioniq 9, Toyota Highlander EV, plus luxury three-row EVs from Cadillac, Lucid, and Rivian. The Volkswagen ID Buzz remains on hiatus, leaving room for the Getaway to claim mid-market family hauling.
From a product-strategy perspective, Subaru has now matched each of its gas SUVs—Crosstrek, Forester, Outback, Ascent—with an electric counterpart: Uncharted, Solterra, Trailseeker, and now Getaway. That breadth is a strategic hedge: more doors into EV ownership for customers loyal to the brand.
At the buying table, timing and brand loyalty will decide
The Getaway goes on sale toward the end of this year. If you’re loyal to Subaru or need genuine AWD off-road ability, this is the rare three-row EV that speaks your language. If you’re chasing full hands-off driving, you’ll look at GM’s SuperCruise-equipped rivals or wait for other manufacturers to reach further into driver automation.
Subaru’s move is pragmatic: borrow Toyota’s platform, graft Subaru-specific hardware and software, and sell more EVs across more buyer segments. It’s like adding another instrument to an orchestra—different timbre, same melody.
So with shared engineering, purposeful differentiation, and a pricing strategy that lands in the $60k–$70k range (≈€56k–€65k), will you see the Getaway as a safe, sensible step into electric for your family—or just another badge on a familiar frame?