How long do I have to wait for a Subaru hybrid?

If you’re looking to buy a Subaru e-Boxer Hybrid as an alternative to the likes of a Toyota or GWM Haval, you’ll likely be waiting at least six months – according to the brand’s local director.

Speaking with CarExpert at the launch of the new Subaru Crosstrek, managing director for the Japanese brand’s local division, Blair Read, said both the Crosstrek Hybrid and larger Forester Hybrid have order banks stretching well into the latter stages of 2023.

“At the moment, it’s six to eight months,” Mr Read said.

“We’re working hard to get more and bring that wait time down,” he said of both the Crosstrek and Forester hybrids.

Further to his comments on wait times, Mr Read confirmed that one in five orders for the new Crosstrek at launch are hybrids, contributing to that six-month wait time.

“Crosstrek Hybrid has been 20 per cent of initial orders. So we have a six-month order bank on Hybrid already,” Mr Reid said.

“It’s been a very hot share. So we’re working hard to get more of those.”

Both the Crosstrek and Forester e-Boxer Hybrids are powered by a 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine teamed with a small electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack.

On its own the Boxer engine makes 110kW and 196Nm, while the e-motor contributes 12.3kW and 66Nm. Subaru doesn’t quote combined outputs for either model.

Fuel consumption for the Crosstrek Hybrid is listed at 6.5L per 100km on the combined cycle, a 0.8L/100km improvement on the petrol – though if you look at the urban cycle, the e-Boxer saves 2.0L per 100km (7.4L v 9.4L).

It’s a similar story for the Forester Hybrid, which quotes a 0.7L/100km improvement over 2.5i models on the combined cycle (6.7L v 7.4L), but the gap widens on the urban cycle (7.5L v 9.3L).

Pricing for the 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid ranges from $38,590 to $45,090 before on-road costs, representing a $3600 premium over the equivalent petrol-only model.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Subaru Forester Hybrid is starts form $43,290 plus on-road costs and tops out at $49,340 – $3000 more than the equivalent Forester 2.5i.

Despite wait times of the hybrids starting to grow, Mr Read noted the new Crosstrek is more readily available in its petrol variants, saying “we’ve got really good supply coming through from launch”.

MORE: Everything Subaru Crosstrek MORE: Everything Subaru Forester