After years of rumors, Scout Motors is back. Volkswagen has revived the classic car brand, but with an electrified touch. The company has actually launched two new electric vehicles with the Scout Motors branding, including a truck and an SUV, which is called the Scout Motors Traveler SUV.
The Scout Motors Traveler SUV may be a sub-brand under the Volkswagen Group, but the vehicle actually makes use of a totally new EV platform that’s completely unique to Scout, instead of a platform already in use by other Volkswagen brands. Not only that, while the Traveler SUV is available as an all-electric vehicle, it’s also available as a so-called EREV, or extended range EV, which features a gasoline engine that’s used to charge the battery.
Curious about the new Scout Motors Traveler SUV and whether it could be your next electric vehicle? Here’s everything you need to know.
Design
Scout Motors has built a modern and sleek vehicle in the form of the Traveler SUV. That’s good news — so far, legacy automakers have struggled to compete in design with the likes of Rivian, but the Traveler SUV blends modern and retro for a uniquely looking vehicle overall.
While the Traveler SUV doesn’t necessarily look much like the International Harvester that Scout Motors is known for, it does pay homage to the classic vehicle through touches like the black mask on the front, which is designed to emulate the International Harvester’s grille. On the front, you’ll find thin LED lights along with an illuminated Scout logo.
The vehicle has a somewhat boxy design, as you would expect from an SUV of this class. At the rear, it has a slightly angled tailgate with a spare tire fixed to the back. You’ll also find slim taillights, similar to those found on the front.
Generally speaking, the Scout Motors Traveler SUV is a handsome-looking vehicle, offering a look that’s both sporty and rugged. That said, the images shared by Scout Motors may not necessarily show the finalized design of the vehicle. According to Scout Motors, early prototypes have been built, and the design is 85% finalized, so some aspects of its design will change as we approach the release.
Interior and tech
The sporty and rugged vibes continue into the interior of the vehicle, which also looks quite modern. The vehicle boasts a somewhat minimalistic but very premium-looking cabin, with modern color schemes that remind me a lot of the Rivian R1S. There are wood panels on the dashboard along with a range of physical controls that will satisfy anyone sick of having to dive into menus just to access basic features. The dash features a dual-screen layout, with one screen for instrument monitoring and the other for infotainment. Scout Motors hasn’t disclosed the size or resolution of these displays, but they look easily big enough for modern use cases. Under the infotainment display is plenty of storage for all of your belongings.
Perhaps more interesting than the tech is the seat layout. By default, the Traveler will come with a traditional two-seat front row, but there’s an optional bench seat in the front row that gives the vehicle a very retro vibe. Unfortunately, that’s the only way in which you’ll be able to increase seats from the standard five, as there’s no third row available.
It is not exactly known what the software in the vehicle will be like. Volkswagen and Rivian announced a partnership earlier this year that would allow the two manufacturers to share technology, but it’s unclear if the software built into the Traveler SUV will come from Rivian or even be inspired by Rivian. Regardless, it’s likely that it will be at least based on Android Automotive, though how heavily altered it is beyond that remains to be seen.
Performance
The Scout Motors Traveler SUV will be an excellent-performing vehicle. According to Scout, it’ll offer an estimated 1,000 pound-feet of torque and the ability to accelerate to 60mph in only 3.5 seconds. The vehicle will be available in a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, though it’s entirely possible that other powertrain options will be available at a later date.
That’s pretty quick, and it puts the vehicle on par with other electric SUVs, even those that are more expensive. We’ve come to expect excellent performance from electric vehicles, but it’s nice to see new models keeping up.
Range and charging
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Scout Motors Traveler SUV is its range and charging. The base model of the Traveler SUV is an all-electric vehicle with a range of 350 miles, according to Scout Motors. We’ll have to see if that figure remains accurate after EPA testing, but if so, that’s a solid range.
Beyond the base electric model, however, there will also be an extended-range EV (EREV) model. This will come with a gas engine, but unlike traditional plug-in hybrid vehicles, this gas engine will only be used to generate power to charge the battery, and not to actually drive the wheels. According to Scout Motors, the EREV Traveler SUV will have over 500 miles of range, which is excellent.
The Traveler SUV will charge quickly too. It’ll feature the Tesla-designed NACS port for charging, and with its 800-volt architecture, it’ll be able to charge at 350kW — so it can support the fastest charging stations available right now.
Price and release date
So when will you be able to buy the Scout Motors Traveler SUV for yourself? Well, it’s still a few years away. According to the company, production will begin in 2027, which likely means that it won’t be available to the public until 2028. It’ll be manufactured at a new plant in South Carolina, and Scout says that it’ll start at under $60,000. That makes the Traveler SUV cheaper than competitors like the Rivian R1S while still offering a rugged and premium design and long range. Hopefully, by the time it’s released, there will be more competition in the electric SUV space.
