Scout has retuned after 44 years. They now come under the Volkswagen group and this is their entry into the off-road EV market which is becoming ever so popular and will rival the likes of the Rivian, Tesla and the Hummer EV. Rivian has showcased the Traveler SUV and the Terra pickup truck. They are promising an estimated range of 350 miles (563 kms) on battery power also and they will offer a gas generator which will increase its range to 500 miles (804 kms).
Lets start with the design. Volkswagen has kept the retro aspect in its design. Its the same old boxy design and a lot of it looks like the Rivian trucks which is not at all a bad thing since they are one of the best looking trucks out there. The rear LED lightbar wraps around in a circle which is a cool touch and the overall design remains simple yet effective.
In terms of the interior, it is quite a place to be in. The dashboard is dominated by two screens and there is a lot of wood and premium materials inside. This is quite a bit of luxury and good news is that Scout has kept the physical buttons on the dashboard which is surprising coming from a Volkswagen product.
Technical details have not been revealed yet but it will get 35-inch off-road wheels, it will do 0-100 kmph in a mere 3.5 seconds and the truck version will be able to tow 10,000 pounds (4.5 tones) while the SUV version will be able to tow 7000 pounds (3.1 tones). It will get sway bar disconnect, front and rear lockers, and a solid axle at the back. This is a proper body on frame platform which has been specially made for off-road.
Production of the vehicle will start in 2027 which we are not happy about. The Scout could have been a hit if launched today but the constant slump in sales of EVs makes me believe that it will be too late for too little.
