2026 Scout SUV: What We Know So Far
The news of the Scout nameplate’s revival brought with it images of the ol’ faithful rugged off-roaders of yore; but the new company is an all-electric brand aimed at reincarnating the rugged pickup and SUV vehicles for the modern age. Not much is known yet about the 2026 Scout SUV and its Pickup stablemate, but the expectations for what will power them are high. It bodes well that both these products will be produced at a facility currently being constructed in South Carolina, in the USA, although it will only be ready to start producing Scout vehicles towards the tail end of 2026. We’ve had a brief glimpse at what the brand is promising, so here’s what we know so far.
When Is The 2026 Scout SUV Coming Out?
With just teasers out at the moment, we expect a proper reveal towards the end of 2024. But in terms of a release date for the Scout SUV, this will only be after 2026 as the South Carolina assembly plant where it will be built will only be open for business then.
What’s The Price of the 2026 Scout SUV?
The price of the 2026 Scout SUV will only be announced as we get closer to production, and since we don’t have any other existing Scout products to compare to, it’s difficult to estimate what MSRP the brand will allocate to the SUV. But, considering the new Scout SUV will likely go up against the Rivian R1S and such exciting new products as the Fisker Ocean, we can assume pricing will also be competitive.
Rivian’s electric SUV isn’t cheap, with a base trim ostensibly arriving in 2024 that will cost just over $70k. The smaller Fisker Ocean is thus also much cheaper, although top trims do come close to that – expect to pay an MSRP of nearly $40k for a basic Fisker Ocean. Aiming to undercut rivals would be a smart move from Scout.
New Scout SUV Exterior and Colors
When it comes to the exterior of the Scout SUV, the only information we have is a sketch and some teaser images that show off a blocky, angular silhouette. The attached images of the old-school Scout SUV (or wagon as it was called between the 60s and 80s) emphasize the rough and ready nature of the SUV, and we assume the new version will want to carry that over.
To that end, we see big wheels that will likely be wrappable in all-terrain rubber, as well as a short wheelbase with short and stubby overhangs. This will be excellent for taking the road less traveled, allowing for good ground clearance and better approach and departure angles. In fact, the silhouette of the SUV pictured below harks to Ford Bronco lines, and that car is a formidable off-roader.
We’ll have to be patient and wait for more information on exterior details and colors for the upcoming Scout SUV.
Scout SUV Dimensions
We’re unsure where the 2026 Scout SUV will fit in in terms of size, considering allusions have been made to a ‘larger’ SUV that competes in the compact segment. We’re expecting the Scout SUV to have dimensions somewhere between the Fisker Ocean and Rivian R1S, but likely closely to the former.
To that end, the Fisker Ocean is 187.95 inches long over a wheelbase of 115 inches. Its width comes in at 83.5 inches and it stands 64.13 inches tall. It weighs around 5,400 pounds. These seem like a likely starting point for guessing how the Scout SUV will stack up.
Scout SUV Powertrain and Performance
We’re going to have to wait patiently for powertrain info and performance specs for the Scout SUV. There is also nothing known about Scout just yet to estimate top speed and 0-60 times for the SUV, but we are told that the Scount SUV and its Pickup sibling will most likely be built on the Volkswagen Group’s Scalable Systems Platform and not on the existing MEB architecture.
The good news about this is that the newer platform is tipped to offer up to 1,700 horsepower, although the original estimates maxed out at 1,100 hp. We don’t think the Scout SUV will be loaded that heavily, however, as these are figures most likely reserved for special performance-oriented models from Porsche or Audi who will also be making use of the platform.
If we assume the Ocean and R1S are main rivals, however, we can estimate what Scout will want to give the SUV to compete with. Fisker gives its product between 275 hp and 540 hp, while the more expensive Rivian makes over 500 hp in its tamest configuration. Our guess is that the Scout SUV will offer range and price-focused models somewhere around 300 hp, as well as a sportier, more potent version.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
Information about range, battery size, and charging is still under wraps, but the SSP the Scout is likely to sit on will offer rapid charging times that should see the battery go from 10% – 80% in just 12 minutes. This is quite a bit quicker than the MEB platform VW products currently use.
To be competitive in terms of range, the Scout SUV will need to have options that cover between 260 and 360 miles, as that is what the variants in the Rivian and Fisker lineup can manage on a single charge.
Scout SUV Interior and Cargo
Nothing is known about the interior of the Scout SUV and since we’ve got only a sketch to go on, we can’t make much assumption either. The brands that fall under the VW Group are all respected marques that produce solid interiors using high-quality materials and cutting-edge technology. We assume the inside of the Scout SUV will be equally refined.
The sketch image paints a picture of a short-wheelbase SUV that will likely be less spacious in the rear than it will be up front, so seating will be limited to just five. Perhaps there will be a longer wheelbase version in the future, so we won’t rule out a Scout SUV with seats for seven just yet. What these will be wrapped in, and what interior colors you can expect from the Scout SUV remains to be seen.
SUVs are beloved for their practicality, so cargo space will be important here. In smaller SUVs like the Fisker Ocean, there’s between 16 and 33 cubic feet of cargo volume, which sounds about right if the Scout SUV is similar in size.
