If we had to identify the hallmarks of the car-shopping landscape over the last few years, we’d point to nostalgia and electrification as two major forces. By that measure, the vehicle previewed here really has its finger on the pulse of the automotive market. The Scout Traveler is an all-new battery-electric SUV which leverages the name and heritage of the International Scout of yesteryear.
Scout Traveler Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the Scout Traveler
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the Scout Traveler
The Scout Traveler is entirely new. In fact, it might be said to be “pre-new.” Scout Motors currently classifies the Traveler as a “production-intent concept vehicle,” so we can expect details to evolve over the next few years. This is what we know so far.
Design
Both the Scout Traveler and its pickup truck sibling, the Terra, are designed to be off-road-capable just like their namesakes, and it shows in the styling. The Traveler has a strong silhouette, with an upright grille, short front overhang, and flat roof. It features body-on-frame architecture with separate bumpers and rockers, ideal for off-roading. The Traveler’s design was kept purposefully simple, with horizontal daytime running lights (DRLs) and few creases. Visual nods to its predecessors include black front and rear fascia elements and the retro-script “Scout” logo.
Powertrain
Scout Motors intends to make the Traveler SUV available with or without a gasoline-powered range extender. In pure EV form, it’s expected to offer up to 350 miles of range. With the optional gas generator on board, Scout estimates that the Traveler’s range will exceed 500 miles. The Traveler will feature two electric motors, one on each axle, working in concert to provide four-wheel drive (4WD). Target total system output is near 1,000 pound-feet of torque, and Scout says the Traveler should be able to sprint from zero to 60 mph in roughly 3.5 seconds and tow more than 7,000 pounds.
Both the Scout Traveler and the Scout Terra will be capable of charging at up to 350 kilowatts. Both will use the North American Charging Standard (NACS), presently best known as the basis of the Tesla Supercharger network. Because they will offer bi-directional charging, these new Scout vehicles will also be able to power other devices or potentially even a home. Shoppers looking for an off-road-ready EV will be interested to know that the Scout platform can accommodate tires in sizes up to 35 inches. It will offer more than a foot of ground clearance and be able to ford almost three feet of water. Further adventure-oriented features include mechanical front and rear lockers and a front sway bar disconnect.
Interior
Scout promises multiple roof options for the Traveler. The available “Cabana Top” is meant to offer on-demand connection to the great outdoors with one of the largest roof openings available in an SUV, but those who prefer a little more protection might want to opt instead for the panoramic views afforded by the available glass roof. The SUV’s interior is intended as a modern-day take on the original International Scout’s: “simple and bold, tactile, and fit for purpose.”
Technology
Though we have few details on the Traveler’s technology at this time, we do know that Scout Motors has deliberately avoided the single-screen command center we’ve seen in many other EVs. Instead, the company says it’s supplied “a combination of tactile buttons and knobs with a right-sized, highly responsive digital interface,” which will hopefully add up to user-friendly operation. The Traveler will be capable of remote diagnostics and over-the-air (OTA) updates.
Safety
Information on the Scout Traveler’s safety offerings is not yet available as of this writing. We imagine that Scout will aim to provide the advanced driver-assistance features consumers expect in a family vehicle, likely with some assistance from its parent company, the Volkswagen Group.
Pricing and Release Date
Production of the Scout Traveler is currently slated to begin in 2027, but reservations are available now at the automaker’s website for a (fully refundable) $100 fee. Scout Motors states that retail prices will start at under $60,000. Because they’ll be produced at a Columbia, South Carolina factory, Scout vehicles should be eligible for incentives that could drop the base price to around $50,000.