Preview: All-New Scout Traveler SUV and Terra Truck
These rugged electric off-roaders combine heritage and modern technology
It’s rare for a major car company to launch a new brand from scratch, or even revive one, but that’s what Volkswagen Group is doing with two new vehicles from Scout Motors. The Scout Terra pickup truck and Scout Traveler SUV are the first models to wear the Scout badge in over four decades, and they aim to mix new technology with what we think are the best kinds of old-school sensibilities.
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
What Is Scout Motors?
Volkswagen characterizes Scout as a startup with the backing of a major automaker and the heritage of a famous brand. Although it’s part of Volkswagen, it will have its own network of retailers where test drives and some repairs will take place.
The name and design are a tribute to the International Harvester Scout, which was sold from 1960 through 1980 and was one of the first SUVs sold in the U.S. The Volkswagen Group got the rights to use the Scout name when it purchased Navistar, the successor to International Harvester, which now only manufactures commercial vehicles. The modern Scout Motors was founded in 2022.
Although it seems like the first models are far away, from our 2025 perspective, Scout Motors has moved at a rapid pace to go from a blank screen to prototypes and on to production in a few short years.
Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports
CR reviewed the Scout II in 1972 alongside other “Four-Wheel-Drive Utility Vehicles,” including the American Motors Jeep Commando, Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Bronco, and Toyota Land Cruiser. While those other nameplates have reached iconic status over the decades, the Scout’s 44-year absence means the name is probably unfamiliar to today’s consumers outside of a small, dedicated group of superfans.
Can Volkswagen turn Scout back into a household name? The company has its work cut out for it. Eagle-eyed car spotters may have noticed a vintage Scout on screen in the live-action film “Jem and the Holograms” from 2015 or the made-for-TV sci-fi flick “Mongolian Death Worm” from the 2010s.
Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports
Outside
Both Scouts are a real mix of retro and modern. If you’ve never seen a 1970s Scout 80 pickup truck, you’ll get a lot of R1T vibes from the Terra. But both the Terra and Traveler (named after trim levels on the original Scout) have an obvious family resemblance to their forebears, including a diagonal line at the base of the rear roof pillar, bumpers that protrude from the vehicle, and—on the Terra—a crease at the top of the bed. The axles are pushed toward the front and rear of the vehicle, which reduces overhangs and helps with approach and departure angles when off-roading. Scout promises tires up to 35 inches, over a foot of ground clearance, and the ability to ford nearly 3 feet of water.
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
Up front, daytime running lights appear to be woven through the false grille and the sides of the fenders. Both have a “frunk” (front trunk) that’s big enough to fit a gym bag, golf clubs, or a “small cooler,” according to Scout. Even extended-range versions will have a frunk because the engine is in the back.
The Terra features a 5.5-foot bed, two 120V power outlets, and one 240V power outlet. There’s also a built-in step and grab handle for easy access to the bed from the side of the vehicle. The Traveler has a split tailgate designed so that passengers can sit on the lower part while the upper portion shields them from the weather.
After our experiences futzing around with confusing and unreliable electronic door handles on newer vehicles, we’re especially excited that both the Terra and Traveler feature traditional exterior door handles. What a concept!
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
Inside
When Scout designer Chris Benjamin told the crowd assembled at the Scout debut event that both the Terra and Traveler would feature real buttons and knobs for climate and audio controls, the crowd cheered.
“People don’t want to adjust their volume on the screen, and they also don’t want to adjust their temperature on the screen,” he said. We sure hope others at the Volkswagen Group are listening, because the current touch-sensitive setups in the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID. Buzz—which VW has extended to its non-EV models—are some of the most frustrating systems we’ve ever encountered.
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
Sure enough, there’s a row of switches between knobs that sits beneath a touchscreen. Some controls can be “flipped” so that they’re easier for the passenger to control. Physical controls above the windshield control off-road functions. We love this trend toward tactility, and hope that more automakers follow suit.
In yet another throwback, a three-across front bench seat is optional on both the Terra and Traveler. An optional Cabana Top fabric roof slides out of the way for open-top driving, while a glass roof is also available. Otherwise, the interior looks fairly modern but not minimalist, with outdoors-inspired finishes, grab handles, and hemp wood trim.
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
What Drives Them
We don’t know a ton of specifics about the electric powerplant that drives the Terra and Traveler, but we do know that both vehicles have four-wheel-drive systems, thanks to electric motors at each axle. Scout says they should be able to do 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and climb a 100-percent slope. Both vehicles get NACS charging ports on the passenger-side front fender, and they’re built on an 800V architecture that’s capable of DC fast charging at 350-kilowatt public chargers. In addition to the onboard 120V and 240V outlets, Scouts will feature bidirectional charging, so you’ll be able to power your home in the event of an electricity outage.
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
Although the base powertrain is all-electric and promises a 350-mile driving range between charges, Scout will also offer a Harvester range-extender option. It essentially works as a gas generator that recharges the EV battery when necessary, allowing for 500 miles of driving between charges and fill-ups. It’s similar to the forthcoming Ram 1500 REV. Officials describe it as a car engine, tucked away in the rear.
We’re curious about the Scout’s suspension and off-road abilities. The Terra and Traveler will get a solid rear axle, which tends to make for better off-roading but a less comfortable ride. Scout also says both vehicles will come with manually locking front and rear differentials and a front sway bar disconnect, all of which should contribute to hardcore off-road ability. The setup also raises questions about how the electric motors are positioned in the vehicle. The Terra will be able to tow 10,000 pounds, while the Traveler can tow 7,000 pounds. Both will be able to carry nearly 2,000 pounds of payload or cargo.
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
Active Safety and Driver Assistance
Scout hasn’t shared any information about active safety features, but we’re happy to hear the company’s promise that it won’t “bury features in menus or screens,” which can be distracting while driving.
Photo: Scout Photo: Scout
