2025 Subaru Brat: The Return of the Legendary Compact Pickup was sold in the US from 1978 to 1987. The Subaru Brat was a cute and odd little pickup truck. The Subaru Leone, a small car with all-wheel drive and a boxer engine, served as its inspiration. The Brat, which stood for “Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter,” was a one-of-a-kind vehicle with two rear-facing jump seats in the bed.
A lot of people who liked off-road vehicles liked the Brat. Former US President Ronald Reagan even owned one and used it in his home in California. The Brat stopped being made in 1987, but Subaru fans still love the old types. But what if Subaru chose to make the Brat again in 2025? What would it offer, and how would it look? Based on reports, drawings, and ideas, here is our guess at what the 2025 Subaru Brat will be like.
What’s Different in 2025?
It would not replace the old Subaru Brat; the 2025 model would be a new car. It would be built on the Subaru Global Platform, which most Subaru models currently use, like the Impreza, Crosstrek, Forester, Outback, and Ascent. It would be a small truck, smaller than the medium Baja that Subaru made from 2002 to 2006. The Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tacoma are some small cars it would go up against.
The new Brat would resemble the Subaru WRX and the Outback and Forester Wilderness trim. It would be sleek and rugged. It would have black trim, roof rails, LED headlights, and a spoiler on the back of the trunk. Like the first Brat, it would have round fog lights, a hood scoop, and two-tone paint, among other retro features.
The new Brat would have a cab with four doors and a five-person room. The inside would be roomy and comfy, made of high-quality materials and the latest technology. A tablet control system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, a Harman Kardon sound system, and a sunroof would be on board. A 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot tracking, rear cross-traffic warning, and adaptive cruise control are some safety and driver-assist features the new Brat would have.
Design: Exterior and Interior
The 2025 Subaru Brat would have a bold, unique outward design combining sportiness and functionality. In the middle of the wide grille would be the Subaru logo. The front end would have gold highlights. The headlights would be light and sharp, with LEDs for the daytime running lights and turn signs. Big air vents, round fog lights, and a skid plate would be on the trunk.
Looking at the car from the side, it would look powerful, with black body panels, chrome door handles, and body-color mirrors. The roof would curve slightly toward the back, making the Brat look sporty. The roof rails would be beautiful and valuable, adding extra space for goods. The wheels would be 18 inches and made of metal. They would have all-terrain tires.
The back would have a short overhang and a spoiler on the trunk to be placed high. The headlights would be flat and go around the bed’s corners. There would be two exhaust tips, lights, and a tow hitch on the trunk. You could add a bed extension or tie-down hooks to the cargo bed, about four feet long. The 2025 Subaru Brat’s interior would be sleek and modern, with soft-touch materials and attractive stitching. There would be only a few things on the dashboard: a digital collection of instruments behind the steering wheel and an infotainment system with a touchscreen on top of the center panel.
Below the screen, the temperature settings and other buttons would be neatly set up. It would be wrapped in leather and have paddle shifters, radio settings, and buttons for the cruise control. The seats would be supportive and comfy, with drivers’ seats that can be adjusted electrically and front seats that are heated and cooled. The fabric could be leather or cloth. The back seats would fold to make more room for goods, and there would be enough width and headroom for adults to sit there. There would also be many places to store things in the car, like cup holders, door pockets, a glove box, a center armrest, and a bin under each seat.
Powertrain
Along with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the 2025 Subaru Brat would have a 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine that is both powerful and fuel-efficient. It would be the same engine that powers the Ascent, Outback, and Legacy. It would make 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. There would be manual and speed modes on the transmission, making driving quicker and more fun. The Brat would also have Subaru’s famous symmetrical all-wheel drive system. This would evenly spread torque between the front and back wheels, making the car more stable and able to handle different road conditions.
The Brat would also have Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode system. This system would change the engine, transmission, brakes, and all-wheel drive system to work best on snow, dirt, mud, sand, and rocks. There would also be hill slope control on the Brat, which would help the driver keep the speed steady when going downhill. The Brat would get about 21 miles per gallon in the town and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. It could also pull up to 3,500 pounds, a good amount.
Release Date and Price
However, the 2025 Subaru Brat is yet to be a real car, but many Subaru fans would love to see it come out. If Subaru does decide to bring back the Brat, it will likely come out sometime in 2024 for the 2025 model year.
We are still determining how much the 2025 Subaru Brat will cost, but it will be the same as other small trucks. The Hyundai Santa Cruz starts at $23,990, the Ford Maverick at $19,995, the Honda Ridgeline at $36,490, and the Toyota Tacoma at $26,400. Based on this, the 2025 Subaru Brat will cost between $25,000 and $30,000.
