Latest Info On 2027 Scout Traveler And Terra EVs Looks Promising

Assembling and analyzing all the latest details on the most exciting electric 4x4s yet

Earlier this month, Scout Motors showed up at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a lightly accessorized Traveler electric SUV. That, plus some other slow information drips from the company are starting to paint a clearer picture about the capabilities of both that vehicle, and its Terra electric pickup truck sibling. Let’s take a look at what’s new.

To recap, the reborn Scout brand (which is owned by Volkswagen but operates as an independent automaker) showed of its first two new trucks in October. And they are very much trucks, thanks to body-on-frame construction, a live rear axle, and even locking axle differentials front and rear. It looks as if these stand a good chance of becoming the first ever EV trucks suited to long-distance off-road travel and hard use in austere conditions. They look promising enough that I placed an order for the Terra the very moment order books opened. Deliveries are expected to start Q1, 2027.

I wrote up the vehicles’ launch for a news article on Outside, and explained the ins and outs of why I ordered one here on my newsletter.

For new information, we have the Traveler that showed up at CES with the accompanying news release, videos, and journo walkarounds, plus new write-ups on the Terra and Traveler via the official Scout Motors blog. I just spent Sunday morning parsing all of that, and create this list of new details:

• Locking front diff: Looks like it will be an option (potentially included as part of an “off-road package”), and Scout has confirmed it’s mechanical, rather than virtual.

• Disconnecting front sway bar: Also optional, possibly also included in same package.

• Off-road bumpers: Confirmed availability of “heftier bumpers.”

• Air suspension: Appears as if this may be an option, alongside coil springs.

• Detox Mode: Simplifies dash displays.

• Accessory roof rack: Includes option for a Starlink satellite internet dish.

• Light bar: Integrated in roof rack, doesn’t appear terribly functional.

• Accessory controls: Integrated in infotainment screen.

• Accessory power: 240 volt outlet, can power “heavy-duty power tools.” Can be powered range extender generator if equipped.

• 35-inch tire option: 35x12.5-20 load range E BF Goodrich K03s.

• Terra Rear Window: Looks like it retracts as on 3rd gen Tundra.

• Bubble compass in overhead console.

• Speedometer: One display option includes classic Scout horizontal layout.

• Payload: Again confirmed as “nearly 2,000 pounds” for both vehicles.

Let’s analyze all that. But before we do, remember that these vehicles are still at least two years away, and are being shown in a form that’s close to production, but not final. Plenty can and will change between now and 2027, but hopefully that also means us truck enthusiasts have a chance to influence those final specs!

Scout Traveler and Terra Off-Road Package

“There will even be an optional off-road package, including all-terrain tires, special shock tuning, a locking front differential, and more,” reads Scout’s blog. “You will also be able to choose extra lighting for improved visibility, and off-road ancillaries like sturdy recovery points, heavy duty winches, and heftier bumpers.”

Scout actually confirmed that the front diff would be mechanical in its original news release, and I wrote that for the Outside news article, then apparently forgot. This is actually really interesting. Reliably combining big torque (together, Scout’s front and rear motors make 1,000 lb-ft) with wheels that turn, is not easy. Heck, even Ineos had to add physical steerings tops to its live front axle to keep that thing from popping. It’s likely that Scout is protecting its fragile CVs through motor controls software, limiting output as wheels are turned more and more, while that front diff is locked. And that’s just more evidence that electric vehicles are going to bring some really exciting new capabilities to 4x4s as technologies continue to evolve. I’ll be sure to ask a Scout engineer for more information when I eventually get the chance to sit down with one.

“Special shock tuning” is less exciting. I’m really hoping that there will be an option for large-diameter, bypass shocks, as well as the ability to select different spring rates from the factory. A little more damping isn’t going to do it for keeping what’s going to be a very heavy vehicle under control on challenging terrain, especially when approaching that “nearly 2,000 pounds” payload number. And given the complicated nature of these things, it’d be nice to be able to get as much capability installed on the production line as possible.

The presence of real recovery points and the option for a winch is obviously reassuring. Again, these things are going to be heavy and recovery becomes more challenging and more dangerous with more weight.

I’m also encouraged by the mention of off-road bumpers. EV range and performance is incredibly sensitive to even the smallest changes, which is why I’m hoping to see as many of the necessary accessories as possible as factory options. That hopefully means they’ll be integrated into sensors seamlessly, and will have been designed, integrated and evaluated for aerodynamics.

Lighting? Looking at the light bar built into the CES Traveler is not encouraging. Not only is that the wrong location—roof lights cause hood glare and refract of any dust particles or precipitation right in front of the windshield, working to limit rather than enhance nighttime vision in most conditions—but it’s also way too slim to carry effective reflectors for distance performance. Given that most American drivers see accessory lights as a vanity purchase, I’m concerned Scout is going to make the mistake of making its official accessory lights look cool at the expense of providing actual function.

Scout employees: when you read this, please forward it to your accessory team. Feel free to give them my email, I’d love to help steer you guys in the direction of function. The correct place for lighting is front of the vehicle’s grill, and since the point of forward facing lighting is to increase reaction times, you need to optimize it for distance.

Air Suspension

Air suspension is one of the biggest failings of existing EV trucks, and one of the major mechanical features that has kept me out of buying something like the Rivian. While the ability to change suspension height allows designers to simultaneously optimize the vehicle for range at highway speeds, and clearance off-road, it also adds a significant and common point of failure under hard use, borks the camber in any height outside of the one you choose to align for, and ruins both ride quality and articulation in the place where you need those most: conditions that dictate extra height.

But, I get that most Scout buyers will just be using these things as a mobile living room for sitting in traffic in Orange County, and giving them the ability to look all tough and stuff outside their kid’s Montessori school, then lower the truck for good range on a drive to Vegas, makes sense in that use case. Hopefully air suspension will be limited to an option only, and not forced on buyers as standard.

Scout has said both vehicles will also be available with good ol’ coil springs. Those will be able to function properly, but obviously dictate a single ride height that will end up compromising either range or capability, hopefully the former.

Detox Mode

Eric Tingwall did a great writeup of Scout’s new infotainment stuff for MotorTrend. The simplified navigation graphics for Scout’s “Detox Mode,” are pleasantly reminiscent of early Atari graphics, which fits the whole retro late ‘70s vibe.

Here’s the Starlink dish integration. Looks like it might be the larger, faster Gen 3, rather than the smaller, slower Mini, but who knows at this point.

The Roof Rack and Starlink

The rack looks slick and all, but without any T-track or other channels, I struggle to see how you’re going to use it to bolt on accessories like awnings, solar panels, flood lights, recovery boards, or any of the other things people like to add to their trucks.

Kinda looks like the only function might be the sliding cross bars, to which you’ll have to mount lame Thule boxes and similar. Why not run a low profile, functional platform rack like those made popular by Prinsu et al?

And while Scout isn’t naming the satellite Internet service it’s using, it’s obviously Starlink. Not only is that the only option for a planet-wide constellation of satellites, but those are also Starlink controls you see demo’d on the infotainment system. Note Starlink’s “Snow mode” toggle.

Bolting a Starlink dish to the roof of your truck has become really popular in the last year or so. Doing so really streamlines off-grid navigation and communication, while allowing you to work from pretty much anywhere. Including a setup from the factory, without the need to run power wires and mounts, just makes sense. But man, I hope there will be a way to do this that doesn’t mandate the use of that shitty rack. I’ll go aftermarket just to avoid that thing.

Three things in this image: 1) Starlink controls integrated into infotainment system. 2) Dash accessory rail for things like RAM mounts. 3) those weird carbuncles on the hood aren’t going to offer any function in that location. They’re way too inboard to connect brush wires.

I should also call out the ability to control this accessory through the infotainment screen. It’d be awesome to see an integrated ability to switch other 12V accessories the same way. Adding aftermarket switches (and associated power and wiring) to an EV’s complex electronics will likely prove challenging. Look at Ineos for a good example of how to get this right, that brand pre-runs wiring to popular accessory locations around the vehicle, and properly fuses connection points in the engine bay for pretty much anything you’d want to connect. Just plug in the right wires, flick the corresponding switch, and your stuff works. There’s no reason a clean sheet vehicle design like this one can’t offer the same.

Looks like you’ll have a lot of say over how and when the gas generator kicks in.

Accessory Power

The Scout blog confirms the presence of both 120 and 240 Volt outlets in the Terra’s truck bed, at least as an option. This will make powering campsite accessories like lights and 12V fridges super easy. If you want to add a camper, this will eliminate the need for an additional power system. Plus, you’ll be able to easily run or charge power tools in austere environments, a capability I needed this summer while helping a friend begin construction on a new off-grid property.

Tingwall confirms that the range extending generator (dubbed “Harvester”) will also be able to power these outlets. So-equipped Scouts will be able to power a job site without running down the battery.

I would still like to see an option for solar panel input to the main battery, if that’s feasible. Just knowing I’m achieving some passive charge to offset accessory use in camp, or while the vehicle is parked, sounds reassuring.

35-inch Tires

35x12.5-20, load range E, BFG K03s are a straight down the middle choice for both size, brand/model, and weight rating. I don’t see anything on the sidewall to indicate these are some unique spec made just for the Scout, but again stuff is going to change between now and when these things start rolling out of the South Carolina factory.

Other EV trucks make the mistake of spec’ing unique, uniquely compromised tires. On the Cybertruck, for instance, those are fake “mud terrains” that have an off-road look to the tread pattern, but keep that tread incredibly shallow, compromising grip. On the Rivian, they’re just highway terrains that aren’t even suitable even for use on a gravel road. Stuff like that may be appropriate for those Orange County-spec Scouts on air suspension, but I really hope they just give us a normal 35-inch K03 when we tick the box for 35s or the off-road package. I wonder if a smaller diameter wheel will fit over the calipers? Sizing down to an 18 would add a lot of sidewall…

Retractable Rear Window

The 3rd Gen Tundra’s single redeeming feature is its rear window, which drops fully into the rear of the cab. There’s no practical argument for such a feature, and you don’t end up using it all that much, but on those rare occasions when it makes sense, lowering that thing is just joyful. Looks like this will be Terra only, and is probably an added cost option.

The integrated corner light on the Traveler’s jerry can holder is a nice touch. I’m still concerned about the inability for the Terra to fit a 35 under its bed.

Payload

I worry about the potential bite the range extender will take out of this number. This is a full-size truck that’s as big as something like an F-150. A payload much under 2,000 pounds would really limit the amount of work the Terra is capable of performing, especially when loaded up with accessories and protection parts.

Pricing

“The Scout Terra is slated for delivery in 2027, with an estimated retail price under $60,000—and incentives could lower it to as little as $51,500,” reads the Scout blog. (The Traveler price is quoted as “closer to $50,000” with incentives.) That seems like wishful thinking at this point.

Eliminating the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs is a priority for both the current legislature and incoming administration. There’s even a line item in the House’s proposed budget reconciliation package for assessing additional fees on EVs. So I think it’s safe to say we’re going to be looking at starting prices of at least $60,000, likely running up to $90,000 or so with a bunch of options, by the time 2027 rolls around. Assuming, of course, that our country doesn’t default on its debt, create a trade war with Germany, a shooting war with Denmark, or otherwise take inherently inflationary measures like, I dunno, imposing widespread tariffs before then.