2027 Scout Terra

If you’re a child of the ’70s or ’80s, the name International Harvester brings back memories of burly off-road trucks and SUVs in earth tones. Many of them felt pretty industrial, as you would expect from a company that made tractors. As a quick refresher, the Scout, the best-known and best-selling vehicle in the lineup, was an SUV that had been in production starting in 1961. The Traveler SUV and Scout Terra truck joined the lineup in 1975. Economic challenges meant all passenger vehicle production ended in 1980. And in an interesting turn of events, Volkswagen ended up getting rights to IH Scout intellectual property in 2021. Enter the new Scout Motors brand.

Even if you’re too young to remember the International Harvester Scout, there’s no need for the pull of nostalgia to make the return of the Scout brand appealing. With the Scout Terra, the idea of a truck with a 5-digit towing capacity that’s capable on the trail and uses little or no gas doing it is exciting in its own right. Scout Motors will have two models on sale for the 2027 model year: the Terra pickup and the Traveler SUV. They are both all-electric, with the option of a range extender (gas engine).

Modernized Retro Styling

The Scout Terra looks like a modern take on the 1970s Terra. What was once a regular cab is now a crew cab, and the dual square headlights in a narrow grille are true to the original styling, but add horizontal LED daytime running lights for modern flair and much better illumination than those old sealed-beam headlights. The script Scout emblem in the grille is the original Scout logo, and is also inset in the LED taillight assembly. Unlike other EVs, the Terra has mechanical door handles.

The Terra looks larger than the original and uses a much more useful 5.5-foot bed. The bed has two 120-volt outlets and one 240-volt outlet, plus a split tailgate for easier access. There is also a frunk (front trunk) that can hold smaller items, plus it has a 120-volt outlet and a USB-C port. This truck is available with an underbed spare tire carrier for a 33-inch tire, or an in-bed one that can hold a 35-inch tire. This truck is coming to market ready to wear off-road appropriate tires. The Terra has short overhangs, which also makes it more off-road friendly. Buyers can add side steps, auxiliary lighting, off-road bumpers, a winch, and more.

As is the case with the exterior, the interior is a modern take on the original Scout. Attractive wood accents and a simple layout use a dual-screen setup. While there are no plaid seats, one thing that has been pulled forward from the ’70s is an available front bench seat. That’s pretty cool. And there are physical switches and knobs under the screen in the dash. The interior is also set up to control any additional powered accessories you might want to add.

Pricing for the 2027 Scout Terra is estimated to start under $60,000 before incentives. This truck will be built in South Carolina and production is expected to begin in 2027.

Scout is planning to sell directly to customers – no dealerships — with fixed prices and quicker transactions. There will be dedicated retail spaces for test drives and any vehicle service when needed. Scout is currently accepting $100 refundable reservations for the Terra, as well as the Traveler SUV.

If the Terra comes to market with what Scout Motors announced, truck shoppers will have a very good vehicle to consider. The crew cab short bed body style is already the most popular combination for truck buyers. Scout is saying this truck will be able to tow more than 10,000 pounds and have nearly 2,000 pounds of payload capacity. It is also a body-on-frame pickup with a solid rear axle that will be available with 35-inch tires and has over 12 inches of ground clearance. There are front and rear lockers, a front anti-roll bar disconnect, and a variety of suspension options.

The Terra will come standard with all-wheel drive with an electric motor on each axle. Scout hasn’t released full power numbers, but they have said the fully electric drivetrain will have nearly 1,000 lb-ft of torque and 0-60 mph acceleration as quick as 3.5 seconds.

For those who are hesitant to commit to pure electric when towing or off-roading, the Terra will also be available with a range extender. This energy system is called Harvester – a nice reference to the original automaker. The extended-range system is a small built-in gas engine that is expected to add more than 200 miles of range to the EV’s 300-mile range. That certainly eases range anxiety.