Just as the world has collectively looked at electric cars and said, “You know what? Maybe I’ll keep my gas car for a bit,” Subaru has arrived with yet another EV. It’s called the Trailseeker, which sounds less like a car and more like someone who owns three tents, five flannel shirts, and uses the phrase “off grid” too often.
This, apparently, is the electric Outback or the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker. It’s to the Outback what the Uncharted is to the Crosstrek. If you’re struggling to keep up, don’t worry—so is Subaru because they also still sell the Solterra, which is almost exactly the same size, has the same wheelbase, nearly identical passenger space, and only slightly less cargo room.
Subaru has an electric SUV for almost every occasion. There’s this Trailseeker, a Solterra, an Uncharted, and before long, an electric three-row SUV to replace the Ascent.
Looks
Still, if you’re a Subaru traditionalist mourning the fact that the Outback has abandoned its gloriously awkward station wagon roots in favor of becoming yet another SUV, there is good news. From the side, the Trailseeker actually looks rather convincing. It has that long-roof, adventure-ready silhouette that says, “I own hiking boots,” even if its owner spends more time at Whole Foods than halfway up a mountain. Why wasn’t this the new Outback?
Under the hood
Two electric motors produce 375 horsepower. Sixty miles an hour arrives in under 4 seconds; that’s not merely fast for a Subaru—that’s faster than every Subaru ever built. The family wagon has suddenly developed the acceleration of a mildly annoyed supercar.
Need to pass? No problem. Thirty to fifty happens in 2.3 seconds. Fifty to seventy disappears in 3.3. It storms through the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 110 mph. It’s astonishingly quick for something that looks like it should be carrying golden retrievers and organic granola.
Regen
The regen is better than the rather half-hearted effort in the Solterra and the Uncharted, but pulling the steering-wheel paddle for maximum regeneration still feels like asking a teenager to empty the dishwasher. It technically happens, but not with any real enthusiasm. Instead of the dramatic one-pedal driving you get in a Tesla Model Y or Chevrolet Blazer EV, you’ll find yourself reaching the brake pedal far more often than you’d expect.
Battery and Charging
All trims get a 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery, which, depending on the trim you choose, will travel between 274 and 281 miles on a charge, which is enough for almost an entire working week without plugging it in. Better still, Subaru has finally joined the modern world with a Tesla-compatible NACS charging port,
Wheels and Tires
The Touring trim comes standard with 20-inch alloy wheels wearing Bridgestone Turanza 235/50 tires.
Off-Road Kit
Every model gets all-wheel drive and a healthy 8.5 inches of ground clearance, which is enough to crawl over rocks and muddy trails. Spend a bit more on the Limited or Touring, and you also get a 360-degree camera system.
Driving
Out on the road, though, the Trailseeker is surprisingly likeable. It doesn’t pretend to be a rally car with an identity crisis. It’s simply easy. The steering is light without feeling numb, accurate without demanding your full concentration, and the oddly hexagonal steering wheel actually fits your hands better than you’d expect. The suspension is wonderfully soft, soaking up battered roads without turning the cabin into a trampoline, while the hefty battery pack keeps the centre of gravity reassuringly low. Through the corners, the Trailseeker is… competent. Which is another way of saying you’ll remember absolutely nothing about it five minutes later. It rides comfortably enough, the cabin is whisper-quiet, and the refinement is genuinely impressive.
Is it sporty? Not even remotely. It corners with all the enthusiasm of a Labrador on a warm afternoon. But when the heavens open and the twisting mountain roads turn into something resembling a white-water rafting course, the Trailseeker will just get on with it. Calm, planted, confidence-inspiring. It may not make your pulse race, but it will make you wonder why driving in torrential rain suddenly feels so utterly effortless.
For reasons known only to a secret society of engineers locked in a windowless room somewhere in Japan, Subaru still refuses to give this thing proper one-pedal driving. Every other electric car has figured it out. Lift off the throttle, the car slows to a crawl, everyone’s happy. Not here. Oh no. Here, you still have to press the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, despite Subaru proudly offering four different levels of regenerative braking on the steering-wheel paddles.
We ventured off-road and discovered that this all-electric wagon is just as capable as it’s gas powered stablemate. With 8.5 inches of ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive, clever X-Mode terrain settings, and electric motors that can shuffle torque around faster than a caffeinated casino dealer, the Trailseeker is remarkably capable once the tarmac ends. It clambers over ruts, loose gravel, and muddy trails with an almost irritating level of competence. No drama. No wheelspin.
Interior
Inside, there’s a giant 14-inch touchscreen, a crisp digital instrument display and a squircle for a steering wheel. Mercifully, the software was designed by people who appear to have actually used a touchscreen before. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work wirelessly, so you rarely need a cable. Which is fortunate. Because if you do need one, you’ll discover Subaru has hidden the USB-C ports deep inside a dark little cave beneath the floating centre console. Finding them while driving requires the dexterity of a bomb disposal expert and the eyesight of an owl. Otherwise, the cabin is surprisingly lovely. The seats are soft without being squishy, supportive, without feeling like orthodontic equipment. My only real gripe is it doesn’t feel like a Subaru in here, which makes sense because it’s based on the Toyota BZ Woodland.
Cargo Space
There’s up to 31 cubic feet of cargo space (or 74 if you fold the second row), enough for camping gear, mountain bikes, kayaks, surfboards, inflatable paddleboards, portable espresso machines, and whatever other expensive hobbies people on Instagram pretend to enjoy. The roof rails are sturdy enough to carry half of REI’s inventory, and it’ll tow 3,500 pounds—perfect for a fishing boat or a small camper.
The Price
The entry-level Premium starts at just over $41,000, undercutting Toyota’s nearly identical bZ Woodland by more than five grand. Even the better-equipped Limited still sneaks in below its Toyota cousin, while a fully loaded Touring—with its panoramic glass roof and leather seats is $48,800. In today’s car market, that’s almost suspiciously reasonable.
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Verdict
In the end, the Trailseeker is exactly what modern Subaru buyers will probably want: practical, quick, comfortable, rugged-looking, and capable of carrying enough outdoor equipment to convince everyone you’re far more adventurous than you really are. Just don’t expect it to thrill your fingertips or survive an afternoon pretending to be a race car.
2026 Subaru Trailseeker Numbers
BASE PRICE: $46,555
PRICE AS TESTED: $48,800
VEHICLE LAYOUT: 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
DRIVETRAIN: Synchronous electric motor with integrated transaxle at front and rear
COMBINED POWER: 375 hp
TRANSMISSION: F/R: direct-drive
0-60 MPH: 3.9 seconds
BATTERY PACK: Liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 74.7 kWh
PEAK CHARGE RATE: 150 kW
RANGE: 274 miles
CURB WEIGHT: 4,510 lb
CARGO SPACE: 31.3 ft³, 74 ft³ with seat area
PROS: Seriously quick, decent range, good off-road
CONS: Toyota-like interior.
2026 Subaru Trailseeker Review
