The auto industry seems to be pulling back from its electric vehicle (EV) push, but apparently, Subaru did not get the memo. Instead, the Japanese automaker is rapidly expanding its EV lineup, and one of the newest additions is the Trailseeker. With a spacious cabin, rugged styling, and one of the most powerful drivetrains ever made in a production Subaru, the Trailseeker delivers the familiar Subaru blend of on-road comfort and off-road capability.
Photo: Perry Stern
The new Trailseeker is slightly smaller than the brand's popular Outback, but it shares many of the Outback's attributes and capabilities and has a similar profile to the previous generation Outback. With body cladding, raised ground clearance, and X-Mode for optimized off-road capability, the Trailseeker feels and acts like a high-tech, electric version of the Outback.
The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker is a five-passenger midsize crossover SUV available in three trim levels: Premium, Limited, and Touring. All come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD). Base prices range from around $42,000 to $48,000, including the destination charge.
For this review, Subaru provided a test vehicle equipped with Touring trim and no factory options. The test vehicle's manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $48,005, including the $1,450 destination charge to ship the crossover SUV from the Gunma Yajima assembly plant in Japan to a local dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Subaru manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Perry Stern
Subaru began its EV journey with the Solterra, and the new Trailseeker shares many of the same styling cues as its sibling, but with a rugged look. Slim LED running lights flow around the corners, with the hood line curving over them. Headlights integrate into the bodywork on either side of the bold grille, which is enclosed by black cladding that continues over the front wheels.
The Trailseeker may have a rugged look on the outside, but the inside has a premium vibe with a clean design. The two-tiered dashboard offers a distinctive look, with the top section flowing into the door design, while the slim horizontal vents in the lower section give the cabin a wider appearance. However, it is the large 14-inch touchscreen, the largest ever in a Subaru, that is the focal point of the cabin.
Aside from the smattering of buttons for vehicle functions on the center console, the Trailseeker has almost no physical controls. Climate functions appear at the bottom of the central display, and the integrated cabin temperature dials are a welcome addition, as is the volume knob.
The Trailseeker also features a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, and its placement high on the dashboard at the base of the windshield creates a unique driving position. Instead of viewing the gauges through the steering wheel, as in the common setup, the gauges are visible above the wheel. With its squared-off top, the steering wheel does not obstruct the gauges.
Between the front seats is a large center console, but with the gear selector and dual wireless smartphone chargers, storage is limited. Dual cupholders can hold smaller items when not in use for beverages, but otherwise, there are no convenient places to store them. However, a large open space below the center console works well for larger items, and there is additional room under the center armrest, which conveniently opens from either side.
After spending the day behind the wheel of the Trailseeker Touring, I found the front seats quite comfortable, with good support. Looking stylish in my test car's blue leather trim, the seats offer heating and ventilation, along with multiple power adjustments.
The rear seat is easy to access and feels spacious, with good legroom and headroom. You lose about an inch of headroom with the Touring's standard panoramic glass roof, but the added brightness is welcome. Two adults can sit comfortably in the outboard seats, and with the flat floor, even the middle seat is not too cramped.
The Trailseeker offers ample cargo space, and the wide hatch makes loading larger items a breeze. With 31.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, you can fit multiple pieces of luggage or camping gear for a weekend adventure. If more space is needed, you can fold the rear seats flat via releases in the cargo area, expanding the space to 74 cubic feet. Multiple tie-downs help keep items secure, and an available 1500-watt outlet provides power for your tailgate party or campsite.
Photo: Perry Stern
All 2026 Subaru Trailseeker trims include a 14-inch touchscreen display and a 7-inch digital driver's display. Elements of the Subaru Multimedia infotainment system include:
The large 14-inch display is unique to Subaru's EV offerings, a result of joint production and development of the EVs with Toyota. Regardless of its origin, the bright display offers plenty of real estate, making it easy to see the full-screen map and other functions. Static shortcuts to the navigation system, audio features, and communications appear on the left side of the screen for quick access to these frequently used features.
The only drawback to the system is the lack of a Home screen. Many rival systems can display multiple features, such as navigation, messaging, and the current music selection, simultaneously, but the Trailseeker does not offer that option.
A one-year subscription to Drive Connect is standard on every Trailseeker and includes navigation and the Intelligent Assistant natural voice interface. It may not be as good as Google Assistant, but the system understood most of my inquiries.
Saying "Hey, Subaru" activates the voice interface, which can perform a variety of tasks. I was able to adjust the cabin temperature by saying I was cold, and when I told it I needed to find a pharmacy, a list of options appeared on the display, with the option to navigate to one of my choice.
However, I still prefer the Android Auto interface and was able to connect my Samsung Galaxy S23+ and launch Android Auto quickly. I appreciate that it uses the entire screen, but you lose the static shortcuts when Android Auto is running.
Photo: Perry Stern
Powering the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker is a dual-motor electric drivetrain paired with a 74.7-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery. The Trailseeker delivers 375 horsepower, making it one of Subaru’s most powerful production models ever. With full-time AWD, the Trailseeker will sprint to 60 mph in an estimated 4.4 seconds, making it the quickest production Subaru ever sold in the United States. It can also tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates the Trailseeker Premium's range at 281 miles, while the Limited and Touring, with their larger 20-inch wheels, have a range of 274 miles. My Touring test vehicle showed a range of 271 miles on a full charge, right in line with the EPA estimate. During my Trailseeker drive, the trip computer showed 3.6 miles per kWh, translating to an impressive 121 MPGe.
All of Subaru's EVs, including the new Trailseeker, feature a North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, enabling owners to use the Tesla Supercharging network. With a maximum charging rate of 150 kilowatts at a DC fast charger, the Trailseeker can reach 80 percent in just under 30 minutes. For those with a Level 2 home charger, plugging in overnight should be more than enough time to reach 100 percent charge.
I know that 375 hp is a lot for a two-row crossover SUV. The acceleration from a stop was surprisingly quick. Whether leaving a stoplight or already at speed on the freeway, full throttle still pushes you back in your seat, so passing a slower vehicle on a two-lane road is a breeze for the Trailseeker.
While its powerful acceleration can be addictive, your passengers may tire of this fun party trick. Luckily, the Trailseeker's power is easy to modulate with a smooth, steady delivery, making it quite docile for cruising through town. Subaru does not offer one-pedal driving on the Trailseeker, a system that uses regenerative braking to bring the car to a complete stop when lifting off the throttle. However, the level of regen can be adjusted via the paddle shifters, and at its highest setting, the Subaru will slow almost to a stop.
To properly experience the Trailseeker, Subaru built a custom off-road course to showcase this EV's capabilities. I set the X-Mode to Snow/Dirt, which optimizes traction and activates hill descent control. Through the course's steep ascents and descents, moguls, and slick, muddy surfaces, the Trailseeker powered through without issue. In situations where one wheel was off the ground, the AWD system delivered power to the wheels with traction, allowing forward motion to continue.
The course was in Lake Elsinore, a bit of a drive inland from Laguna Beach. The route up CA-74 wound through the mountains, which was quite enjoyable in the Trailseeker. With responsive steering, an AWD system that can vary torque front-to-rear and left-to-right, and seemingly endless power, the Trailseeker handled the twisty road much better than expected.
At the same time, the Trailseeker's ride is solid and comfortable, with the suspension absorbing all but the worst bumps. Even at highway speeds, the cabin stays quiet, with very little wind or road noise. Overall, the Trailseeker is a pleasure to drive, regardless of conditions or route.
Photo: Perry Stern
All Trailseeker SUVs come standard with Subaru's EyeSight, a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). EyeSight includes the following:
It's surprising to have such an extensive list of ADAS come standard on all trim levels of the Trailseeker, but the front cross-traffic warning was the most unexpected. Rear cross-traffic warning is relatively common, using radar to detect vehicles coming from the side when backing out, and the front cross-traffic warning works in much the same way. As I was pulling out of the hotel onto busy Highway 1, parked vehicles blocked my view, but the system alerted me to traffic before I had pulled out enough to see down the road.
I also used the adaptive cruise control (ACC), which, when combined with the lane centering system, provides a semi-autonomous driving experience. The system kept the Trailseeker in the lane with minimal back-and-forth and smoothly accelerated and decelerated to match the pace of the vehicle ahead.
The ACC brought me to a complete stop when traffic ground to a halt. Then, with a tap of the throttle, it resumed pacing the car ahead once traffic cleared.
The Trailseeker is an all-new model, so at the time of publication, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have published safety ratings for the 2026 Trailseeker.
According to the JD Power 2025 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Chevrolet Blazer ranks highest in the Midsize SUV segment. The Honda Passport and the Toyota Crown Signia are the next highest-ranked models.
According to the JD Power 2025 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Nissan Murano ranks highest in the Midsize SUV segment. The Mazda CX-70 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee are the next highest-ranked models.
According to the JD Power 2026 Electric Vehicle Ownership (EVX) Study, the Ford Mustang Mach-E ranks highest in the Mass Market Battery Electric Vehicles segment. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the Kia EV9 are the next highest-ranked models.
Other 2026 Trailseeker competitors include the Hyundai Santa Fe and Subaru Outback.
With rugged styling, raised ground clearance, and a capable AWD system, the new Trailseeker feels and looks like a proper Subaru. Its spacious interior, advanced technology, and expansive cargo space are big pluses, and the Trailseeker is comfortable to drive every day. If that daily drive includes a winding mountain road or rough, muddy terrain, the Trailseeker, with its powerful electric drivetrain, is more than up to the task of making it even more enjoyable.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving nearly every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for jdpower.com. Living in southeast Michigan, Perry remains passionate about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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