Tested: 2026 Trailseeker Is the Subaru Driver's EVDavid Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)05/19/26 UPDATE: This review has been updated with instrumented test results.Just in time for the EV sales slowdown, Subaru's growing electric lineup blossoms with the Trailseeker, its best effort yet. The mid-size two-row SUV stands as the electric alternative to the popular Outback, in the same way that the Uncharted EV is analogous to the subcompact Crosstrek. But we're not exactly sure where that leaves the first of the company's EVs, the Solterra, which overlaps considerably with the Trailseeker. Both have the same wheelbase and passenger space, but the Solterra has less cargo room behind the seats and costs slightly less.The brand will soon reach powertrain parity among its SUV offerings, as a mid-size three-row electric SUV will be joining the lineup next, to sit alongside the gas-powered Ascent. Until then, the Trailseeker serves as the largest and most practical of Subaru's EVs, and, especially in profile, it offers the rugged look and station wagon proportions that brand loyalists may be missing now that the Outback has morphed into a more upright SUV.David Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)And it's not just the look that makes this the most Subaru-like of the brand's EVs. The company says that the Trailseeker is the model most likely to be considered by outdoor hobbyists, as its up-to-31-cubic-foot cargo area offers ample room for camping gear, and its standard ladder-type roof rail system is made to accommodate a wide range of bike, kayak, and surfboard holders. Towing capacity is 3500 pounds, enough for a small boat or camper.Behind the WheelA pair of electric motors generates a combined 375 horsepower, which is plenty powerful enough to motivate the Trailseeker down the road with zeal. A quick stab of the throttle results in a rush of power, and the Trailseeker sprinted to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds during our testing. That makes it significantly quicker than the only slightly less powerful Solterra Touring XT, which sprinted to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, making the Trailseeker the quickest Subaru we've ever tested. The Trailseeker's twin, the Toyota bZ Woodland, managed the same 3.9-second result.David Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)Low- and high-speed passing maneuvers are handled without breaking a sweat, with the Trailseeker needing just 2.3 seconds to accelerate from 30 to 50 mph and 3.3 to get from 50 to 70 mph. The quarter-mile also passes in 12.5 seconds at 110 mph. We should note, however, that the Trailseeker's electric powertrain could only handle two consecutive acceleration runs before the power was limited and the system needed to be cooled down. So much for track-day fun in your new electric pseudo wagon.AdvertisementAdvertisementLike the bZ Woodland, the Trailseeker's road manners are agreeable but forgettable. This latest Subaru EV rides smoothly, and the cabin is hushed, but the steering is numb, and the soft suspension tuning leads to lots of body roll in corners. The Trailseeker's Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires gripped our skidpad up to 0.81 g, which is a better result than the bZ Woodland's 0.78 g on meatier Dunlop Grandtrek all-terrain tires.David Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)The regenerative braking is somewhat disappointing, although it's better here than the systems in place in the Uncharted and Solterra. Using the steering-wheel paddle to call up the most aggressive regen setting doesn't always result in the same rapid deceleration as in other electrics. That means you'll have to step on the brake pedal more often than you would with a Chevrolet Blazer EV or a Tesla Model Y.Braking performance at our test track proved disappointing. The Trailseeker required 181 feet to stop from 70 mph, the same as the bZ Woodland, but the Subaru required a lengthy 365 feet to stop from 100 mph, and our tester reported significant brake fade.David Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)As its name suggests, the Trailseeker has some off-road capability, at least in the midrange Limited and top-spec Touring trims. All models get 8.5 inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive. But only the Limited and Touring models come with a 360-degree camera system that makes traversing obstacles easier without a spotter.AdvertisementAdvertisementWe tried both a base Premium and a loaded Touring on a muddy, staged off-road course, and while we managed to complete the course without the aforementioned camera in the Premium, the imaging provided by the system in the Touring inspired far more confidence. Annoyingly, however, said system shuts off when the Trailseeker exceeds 6 mph, which meant we were repeatedly punching the camera button on the center console.David Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)Daily DriverWeekend adventures aside, the Trailseeker is also a decent companion for the work-week slog. Driving range is as high as 281 miles on the Premium trim and 274 miles with the Limited and Touring, plenty for nearly an entire week of most people's commutes. The Trailseeker can charge on the Tesla Supercharger network and comes with a NACS charge port and plug-and-charge capability.On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, we recorded only 190 miles of range. Luckily, the Trailseeker charges fairly quickly. At a 350-kW fast charger, the battery juiced up from 10 to 90 percent in 36 minutes at an average charging rate of 100 kilowatts.A large 14.0-inch touchscreen and a 7.0-inch digital gauge display are standard, and the software is intuitive and easy to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard and work wirelessly, which is a good thing because the Trailseeker's front USB-C ports aren't the easiest to access. They are tucked into a storage cubby beneath the floating center console, and you should plug into them before setting off to avoid frustrating fumbling for the port's tiny opening.David Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)Perhaps that's why there are two inductive charging pads right at the base of the center stack. They make it easy to juice a pair of phones wirelessly, but we think that real estate should have gone to an extra storage cubby for things like keys and wallets, which have few easily accessible places to land.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat critique aside, we think the Trailseeker's interior is functional and comfortable. The seats are nicely cushioned and supportive in the right places, and passenger space is generous in both rows of seats. With some more driving range, the Trailseeker would be quite well-suited for road-tripping.David Bush - Car and Driver (David Bush - Car and Driver)Pricing for the Trailseeker is also attractive, with the base Premium coming in at $41,445. That's more than $5300 less than the base bZ Woodland. Admittedly, the bZ Woodland's $46,750 base trim is more in line with the Trailseeker Limited in terms of equipment, but that version of the Subaru is still less expensive, priced at $45,445. The top-of-the-line Trailseeker Touring is $48,005 and comes with a panoramic glass roof, among other goodies. Our Touring test car rang in at $48,700 thanks to the $300 leather-upholstery option and $395 for Daybreak Blue Pearl paint.With the market for EVs stalled and the public charging infrastructure still developing in many places across the country, a new electric SUV like the Trailseeker may have limited prospects in the current context. But this new model makes it clear that Subaru has done its homework and understands what its most loyal buyers are looking for. The only risk Subaru has taken with the Trailseeker is offering it at all.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
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