I recently said the upcoming electric Subaru Trailseeker isn’t the greatest off-roading option (unless you’re trapped only buying an EV for your weekend camping trips for some reason). However, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad vehicle. In fact, it isn’t at all. The Trailseeker may be one of the coolest Subaru models yet if we’re talking street performance and commuting.
I know the Trailseeker is covered in plastic cladding. But if we stopped pretending it was the EV equivalent of the Outback and focused on what actually makes it special, I think it’d actually be stealing headlines from the recent Forester recall.
I know that Subaru enthusiasts have been waiting for an electric Outback. I know. But the Trailseeker oddly stands out way more when we discuss its street performance. With 375 horsepower and a 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, the Trailseeker is Subaru’s fastest model yet. It even beats the WRX STI, which gets to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds tops — and that’s for special editions.
Car and Driver noted the Trailseeker’s “rush of power” when you stab the throttle. Most car journalists who had the opportunity to test out the Trailseeker noted the same, all noting that it’s the fastest Subaru they ever tested.
CarScoops took it a step further, testing the Trailseeker’s crazy acceleration under a wide range of conditions. With a slight downhill slope, the Trailseeker could hit 60 mph in 3.88 seconds — or 4.11 seconds without rollout. With a pretty steep uphill slope, the Trailseeker hit 60 mph in 3.92 seconds — 4.12 seconds without rollout.
“More impressive still is the consistency,” CarScoops continued. “These weren’t hero runs cherry-picked from a dozen attempts. The data shows repeatability across varying slight grades, reinforcing that this performance isn’t a fluke. It’s baked into the platform. Not everyone is going to love this car, but it’s unquestionably very quick.”
Subaru Trailseeker’s impressive acceleration is the real selling point
The early off-road tests with the Subaru Trailseeker almost seemed comical to me. Subaru had set up some tame course with some hills and a bit of dirt, and testers marveled how the Trailseeker could handle it pretty well. I mean, I think even my Lotus Elise could handle that course by the sounds of it. But even the journalists who got to test the Trailseeker early weren’t willing to say it was an off-roading machine, despite that being Subaru’s selling point.
However, everyone seemed to be impressed by the Subaru Trailseeker’s performance on the road. Wrote Road and Track: “Spirited driving is unlikely to be high on the list of requirements for most of those looking at crossovers from Subaru, but the Trailseeker’s potent dual-motor powertrain had plenty of urge on a twisty road, the car feeling stable enough under cornering loads to encourage me to exploit the power. Suspension is soft however, and that does mean that g-forces bring body roll.”
Car and Driver added that the Trailseeker’s acceleration was quite smooth and the cabin quiet, adding to the quality experience behind the wheel. I don’t think it’s going to be anyone’s first choice on a canyon drive or anything, but I think we can all agree that a Subaru with this much power, acceleration, and capability is still note-worthy.
I’d argue it’s more noteworthy than its meh off-roading, which appears to be unsurprisingly similar to the Toyota bZ Woodland, since both share the same platform. The exposed battery underneath, the added weight (Edmunds even called it “big but bland”), and range (a pretty underwhelming 281 miles) all create concerns on top of being just a pretty average off-roading vehicle. As my colleague Dave McQuilling pointed out, there’s not much you can do if your battery runs out. It’s not like you can bring extra fuel with you.
The Trailseeker is not the most competitive in the small electric SUV category, but for its low-ish price and zippy performance, I think it’s a unique option with a bit more styling and spirit than a lot of EVs. I guess I’d rather have an SUV with quirky cladding, semi-okay off-roading, and pretty good street performance over the chunky do-nothings in the category.
