The Subaru Outback, more crossover than wagon these days, remains a massive hit with the sort of buyers who are likely to own National Park annual passes. That famous name might not adorn the new Subaru Trailseeker, but this electric crossover brings all the body cladding, cargo space, and mild off-roading abilities that made the Outback a cross-generational hit.
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The Lowdown
Subaru
Sitting on the same Toyota platform which underpins the bZ Woodland and C-HR, the Trailseeker is a pure electric mid-size two-row SUV that sits above the Uncharted EV in the Subaru lineup and overlaps heavily with the existing Solterra.
An 8.5-inch ground clearance, raised roof rails, and standard all-wheel drive keep the Trailseeker in line with the strengths of the rest of Subaru’s crossover lineup, with a standard dual-motor powertrain delivering a system peak of 375 hp. It uses the same 74.4-kWh battery pack as the Uncharted and has a similar 281 miles of range.
Vehicle tested: 2026 Subaru Trailseeker
Location: Orange County, CA
More Specs
Powertrain: Dual-motor, all-wheel drive
Power: 375 hp
0-60 mph: 4.4 seconds (manufacturer claim)
Battery Capacity: 74.7 kWh
Weight: 4465 lbs (Premium trim)
Range: 281 miles (Premium trim, EPA estimate)
How Does It Drive?
Subaru
Unsurprisingly, the Trailseeker is very similar to the closely related Uncharted on the road. This is a good thing because the Uncharted is a solidly capable crossover that seems up to plenty of tasks.
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.
Subaru
As its name and body cladding suggest, the Trailseeker does have a reasonable level of off-road ability. My chance to test this was limited to a small, purpose-built course, where the Trailseeker ran through steep inclines, matching descents, uneven ruts, and washboard straights without complaint.
So the fully independent suspension doesn’t have the articulation to run any truly gnarly trails, but it was more than capable at handling what buyers are likely to find on their way to a distant campsite or hiking trailhead.
Subaru’s off-roading software, X-Drive, includes drive modes for both simple dirt and snow as well as deeper stuff. A smart camera system tied to the first off-road mode provided extra visibility, including a very useful “transparent hood” feature to show the driver what is immediately under the tires. Just as with the Uncharted I drove on the same course, an aggressive hill-descent assist took a second to kick in and proved more jarring than helpful on the small hill used to test downhill performance.
That off-roading ability does not lead to major on-road sacrifices. This is a solid road car, one that rides comfortably and does not sacrifice significant range for its ride height. It still goes a claimed 274 miles on a 74.7-kWh battery in top-line Touring trim, an adequate but not particularly impressive number for the size of the battery and the car.
What’s It Like to Live With?
Subaru
Interior space felt plentiful, and cabin materials are high-quality for the Trailseeker’s price point. Like the similarly appointed Uncharted, an unnecessarily squared steering wheel and large, central wireless charging pads that don’t secure phones with any sort of magnetic grip were two of few sources of frustration in what is otherwise an excellent cabin.
Although the wagon-like roofline is not quite enough to make the Trailseeker look like a vintage Outback, it does add a dose of practicality over the more curvaceous competition, leaving enough space to carry a full-size dog crate in the back. That space should also benefit campers hoping to carry a cooking surface, refrigeration, or any other accessories they might want to plug into an available 1500-Watt rear AC outlet.
Subaru
Fast-charging rates are acceptable but not strong by 2026’s lofty standards, the Trailseeker peaking at 150 kWh and reaching 80 percent from 10 percent in what Subaru claims is as little as 28 minutes. Thanks to a native NACS port, those times could theoretically be achieved at Tesla’s vast network of Supercharger stations.
Like the Uncharted, the infotainment system does not natively support route-planning that optimizes charging. This adds another frustrating layer of work for the driver planning a longer journey, especially anyone who has come from another EV that does have smart-mapping capabilities. It feels like one area Subaru is definitely off the pace.
Should I Buy One?
Subaru
If the Outback appeals to you and you want to go electric, the Trailseeker offers a path of minimal resistance—beyond the need to find the extra $5000 that separates the EV’s starting price from the internal-combustion version.
The Trailseeker’s most obvious rivalry is with the Toyota products that share the same platform, although the twinned bZ Wilderness has a starting price considerably higher than the Subaru’s. That gap makes the Trailseeker an enticing prospect for any outdoor enthusiast in search of an EV, although the impending arrival of the Rivian R2 could shake up the segment.
Highlights and Lowlights
Subaru
We Love:
Blocky, practical shape that leaves plenty of room for cargo.
Respectable on-road and solid off-road performance.
Reasonable starting price.
We Don’t:
Unspectacular range and charging speed.
Lack of route planning to optimize charging.
A name dangerously close to a direct competitor, the Trailblazer EV.
Favorite Detail:
Subaru
Exterior color options for the car may not be particularly exciting, but one option in the Trailseeker catalog stands out. The car can be spec’d with a blue-leather interior, an excellent splash of color that makes this one feel just a bit more special than the average crossover.
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