Subaru-Toyota duo scores with sport electric Trailseeker

SUBARU

The new Subaru Trailseeker is a midsized sport utility vehicle with generous horsepower and interior space.

Subaru and Toyota have a joint agreement that continues to produce new vehicles. 

The revamped BZ has spawned the frisky Uncharted, a compact all-electric SEV. Now the larger BZ Woodland has produced the midsized Trailseeker, an SEV that’s more suited for off-roading.

The Trailseeker will probably do very well in the wild. It has generous ground clearance, symmetrical all-wheel drive and a lot of horsepower. It has 8.5 inches of ground clearance and an X-drive mode to take you through deep snow, mud and sand. I, of course, will take Subaru’s word on that because I don’t do a lot of traveling through the wilderness, so I’m good. I can tell you that as an everyday driver the Trailseeker is way more than capable.

The Trailseeker, brand new for 2026, has two electric motors that combine for 375 horsepower and about 396 pounds - feet of torque. That’s healthy enough to get the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in less than 4.3 seconds. It’s able to tow 3,500 pounds if need be and has a range between 274-281 lies per charge. There is a generous 31.3 cubic feet of space once the rear seats are folded. It can recharge on Tesla’s Super Charging network (NACS) from 10% to 80% in 28 minutes. An adapter is provided to charge at non-Tesla chargers and also a home charging cord.

The Trailseeker accelerates briskly. Plant your foot and you are catapulted onto the freeway. Passing is an afterthought because torque and horsepower are instant. The symmetrical all-wheel drive makes the car feel planted if you get aggressive. Body roll feels well under control while cornering and the vehicle stays straight and true while motoring down the open highway.

The ride is surprisingly comfortable for an all-wheel drive vehicle. Not a lot of bumps and thumps are transmitted into the cabin. There is no engine noise so the only sounds you hear and some tire hum and wind noise which is basically muted. You don’t have to play the superb Harmon Kardon audio system at high volumes to enjoy the excellent clarity.

The Trailseeker’s interior is similar to the BZ Woodland save for the various Subaru touches that abound. The cabin is spacious – large enough for five adults in comfort. The front seats of my Touring addition were covered in optional leather, ventilated and heated. The driver’s seat was power adjustable and had memory settings. The passenger seat was also power operated. Both were comfortable with enough padding and bolstering to hold you in place. 

There is a bounty of tech that’s standard included nearly every driver’s aid including Subaru’s Eyesight. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, digital rear-view mirror, radiant leg heaters for front occupants, panoramic sunroof and 20-inch wheels are all standard.

A 14-inch touch screen was easy to operate to find most of the car’s function. The gauge cluster is digital and can be configured to provide a variety of information. Two wireless chargers allow both front passengers to keep their phones topped off. USB-C ports are available up front and in back as well.

The rear seat is comfortable, but some may wish for a bit more legroom. Also, 281 miles per charge is OK, but harsh winters may cut the range a bit. The charging speed seems to be quicker the lower the battery percentage.

I like this Trailseeker. It has more power and cargo room than the Solterra which debuted last year. The available power and cargo space will come in handy on long trips and the availability of the Tesla charging network will make trip planning a bit easier.

The Touring version of the Trailseeker starts at $46,855. My test car was about $48,500.

Pros

• All-new model

• Plenty of power

• Good cargo space

• 281-mile range

• Comfortable interior

• Quiet ride

• NACS charging available 

• Solid handling

• Quiet ride

Cons

• More range would be nice

• Variable charging speed

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