2026 Subaru Trailseeker is Fast, But is it Value?

Our Subaru Trailseeker AWD, the base model with plastic seats and no sunroof, proved to be more than the sum of its parts.

We concluded there was nothing in the range-topping Touring that you’d rip your eye teeth out for. Ryan and I drove the “electric Outback” for a week and liked it, but, and there is always that but.

Considering the utter flop that was the completely inadequate Solterra MKI, sales have been similarly modest for Trailseeker. So, what is going wrong? FCAI no longer publishes individual model sales to keep this data secret. After all, the public can’t possibly be allowed to have all information to make a buy, can they? Even more tellingly, Subaru is down 36.7% in August on the same month last year. Most legacy carmakers are.

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2026 Subaru Trailseeker is an Outback for the Electric Era, and went on sale in Q2 this year. While we can’t access individual models, Subaru is down 27.5% for the year according to the VFACTS August report. Honda is the only Japanese brand to show an increase, but it is almost a complete red sheet for all other carmakers that aren’t Chinese. Either way, things are looking grim as these new Chinese models elbow legacy brands at the automotive buffet table.

In order to see where Subaru is, you have to comprehend Subaru’s very late entry into the electric age. It started with a few stumbles, but the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker was meant to feel like a brand finally finding its electric footing. The all-electric evolution of the beloved Outback was meant to blend classic Subaru practicality with bodacious battery power. The problem is, Outback always knew what it was. The Subaru/Toyota EV range feels like a rudderless row boat despite being a great drive.

Even with a swift 4.5-5 seconds 0-100, and a recent price reduction prior to launch, the $63,990 base AWD and $69,990 AWD Touring (plus on-roads), the wagon-like crossover is hardly a blip on the EV radar.

Design

The Trailseeker doesn’t shout about its electric underpinnings because like its twin, the Toyota bZ4X Touring, it is up against stiff competition from more adept come-and-get-mes. Its silhouette borrows from the traditional station wagon, with a comfy wheelbase (2850mm), short overhangs, and a usable 211mm ground clearance. But that’s also where it goes a bit wrong. There are lots of bits glued on and it looks more Bayeux tapestry than Constable landscape. It lacks the sharp edge we see on other SUV EVs.

Where Solterra/bZ4X chase the coupe/SUV crowd, Trailseeker trades the naff coupe-like rooflines for a boxier, wagon shape that prioritises cabin space and outward visibility.

Plain grey protective lower body cladding and functional roof rails retain that classic off-pavement look. But, the plakky panels need fluffing up because the dowdy effect on the visage detracts from an otherwise reasonably handsome decent first impression.

The base AWD with 18” wheels has sensible sidewalls, while the flagship Touring’s 20”ers are a little less practical if you dream of far-afield flings. The other extras include a panoramic glass roof, and optional two-tone paint ($1,200).

Cabin

Trailseeker mixes functional design with a few quirky interior choices. Although the overall layout is spacious, the dashboard is an eccentric mix of textures, plastic finishes and swirling lines.

Front seats are well-supported with power adjustment. Second-row legroom is generous-ish thanks to the flat EV floor. The high battery floor slightly compromises under-thigh support for taller adults. The base model has a couple of air outlets and some USBs but that’s about it.

The front seats only have heating, with venting saved for the range topper. The Touring gets leather accenting, but the base model’s upholstery is a simulated leather affair. That is becoming more common but can feel like a ’70s bar lounge.

Cargo capacity. Boot space is a decent 609L, expanding to 1,230L with the rear seats folded (or 1,694L crammed to the roof).

Tech and controls. A 14” central touchscreen manages navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Although Subaru retained physical buttons for climate controls, they, and other fixed buttons, take up 2/5ths of the screen real estate. The driver gets a 7” LCD screen flanked by LED lamps. A full 12” screen comes with a much lower price in other brands.

The driver dials are awkwardly placed above the odd-angled steering wheel, halfway between being an HUD and conventional display. Peugeot tried this, remember Peugeot?

Cheaper cars have more range, faster charging, a glass roof, seat venting, an HUD, and although it is by subscription, Tesla offers self driving supervised. When most OEMs are going tech heavy, Subaru feels a bit tech-light.

Touring upgrades. Touring brings the ventilated front seats, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, blue-and-black genuine leather, and a 1500W Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) power outlet in the boot.

Powertrain, Range and Performance

Underneath the skin, both Trailseekers share the exact same ToyoBaru dual-motor powertrain, making it the most powerful factory-built production Subaru ever built. The joint venture with Toyota continues the long association, but also signals that neither brand was prepared to go EV solo. Trailseeker was also the first EV entered in a Variety Bash.

On the Road and Off-Pavement Dynamics

Straight-line pace. With 280kW under your loafer, acceleration is brisk. Carpeting the throttle launches the 2.0-tonne wagon from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, out-accelerating a WRX by an embarrassing margin. That’ll make the dinosaurs wince.

Ride and handling. The suspension tuning is a classy affair on MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones around the back. On its standard 18” wheels, the base model absorbs sharp bumps and coarse chip roads with a touch more grace than Touring’s larger 20” alloys.

We included footage of a bit of off-road naughtiness proving Trailseekers can take the rough trails with surprising ease. Dual-mode X-Mode software manages the grip and the screen lets the driver know where the wheels are. The clever see-through floor simulates under the car by building an image as you pass over it. While it’s not live as such, it is accurate unless a sinkhole magically opens after the front camera has done a scan.

Most work will be tarmac, and steering was delightfully positive with a well-calibrated sense of feel, albeit computer simulated. To consider Trailseeker purely as a camp mobile is not doing it justice, but it falls behind quickly when you start to consider similarly sized competitors.

Braking and regen. Steering wheel paddles adjust through five levels of regenerative braking, allowing for smooth speed adjustment, though it stops short of full one-pedal driving. What? No one-pedal driving? What is this nonsense? On an EV of this price, that omission will cost sales since it will be a direct challenger to Tesla Model Y. Don’t underestimate that comparison because buyers in the range will be doing exactly that.

If you don’t think that is so, consider Model Y was Australia’s top-selling car 3 times this year, in May (5,605), June (8,072) and August (6,414). Not only an SUV and an EV, but not a diesel Ranger, diesel Hilux or petrol hybrid RAV4.

Subaru Trailseeker vs Tesla Model Y

Subaru cut $4,000 off Trailseeker before the first customer car was delivered. The local distributor is Inchcape, and you don’t knock that much off a car you think will sell itself.

At $63,990 the dual-motor Subaru Trailseeker undercuts the dual-motor Model Y Long Range at $68,900, and the 533km WLTP claim matches it. The rear-drive Model Y starts at $58,900, so Trailseeker isn’t the cheap one, only the quick one.

Charging is where it comes unstuck. Subaru Trailseeker caps at 150kW DC where Tesla takes 250kW, and Model Y owners plug into the Supercharger network without a moment’s thought about which app to open.

There’s no over-the-air update capability, which in 2026 is astonishing. The connected car app is thin, V2L stops at 1500W and only on the Touring, and there’s no factory spare wheel on either car on a car sold on its gravel road manners. An underfloor space-saver “kit” is coming locally for $1,145. The tow bar at $1,189.59 and tyre kit can be added to new cars, or exisintg cars. For a change, current buyers aren’t left out.

The Verdict

The entry-level Subaru Trailseeker AWD ($63,990) is the pick of the range. It offers better ride comfort and 45km more driving range than the flagship Touring, while keeping the same 280kW twin-motor performance.

For buyers seeking a fast, practical, all-weather electric wagon that can handle gravel roads without fuss, Subaru Trailseeker is one of the most well-rounded options on the market. However, Model Y and Chinese EVs will also be in the scene, and all sell in far higher volumes.

There is far too little gear for the price, the charging is far too slow, and although brand new and Model Y is now aging, Model Y Juniper feels vastly superior, whether it is or not.

We predict either further reductions will follow for price, or increases for tech. As it stands, it is unlikely to find a whole lot of garages.

Subaru Trailseeker

Specification	Trailseeker AWD	Trailseeker AWD Touring
Price (plus on-roads)	$63,990	$69,990
Powertrain	Dual-motor symmetrical AWD	Dual-motor symmetrical AWD
Motors	167kW/268Nm front, 167kW/268Nm rear	167kW/268Nm front, 167kW/268Nm rear
Combined output	280kW/537Nm	280kW/537Nm
0-100km/h	4.5 seconds	4.5 seconds
Battery	74.7kWh lithium-ion, 391V	74.7kWh lithium-ion, 391V
Claimed range (WLTP)	533km	488km
Energy use (WLTP)	154Wh/km	168Wh/km
DC charging	150kW, 10-80% in about 30 minutes	150kW, 10-80% in about 30 minutes
AC charging	7kW single-phase, about 12 hours to full	7kW single-phase, about 12 hours to full
Three-phase AC	22kW	22kW
Charge connectors	Type 2 AC, CCS2 DC	Type 2 AC, CCS2 DC
Wheels and tyres	18”, 235/60 R18	20”, 235/50 R20
Spare wheel	Puncture repair kit	Puncture repair kit
Length/width/height	4845/1860/1675mm	4845/1860/1675mm
Wheelbase	2850mm	2850mm
Ground clearance	211mm	211mm
Turning circle	11.2m	11.2m
Boot, rear seats up	609L	595L
Tare mass	2040kg	2070kg
Seats	5	5
Towing (braked)	1,500kg	1,500kg
Warranty	5 years/unlimited km	5 years/unlimited km
Battery warranty	8 years/160,000km	8 years/160,000km
Servicing	5 years/75,000km capped price	5 years/75,000km capped price

Full specifications: 2026 Subaru Trailseeker specification and features sheet, from Subaru Australia.

More Subaru Stories

• 2026 Subaru Uncharted AWD Gives Up 451L of Boot to Model Y
• Subaru Uncharted First Drive Is Good, the WLTP Claim Is Not
• Subaru Trailseeker Is the First EV Entered in a Variety Bash

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