2026 Subaru Trailseeker Review: First Drive

Laguna Beach, CA - Small, medium, and large. That appears to be Subaru’s electric SUV strategy for 2026 with three distinct vehicles that share many components but cast unique profiles. At the small end of the spectrum, is the spunky Uncharted. The elder statesman of the trio is the mid-size Solterra. Now, completing the trifecta, is the larger Trailseeker.

Although it may be the biggest of Subaru’s EV SUVs, the Trailseeker isn’t jumbo by any means. It falls more in line with what is traditionally considered a mid-size SUV. Think of it as an all-electric Outback to get a better idea of size and purpose. In fact, in Europe, it’s actually called the e-Outback.

On our shores though, it is the Trailseeker and in the United States it will be available in three trims, Premium, Limited, and Touring. In Canada, the trim structure is near identical, but uses a different naming strategy, with the Touring, Limited, and Premier.

Exterior Style:

The Trailseeker measures 190.8-inches (4,815 mm) in length, is 73.2-inches (1,860 mm) wide, and has a height of 65.9-inches (1,675 mm). Compared to the new 2026 Subaru Outback, the Trailseeker is a bit smaller in all dimensions .

Up front, Subaru’s latest electric SUV has a big chunk of black body cladding below the headlights, similar to the previous generation Outback. The Trailseeker’s six LED running lights, paired in two rows of three, matches that found on the Solterra and Uncharted. This model also has a light up front badge.

The Trailseeker is only available in a dual motor set-up, powering all four wheels. Unlike the smaller Solterra, both the front and rear motors are the same size, producing 167 kW. This means total system output is pegged at 375 hp, a healthy increase from the Uncharted and Solterra.

Subaru claims the Trailseeker can rocket from 0-60 mph in approximately 4.4 seconds, making it the quickest Subaru ever sold in North America. It feels plenty quick from behind the wheel, like all of Subaru’s electric SUVs. What’s more surprising is how the thrust continues well up past freeway speeds. Many electric vehicles begin to lose steam as speed builds, but that’s not the case here. Passing is still a breeze, even at 70 mph.

When driven more sedately, Subaru claims the Trailseeker can go 280 miles (444 km) on a single charge. That’s at the lower end for the class, as we’d hope for at least 300 miles of range. Still, it’s not terrible, especially considering the standard amount of power every Trailseeker comes with. Recharging the 74.7 kWh battery pack should take about 28 minutes to go from 10 to 80 % when using all of the vehicle’s 150 kW max charging speed.

Handling and Drivability:

The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker features a 14.2:1 steering ratio, a MacPherson-type strut front suspension, and a double wishbone rear suspension. Like Subaru’s other electric SUVs, the brakes measure 12.9-inches for the front rotors and 12.5-inches for the rear rotors. Although the Trailseeker is the heaviest of the trio, at 4,465-4,565 pounds (2,015 – 2,045 kg), it’s not that portly, especially considering its size and all-electric architecture. More importantly, during my time with the vehicle, we never noticed any hesitation or worry when braking.

The Premium trim level Trailseeker come with 18-inch wheels, while 20-inch wheels on are standard on the Limited and Touring. All versions wear 235 mm wide tires; the larger wheels just have a bit less tire sidewall. While driving the Touring (Premier Canada) trim level, we found the road manners were as expected, focusing on predictability and ease of use over outright sportiness. The Trailseeker’s driving character feels like a premium, quieter version of the Outback.

The ride quality feels akin to the new Outback’s, which is compliant without being too squishy. Inside, front seat passengers get 38.6-inches (980 mm) of headroom and 42.1-inches (1,070 mm) of legroom. In the back, occupants receive 37.1-inches (941 mm) of headroom and 35.3-inches (897 mm) of legroom. Both those numbers are lower than what’s found in the Outback, and despite it feeling tighter in the rear of the Trailseeker, there’s still plenty of room for adult passengers.

Back up front, there is a standard power driver’s seat and an available passenger power seat. The front seats are heated as standard, while heated rear outboard seats are optional, as well as ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and leather seating surfaces.

Inside, there’s no surprise that the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker looks quite similar to the Uncharted, Solterra, and the electric SUV’s Toyota cousins. There’s a fully digital driver information center pushed up against the windshield, with a large infotainment screen protruding up out of the dash.

Our leather equipped Touring tester (Premier in Canada), came with blueish seats and blue interior trim, accented by silver bits here and there. Overall, the interior looks and feels of quality, with special mention to the padded rear door sills.

Tech and Safety:

Some of the highlights of standard equipment in the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker includes a 14-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, 7-inch digital driver information screen, power tailgate, rain sensing wipers, and ambient lighting. Also available on higher trims are items like a Harmon Kardon 11-speaker sound system and driver’s memory seat.

From a safety standpoint, all Trailseekers come standard with Subaru’s EyeSight technology that has features such as emergency steering assist, intersection collision avoidance, pre-collision braking, pedestrian, vehicle, and cyclist avoidance assistance, lane departure prevention, dynamic radar cruise control with lane tracing assist, Low-Speed hands-free driving (25 mph or slower) on supported roads, front cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitor, rear camera detection with pedestrian warning, panoramic view monitor, and multi-terrain monitor.

Value Dollars and Sense:

In the United States, the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker Premium starts at $41,445 (all prices include destination charges), while the Limited clocks in at $45,445, and the Touring begins at $48,005. That puts the starting price about $5,000 higher than the 2026 Outback, but at the other end of the pricing structure, a loaded Outback XT Premium is actually more expensive than the Trialseeker Touring with its extra 115 hp.

In Canada, the entry level Touring starts at $57,785, while the Limited begins at $60,785, and the Premier costs $63,785. Once again, all prices including destination charges.

Final Thoughts:

Subaru’s bread and butter are the brand’s SUVs, notably the Crosstrek, Forester and Outback. With the introduction of the Trailseeker, the brand has now paired each gasoline model with a similar sized all-electric counterpart. Although the Uncharted and Solterra have a different personality compared to the Crosstrek and Forester, the Trailseeker really feels like an electric Outback. In fact, we feel Subaru should have stuck with the e-Outback name here as well.

In the United States, the pricing on the Trailseeker is so aggressive it really is just a matter of what a customer prefers between the Outback and Trailseeker, gas or electric. Regardless of preference, tastes, or needs, one can’t go wrong with either one.

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