We’ve had Pathfinder, Outlander, Trailblazer and Freelander… Now it’s time for the Trailseeker.
The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker has been revealed as the second electric vehicle (EV) from the Japanese brand.
Taking the stage at the New York motor show alongside the updated Solterra, the Trailseeker is a larger SUV with a distinctly wagon-like silhouette.
It’s launching in the US in early 2026, though Subaru has yet to confirm if it’ll be produced in right-hand drive or if it’ll be exclusive to left-hand drive markets like its flagship combustion-powered SUV, the Ascent.
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“[It] will be primarily for the United States. It’ll be built at a Subaru facility in Japan,” Subaru of America president and CEO Jeff Walters told media on the sidelines of the New York motor show.
A spokesperson for Subaru Australia told CarExpert the Trailseeker, and the brand’s other vehicles from the motor show, could be under consideration.
“Subaru’s latest global unveilings at the New York International Auto Show provide an exciting glimpse into the brand’s future.
“We look forward to sharing what these global debuts mean for the Australian market in due course. Stay tuned!”
Subaru hasn’t published full dimensions yet, but it says the two-row Trialseeker is six inches (152mm) longer than the Solterra and nearly an inch (25mm) taller. It also has a larger cargo area.
The electric SUV features a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing 280kW of power, giving it a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of 4.4 seconds.
This is powered by a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery, offering a claimed range of more than 418km – likely based on the stricter US EPA cycle. The battery features a preconditioning system and can be charged at up to 150kW.
The Trailseeker has 211mm of ground clearance – down 10mm on the new Outback – and Subaru’s X-Mode system, with selectable Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes, as well as grip control and hill descent control.
Subaru says that using acceleration sensors front and rear, the Trailseeker “adapts to the dynamic load while accelerating, braking or turning, powering the correct wheels for improved traction and stability”.
The company also boasts the Trailseeker can tow up to 3500 pounds (1588kg) like the new Outback Wilderness, while raised roof rails are standard.
Externally, the Trailseeker looks more like a wagon than an SUV… and more like a wagon than the new-generation, unrelated Outback also revealed at the New York show.
Like the facelifted Solterra, it has a small black panel up front incorporating an illuminated version of the Subaru logo.
The Trailseeker rides on either 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, there’s a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system – Subaru’s largest yet – plus a free-standing digital instrument cluster within a chunky assembly.
There’s a minimalist centre stack with a trio of knobs under the touchscreen but little else, while a raised centre console features dual 15W wireless charging pads and the gear selector.
Underneath this centre console is a storage shelf.
All Trailseekers feature a range of safety features under the EyeSight banner, including front cross-traffic alert, traffic jam assist and blind-spot monitoring.
Subaru announced in 2023 plans to offer four electric SUVs by 2026, with another four EVs due by 2028 ahead of EVs accounting for 50 per cent – or 600,000 units – of its global sales volume per year by 2030.
A three-row SUV co-developed with Toyota had been expected to be among the next to be revealed. However, production of the Toyota and Subaru twins was delayed last year from 2025 to 2026.
