Over the past few days, everyone wondered what the Subaru Trailseeker might actually be. Would it be a three-row EV? Would it be a rebranded Toyota C-HR+? After a morning debut at the New York Auto Show, it turns out this electric two-row crossover is neither. It’s a Solterra EV with an enlarged gluteus maximus, but that might not be a bad thing.
For context, the Solterra is basically a Subaru-ized Toyota bZ4X, an electric crossover with a troubled start that’s just received some much needed updates. We’re talking substantially improved range, a nicer cabin, and more power. Like most electric crossovers, it features a fairly steep rake to its rear window that’s great for aerodynamic efficiency but cuts into total cargo space. Fine for many consumers, but there are people who just want more.
In the case of the Trailseeker, Subaru has taken the concept of more quite literally by raising the roof and adding an extra six inches to the length of the vehicle, all in the pursuit of additional cargo space. Add in a fairly tall set of roof rails, and the result is an EV that should be better geared to the outdoor lifestyles Subaru owners tend to enjoy.
Of course, an injection of additional booty meant that Subaru couldn’t re-use the rear panels from the Solterra, so the Trailseeker looks dramatically different from the back. With a far longer quarter window, a full-width tail light treatment, and significantly cleaner surfacing on the quarter and rear bumper, the result looks like what you’d imagine an electric Outback to be. Baby got back, indeed.
Up front, it’s a blend of new and old Solterra, incorporating the facelifted model’s split-lamp arrangement while maintaining chunky unpainted plastic bumper corners that flow into the cladding and offer a bit of protection against scuffs. Oh yeah, cladding in general’s back big-time, but additional plastic to protect the lower doors adds cohesion that the pre-facelift Solterra didn’t quite manage to have.
The interior of the Trailseeker is also pure Solterra, but that doesn’t mean its familiar. Instead, it pulls its dashboard from the updated model which features a big 14-inch touchscreen with physical climate control knobs, a completely redesigned center console that’s slimmer than before while offering dual wireless phone chargers, and a cleaner overall look without any big plastic wings coming off the digital gauge cluster. It’s very Toyota, which makes sense, but it’s definitely an improvement.
Right, what about the bits that make the Trailseeker go? Well, a 74.7 kWh battery pack and dual-motor all-wheel-drive promises more than 260 miles of range, but when an automaker says something like that, don’t expect the final number to blow the estimate out of the weeds. Still, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT only offers 259 miles of range, so the Trailseeker is perfectly competitive on that front. Zero-to-60 mph in a claimed 4.4 seconds is surprisingly quick, while peak DC fast charging of 150 kW is adequate, if not groundbreaking. Still, owners will likely appreciated the standard NACS port, the 8.3 inches of ground clearance, and the 3,500-pound towing capacity.
While pricing hasn’t yet been announced for the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker, expect more details to drop closer to the model’s on-sale date next year. Alright, so it’s a bit anticlimactic compared to what could’ve been, but so long as pricing’s reasonable, the Trailseeker looks like it could be a real contender against other soft-roady EVs. Even looking beyond its competitive set, it seems to give the EV-curious Subaru faithful exactly what they want, and for that, it’s a bullseye. Expect to see it in the wild at a Trader Joe’s near you in 2026.
Top graphic images: Subaru; Matt Hardigree
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It sounds like I’m about to lay down a couple of hot takes, but the design for this should have been applied to the new Outback and the design for the new Outback should have been applied to the Ascent.
If they need an EV sourced from Toyota, take the Prius Prime, give it some Subaru design language and market it as a loose SVX successor.
Woof.
4.4 seconds to 60 in a mom and pop Subaru wagon. That’s almost Ferrari F40 territory which is just crazy to me.
The “we just glued a screen to the center of the dashboard” aesthetic. It never looks good.
The front quarter panels, for lack of a better word, do look weird and one can only hope that they’re made of UV resistant material and won’t turn gray after some time in the sun. Inside, I just don’t get the appeal of non-round steering wheels. My left shoulder is compromised and having to adjust to the inconsistent radius would make me mad if I owned one. Which I won’t.
The front body panels over the wheels are called fenders. Motorcycles and other vehicles also use “fender” in this way.
The rear body panels over the wheels are called quarter panels.
IIRC it goes back to early car design where the fender wasn’t much more than a semicircular debris guard. The rear body panel took up roughly a quarter of the length (or even the quadrant) of the body of the vehicle, hence the name.
Thank you for the remedial education!
I think this has potential it look good. Unfortunately it currently does not. Bishop can you help us out?
Just…WOW…this is one of the worst designs I have ever seen. Talk about plastic fantastic and not in a good way. You know, the more you take away the actual body panels by adding more cladding, the more it just inevitably gets worse and worse. I think that’s actually what makes this so bad.
“Hey look, somebody cut and stole ¾ of my fender”
“Hey, they also chopped off the front ¼ of my hood w/ a sawzall…and then, glued it to the front? Why would they do that?”
“Now I need to file an insurance claim even though it’s brand new…wait, I haven’t even PUT insurance on it yet!!!”
They may as well just give up now and just put out cars that are just a blob of plastic and screens
“Yeah, I just bought the new plastic screen car”
“Oh yeah, well mine is all screen…I drive a screen…isn’t it wonderful?”
*car enthusiasts SCREAM*
Also, this should be called “Railseeker” since it DEFINITELY went on, then off the rails…
So they get rid of the ugly plastic on the front of the Solterra with the coming facelift, but keep it for the Trailseeker?! I love Subaru but I really question if they have any clue what they are doing anymore….
According to the Auto Buyers Guide video on the new Solterra the plastic fenders will still be around on the lower trim versions of the 2026. The white Solterra is the Touring trim and the Blue Trailseeker is the Limited (lower spec) trim. Hopefully the Touring Trailseeker will be available with body color fenders.
Honestly, that disappoints me more. I don’t see the value add with higher level Subaru trims. Leather is fine at best. Not much else changes. Wheels usually get uglier. I’d want the not ugly ugly plastic option on all trims.
Do you love current Subaru, or what they were at their prime 20+ years ago?
I really do not expect to see many of these. I rarely see the Solterra or the Toyota random letters and number EV’s anywhere and this doesn’t seem striking in anyway for people to buy it over other EV’s.
Toyota and Subaru have updated the range and charging on them for this year and I expect that they’ll suddenly start showing up on streets now that they’re competitive.
I see quite a few around the Portland, OR metro. Cheap leases no doubt helped move some metal off the lots.
How much better looking would it be if that were body-colored plastic?
The front fender/bumper situation in black plastic is, in my opinion, a mind blowing design decision to keep during the refresh. It’s insane how much less stupid the Solterra and even the busy-forks looks with black paint rather than any other color.
My first thought
Is it just me, or does it look like a Toyota Crown Signia in profile/greenhouse?
Not just you. And I’m here for it, given what the Outback now is.
A better Outback than the new Outback.
It’s a slightly larger version of a homely and unpopular EV. I expect to see them everywhere…languishing on Subaru lots.
Totally Subaru. For better or worse. I’m expecting to see a bunch around me next year.
It’s not as horrible looking as it could have been charging is yeah how long will it hold 150kw not very is my guess. I guess someone will buy it or more likely lease it. Will be interesting to see the independent tests. Meanwhile the zeeker 007 gt is 28k and the styling features and value speak for them self.
Ok this looks more like an Outback vs the 2026 Outback they just released.
I actually don’t mind this
Agreed. It’s not a beauty by any standards, but it’s lightyears better looking (at least in profile) than the abomination of a new Outback.
If this was able to be had with a range extender, it would be a serious contender for my Crosstrek replacement.
WTF is with these designs? Is the 1st gen Avalanche is now the go-to for black plastic cladding inspiration?
Move aside LLBean, Subaru is going with the Sir Mix-A-Lot Edition.
Tailseeker.
American Elderly love plastic fantastic vehicles.