The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker might sound unfamiliar to you. That’s because it’s an all-new model; a true sequel to nothing. The Japanese automaker has told us to prepare to meet our “newest adventure-ready sidekick,” which will be fully revealed at the 2025 New York Auto Show later this week.
Subaru is teasing us in the most traditional sense. We know the vehicle is called the Trailseeker, and that it’s some kind of SUV with a nod towards at least casual off-road use. That’s because we were granted one picture of the rear badging, with a nice dusting of dirt on the tailgate.
Right now, there is very little to go on. However, if you dig through the automotive hotsheets, it’s possible to glean a little more detail about what’s likely coming around the corner.
We do know that Subaru has been collaborating with Toyota on all-electric vehicles. The company already sells the Solterra, which is built on the same platform as the Toyota bZ4X. The new model coming down the line is expected to be an SUV intended for global markets. It seems very likely that the Trailseeker will be related to another pending Toyota, but the question is exactly which one.
As covered by InsideEVs, Toyota is imminently launching the C-HR+, an electric SUV a size below the existing bZ4X. It’s got a swooping rear roofline for that modern “coupe” SUV look, and is expected to land sometime before the end of 2026.
After a slow start in the EV world, Toyota is eager for the new model to really stretch its legs. It’s expected to boast 373 miles of range on the WLTP testing cycle in the front-wheel-drive model with the largest 77 kWh battery option. Alternatively, you’ll be able to spec the AWD model with up to 343 horsepower, which should do zero to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds.
One might expect that the Trailseeker would be the Subaru counterpart to the Toyota C-HR+, but there’s a hitch. The small amount we’ve seen of the Trailseeker rear end doesn’t really match up with what we’ve seen of the C-HR+. Back to the drawing board, then.
As covered by Carscoops, another possibility is that the Subaru Trailseeker could be the counterpart of another upcoming Toyota, with a more traditional SUV body style. We’ve only seen a trace outline from Toyota of this unnamed model, but it feels perhaps closer to something that might match the Trailseeker teaser pic.
There’s also the chance that the Trailseeker is a three-row SUV. There has long been word that Toyota’s pending three-row EV will be built in Kentucky, with Automotive News reporting a Subaru version will enter production shortly after Toyota’s own model. Currently, that model is purported to be known as the bz5X, denoting its larger size than the existing bZ4X model.
Right now, we can only speculate as to what’s coming down the line, and it’s really anyone’s game. A compact SUV along the lines of the C-HR+ would be pretty fitting for the Subaru lineup, for sure. At the same time, the existing three-row Subaru Ascent is aging, so the timing is right for a new big SUV for the Japanese automaker.
Regardless, whatever it turns out to be, I’d just like to highlight how refreshing it is that Subaru found a new name for this upcoming model. Too often, automakers choose to rehash tired old names, rather than reaching towards the future, the Ford Capri being a great example. Subaru could have tried to call this thing the Baja, or the Brumby, or even the SVX if they were truly insane. But they didn’t—they put in a modicum of effort and found something altogether more vital.
Thankfully, with the New York International Auto Show kicking off on April 17, we don’t have long to wait. The secrets of Subaru’s new SUV will soon be ours for the… reading about.
Image credits: Toyota, Subaru
It seems Brumby is already taken by Beijing Auto Works
https://bawauto.com/brumby/
A Brumby is essentially a mustang right?
I thought Trailsiq was the new Cadillac SUV…
Oh boy, just what the world needed. Yet another bland electric crossover that has the notion of going offroad, but will almost never actually go offroad.
I’m just so tired of cars that pretend to be something they’re not, driven by owners who wish they were someone who they are not. There will be talk of driving to a trailhead to go hiking (why not just hike there?!) or maybe a fire road. In the end, they’ll be doing what most cars are used for. Driving on paved road to work, to the grocery store, to school, on errands.
Nobody will ever fawn over a used beige camry in 20 years, but you know what? At least they are honest about what they are. They’re meant to move people around, reliably, comfortably. There is NOTHING wrong with that. Honesty is underrated.
These silly lifestyle cars are just so tiresome. Maybe Trailseeker is a good name; it implies that it will forever be looking, but not ever finding a trail to drive on.
Yes, its horrible that people aspire to something greater than they are. Terrible of everyone who seeks to be something more. Only those who can accomplish it for sure should be allowed to try.
I know a lot of people who live at the ends of driveways that are a half mile of dirt roads through the woods, sometimes with snow. The funny thing is is that the big macho looking SUVs get stuck because of trees and lack of maneuverability, ( and open differentials) but cars like Subaru Imprezas and Outbacks and subcompacts on appropriate tires do just fine.
Yes, my old WJ Grand Cherokee steered like a sled in snow. Honestly until its over about 6″ or so a normal Fwd car is better, particularly steering and braking.
oh wow! A whole half mile of dirt road. Sometimes snow! Welcome to new England. Your “the big suv’s don’t work” is such bullshit and is proven in my town daily.
Subaru engineers biggest design challenge – how to integrate a head gasket into a EV design.
Just soak it in used oil and throw it in the trunk, that’s where they all end up eventually.
My brother and sister have owned seven Subarus between the two of them over the last decade.
And 12 head gaskets.
Thinking of the “adventure-focused” Nissan EV from their recent preview, that’s at least 2 outdoorsy EVs coming. At least from legacy automakers, then throw the Rivian R2/R3x in the mix too.
It’s like Subaru liked the name of the Nissan Pathfinder so much they just looked up alternatives to that name in the thesaurus
Well Chevy already has the Trail Blazer
This one seeks out the trails that have already been blazed
This is for sniffing down existing trails, rather than blazing your own.
They’ll follow up next year with a “wilderness” type trim called the Trailtaker, in case you don’t want to just seek them out but also drive on them
I’ve never understood the term “Trail Blazer”. Seemed redundant to me. Growing up, there were always new trails blazed through the trees on twisty roads from someone in an IROC-Z that had too many beers and too much throttle.
Mullets for the win.
“Trailseeker”
A name that is as lost and confused as it’s styling.
I look at that silhouette and all I see is station wagon. But then again, in this timeline, all cars are SUV.
Can kids sit in the back in “Tailgunner” position and signal truckers to blast their horns to scare the ever loving crap out of whatever parent is driving?
Because if the answer is no, it’s not a station wagon.
Every Subaru I see still looks like a wagon, except maybe the Ascent? They just got taller on their suspension and a little taller on the roof line. None of them are what I would consider an SUV by appearance. And I say that with love, I DD a Subaru wagon and have for many years
Imagine if Subaru added a flat4 with a CVT to the BEV to make it a combination of the two least desirable powertrains (on their own) on the market today. I stopped caring about Subaru around 2010 when they started removing manual options and going to CVT, and lots of their fan base would think twice before heading out on a long camping trip with a BEV. The market wants range extending electric vehicles.
Well at least it won’t leak oil and blow head gaskets.
Subaru: “Challenge Accepted!”
Maybe the wheels will simply just fall off.
At least the Busyforks has a thing you can say.
How do you say bz5x? Busyfivex? Busysex?
BuzzFax
Buzzfix?
Unsold
Busyfix?
Could be interesting especially if they build it in the US and use batteries from Toyotas NC plant. I suspect they are scared of the upcoming Rivians. A significant portion of their demo could walk right into Rivians arms.
my brain turned the OOs to AAs in the top pic and I was so so so hopeful. SAABPRISE is so much more triggering for me.
As a former Saab 9000 Turbo owner, I can understand that. And let’s not forget the Saab 9-2X.
From almost two years ago:
The Saab 9-2X Was An Excellent Subaru Impreza But A Disappointing Saab: GM Hit Or Miss – The Autopian
Maybe this is the disaster of a boxy SUV Suburu we’ve been seeing spy shots of?
I was thinking about those spy shots too, but if it follows more of that silhouette pic, that has more resemblance to what we know as an Outback, almost like the next Outback is going boxier to add differentiation from this.
“how refreshing it is that Subaru found a new name for this upcoming model”
Agreed. I don’t know that I love Trailseeker, but it’s fantastically better than bz5x. That’s not just incrementally bad, that’s doubling down on a terrible idea.
Kudos to Subaru. I think I’ll choose to like Trailseeker after all.
Somehow “bz5x” sounds like some sort of bird flu variant…
The Ascent is nice except for the atrocious fuel economy. Going electric would solve that issue. It would also be in line with Subaru’s marketing. This will take you to the trail down a kind of rutted gravel road without directly polluting the surrounding environment.
As long as Subie keeps rebadging Toyotas why can’t they slap the star badge on the GR Corolla so I don’t have to put up with Toyota dealerships to drive one?
I doubt Toyota would be too hot on the idea of handing their popular, well-liked spice-mobiles to Subaru that easily
I wouldn’t say never, after all, this is the same Toyota that farmed the Supra out to BMW
I mean Subaru already has the WRX, although it’s pretty much worse than the GRC in every way lol
I had a WRX hatch and I loved it but it was ruined by a hurricane. I can’t bring myself to like the WRX sedan. I’d love another hot hatch with turbo and AWD and as long as Subaru refuses to build one I wouldn’t mind a rebadged one.
Subaru also seems to be better about honoring their warranty on performance vehicles than Toyota.
You think Subaru dealers are any better? Think again. I’ve used 3, and the sales teams at all of them weren’t great. Good service teams though.
There are 4 of them here in Houston and 3 of them are awesome for both sales and service. The 4th, well they were a disappointment based on my experiences with the other 3.