The new 2026 Subaru Trailseeker represents the third and largest electric vehicle in Subaru’s expanded product line. Along with the handsome Uncharted and the redesigned Solterra, the Trailseeker is part of the six-pack of jointly developed electric vehicles (EVs) with Toyota. While the Trailseeker may be related to the Toyota bZ Woodland, its off-road capability and distinctive Subaru styling might be more accurately compared to the Subaru Outback.
It might even be better than the Outback, unless your overlanding fantasies take you far away from an electrical supply. Here are a few of our favorite things, and why this new EV might outshine the icon, the Subaru of Subarus, the Outback.
1. Trailseeker Electrifies Outback
The Trailseeker is quicker, more powerful, more efficient, and arguably cleaner than the gas-powered Outback, sure. But with its long and low roof, long wheelbase, and short nose, it looks more like the Outback’s wagon days than the redesigned 2026 Outback. I prefer the style over the boxier, more upright SUV stance for the Outback’s seventh generation.
If you look past the thick roof rack and extensive black plastic cladding, the Trailseeker measures out as about an inch shorter in length and width than the Outback, yet it’s 1.6 inches shorter in height despite having nearly the same ground clearance. Don’t be surprised that the Trailseeker is called the E-Outback in European and Asian markets.
It’s EV advantages are noteworthy. With motors mounted at both axles but no flat engine, the wheelbase is four inches longer, resulting in more passenger room. It gets the equivalent of 117 mpg combined versus the Outback’s 27 mpg combined, but this is a misleading statistic. It has a range of 281 miles. The Outback’s 18-gallon tank has a 486-mile range, which might be crucial if you’re in, well, the Outback with your Outback.
2. Trailseeker Outpaces Outback
The mighty motors in the all-wheel-drive Trailseeker do what no other Subaru can do: Accelerate from 0-to-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The fastest Subaru yet, the Trailseeker is quick off the line, and quick to hustle when tipping the throttle, thanks in part to two motors making 375 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Yet it’s smooth, quiet, and far more efficient than most other Subarus due to a 74.7-kWh battery pack. Regenerative braking via four paddle shifter settings hand drivers control over how their energy is recaptured, but it’s not enough to bring the Trailseeker to a complete stop without the traditional brake pedal.
3. Trailseeker Gets a Grip (Control)
Like other Subaru SUVs, the Trailseeker has genuine off-road capability. While it can’t compete with a Wrangler or Bronco, its 8.5 inches of ground clearance and torque and traction management systems enable it to stray farther beyond the beaten path than most soft-road trims offered by rival automakers. The Trailseeker, as well as the Solterra EV, take it a step deeper with its Grip Control feature.
It’s essentially a low-speed off-road cruise control that’s more sophisticated and confidence-inspiring than the brand’s X-Mode, which manages throttle inputs and torque distribution at low speeds in gnarly conditions. It handles all but the steering, which may be particularly helpful for trail seekers who might be intimidated about a rocky, rutted incline or a narrow descent near a ledge. It’s activated by the Deep Snow/Mud mode in X-Mode, which has hill descent control that automatically brakes the car to hold a preset low speed on the descent. It also activates the available surround-view camera system, which gives you eyes under and around the Trailseeker.
Another toggle in the console engages Grip Control to five different speeds, between 1 and 6 mph. It controls both the throttle and the brakes uphill, downhill, or at an even keel, even if rocky. The driver only operates the steering wheel. If the wheels slip, the system sends enough torque to the wheels with grip to get it unstuck, yet it will never go above that preset speed. Oftentimes, inexperienced off-roaders will let off the throttle when they encounter a rut, which may leave them in a much bigger rut. Grip Control maintains the pressure to navigate unsteady conditions with ease.
It worked well in the hilly Midwestern forests around Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, even in mud and muck, and even with the all-season tires standard on our top Touring tester. One of the big marketing draws of Subaru SUVs is this go-anywhere attitude. Grip Control allows more people without experience to experience more of the great outdoors.
Read More on the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker
Read our full review of the Subaru Trailseeker, find this week’s Fair Purchase Price, or see Trailseeker models near you.
