If the boot of Subaru's Solterra electric SUV isn't big enough – or you're after an EV to replace an Outback wagon – the new Trailseeker may be the ticket.
Electric Cars
Subaru has revealed the closest thing yet to an electric Outback – the 2026 Trailseeker SUV – ahead of its overseas launch next year, and Australian arrivals yet to be confirmed.
The Trailseeker – as it will be marketed in the US – is a stretched version of the current Solterra SUV, with common front-end body panels and doors, but a longer tail.
Subaru is keen to point out the Trailseeker has been "developed by Subaru engineers", indicating there will not be a Toyota version, in the way the Solterra is related to the Toyota bZ4X.
Australian showroom arrivals are yet to be confirmed. It is due on sale in the UK from mid-2026, unlocking right-hand drive.
Subaru UK says "the moniker for Europe and the UK is yet to be confirmed," but the Trailseeker name has already been trademarked in Australia, so it is likely to keep its US name in local showrooms.
The Trailseeker promises to be the quickest car Subaru has ever built, with dual electric motors producing 276kW – up from 252kW in the updated 2026 Solterra – for 0-60mph (97km/h) in a claimed 4.4 seconds.
More than 418km (260 miles) of driving range is claimed from the 74.7kWh battery pack, as well as a 1587kg towing capacity, and a NACS port for access to Tesla Superchargers in the US.
The suspension and all-wheel-drive system have been retuned for the Trailseeker, the company promising front and rear acceleration sensors which adapt "to the dynamic load while accelerating, braking, or turning ... for improved traction and stability."
Measuring 152mm longer and 25mm taller than a Solterra, the Trailseeker's improvements focus on the boot, though Subaru is yet to quote a capacity figure.
There are standard roof rails, a choice of 18- and 20-inch alloy wheels, and the updated Solterra's closed-off, new-look front end combined with a Trailseeker-specific full-width tail-light bar.
Inside, the Trailseeker inherits the 2026 Solterra's 14-inch touchscreen and revised cabin design.
Available features include a Harman Kardon premium stereo, 360-degree camera, dual wireless phone chargers, a panoramic glass roof with sunshade, heated and ventilated front seats, and a radiant heater for the front occupants' legs.
X-Mode off-road settings are standard on the vehicle, with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes, plus hill-descent control, and about 210mm of ground clearance.
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, front- and rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, and Emergency Stop Assist are standard across the range.
The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker is due in US showrooms early next year.
"Subaru’s latest global unveilings at the New York International Auto Show provide an exciting glimpse into the brand’s future," a Subaru Australia spokesperson told Drive.
"We look forward to sharing what these global debuts mean for the Australian market in due course. Stay tuned!"
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Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
