Subaru Trailseeker 2026 Review

Subaru HQ would have you believe the Trailseeker is an electric Outback, when in all reality it’s a bigger, better Solterra

By carsales.com.au

Subaru pioneered the crossover concept long before SUVs were even a thing.

The Japanese car maker merged the bush with the ‘burbs more than 40 years ago with vehicles like the Leone wagon and Brumby ute and then perfected it with the original Outback, which almost single-handedly created the soft roader craze.

And now it is doing it again in the new era of electric vehicles with its newest model, the Trailseeker, which has arrived in Australian showrooms with the promise of being the first ever Sport Electric Vehicle (SEV).

So, let’s check it out.

How much does the Subaru Trailseeker cost?

The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker already costs less than anticipated as the Japanese car maker adjusted its on-sale sticker price with a $4000 discount compared to when it first confirmed the car’s arrival.

It is available in two model grades, the standard Trailseeker AWD that costs $63,990 plus on-roads and the flagship Trailseeker AWD Touring that commands a $6000 premium.

That positions it above Subaru’s only other dedicated EV, the Solterra SUV that costs from $61,990 plus on-roads in base-level trim and $67,990 plus on-roads for the Touring version.

It also puts it right in the middle of the most competitive set of mid-sized battery-powered vehicles, up against the likes of the Tesla Model Y AWD Premium ($68,990 plus on-roads), Kia EV5 Earth Long Range ($64,770 plus on-roads), the Zeekr 7X AWD Performance ($72,900 plus on-roads) and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 AWD N-Line Premium ($83,700 plus on-roads).

What standard equipment does the Subaru Trailseeker feature?

Even at the base level, the Subaru Trailseeker comes equipped with a generous level of standard equipment that includes:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights and tail lights
• Power operated tailgate
• Keyless entry with push button start
• Multi-colour interior ambient lighting
• Synthetic leather trim
• Power adjustable front seats
• Heated front and rear outboard seats
• Digital rear view mirror
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 14.0-inch infotainment touch screen
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Embedded sat nav
• DAB+ Digital radio
• Dual wireless phone chargers

The Trailseeker AWD Touring adds the following extra features:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• Ventilated front seats
• Full leather trim
• 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system
• Vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality
• Semi-autonomous parking

What safety features does the Subaru Trailseeker have?

Both versions of the Subaru Trailseeker are equipped with a comprehensive array of advanced safety systems and autonomous driver aids, including:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keeping assistance
• Blind spot monitoring
• Traffic sign recognition
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Driver attention monitoring
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree parking display

What is the Subaru Trailseeker like inside?

The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker isn’t a vehicle that shouts or advertises its strengths. Its design is relatively subdued for a modern EV – though you can still immediately tell it’s electric – and there’s next to no indication this is the quickest and most powerful factory Subaru to date.

That largely sets the tone for the rest of the package; there’s nothing that stands out for being breath-takingly brilliant or segment-leading, but when you stop to take stock of the major faults or flaws, they’re few and far between.

Starting with the obvious stuff: there’s heaps of room in the second row and a wide, usable 609-litre boot behind the rear seats – which expands to 1230L with the second-row folded flat, and 1694L if you load it up to the roof.

There’s plenty of adjustment to the powered front seats in both variants and outward visibility is about as good as it gets in the segment.

The Touring’s blue leather upholstery also cheapens an already botched interior. Even in the base model, the dashboard and door cards alone comprise more than half a dozen different textures, materials or finishes, with the blue leather adding yet another spice of variety and not feeling any better than the lower grade’s black faux leather.

There’s no glovebox in either version, nor is there a spare wheel which, while not uncommon for modern EVs, is unacceptable in a vehicle with an adventurous predisposition.

Other complaints (aimed at both variants) include the fiddly, numb temperature control dials which feel cheap in the hand and lag way too far behind your inputs; the square steering wheel which is fugly and convoluted in the extreme; and the 7.0-inch driver’s display which, while functional, looks like a generation-old afterthought.

What is under the bonnet of the Subaru Trailseeker?

Both variants pack a dual-motor battery-electric powertrain good for 280kW – Subaru doesn’t provide an official torque figure – and 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds.

The motors draw current from a 74.7kWh CATL battery pack that provides the AWD with a claimed cruising range of up to 533km (WLTP), and 488km for the Touring AWD.

DC charging capacities are capped at 150kW, delivering a 10-80 per cent top-up in about 30 minutes.

What is the Subaru Trailseeker like to drive?

On 18-inch wheels, the Trailseeker walks an impressive line between compliance and agility, feeling far more like a well-sorted passenger car – think Subaru Liberty – than a high-riding (211mm), 2040kg SUV.

Mid-corner bumps in off-camber turns can briefly throw it off its game, but the chassis recovers quickly and securely with no nasty surprises awaiting the unwary; a lot like the straight-line performance for that matter.

In ECO or even Normal modes, the Trailseeker is a calm and smooth operator, offering Outback Wilderness levels of performance with none of the CVT fuss. But dial up Sport mode and it becomes a genuine STI-killer off the mark, out of corners and on the open road (overtaking).

Traditional expectations dictate a vehicle should get better the higher up the pecking order you go, but that’s absolutely not the case with the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker.

Despite costing $6000 more, the top-spec Touring AWD – with its 20-inch alloys, glass roof and blue leather upholstery – is an inferior drive compared to the base variant, and its cruising range is a sizeable 45km shorter.

The rolling stock is the biggest issue here as there’s less sidewall to iron out smaller bumps, surface irregularities or take the edge off harder hits. We also found the Touring wanted to scrub its nose wide a bit more readily in corners when pushing on compared to the base AWD, a trait emphasised during four laps of Pheasant Wood Raceway.

It also generates a fair bit more road noise than the AWD’s 18-inch setup, especially over coarse chip bitumen – of which there’s a lot of in country ACT and NSW.

How much does the Subaru Trailseeker cost to maintain?

The Subaru Trailseeker is covered by the brand’s standard five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with the battery pack and traction motors guaranteed for eight years and 160,000km.

It comes with the first 12 months of free roadside assistance, and servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km.

Subaru has a five-year capped price servicing scheme that costs a total of $984.18 at an average of $196.83 per annum.

Should I lease a Subaru Trailseeker?

If you can live with the crazy paving dash and God-awful steering wheel, yes, you should absolutely take a good look at the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker, especially the base AWD.

It’s practical, fun and refined to drive, deceptively fast, offers solid range and actually represents decent value. Yes, the 150kW DC fast-charging rate is down compared to a lot of alternatives, but its 10-80 per cent fill time isn’t unreasonable.

We can’t vouch for how well it goes off-road just yet, but we have zero doubt it’ll go quite a lot further down a rural fire trail than an EV5, Enyaq or Model Y (etc).

If only there was a glovebox and spare wheel…

2026 Subaru Trailseeker at a glance:

Editor’s Rating: 7.9/10

^{Disclaimer: Images supplied by carsales}