The first real off-road EV? Subaru Trailseeker unveiled at the New York show, now to get it into Australia!
The all-electric 2026 Subaru Trailseeker off-road SUV has been unwrapped at the New York motor show.
The Trailseeker was revealed alongside the latest generation combustion-engined Outback wagon and an updated version of Subaru’s first EV, the Solterra, ahead of its US launch early next year.
Claimed to be the first-ever EV designed and developed in-house, the all-wheel drive Subaru Trailseeker boasts up to 280kW of power, all-wheel drive and up to 211mm of ground clearance – the same as the brand’s Solterra SUV.
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The Trailseeker is based on the same e-SGP (Subaru Global Platform) as the Solterra – which is a development from the Toyota e-TNGA platform that also underpins the Toyota bZ4X.
Engineers claim just 30 per cent of parts were shared with the Solterra, with the rest all-new.
Combining 150kW e-motors on each axle, total output of the Trailseeker is 280kW which is said to provide for a 0-100km/h dash of 4.4 seconds.
Subaru says the two identical motors are designed to optimise the new Subaru EV off-road.
Powered by a 74.4kWh lithium-ion battery, Subaru says the Trailseeker can cover around 418km on a single charge based on the US EPA test cycle.
The new battery can be topped up at up to 150kW using a DC charger with a 10-80 per cent replenish taking 35 minutes.
Capable of towing up to 1588kg, engineers have developed multiple driving modes that includes snow and deep mud to pre-arm the all-wheel drive system for the surface being encountered.
Within, there’s claimed to be more boot and room compared to the Solterra, with space thought to be on par with the latest Outback.
Other highlights of the cabin include a new 14.0-inch infotainment system that is combined by a raised digital instrument cluster.
There’s no word on pricing for the Trailseeker but it’s heavily tipped to be exported to the right-hand drive UK market in the second half of 2026, opening the door for a launch in Australia.
Subaru Australia offered the following prepared statement on its NY debuts including Trailseeker:
“Subaru’s latest global unveilings at the New York International Auto Show provide an exciting glimpse into the brand’s future. We look forward to sharing what these global debuts mean for the Australian market in due course. Stay tuned!”
Subaru used the New York show to announce that it would unveil another two EVs this year, one of which is being tipped to be a rebodied version of the Toyota C-HR+.
