It wasn’t that long ago when performance wagons were limited to expensive European marques. Now, the Subaru Trailseeker comes in to change all of that. This rather innocent-looking thing is the most powerful and quickest Subaru ever officially offered in Australia.
Yes, it is fully electric. And yes, it is based on a shared platform with the fundamentally-identical Toyota bZ4X Touring. However, the packaging, capability, and drive character is very similar to the Subaru Outback (it’s actually called the E-Outback in some markets).
2026 Subaru Trailseeker AWD: Specifications
Electrical: 74.7kWH CATL battery, 2x e-motors
Output: 280kW / 536Nm
Gearbox: Single-speed auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.5, 235/60
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 2040kgPower-to-weight: 7.28:1 (kg:kW)
Official range (WLTP): 533km
Max charging AC/DC: 22kW/150kW
0-60km/h: 2.29 seconds*
0-100km/h: 4.49 seconds*
60-110km/h: 2.96 seconds*
1/4 mile: 12.92 seconds at 174.8km/h*
Starting price: $63,990
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2026 Subaru Trailseeker: How much does it cost?
This is where things get a bit weird. Subaru Australia initially announced the Trailseeker with prices starting from $67,990. But, weeks before it launched, prices were slashed by $4000. Not really a good sign in our opinion, as volatile pricing can lead to poor resale value down the track.
Another way to look at it, though, is the fact that Subaru cut prices before launching rather than a few months afterward, like some car brands do. This can cause frustration among early buyers while also injuring resale values.
In any case, two variants are being presented here; the AWD and the AWD Touring. Prices start from $63,990 and $69,990, respectively (excluding on-road costs). That places it in a tough position in the market, especially for EVs. Because, some rivals offer more range or more power, or both, for similar or less money. Subaru’s trump card is that it has been set up in Australia for decades and should have a superior parts supply chain and dealer/service network compared with something like a Zeekr 7X or a BYD.
2026 Subaru Trailseeker: Interior & packaging
The Trailseeker is about the same length as the Outback, which gives you some idea of the cabin space and proportions. In particular, rear legroom is impressive like with the Outback. It feels like a long cabin orientation, and the floor in the back is almost flat. You’ve got more than enough rear-seat legroom for this class, with cup holders on a flip-down arm rest, and twin adjustable climate vents ensuring long-distance comfort for all the family.
Up front, this is quite different to the Outback, or any other current Subaru for that matter. The dash adopts a unique design incorporating a lion’s ‘pride rock’ platform that protrudes outward, containing dual wireless phone charger pads and cup holders lower down. And then on the main fascia you’ll find a 14-inch touch-screen system – lifted straight from Lexus models – including a cool see-through temp control system with physical control knobs.
The screen supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but doesn’t support over-the-air updates, weirdly. But that could be a plus if you’re not all that keen on privacy concerns and vehicle’s tracking data and so on. As standard the base AWD comes with a decent six-speaker sound system, while the Touring adds a 10-speaker system.
Going wth the Touring also adds a panoramic glass roof with sun blind, blue and black leather-accented trim, and a V2L (vehicle-to-load) Australian power socket in the boot rated at 220V/1500W. It is a shame the base model misses out on the V2L plug as most EVs, not just direct rivals, offer this by now.
Seat comfort is great, even in the base model. We drove for quite a few hours during this launch event and got out feeling relaxed. Being slightly raised compared with a conventional wagon means stepping in and out is easy, however, this is not a full SUV/4×4 so you don’t have to worry about lugging yourself up; this is at the perfect height (211mm ground clearance) for the transition.
Boot space is excellent. You’ve got 609L in the standard 5-seat configuration, which is actually 111L more than the outgoing Outback. This expands to 1694L with the rear seats folded down. You can fold down the rear seats via tabs on the sidewall as well, and there is some storage on the sides and under the floor, as well as tie-down hooks and anchor points.
Where this does miss the mark is the lack of a spare wheel. Traditional Subaru owners and fans like a good road trip. But in this, no spare wheel is going to attract a layer of concern and worry otherwise not associated with vehicles like the Outback and Forester. Subaru Australia did say during a media presentation that it is working on something, potentially suggesting an optional accessory space-saver.
2026 Subaru Trailseeker: Powertrain & handling
As for the powertrain, both variants use a 74.7kWh battery that sends energy to two electric motors for all-wheel drive. These generate 280kW and 539Nm, making it, yep, the most powerful Subaru ever offered in Australia. Subaru claims 0-100km/h can be achieved in 4.5 seconds, and our testing with a Vbox confirms this, with a result of 4.49 seconds.
Being the most powerful and quickest isn’t everything, though. Subaru has worked hard on getting the throttle calibration right, with a good balance between responsiveness and comfort. Some EVs offer a very sensitive throttle, almost like a light switch; on or off. From behind the wheel, this feels quite natural and progressive. The more you push the pedal, the faster it goes.
You have three main driving modes to choose from as well. These mainly alter throttle sensitivity, with Eco mode offering the most relaxed feel, and Sport mode presenting a sharpened response more akin to EV performance models. The default ‘Normal’ mode seems to be a nice balance; you don’t have to worry about selecting modes as soon as you get in.
This is a set-and-forget vehicle. Just jump in, hit the start button (yes, it has a proper on/off button, thankfully), select drive and go. In that sense, it does feel like a Subaru. No stuffing about. Just get the job done. Although, the gear selector mechanism isn’t as immediately intuitive as other models by Subaru, but it doesn’t take long to get used to.
In terms of handling and driving enjoyment, this is surprisingly capable and engaging. As you might expect, the AWD system is superb, directing power to the best wheels to provide totally seamless and secure grip at all times. We even had a chance to push near its limits on a race track, at Pheasant Wood. Even though there is a bit of body lean, the Trailseeker feels confident and safe.
If you regularly take part in sporty driving it is probably better to go with the Touring as it wears 20-inch alloy wheels with 235/50 tyres, as opposed to the taller profile 235/60 tyres on the 18-inch alloy wheels featured on the base model. This means more flex and better absorption on rough roads and dirt tracks, and perhaps a smidge more comfort. Turn-in isn’t as sharp in the base variant.
Overall, it is a fun vehicle to drive because you’ve got all of that power at the ready, with relentless all-wheel drive traction, and a sturdy yet complaint ride, so you can smash over poorly-maintained country roads with ease. And that’s the biggest difference between this and some of the competitors that might be cheaper or offer more power; the ride and handling here is far better in our opinion, and more suited to Australian conditions.
As for the charging and range. Firstly, the on-board range calculator seems to be quite accurate. During my test drive it said around 200km to destination, and I noted the displayed range almost matched the left-over range and distance travelled exactly. In fact, it was just 4km off. Some EVs get this very wrong, either giving you a false sense of capability or just chewing into the battery very quickly according to the dash.
Recharging is possible via an AC three-phase outlet at up to 22kW, which leads the class. At the public DC fast-chargers, it’ll take in up to 150kW. That’s not the highest in the class or the industry, but it is the average output of most public stations. It basically means you can top up the battery from 0-100 per cent in about 3.5 hours using a 22kW AC plug (or about 1.5 hours for a decent chunk of charge), and 0-100 per cent in around 45-60min using a 150kW outlet.
Off-road performance is likely to be higher than what most owners will want to take on in their sparkling Trailseeker. We took a base example up our usual hill climb test (video coming soon) and it pulled up without much fuss. Activating one of the two X-Modes did help, as it caught wheelspin a bit sooner than the default. It still clawed its way up the hill in the default mode but X-Mode helps to reduce nervousness and is likely to save tyre wear when off-roading. Ground clearance is rated at 211mm, which is very close to some ‘proper’ 4×4 SUVs and utes out at the moment.
2026 Subaru Trailseeker: First impressions
This is a great EV because it blends many of the traditional – and appealing – elements of a good Subaru, such as the Outback, into a package that provides strong power and reassuring grip, along with enough technology to keep a modern driver happy. Sure, it doesn’t offer over-the-air updates and the pricing is a bit higher than some of the newcomers from China, but with this you’re getting a solid SUV from a reputable brand that’s been established in Australia for decades. Our main concern is the lack of a spare wheel.
2026 Subaru Trailseeker: Videos
