2026 Subaru Trailseeker Up Close: Your Electric Outback is Here
Just when the 2026 Subaru Outback decided to go all boxy, Subaru comes along with a new electric vehicle that looks like it could easily be the next-generation Outback if the Subaru styling studio had gone in a slightly swoopier direction. The new 2026 Subaru Trailseeker is coming, and for all intents and purposes, it’s a longer, larger, loaded version of the Solterra. That simplified description is not a bad thing, as more room, more power and more capability is good — but less range is not. Still, the Trailseeker looks exactly like the answer to the question of what Solterra owners might like to upgrade to if they want more space but also want to stay in the Subaru family.
Fixing the Solterra’s Styling Situation
The Trailseeker’s looks are an interesting mishmash of new Solterra parts (the new front end, headlights and bumpers) and old Solterra thinking (matte-gray cladding on the fenders). Somehow it works, though, and I think that’s in part due to the longer wagon back end that stretches the overall length 6 inches for a dramatically increased cargo space.
It essentially turns the Solterra into an electric Outback wagon, with a sturdier roof rack and copious cargo area for Subaru owners to do what Subaru owners do — live that outdoor lifestyle. Nevermind that driving off into the wilderness in an EV might be difficult until charging stations start appearing in forests. From a style and cargo utility standpoint, however, the Trailseeker feels exactly like what current Solterra owners might want.
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Straight-Up Toyota Inside
Aside from the Trailseeker’s straighter roofline that allows for more rear-seat headroom and cargo space, its cabin is identical to the new Solterra’s (and more comfortable). And that cabin is heavily influenced by the Toyota bZ4X’s, with its looking-over-the-steering-wheel gauge display and enormous 14-inch touchscreen. If you like this gauge-cluster format (not everyone does, especially shorter drivers), you’ll be perfectly fine with the Trailseeker’s configuration. The multimedia system is a reskinned version of the Toyota Google-based software, and it works reasonably well despite annoyingly not having a home screen.
Quicker Than Expected
Where the Trailseeker surprises is its powertrain — a dual-motor setup for standard all-wheel drive is expected, of course, but its total output is an estimated 375 horsepower, more than the 338 hp that the 2026 Solterra produces in the XT trim. Subaru says that’s good for a 0-60 mph sprint of 4.3 seconds, which is legit quick.
The Trailseeker’s range isn’t stellar, however, with just 260 miles between charges, according to Subaru, but that’s competitive with the off-roadish Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT. The 150-kilowatt DC fast-charging speed is also the same as the new Solterra’s, which is okay, if not great. The Ioniq 5 XRT will pretty much blow the Trailseeker away at the public chargers.
But Who’s It For?
The 2026 Trailseeker is pretty much exactly what owners of the first-generation Solterra have been clamoring for — something bigger and more capable, an Outback that will let them continue to run on electricity instead of having to give up their lifestyle for a dirty gas engine. Providing Subaru doesn’t go too nuts on the pricing (it’s certain to be more expensive than a Solterra, but hopefully not too much more than a comparable gas-engine Outback), they should have another hit on their hands.
More From Cars.com:
- Subaru Reveals 2026 Trailseeker, an All-New Electric SUV-Station Wagon Not Called Outback
- 2024 Subaru Solterra Review: A bZ4X by Another Name?
- Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
- Is the 2025 Subaru Solterra a Good EV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
- What to Know Before Purchasing an Electric Vehicle: A Buying Guide
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