Subaru Trailseeker 2026 review: Australian first drive

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

8 / 10

Subaru is offering two trim levels of the Trailseeker in Australia, the AWD and AWD Touring.

Pricing starts at $63,990, before on-road costs, for the former and $69,990, before on-road costs, for the latter. These were slashed by $4000 last month ahead of the car’s arrival.

The inclusion of an entry-level trim sees Subaru offer a more affordable version of this car compared to the related Toyota bZ4X Touring, which is only being offered in a single, top-spec trim.

The pricing is also competitive against rivals like the Skoda Enyaq, Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4 and Zeekr 7X. There are more affordable EVs out there but they typically don’t offer all-wheel drive.

Standard across the line-up are LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual wireless chargers, a digital rear-view mirror and synthetic leather upholstery.

That’s a considerable amount for an entry-level trim.

Stepping up to the AWD Touring brings larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof with a retractable cover, 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, interior vehicle-to-load (V2L) port, as well as blue and black leather-accented upholstery.

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?

8 / 10

Looking at the Trailseeker from front on, you’ll notice some key similarities with the related Solterra.

However, things start to look different once you come around the side. There are pronounced roof rails, as well as an elongated roof line that gives off a lifted, all-terrain wagon look.

I’d argue this car is closer to the original Outback ethos than the more upright, new-generation Outback that launched locally earlier this year. In fact, in other markets this car is called the E-Outback but Subaru Australia opted against that name.

I’m a fan of the Trailseeker’s exterior design, particularly at the back, however there’s a lot of black cladding to drive home the idea that this car is tough and can go anywhere.

Inside, the similarities with the Solterra carry over. This includes the large central touchscreen multimedia system which dominates the dashboard, the digital instrument cluster that’s mounted far up, almost like a head-up display, as well as the squared-off steering wheel.

While the entry-level trim comes with typical black synthetic leather upholstery, the AWD Touring gets a bold blue and black leather-accented upholstery look.

It’s a lot for the eye to look at and I don’t know if I’m necessarily sold on it. Subaru deserves credit for breaking up the sea of black finishes, but I’d prefer a dark brown or burgundy finish instead.

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

8 / 10

The Trailseeker’s front seats are deliciously comfortable and offer plenty of electric adjustment. You’re guaranteed to find your desired position.

Front-seat heating is standard across the line-up, which was well received in frosty Canberra at this launch. The top-spec AWD Touring also picks up front-seat ventilation, which is another lovely feature to have in fickle weather.

Looking ahead, the steering wheel has a flat top and bottom, allowing you to more easily look over it to see the digital instrument cluster. It’s a similar set-up to many contemporary Peugeots.

Although I had no trouble seeing all of the content on the digital instrument cluster, you’ll likely have to try it out for yourself as not everyone is the same size and shape.

Speaking of the digital instrument cluster, it has a minimal look with a few infographic layouts that you’re able to cycle through. Regardless of the view, it clearly displays the speedometer.

Moving across, the 14.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system is large and a common unit across the Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ. It’s high-resolution and the native interface is easy to navigate.

I particularly like the physical knobs to change the climate control temperature, plus the climate control pod permanently remaining at the bottom of the touchscreen. It makes this much easier to alter on the move.

As you’d expect, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature in wireless and wired forms. The wireless connection with my iPhone 15 Pro Max was flawless throughout my time across many Trailseeker examples during the launch.

However, wireless smartphone mirroring tends to drain my battery rather quickly and the wireless phone chargers tend to overheat the phone more than charge it. While I appreciate that there are two of them, it’d be great if they were ventilated so devices don't get so hot and stop charging.

In terms of charging up front there are two cupholders, a shallow section under the centre console where two USB-C ports are, as well as a centre console box that’s side-hinged. There is no glove box on the passenger side.

Moving to the second row there is a generous amount of space. At a leggy 182cm, I have plenty of legroom behind my own driving position, though toe room could be better.

Headroom is fine, though, in the top-spec AWD Touring it’s a little compromised due to the large panoramic glass sunroof.

You could easily get two adults across the rear bench and potentially even pinch three abreast due to the virtually flat floor.

Second-row amenities include heated outboard seats, two USB-C ports, air vents on the back of the centre console, as well as a fold-down armrest with cupholders.

There are ISOFIX points on the two outboard rear seats, plus top-tether child seat anchorages on all three rear seats.

At the back the entire Trailseeker line-up has a hands-free power tailgate which is great if you’ve got your hands full.

While this car is roughly the same size as a Kia Sorento, it does not offer three rows of seating. Subaru hasn’t offered a three-row vehicle in Australia since the Tribeca was axed in 2013.

While it may not have a third row of seats, this means there is a big boot instead. With the rear seats upright there is around 600L of boot space, expanding out to almost 1700L with them folded.

There’s also a shallow underfloor section that’s big enough to store charging cables among other odds and ends.

Boot-related amenities include a light, a series of hooks, flaps to fold down the rear seats, as well as a vehicle-to-load (V2L) port in the form of a power point that offers up to 1500W and can be used to power household appliances.

Despite this car’s all-terrain capabilities, it does not come with a spare wheel. Instead you need to make do with a tyre repair kit, which is nowhere near as handy if you’re out in the bush and have a proper puncture.

Additionally, this car does not have a front boot.

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its motor?

9 / 10

The Subaru Trailseeker is powered by a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with a healthy total system output of 280kW.

This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, making it Subaru’s fastest production model ever offered in Australia.

Efficiency – What is its driving range? What is its charging time?

7 / 10

Feeding the dual electric motors is a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack sourced from CATL.

WLTP claimed range for the entry-level trim is 533km, which shrinks down to 488km in the flagship AWD Touring trim due in part to the larger 20-inch alloy wheels.

It’s worth noting this is less range than the related Solterra achieves due to the Trailseeker being larger, heavier and having pronounced roof rails.

Claimed energy consumption varies from 15.4kWh to 16.8kWh per 100km, depending on the trim level, which is still good for an EV of this size.

AC charging is offered at rates up to 22kW, which is the benchmark currently for EVs, while DC fast-charging is available at rates up to 150kW, which is a little lacklustre compared to its rivals.

Driving – What's it like to drive?

8 / 10

One of this car’s biggest highlights is its 0-100km/h sprint time. 4.5 seconds isn’t a long time and it feels properly rapid from behind the wheel.

However, I like the linear and progressive way the acceleration ramps up. It doesn’t feel like your neck will snap as it can in some EVs.

Additionally you’re easily able to dial it back and drive it like an effortless tourer. There is so much power and torque to lean on that you’ll never be looking for more.

What’s also surprising is that this car does not come apart dynamically once you turn a corner. It’s a big SUV that weighs over 2000kg but it doesn’t feel like it.

In fact, this car feels rather agile and nimble, relatively speaking. It’s helped by the dual electric motors providing confidence-inspiring all-wheel drive grip, plus the steering has a linear and well-weighted feel.

However, if you push it hard the tyres inevitably squeal. You’ll also be able to pick up on this noise more prominently due to the lack of engine noise.

Acting as a counter to this car’s performance credentials, there is 211mm of ground clearance and 'X-Mode' off-road drive settings that allow you to venture off the beaten track more confidently.

We had the opportunity to briefly sample this car on some pocked gravel tracks and it took it all in its stride. I wouldn’t be keen on taking it too far off-road, however, due to the lack of a spare wheel.

Even on sealed roads, the Trailseeker is a supremely comfortable car, especially in the entry-level trim with its 18-inch alloy wheels.

This isn’t to say the top-spec AWD Touring trim is uncomfortable, but with its larger 20-inch alloy wheels, the ride is a touch firmer and you can feel more road imperfections.

In terms of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), this is naturally a quiet car given it's an EV, as mentioned above. At higher speeds there's a bit of tyre roar that enters the cabin on coarse-chip roads, however there isn’t much wind noise despite the large roof rails.

Lastly, Subaru has done a fantastic job of calibrating the active safety systems in this car. All of them worked well during the launch and only intervened when required.

Even the driver attention monitor only goes off if you’re genuinely distracted or not looking at the road ahead. When this happens it plays a subtle chime, which is a nice change from the dramatic bongs that some other cars have.

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?

9 / 10

The Subaru Trailseeker received a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP on the related, European-spec E-Outback and Toyota bZ4X in 2025.

The entire line-up receives the full safety suite, which is great peace of mind. Highlights include autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitoring, front and rear parking sensors as well as a surround-view camera.

It’s worth noting the AWD Touring trim gains a semi-autonomous parking assist.

The airbag count runs to eight (front, front side, front centre, side curtain and driver's knee).

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

8 / 10

Like all Subarus, the Trailseeker is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which is getting rather lacklustre for a mainstream brand now.

The warranty coverage for the high-voltage battery is eight years or 160,000km, which is standard across many brands.

Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The first five services are capped and total $984.18, averaging out to around $197 per service. That’s good value but there aren’t many moving parts that need replacing an EV to begin with.

There are close to 130 Subaru dealers across Australia covering state and territory capitals as well as key rural and regional areas.

Verdict