(Credit: Eric Zeman/PCMag)
Subaru debuted its second-ever electric SUV, the 2026 Trailseeker, at the New York Auto Show while its first EV, the Solterra, also got a big upgrade for the 2026 model year.
The Trailseeker is the bigger launch. It marks a more serious effort from Subaru to build a robust EV lineup after a three-year pause since the Solterra debuted in 2022.
2026 Trailseeker: An Off-Roading EV (That's Not a Rivian)
Price details will come closer to next year's launch, but for now we know the Trailseeker gets up to 260 miles of range, has a built-in NACS port for Tesla Supercharging, and is geared toward outdoor adventurers. It could be a smaller, more affordable alternative to Rivian EVs, which are also built for off-roading.
"The name Trailseeker was developed to highlight the SUV’s go-anywhere attitude with 8.3 inches of ground clearance, exceptional capability, and usable passenger and cargo space," Subaru says.
Subaru admits it played it safe on the design, which it calls "a familiar shape," perhaps as opposed to a futuristic Cybertruck. But most buyers will likely appreciate a more traditional look, which Honda went with on the Prologue and it has been a top-seller since its 2024 debut.
But the Trailseeker boasts some impressive performance specs. It accelerates from 0-60mph in just 4.4 seconds, with up to 375 horsepower and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. It also promises to be spacious, with "ample space for people and their gear to explore the trails and beyond." Subaru says its engineers designed it to have strong traction and stability. Drivers can choose from several driving modes, including Snow/Dirt, Deep Snow/Mud, Grip Control, and Downhill Assist control.
Tech-wise, the 14-inch touch screen is "the largest ever in a Subaru." It features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two wireless phone chargers, and two USB-C chargers in the rear seats. A slew of driver-assistance technologies also add safety, such as pre-collision braking, cross traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane change assist, adaptive cruise control, and more.
The Trailseeker also features new "signature" headlights and an illuminated logo. Subaru also added these new lights to the Solterra, perhaps an attempt to develop a shared design language across its current and future EV lineup.
Subaru Solterra Gets 25% More Range
The 2026 Subaru Solterra comes with some welcome performance and range updates. We don't know the price yet, but for reference, the 2025 model starts at $38,495. That puts it pretty solidly in the low-to-mid range of the market.
The new version gets 285 miles of range, or 25% more than the outgoing model, "thanks to a newly added battery preconditioning system," Subaru says. It helps the pack maintain optimal charging temperature, even in cold weather.
Subaru also upped the combined horsepower to 338, a big improvement from 215. It accelerates from 0-60mph in less than 5 seconds. Tech-wise, Subaru added the same 14-inch touch screen as the Trailseeker
Like the Trailseeker, the new Solterra also has a built-in NACS port for Tesla Supercharging. We expect most 2026 EV launches across brands to have one, nixing the clunky adapter, but good on Subaru for seizing the trend and making a more serious play in the EV space overall.
