Subaru has used the New York Auto Show to show off its first standalone electric model, the Trailseeker.
What kind of car is the Trailseeker?
Unlike the Solterra electric SUV - also given some updates for the New York show - the Trailseeker isn't a direct copy of a Toyota model, although under the skin it shares batteries and motors with some of Toyota's upcoming EVs. Toyota has owned a big chunk of Subaru for some time now, and the two companies often share platforms and even, in the case of the Solterra, entire cars.
The Trailseeker is different, though, and for now it's an entirely Subaru product. Although it has quite a bit of ground clearance - 210mm - as the Solterra, it's more of an estate car in its shape, and so can be thought of as an electric adjunct to the long-serving Subaru Outback.
The Trailseeker will be coming to Ireland, although we'll have to wait a while for it; the first models won't be landing here until mid-2026 at the earliest.
How far will it go on a charge?
European range figures for the Trailseeker haven't been issued yet, but we do know that it will use a 74.4kWh battery and has 375hp spread across two electric motors, for four-wheel drive, natch. On the US EPA electric range test, Subaru quotes a range of 260 miles, or 420km. The EPA test is generally seen as stricter than the European WLTP test, so the Trailseeker will likely come here with close to 500km of official range. That EPA figure is probably a good bet as to the car's realistic on-road range, though.
Not that you'll have to spend much time on the road. This is a Subaru, after all, with all the ruggedness that implies and the four-wheel drive Trailseeker gets Subaru's X-MODE setup with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud driving modes with 'Grip Control' traction control and 'Downhill Assist Control' for dealing with steep slopes. The Trailseeker is also rated to tow up to 1,588kg on a braked trailer.
The Trailseeker also has an impressive package of safety features based around Subaru's camera-and-sensor 'EyeSight' system. This system includes pre-collision braking, front cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitors, lane departure alert, a panoramic view camera system, emergency stop assist, traffic jam assist, lane change assist, and advanced adaptive cruise control.
What about the interior?
Inside, the cabin lifts a lot from the Solterra, with a high-set instrument panel that's far enough away from the driver to almost count as a head-up display, a small, squared-off wheel, and a 14-inch touchscreen. There are also powerful 15-watt wireless phone charging pads and high-powered USB-C sockets.
The only thing we don't know for certain is whether Subaru will keep the 'Trailseeker' name when the car arrives here or if European versions will use a different name. Subaru, for now, says that “the moniker for Europe and the UK is yet to be confirmed.”
As for the Solterra, it gets a major update with radically different front styling, new 18- and 20-inch alloy wheels, and a new battery. That battery is the same as the 74.4kWh unit found in the Trailseeker, and Subaru claims that it, together with an improved battery management system, gives the Solterra 25 per cent more range on one charge. Translate that through the WLTP test, and that could be more than 570km, a significant improvement for a car often criticised for not having enough range.
The Solterra also benefits from a new battery pre-conditioning system, which allows DC charging at up to 150kW, giving it a 10-80 per cent charge in 'less than 35 minutes' and Subaru, being the rugged brand that it is, claims the Solterra can charge that quick even in sub-zero temperatures. The updated Solterra should be with us in early 2026.