Subaru hopes to electrify this year’s New York International Auto Show, the automaker introducing both the all-new Trailseeker EV and a midcycle refresh of its original battery-electric model, the Solterra. Here’s what we’ve discovered.
Subaru doubles its EV line-up with the debut of the new Trailseeker.
Subaru is keeping the assembled crowd of journalists busy at this year’s New York International Auto Show, rolling out a trio of new products. That includes a pair of all-electric vehicles, a big move for a company that was slow to embrace battery power.
The brand’s original EV, the Solterra didn’t exactly charge up the market and so, for 2026, Subaru hopes to increase its appeal with a big jump in performance and range, as well as some modest design tweaks.
What’s really drawing attention, however, is the larger, even more powerful 2026 Subaru Trailseeker.
Here’s more on the two new EVs.
First Look: Subaru Trailseeker
With over 8 inches of ground clearance, the new Subaru Trailseeker should be able to live up to its name.
Playing it safe isn’t always a good strategy, especially in the battery-electric vehicle market. That’s meant buyers have largely ignored Subaru’s first entry, the Solterra, which was the product of a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota.
The new Subaru Trailseeker has an opinion, if you will, with a more distinctive body design, better performance and longer range. It’s also about 6 inches longer – and an inch taller – than Solterra, yielding substantially better interior space. As the name suggests, meanwhile, Trailseeker is designed to handle a bit of off-roading, enhanced by its 8.3-inch ground clearance.
Visually, it’s much more distinctive than the original, largely forgettable Solterra, with a more angular body, raised roof rails, a six-star illuminated logo, unique headlights and bumpers, and a choice of 18- and 20-inch wheels.
Its roomy cabin features a 14-inch touchscreen, the largest ever offered by Subaru. And there’s a wide center console which, says Subaru, “provides a centralized hub for devices and personal items.”
More power, better range
The Subaru Trailseeker’s cabin.
Trailseeker will only be offered with a two-motor drivetrain making a combined 375 horsepower. (No torque numbers have been released.) That puts it in competition with similar-sized offerings like the Chevrolet Blazer and other recent midsize EV entries. Subaru claims Trailseeker will have enough muscle to tow up to 3,500 pounds – though that would eat into range.
The new electric SUV’s Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive is enhanced by Subaru’s now-familiar X-Mode system which allows drivers to select different modes suited for road conditions such as Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud Modes. Trailseeker also gets Grip Control and Downhill Assist Control to further ease the challenge of negotiating difficult trails.
Trailseeker’s lithium-ion battery pack is by no means the largest in its class, at a moderate 74.7-kWh but the automaker claims it can squeeze out” “more than 260 miles of range from a single charge.
One nice feature, the new Subaru EV adopts the Tesla-style NACS charging port so it can plug into that automaker’s expansive network of Superchargers.
More Subaru News
- First Drive: 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid
- The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is Ready for Adventure
- Subaru’s Project Midnight Pushes The Envelope of WRX Performance
Updated Subaru Solterra
Solterra gets a modest design tweak for 2026.
The 2026 update for Solterra also goes with the NACS charge port, making it possible to plug into somewhere around 15,000 Tesla Superchargers across North America. That, alone, would be a notable improvement – but Subaru didn’t stop there.
It gets some modest but appealing design tweaks, sharing the new illuminated Subaru 6-star logo, for one thing, along with a new front bumper, new 18- and 20-inch wheels, and more subtle aerodynamic enhancements.
Inside, the 2026 Solterra features a revised touchscreen and gets some nice metallic finishes through th cabin, along with more storage in the center console for personal items.
Solterra Powertrain
Both Trailseeker and Solterra adopt the Tesla NACS charge port for 2026.
The big news can be found under the hood, so to spoke. More accurately, under the EV’s skateboard-style platform. For starters, it’s also got a 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack now and, at an EPA-rated 285 miles per charge, drivers will be able to travel 25% further than before without having to plug back in.
When they do, they’ll be able to tap public quick chargers putting out up to 150 kW. That can be used to get the 2026 Subaru Solterra’s pack from a 10 to 80% state-of-charge in as little as 35 minutes.
The EV also has two new and more powerful motors. On main trims they put out a combined 233 horsepower. That jumps to 338 hp on the Solterra XT, and can launch it from 0 to 60 in “less than 5 seconds,” the automaker claims.
Pricing and Availability
Subaru said it’s not ready to release pricing information. Look for that closer to when each of the 2026 EVs go on sale.
The 2026 Subaru Solterra will reach U.S. showrooms “later this year.”
The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker goes on sale in early 2026.
0 Comments