2026 Subaru Trailseeker EV Reveal, the poor mans Rivian?

[mkg3]

You guys probably already know that the Outback is completely redesigned. and is now a SUV rather than cladded up wagon. In fact, not sure how Subaru plan to market Forester vs Outback now. The Outback is now bigger and much more roomier inside.

Trailseeker appears to fill the old Outback slot. It's more of a wagon than a SUV based on the proportions.

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[Donald Stanfield]

To be fair the target demo for Subaru owners is not speed or road trips and regardless of what the TV ads show not off roading..... its a safety, reliability, and AWD for typical families. I do think seeing under 300miles of range will scare people away, although it shouldn't

Personally, i wish EVs would get-a-way from all the 0-60 times, that matters to a very small % of car buyers.

Hard to say who 0-60 matters to % wise, it matters to both my wife and I.

 

[akc5247]

I always call my R1S, our Fancy Subaru, My wife has an outback (sorry ladies, she is straight)

Subaru just introduced the follow-up to their (really Toyota's) flop of an EV, the Solterra. This could be direct competitor to the R2. It;s more of a wagon / outback sized, but noted that it's based on the Solterra, so likely will have poor range and slow charging.

Link: 2026 Subaru Trailseeker

New Solterra also reveled: 2026 Subaru Solterra Revealed

I'm a Subaru (Ascent / previously Forester) owner. Will see what the specs are when they are actually out. They are already late in the game, and it better not be a downer of EV that Solterra has been.

 

[narmstrong79]

Hard to say who 0-60 matters to % wise, it matters to both my wife and I.

Before tesla set that as the benchmark for EVs, the average consumer was driving cars with 8+ second 0-60 times. I would say the % is high for who that really matters too. Range and efficiency are much more of an important stat for your average car buyer.

 

[Ilovejunebugs]

I had an outback and was excited when the Solterra launched (traded my outback in for one). It was a not so bad car but an awful EV. Got rid of it to get my R1T.
The interior was cheap, plasticky and uncomfortable. Drove ok but my outback was more comfortable, especially on long drives. Route planning was nonexistent and the software was horrid. And don't get me started on charging speeds (road trips were a nightmare).
I hope Subaru can make a decent EV but this new model does not look like much of an improvement, IMHO.

 

[KootenayEV]

Subaru people seem to be very brand loyal, so I think this is only targeted towards those who love the brand and may want to go EV at some point. Mostly this is Toyota needing to push product to feed a factory.

I was very brand loyal, having owned several Subarus since the early 2000's - but they waited too long and Rivian replaced them for me (and then some!), and I expect the R2 to do very well in BC. They will need more Service Centres in BC for them to do really well outside of the Lower Mainland, but even just a SC in Kelowna would have people in the Kootenays considering them.

 

[akc5247]

You guys probably already know that the Outback is completely redesigned. and is now a SUV rather than cladded up wagon. In fact, not sure how Subaru plan to market Forester vs Outback now. The Outback is now bigger and much more roomier inside.

Trailseeker appears to fill the old Outback slot. It's more of a wagon than a SUV based on the proportions.

Yeah, that is going to turn off more of Subaru (like myself) loyalists...

 

[mkg3]

Yeah, that is going to turn off more of Subaru (like myself) loyalists...

So much for the historically the "hippy" car.
https://www.caranddriver.com/photos/g64477940/2026-subaru-outback-wilderness-exterior-gallery/

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-subaru-outback-first-look-review/

 

[Rivdog]

Subaru fixed the power issue but dang, 260 miles is more like 150 in the cold. That just wouldn’t cut it for me. I thought I could handle a standard range Mach E (211 miles) back in 2021 and I definitely regretted it in the winter.

 

[elektrode]

Needs bigger front fenders. /s

 

[elektrode]

So much for the historically the "hippy" car.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2026-subaru-outback-first-look-review/

We’re encroaching on Pontiac Aztec territory here.

 

[bhendron]

I always call my R1S, our Fancy Subaru, My wife has an outback (sorry ladies, she is straight)

Subaru just introduced the follow-up to their (really Toyota's) flop of an EV, the Solterra. This could be direct competitor to the R2. It;s more of a wagon / outback sized, but noted that it's based on the Solterra, so likely will have poor range and slow charging.

Link: 2026 Subaru Trailseeker

New Solterra also reveled: 2026 Subaru Solterra Revealed

those things look like they fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

 

[malditofman]

I always call my R1S, our Fancy Subaru, My wife has an outback (sorry ladies, she is straight)

Subaru just introduced the follow-up to their (really Toyota's) flop of an EV, the Solterra. This could be direct competitor to the R2. It;s more of a wagon / outback sized, but noted that it's based on the Solterra, so likely will have poor range and slow charging.

Link: 2026 Subaru Trailseeker

New Solterra also reveled: 2026 Subaru Solterra Revealed

Dumb vehicle. Another AWD crossover thing that's too low to the ground that will get stuck and block trails and require rescue service resources. Whether EV or ICE, these things make the driver think they have an off-road vehicle when they do not. Just wait for a dual motor R2. These things are just as dumb as the extended range EVs that have a gas lawn mower engine to charge the main battery. Just say no to the madness. Drive well.

 

[Rividiculous]

We had a good experience with an outback—replaced it with the R1S. Reliable, functional. But while it was a ton of fun to drive in the snow, it was dullsville on pavement. The R1S is just more joyful.

Subaru still gives me good vibes but what are they doing making their vehicles look so ridiculous? What I really wanted (before needing a third row) was an electric legacy (not a jacked up Outback) wagon. Maybe that’s the new Trailseeker? Unfortunately , the Outback is looking like a clown car these days. I don’t blame Subaru—they are making what customers are buying. But, man, all that plastic and those whacky fenders. It hurts my eyes.

I’m hoping for an R3 when I can go back to the two-row game.

 

[DuoRivian]

Dumb vehicle. Another AWD crossover thing that's too low to the ground that will get stuck and block trails and require rescue service resources. Whether EV or ICE, these things make the driver think they have an off-road vehicle when they do not. Just wait for a dual motor R2. These things are just as dumb as the extended range EVs that have a gas lawn mower engine to charge the main battery. Just say no to the madness. Drive well.

Low to the ground, it is 8.3 inches of ground clearance which is similar to the R2. The Solterra was underwhelming and has had a revamp for 2026 which fixes charging standard, charging speed, range (220 goes to over 260 miles) and speed (7+ seconds drops to mid 4’s) and it isn’t shaped as an egg so it could do well.

Not sure why people are saying that Toyota/Lexus/Subaru are late to the game as if that matters. They have learnt some things from the poor first gen vehicles and will continue to improve. Reliability, service locations and maybe an attractive price will help this do well. other than Tesla no EV sells that well so I dont think in 2030 it will matter than Toyota et al were late.

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