Subaru Trailseeker coming to Australia as brand's fastest-ever road car

Subaru Australia has confirmed its electric Trailseeker SUV for Australia, with showrooms arrivals set for the second quarter (April to June) of 2026.

The Trailseeker was revealed in the United States in early 2025, and its confirmation for Australia follows the local arrival of the heavily updated Solterra EV, making it the brand’s second electric-only nameplate to be sold here.

Like the Solterra, the Trailseeker was co-developed with Toyota and has a twin under that brand. Where the Solterra is a reskinned version of the Toyota bZ4X, which is already on sale locally, the Trailseeker is a reskinned version of the Toyota bZ4X Touring, which is scheduled to arrive in Australia during the first half of 2026.

With its vaguely wagon-like proportions, the Trailseeker will serve as an indirect electric sibling to the petrol Outback with no mechanical relation. In fact, the SUV is marketed as the E-Outback in European markets.

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Despite its Toyota origins, the Trailseeker is Subaru’s first EV built in-house according to online publication Electrek. Where Toyota is responsible for building both the bZ4X and Solterra, Subaru is building the Trailseeker at its own facility in Japan.

The Trailseeker is built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform (marketed as the e-Subaru Global Platform by Subaru), and it’s effectively an extended-length version of the Solterra. Its drivetrain is therefore nearly identical, as both offer dual-motor all-wheel drive setups and the same battery capacity.

A key difference is power output: the Trailseeker produces 280kW, up from 252kW in the Solterra. Subaru says the new SUV can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.4 seconds, making it “the fastest-accelerating production Subaru ever built” – that’s one second faster than the final-generation WRX STI.

Power comes from a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery sourced from Chinese manufacturer CATL, providing a claimed driving range of 533km on the more lenient NEDC cycle. For context, this battery is also fitted to the Solterra, which has a maximum claimed WLTP range of 566km.

It can also support 150kW DC charging for a 10-80 per cent fast-charge time of 30 minutes, alongside 22kW three-phase AC charging and 1500W vehicle-to-load capacity. Additionally, Subaru says the Trailseeker has a 1500kg braked towing capacity.

Australian dimensions have yet to be confirmed – aside from 211mm of ground clearance – but we can look overseas for guidance. In the United States, the Trailseeker is 4841mm long, 1860mm wide, and 1670mm tall, and rides atop a 2850mm wheelbase.

The next-generation Outback, meanwhile, is 39mm longer, 20mm wider, and 45mm taller, though its wheelbase is 105mm shorter.

Nothing else has been confirmed for the Trailseeker, with full pricing and specifications to be announced closer to the vehicle’s Australian launch.

The Trailseeker’s interior appears practically identical to the updated Solterra, with a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display, and dual wireless phone chargers – all sourced from Toyota – along with a squared-off steering wheel that sits low on the dashboard.

Outside, Subaru’s six-element LED headlight design has been carried over from the Solterra, as have the body-colour grille and enlarged plastic wheel arch cladding.

With no confirmed price, we can speculate about the Trailseeker’s positioning once it arrives locally. In the US, the SUV starts at US$39,995 (~A$57,750), while the Solterra starts at US$38,495 (~A$55,600).

In Australia, the Solterra starts at $63,990 before on-road costs, suggesting the Trailseeker could be priced around $70,000 in base-spec trim. It’s not yet known how many Trailseeker variants will be available.

Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence says that the “Trailseeker is the EV with personality”.

“As the name suggests, this is the vehicle for drivers seeking adventure, who want to enjoy an engaging performance drive, all while remaining grounded in the confidence, safety and all-terrain capability that defines Subaru’s DNA,” Mr Lawrence said.

“It shows that electric performance doesn’t have to come at the expense of confidence, control or real-world capability – the qualities our customers expect from a Subaru. And being the quickest Subaru production vehicle ever it’s a fun and engaging drive in all conditions.

“Trailseeker stays true to Subaru’s DNA, while opening a new chapter through electric power, offering even greater choice for our customers.”

Customers can now register their interest in the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker here.

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