Subaru may have taken its sweet time entering the EV scene, having only launched its first battery electric vehicle back in 2021. And it looks like the company isn’t in a hurry either. Maybe it’s chasing perfection—or maybe it’s still deciding whether EVs are truly the future. Either way, four years after its first electric outing, the Japanese automaker is finally back with its second EV: the all-new 2026 Subaru Trailseeker, aimed squarely at the U.S. market.
The rugged new BEV made its debut at the 2025 New York International Auto Show (April 18–27), sharing the spotlight with an updated Subaru Solterra.
The Trailseeker is Subaru’s way of saying, “OK fine, we’ll do more EVs—but it better handle like a Subaru.” And handle it does. It rocks dual motors pushing a respectable 375 horsepower to all four wheels and delivers over 260 miles (418 km) of range from its 74.7-kWh battery. Subaru even gave it battery preconditioning so it doesn’t freak out when the temperature dips or spikes—basically, the Trailseeker is that chill friend who’s always down for a road trip, no matter the weather.
Design-wise, Trailseeker is rugged with just enough future-tech vibes to let your neighbors know you’ve moved on from gas. It’s taller than the Solterra, has more room for gear, and yes, it can still fit your dog, your snowboard, and that questionable folding chair you swear you’ll fix one day.
Meanwhile, the new 2026 Solterra—Subaru’s OG BEV—gets a glow-up. The updated model looks sleeker with a redesigned face and a glowing six-star badge. Inside, it has a more open, minimalist dash that says, “I do yoga now.” Under the hood? More efficient motors now deliver 233 horsepower in standard form, or a zippier 338 horses if you spring for the XT trim. Also improved is the range, which Subaru says is 25% better than the outgoing model. So, less range anxiety and more excuses to take the scenic route.
Both EVs share that same 74.7-kWh battery and now support 10-80% fast charging in around 30 minutes. And yes, both were co-developed with Toyota, which means they likely had very polite engineering debates over suspension tuning and cupholder placement.
Pricing has been revealed yet—at least not to us anyway.
Images: Subaru [JP].
