'That’s Impressive!' The Subaru Trailseeker EV Tackles Off-Road Terrain—But There’s One Big Flaw

Its dual-motor setup just keeps pulling, as long as the ruts aren’t too deep.

Photo by: Driving Sports TV

By: Iulian Dnistran

Oct 13, at 4:25am ET

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The Trailseeker is Subaru’s idea of an electric Outback.
It features dual-motor all-wheel drive and blacked-out wheel arches, which would suggest it can tackle the odd unpaved road.
Driving Sports TV took a Trailseeker off-roading, and the results are in.

Subaru has a reputation for making family cars that can tackle an off-road course better than anyone would imagine. The Outback Wilderness is probably the most capable soft-roader in Subaru’s portfolio right now, but the company now has an electric alternative for those who want to travel in silence.

The Trailseeker is roughly the same size as the Outback, and even though there’s no Wilderness trim for it yet, the electric mid-size crossover still packs the essentials: dual-motor all-wheel drive with plenty of power and torque, and the X-Mode system that uses the brakes to transfer power from one wheel to another.

Driving Sports TV took a Subaru Trailseeker on its off-road course to see how it would handle the rough stuff. Right off the bat, though, it’s worth noting that the stock 20-inch wheels and all-season tires that come standard on the crossover’s upper trims were replaced with a set of 18-inch wheels and grabby Yokohama Geolandar AT4 all-terrain tires.

There’s no point in beating around the bush. The Trailseeker impressed the presenter from the get-go, with plenty of traction in tricky situations. Even with one wheel in the air, Subaru’s X Mode quickly transferred power to the wheels that had the most traction, resulting in an effortless climb.

For a car that weighs roughly 4,500 pounds, its ability to keep moving on slippery surfaces is impressive. However, its biggest weak point is inescapable, and that’s the ground clearance. At 8.5 inches, the Trailseeker has 1 inch less ground clearance than the Outback Wilderness, and its wheelbase is also longer by 4.1 inches. This translates into more legroom for passengers, but it doesn’t bode well for rutted roads. The 375 horsepower powertrain, however, is miles better than any gas-powered Subaru, allowing for smooth acceleration.

Gallery: 2026 Subaru Trailseeker: First Drive

Source: Mack Hogan/InsideEVs

What do you think?

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The high-voltage battery, which packs 74.7 kilowatt-hours of energy and enables 274 miles of range on the upper trims, seems well protected, with a thick metal plate mounted underneath. The front and rear of the underbody, however, have to rely on plastic pieces for protection. There’s no spare tire, just a tire repair kit, which could prove problematic when you’re away from civilization.

It wouldn’t take much to transform the Trailseeker into a much better off-roader. A small 1-inch suspension lift and a slightly better approach angle would make all the difference. As an off-road enthusiast myself, I can only hope Subaru will someday offer a Wilderness version for the Trailseeker, which could deliver all these improvements.