2026 Subaru Trailseeker First Test: A Fast, Fun Electrified Sendup of the 455 Vista Cruiser

Subaru’s midsize electric SUV is a muscle car disguised as a mommy mobile. But like Mom, it has its share of annoyances.

Pros Seriously quick Comfortable highway ride Equipped for off-road adventuring Cons Mediocre range and charging Constant electronic nags Back seat feels more cramped than it looks Let’s play a game of word association. We say “2026 Subaru Trailseeker.” Did you think “1970s General Motors station wagon with a big-block V-8”? No? Well, then, either you’re under the age of 50, haven’t driven the Trailseeker, or both. Strapping on the timing gear and taking a road trip in Subaru’s Toyota-designed electric SUV has us thinking about those old wagons, which packed huge V-8s that delivered heavy-hauling power. They were muscle cars masquerading as sensible transportation, and the Trailseeker is, too—at least, so sayeth our instrumented testing.

For those unfamiliar, a quick recap: The Trailseeker is basically a stretched Subaru Solterra EV, and just as the Solterra is a rebadged Toyota bZ, the Trailseeker is a relabeled Toyota bZ Woodland, with differences limited to minor cosmetic and major standard-equipment changes. (The entry-level Trailseeker can be had with less stuff for a lower price; the example we tested is the top-of-the-line $48,000 Limited model.) Toyota did the bulk of the engineering work, and Subaru did the bulk of coming up with good names (or at least we thought it did until the Uncharted and Getaway came along).