What’s this new car all about then?
If the new Subaru Outback's cyber-industrial styling and complete lack of electification has put you off a bit, have we got the wagon for you: the new Trailseeker.
On the surface, Trailseeker stands as a pure-electric alternative to the Outback: it's 25mm shorter but 105mm longer in the wheelbase, and actually has a 50-litre-larger boot: 609l.
We could leave it there, but there's a bit more going on. Trailseeker is also the latest entry in an ongoing partnership between Subaru and Toyota for the Solterra and bZ4X SUVs, which were both launched here in 2024. Solterra has since departed NZ, but bZ4X continues in updated form.
The Trailseeker and Toyota's bZ4X Touring are both wagon-style versions of the above, 140mm longer overall. You could argue these new models are a bit more Subaru than Toyota, given wagons are much more a Suby thing and it actually builds both at its Yajima plant in Ota, Gunma, Japan.
Looks cool, right? While body panels are shared, each model gets its own frontal styling and detail touches, including a quirky quartic steering wheel for the Trailseeker (as per Solterra) with thumb-adjacent controls. The Toyota sticks with a boring old round one.
It's also potentially the catalyst for a new generation of Subaru EVs here. If Trailseeker goes well, Subaru of NZ will introduce the closely related Uncharted compact SUV. If both go well, it might even bring back the Solterra, which suffered from unfortunate launch timing (early-2024, just after the Clean Car Discount was binned) and never really got much sales momentum.
How much is it?
Trailseeker is here in two models, a standard version just called AWD and a more highly specified model called Touring, a name which aligns with the Forester and Outback.
The Trailseeker AWD is $68,990, while the flagship AWD Touring is $72,490. Subaru of NZ had previously indicated it would only introduce the top-spec model, but the last-minute backtrack has allowed it to (just) undercut Toyota's single bZ4X Touring specification ($71,990).
The Trailseeker dashboard has a 14-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch digital instrument display, a digital rear-view mirror and dual wireless smartphone chargers. A six-speaker audio system, multi-colour LED ambient lighting and dual-zone climate control with rear vents are also standard on the AWD.
The entry model rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, and features dusk-sensing and self-levelling LED headlights, synthetic black leather seat trim, 8-way power-adjustable/heated front seats, heated rear outboard seats and a heated steering wheel. The WLTP range is 522km and it charges at up to 150kW.
For an additional $3500, the Trailseeker AWD Touring upgrades the wheels to 20-inch alloys, reducing the WLTP-rated driving range to 488km. It also adds panoramic glass roof with electric sunshade, genuine leather-accented seating, ventilated front seats, memory function for the driver's seat and door mirrors, premium 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with subwoofer, and Advanced Park Assist utilising four panoramic-view cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors.
Both models have a 220-volt, 1500-watt Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) power outlet, allowing the high-voltage battery to power external electrical devices.
Subaru of NZ has moved to secure some Kiwi-specific features for Trailseeker. There's a $1399 towbar that will be available from January; the vehicle is rated to tow 1.5 tonnes.
It's the same timing for the spare wheel option, which is priced at $1299 (Trailseeker doesn't have one as standard). While the well is there under the boot floor for a space saver already, the conversion involves some welding for the bracket, a new cargo floor with extra sound deadening and removal of the moulded tray that contains the standard repair kit.
Trailseeker is covered by a 3 year/100,000km warranty, 5 years/100,000km for the EV driveline and 8 years/160,000km for the high-voltage battery. Subaru of NZ is also offering a $599 service plan (intervals 15,000km/12 months) that extends the warranty by a further 3 years.
What’s it like to drive?
Subaru makes much of the fact that the Trailseeker is its fastest-accelerating production car ever, with 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds. Perhaps it just likes annoying WRX people.
The Trailseeker is punchy, no question: 280kW total on tap and 268Nm of instant EV-torque on each axle (Subaru does not quite a combined figure). But it's not extreme, the throttle calibrated to emulate the performance progression of a petrol car.
If you're a fan of the way Subaru tends to combine chassis compliance with responsive handling and clearly telegraphed body movements, you'll like the Trailseeker. Dynamically, it definitely does feel part of the Pleiades family, despite the Toyota connection.
Trailseeker also has Subaru's X-Mode for off-tarmac driving, including a grip control function - essentially an off-road cruise control. These are Subaru-developed features, although the bZ4X Touring gets them too. Lucky Toyota, we say.
What’s the pick of the range?
Preorders for Trailseeker have been been biased towards the top Touring, as is often the case with a new model. The early adopters go all-in.
But honestly, we're pretty sold on the entry AWD. Same performance and the darker-finish 18-inch wheels look the business compared to the more blingly 20-inch rims on the Touring. We can also do without the big glass roof; although the more epxensive model's fancy audio system is tempting.
What other cars should I consider?
A Toyota bZ4X Touring, of course. It's a touch more expensive than the Trailseeker Touring but very close on specification... although the upholstery is still synthetic, not real leather like the Subaru.
Subaru's own Outback Wilderness is petrol-only but a logical alternative, with the same outdoorsy vibe/ability and a price range of $69,990-$74,990.
Back to Toyota: a hybrid RAV4 Adventure is $62,990, but if you can forgo the appealingly rugged look, the RAV4 XSE or GR Sport plug-in hybrids ($62,990-$67,990) are a bit closer powertrain-wise. Neither are cool faux-station wagons of course.
