Subaru’s 2026 Trailseeker: Point. Counterpoint.
I read David’s Trailseeker review a couple times; I have been waiting to read a review of Subaru’s new EV since learning it was due in dealerships this year. I think it would work well for what the average commuter needs, ESPECIALLY IF IT CAME WITH A CHARGER. And therein lies one of the rubs.
You might not need your own charger with an EV, but you want one. And you want to plug it in as often as possible when you’re not driving, so it’s ready to ‘rumble’ – or whatever an EV does. Except for that one issue, the Trailseeker looks great…but then, most EVs look great.
Personally, I think the perfect EV is either small like the Nissan Leaf, or large like the BMW/Mercedes saloons. You can carry extra gas/diesel on the Rubicon (the trail – not the Jeep), but you can’t (easily) carry extra electricity. The Trailseeker is also the Electricityseeker.
On a separate note, it’s a shame the original EV federal tax credit could not be spread over years instead of having to be used in one year. I think that was a deal breaker for most of the population. You don’t just want the rich to be driving EVs; in fact, the rich can wait. You need Jack and Jill (and being Subaru, their dog Spot) to be driving the damn things every day to and from the office.
The lack of public charging infrastructure, at least here in the US, was another problem that needed to be resolved before the current administration hijacked the government. All this said, I think the new Trailseeker fits the bill for what I would like to have to run back and forth from Austin to San Antonio two to three times a week. And to take Max – my version of ‘Spot’ – to the park on those days I’m not on I-35, parked.
I have long believed that a vehicle like Subaru’s Trailseeker is the answer – for two-car families. For those with just one vehicle the better answer is a hybrid something- or-other. For enthusiasts, the answer is a manual transmission with a clutch, regardless of overall horsepower. After all, hand, foot and eye coordination are an enthusiast’s drug of choice.
As for New Yorkers – and I live among them several times a year – the answer is to take the Subway or the train, and rent a car when you need one. With car rental locations all over Manhattan and the other four boroughs, renting is just a text away. And hell, the rental agency might even pick you up!
