Subaru Trailseeker (US) review

The cabin of the Trailseeker is spartan if stylish, so much so that it strays quite far from the usual hyper-scrutinized Subaru interior. It’s tidy, with the minimum amount of buttons and knobs needed, facilitated by the fact that most have been integrated within the 14-inch touchscreen display.

The seven-inch driver information screen sits as far forward on the dash as it can be while still being inside the car, but Subaru has made sure it’s still visible by… squaring off the steering wheel. If only there was an allegory for reinventing something instead of solving a simple problem.

The rest of the cabin is par for the EV course: roomy, functional, and in this case thin on thrills, aside from the programmable ambient lighting.

In terms of cargo space there’s a maximum of 74 cu ft (2,095 liters) with the second row folded. Handy if, say, you wanted to bunk inside the car and keep your gear on the roof racks rather than the other way around. With the seats up, you still get a substantial 31.3 cu ft (883 liters) of space for your needs. Depending on your trim, there’s a 1,500W AC outlet included in the back for appliances.

How’s the tech?

As it’s a Subaru, the Trailseeker is fitted with the standard suite of the brand’s EyeSight safety system, which includes driver monitoring, lane keep assist, pedestrian and cyclist avoidance systems and the ability to stop itself in case of an unresponsive driver. In terms of the fun stuff (if you can call it that), the EV is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, and you can charge either with the dual wireless charging pads provided.

When it comes to putting the Trailseeker to work as its namesake, the EV is equipped with Subaru’s X-Mode driving software that makes sure the vehicle can get out of whatever mess you might put it in. Ideal for dirt, snow and mud, the drive mode is handy for crawling up hills, as well as gently descending down from them.

Included in the Trailseeker is a multi-terrain camera which gives the driver a view from beneath the front bumper and along the car’s side. Great for negotiating the tricky trails you’ve sought. Our one big gripe with it is that it cuts off after just 7mph, and does not reset if you slow back down. Having to repeatedly re-engage the camera in low speed areas where you’re focused on being sure-footed negates the very real benefit of having the system in the first place, and there isn’t a reason why it couldn’t switch off at 15 or even 10mph.