Subaru has confirmed that its new high-riding EV estate car will be called the E-Outback in the UK, to cement its positioning as an EV alternative to the brand's longstanding SUV-wagon.
Revealed earlier this year in the US, where it will be sold as the Trailseeker, the E-Outback is Subaru's first electric car to be developed in-house. It offers four-wheel drive and the same 8.3in (211mm) of ground clearance as the Solterra electric SUV.
The machine will launch first in the USA in early 2026, but will be a key part of Subaru's plans to expand its EV line-up in Europe, where it will go on sale next year. It will be joined by the new-look 2026 Solterra and the freshly revealed Uncharted crossover.
The Solterra is twinned with the Toyota bZ4X and the Uncharted is based on the C-HR+, and the Trailseeker shares the same platform as those machines - but is said to have been conceived purely as a Subaru. Inoue Masahiko, Subaru's EV product manager, said it featured about 70% Subaru parts and would be built at one of the firm's factories, while the Solterra is manufactured by Toyota.
The Trailseeker packs a pair of 201bhp motors (one per axle) that offer a maximum system output of 375bhp, enabling a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.4secs. The Solterra features a smaller motor on the rear axle, and Inoue-san said the decision to offer two identical motors was made by Subaru to optimise its all-wheel-drive performance.
The 74.7kWh lithium ion battery is estimated to be good for a maximum range of 279 miles, pending official WLTP testing, and can be charged at rates of up to 150kW, so a 10-80% fill can take less than 35 minutes.
It can tow loads of up to 1588kg and offers several drive models for surfaces including snow and deep mud, as well as a hill descent control system.
Inside, it's said to offer slightly more cargo space than the Solterra, putting it on a par with the Outback.
There's a 14.0in infotainment touchscreen (the biggest fittest in a Subaru yet) and a high-set digital instrument panel too.
Subaru has yet to announce pricing, but the Trailseeker is likely to be positioned above the Solterra.
Deliveries will begin early next year in the US, with the UK and other European markets close behind.
As well as revealing the Trailseeker and a heavily revised Solterra at the New York motor show, Subaru has confirmed it will launch two more EVs this year – although only one of those will come to Europe.
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"slightly more cargo space than the Solterra, putting it on a par with the Outback."
The Solterra has 452l of cargo space, the current Outback has 922l.
So how does slightly more than the solterra get anywhere near the Outback?
This new e-outback is tiny in comparison to the current ICE Outback, and the 7th generation about to be launched in the USA. The current Outback gives me a range of over 600 miles too.
This is not an Outback replacement. That needs to be a plug-in hybrid.
This looks very promising as a replacement for my Golf Alltrack. Let's hope the pricing is vaguely sensible...