Subaru has a reputation for making family cars that can tackle an off-road course better than anyone would imagine. The Outback Wilderness is probably the most capable soft-roader in Subaru’s portfolio right now, but the company now has an electric alternative for those who want to travel in silence.
The Trailseeker is roughly the same size as the Outback, and even though there’s no Wilderness trim for it yet, the electric mid-size crossover still packs the essentials: dual-motor all-wheel drive with plenty of power and torque, and the X-Mode system that uses the brakes to transfer power from one wheel to another.
Driving Sports TV took a Subaru Trailseeker on its off-road course to see how it would handle the rough stuff. Right off the bat, though, it’s worth noting that the stock 20-inch wheels and all-season tires that come standard on the crossover’s upper trims were replaced with a set of 18-inch wheels and grabby Yokohama Geolandar AT4 all-terrain tires.
There’s no point in beating around the bush. The Trailseeker impressed the presenter from the get-go, with plenty of traction in tricky situations. Even with one wheel in the air, Subaru’s X Mode quickly transferred power to the wheels that had the most traction, resulting in an effortless climb.
For a car that weighs roughly 4,500 pounds, its ability to keep moving on slippery surfaces is impressive. However, its biggest weak point is inescapable, and that’s the ground clearance. 1 inches. This translates into more legroom for passengers, but it doesn’t bode well for rutted roads.
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