Subaru Trailseeker Packs 375 Horsepower, but U.S. Models Lack a Spare

The 2026 Subaru Trailseeker presents an unusual equipment tension: This 375-horsepower electric SUV has standard all-wheel drive and 8.5 inches of ground clearance, yet U.S specification models carry a tire mobility and repair kit instead of a spare wheel. Australian buyers, meanwhile, can reportedly order a factory-approved space-saver spare that fits beneath the cargo floor.

That difference matters because the Trailseeker is positioned for travel beyond ordinary paved routes. A repair kit can restore mobility after some small tread punctures, but it cannot substitute for a wheel when a tire suffers extensive damage or a cut sidewall. In those cases, a U.S. driver may need roadside assistance or a tow services that can be harder to reach on remote roads.

The omission was documented during a seven-day test of a Trailseeker Touring in Charlotte, North Carolina. Every current U.S. version reportedly uses the underfloor area for the mobility kit and a storage tray. The reviewer attributed the decision to saving weight and extending range, although no direct statement from Subaru’s U.S. operation was provided to confirm that rationale.

The broader engineering logic is plausible but involves a clear tradeoff. According to Consumer Reports’ test-fleet data, about 45% of new vehicles it examined did not include a spare. Removing the tire, wheel and jack can eliminate roughly 50 to 60 pounds, yielding a small efficiency benefit while freeing packaging space. The cost is reduced self-recovery capability after tire damage that sealant cannot address.

That compromise is particularly visible in the Trailseeker because its mechanical specification emphasizes capability. Two electric motors produce a combined 375 horsepower through Subaru’s standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. Subaru quotes a zero-to-60-mph time of about 4.4 seconds, while the vehicle’s 8.5 inches of ground clearance supports operation on uneven roads and trails.

Its 74.7-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery delivers an EPA-estimated 274 miles in the Touring trim, which uses 20-inch wheels. The Premium version reaches an estimated 281 miles with smaller wheels. DC fast charging is rated at up to 150 kilowatts, and Subaru quotes approximately 28 minutes to move from a 10% to 80% charge. A North American Charging System port provides access to compatible Tesla Superchargers.

Those figures show why mass and efficiency remain important. Electric SUVs must balance battery capacity, performance, ground clearance, cabin space and highway range within a finite weight budget. But the seven-mile range difference between the two cited U.S. trims also demonstrates how wheel and tire choices affect efficiency. The available information does not quantify what range penalty, if any, an underfloor spare would impose, so it would be premature to claim that the spare alone materially changes the Trailseeker’s EPA rating.

Australia provides evidence that the packaging problem is not absolute. Subaru Australia has reportedly opened preorders for a $1,145 space-saver spare-wheel kit, with fitment expected before Christmas 2026. The kit is designed to sit beneath the cargo floor and can be installed by Subaru retailers on both new orders and vehicles already delivered. It is an extra-cost accessory rather than standard equipment.

Reports from Australia describe that package as a locally developed, factory-approved solution that includes the spare, jack and necessary tools. Its underfloor position is significant: It preserves the standard cargo area rather than requiring owners to secure a loose wheel behind the seats or attach one externally.

The Trailseeker otherwise includes a 14-inch central touchscreen, a 7-inch driver display and Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance suite across all three trims. U.S. pricing was reported at approximately $41,445 to $48,005 including destination. Federal and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash-test results had not been published at the time of the road test.

An inquiry to Subaru’s U.S. public-relations team about an American spare-wheel option had not produced a reported answer. Until Subaru announces otherwise, U.S. Trailseekers remain dependent on the supplied mobility kit and outside assistance when tire damage exceeds what sealant and a compressor can handle. Australia’s underfloor solution shows that a spare can be integrated; the unresolved question is whether Subaru will make that same resilience available to American drivers.

By Thomas Caldwell — AMI’s senior editor for mechanical and mobility engineering, covering vehicle electronics, systems integration, electrification, chassis systems, propulsion, and safety policy.