After a few years when Subaru’s only EV was the slightly underwhelming Solterra, the Japanese marque has stepped up its game with several new fully electric models. The Solterra itself was substantially updated for 2026, before the smaller Uncharted and larger Trailseeker were unveiled. Now, Subaru is planning to launch a fourth electric SUV in the U.S., and it’s easily the most powerful one so far. The new vehicle was teased this week ahead of a planned unveiling in April.
Subaru’s Most Powerful New Model
Subaru
Although Subaru said very little about the new SUV, it confirmed an output of 420 horsepower—more than the already rapid Trailseeker, which has 375 hp. It’s exactly as much power as you’ll get from a new Dodge Charger R/T.
The vehicle will have the brand’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, so it’s very likely to have dual electric motors. In the teaser, the new SUV’s front lighting signature mirrors what we’ve seen on the likes of the Solterra and Trailseeker, and it also has an illuminated logo. Not much else can be gleaned from the sole, shadowy image provided.
The Trailseeker can achieve a 0-60 mph time of around 4.4 seconds, suggesting that this new SUV will be capable of inching closer to four seconds. That’s quicker than any Subaru with a WRX or STI badge, and it’s all the more impressive when you consider the Trailseeker is a spacious midsize SUV.Â
Related: Subaru’s Fastest Car Ever Isn’t an STI, It’s an Electric SUV
Three-Row SUV Looks Likely
Subaru
While we don’t know how large the new SUV is, its high output and the presence of three smaller two-row electric SUVs in the Subaru lineup suggest this will be a three-row model. Subaru doesn’t yet have a three-row electric SUV to match the versatility of the Ascent, and the company confirmed that a three-row EV would be on its way this year.
What’s interesting is that the smaller Subaru electric SUVs share their powertrains and outputs with various Toyotas; the Trailseeker is Subaru’s version of the Toyota bZ Woodland, for instance. Therefore, it would make sense for Subaru to launch an equivalent of the 2027 three-row Highlander, but that model only has up to 338 hp—far less than the 420 hp of Subaru’s new model.
We’ll know more about the new Subaru when it’s revealed at the 2026 New York International Auto Show on April 1.
What It Means
Subaru
Three-row electric SUVs were rare until recently. In the non-luxury segment, the only options were the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. But the new Toyota Highlander and Subaru’s new entry—assuming it’s a three-row model—will significantly bolster the choices in this category.
Whether or not it’s a three-row model, Subaru’s EV expansion may just be coming at the perfect time. Gas prices have increased sharply over the last month or so, reviving interest in EVs for many buyers. Four electric SUVs will put Subaru in a strong position to take advantage of the current dilemma facing owners of gas cars.
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