View Photos of the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland, an Outdoorsy EV SUV
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The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland is the brand's third EV, and the new mid-size EV SUV has a whole lot in common with the mechanically identical Subaru Trailseeker.
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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
2026 Subaru Trailseeker Leads the Brand into Its All-Electric Off-Road Future
The Solterra marked Subaru's first step into off-road-ready EVs—but the Trailseeker proves they're taking it to the next level. Subaru and Toyota didn't try that hard to hide the fact that the Solterra and bZ4X were rebadged versions of the same car. The interior design was identical, there were only minor changes to the exterior between the two companies, and the pricing was nearly identical, too. Subaru adapted its own AWD system for the Solterra, but otherwise, it was a Toyota. While it wasn't shocking, and seemed a little lazy to some, it proved to buyers that Subaru had its foot in the door—they were ready to step into the developing market of off-road-ready, rugged, capable, 'adventure' EVs. Then the company revealed the Trailseeker at the NY Auto Show. More horsepower, a higher range, a longer wheelbase, full-time AWD, an NACS charging port, raised roof rails, all-terrain tires, higher ground clearance, and a dual-function and updated X-MODE Terrain Selector showed us that Subaru means business. And if it's done right, business is about to be booming. This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Now that we have a Forester Hybrid, which leans a lot less on Toyota like the previous Crosstrek Hybrid did, Subaru truly is stepping up to the plate. Which we love to see, as they were drastically behind the electrification game. Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, and Mazda were able to produce (and sell a lot of) AWD drive hybrids that put the Forester in than desirable position on the scoreboard. People put a lot of pressure on Subaru to produce a hybrid and an EV, and it took them many years to finally put one out. Subaru says the Forester hybrid is one of Subaru's best, since it's a hybrid with an electric motor but still has a true, mechanical AWD system—unlike the Toyota RAV4. The Solterra was Subaru's way of finally arriving at a party it was very, very late to. But we're happy to see it here, and come back stronger with the Trailseeker and an updated and redesigned Solterra for 2026, which is 100% Subaru engineering and design. It shares the same platform as the Trailseeker and bZ, but it has a better range, a sporty XT trim, and adorable styling changes. Now that Subaru's gained some confidence and is a little more surefooted, the company is likely gearing up to produce some incredibly capable, efficient, and very Subaru-y EVs in the near future, especially once the company doesn't have to borrow so much from Toyota. Unlike the Solterra, Subaru is riding shotgun instead of sitting in the backseat. With the announcement of the bZ (previously bZ4X) Woodland, it seems like The Trailseeker is just a redesign of that. And with nearly identical exterior and interior designs, it would be fair to say they're industry twins. The Trailseeker sits on the e-SGP EV platform, which is identical to Toyota's EV platform, e-TNGA. Obviously, Toyota has its name on a lot of the EV tech in the Trailseeker, like the improved battery technology and some EV drivetrain bits, but Subaru's designed it carefully to appeal to its loyal fanbase. The two share the same AWD system, too. Both the bZ Woodland and the Trailseeker have independent electric motors on the front and rear axles—there's no physical connection between the two axles and the generator. Both axles are electronically controlled. Which is only a bad thing if the main computer doesn't do a good job of communicating which wheels should be doing what, and Subaru claims their version of X-MODE makes all the difference. The bZ Woodland and the Trailseeker have a dual-EV motor setup that generates 375 horsepower, with a range of about 260 miles. Which is probably the most amount of horsepower any Subaru has ever had (more than the STi S209, by the way). Both EVs share identical ground clearance figures (8.3 inches) and wheelbase length, too. Trust us, though—this time, the Trailseeker truly feels and looks like a Subaru instead of a rebadged bZ Woodland, and that's because this time, it was truly a joint effort of the two the redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4, Toyota announced its new 'Arene' software, which is a new software that would control and improve the multimedia system, enhance voice recognition software, and make it a more 'software-defined' SUV. Most importantly, it will roll out the newest version of Toyota's safety suite. The bZ Woodland will have that, too, and it will hopefully fix all the issues many drivers reported with the infotainment system and voice assistance. Subaru's new EV will have the most recent version of the tri-camera EyeSight safety system, which is winning awards left and right. Toyota's safety suite uses radars instead of cameras, which makes them more reliable in rain or snow, but less reliable in places where cameras excel—like bumper-to-bumper traffic, driving downtown where there are a lot of pedestrians, or driving at night. As of right now, Subaru's EyeSight system is the only safety system in the industry that can detect pedestrians at night, no matter what they're wearing. You can't lose with either one, though, as all models from both companies are regularly taking lead positions as Top Safety Picks with the IIHS and the you look at the manufacturer images of the bZ Woodland and the Trailseeker, you'll notice the curvature on the front and rear doors is identical, the taillight bar is essentially the same, the exterior cladding is the same, and most of the front fascia is the same. Subaru uses some silver accenting in the front while Toyota's accenting is all black to fit within the Woodland brand. The main difference is the 'face' of the car. The Trailseeker has Subaru's EV design signature: larger, more open 'star' headlights (the same sort of design we saw in the updated Solterra), and a softer, rounder look as opposed to Toyota's more angular and squinted design. It's a more approachable look, while the bZ is more executive-like. Inside the car, the interior design is eerily similar. Both screens are similarly sized (14 inches), the driver control buttons are in identical places, the driver information screen is the same size and in the same place, too. But the steering wheel is a different shape. It's more of a squirkle in the Subaru instead of a perfect circle seen in the Toyota. Interior colors and materials are slightly different, though. The Trailseeker uses Subaru's StarTex technology, which is the company's water-resistant fabric seen in the Wilderness and Onyx editions (which is LIFE CHANGING with toddlers, let me tell you). Toyota's SofTex isn't marketed as waterproof, but it's meant to be 'more resistant' to spills and stains. Otherwise, Subaru's more open to contrasting colors with a khaki-ish gray and black, while Toyota's interior is all black. Of course, Subaru opted for a funkier wheel design, while Toyota's wheels are more muted and subtle (and all black—yum).Subaru hasn't announced pricing for the Trailseeker just yet, but if we've learned anything from the Solterra vs. bZ4X, the pricing is likely going to be very similar, but slightly lower than the Toyota. Based on the technology in either car, we'd wager that if the Toyota costs close to $50,000 for the base model and around $54,000 for the top-shelf trim level, the Subaru will likely range between $45,000–$50,000. Which, when looking at what's included, is not a bad range at all. However, since the Trailseeker is set to be built in Subaru's Japan plant, it won't be eligible for the full federal tax credit. The bZ is going to be built in Japan, too, putting it in the same boat as the Subaru. Then there's also tariffs to worry about, too. Subaru has already announced that cars built in Japan, like the Outback, Solterra, and Trailseeker, will be subjected to tariffs.I've done a lot of off-roading in my 14 years on the road, and I'll tell you, being able to carry extra canisters of gasoline inspires both confidence and a sense of adventure. You can easily explore that unmarked trail because you know you can fill up and make it home. You can't do that with an EV, and having a range of only 260 miles doesn't leave a lot of room to explore remotely. Should you run out of charge, you'd have to call a tow truck, and many tow companies will likely feel very nervous about fishing an EV (packed with incredibly heavy and expensive batteries they could be liable for if damaged) out of a ditch, pond, or deep mud. However, if you're looking to the Trailseeker to do just that—seek Trails—it will be a great scouting vehicle, camping companion (especially with a 3,500 lb towing rating), or softroader. I used the Hyundai IONIQ 5 XRT to scout trails around my home of Bend, Oregon, to bring my Jeep later, and it was wonderful. It was a blast to drive, had the capability to handle the soft, silty dirt, break loose on the gravel roads, and handle minor, easily walkable trails. And I did it comfortably. That's what I imagine the Trailseeker would be great for, especially with the plethora of off-road view cameras, dual-function X-MODE, all-weather floor mats, waterproof seating, and high ground clearance. If anything, it would be about four times more capable than the Hyundai, solely because of the ground clearance. If I fit my kids extremely comfortably in the Hyundai, I can only imagine how much room they'd have in the 260-mile range isn't all that impressive in the world of more modern EVs, but it's not too shabby, either. My 2011 Subaru Forester averages about 17 mpg, and I'm lucky if I get more than 280 miles out of a full tank of gas. So, a 260-mile range for a very heavy, full-time AWD all-electric SUV isn't too shabby. But let me be the devil's advocate here for a second. In a standard Crosstrek, my best friend regularly gets about 400 miles out of a full tank of gas. When she goes on long road trips, she regularly travels about 500 miles before she needs to fuel up. My sister's Forester Wilderness can go about 540 miles before needing to be topped off. Unlike an EV, fueling up is much quicker than charging, and the infrastructure is more supported. So, if range is a deciding factor, it might be smarter to go with gas—for now, anyway. No other Subaru has the cargo space of the Trailseeker, but range is a big deal for those who have to charge publicly. Now, if you have an at-home charger and you rarely leave town, range will never be an issue. Since the Trailseeker comes with an NACS charging port, you'd be able to charge at a lot more stations. Reliability improves every day, and Subaru has access to Tesla's vast (and growing) Supercharging network, making it less and less frustrating to charge publicly every day. Since Rivian won the 2023 Rebelle Rally, which is the longest off-road competition in the US, it won't take much longer.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Miami Herald
The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland is the Subaru Trailseeker's Twin
For an EV that wasn't getting much love, the revised bZ4X (renamed bZ for 2026) is the center of the brand's attention right now. For the 2026 model year, Toyota is adding a more rugged variant known as the bZ Woodland. No, the Woodland moniker isn't a trim level the way it is on the RAV4 and the Sienna. This time around, the bZ Woodland is its own model, and there's more to it than just a name. If it looks familiar, that's because the recently announced 2026 Subaru Trailseeker is its twin and will sell alongside the smaller Solterra. Here's what we know about the new bZ Woodland for 2026. The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland might look very similar to its shorter sibling, but it trades the standard bZ's new and more refined body-colored wheel arches for black cladding and mounts them over fresh 18-inch wheels with removable covers. Buyers can also choose all-terrain tires, while a smidge of a suspension lift adds 0.1 inch of ground clearance, for a total of 8.3 inches, matching the Trailseeker. Rugged black roof rails and flatter, reshaped taillights mimic those found on the Prius, Camry Hybrid, and the new electric CH-R. A larger quarter window hints at the model's increased overall length, up nearly six inches from the bZ's 184.6 inches to 190.2. Unlike the standard bZ, which offers both front- and all-wheel drive along with two battery choices, the Woodland provides a standard dual-motor AWD setup. It would be tough to back up the Woodland name with two-wheel drive. There will also be what's known as the X-MODE system, a function that allows the driver to flip a switch and select a mode according to the road conditions, which will automatically change to optimize brake control and power delivery at the wheels for improved control and traction. While you won't go bouldering in the Woodland, it can take more than just gravel trails. Whereas the standard bZ gets a 57.7-kWh battery pack, the Woodland boasts the same optional 74.7-kWh battery pack as the bZ with an estimated 260 miles of range. Like other models in the bZ family, the Woodland includes an NACS charging port, providing charging convenience at Tesla's robust Supercharger network. DC fast-charging from 10 to 80 percent takes about 30 minutes. In terms of performance, the Woodland is no slouch. It delivers 375 horsepower, 37 more than the standard AWD bZ. It should prove to be about as quick as the Subaru Trailseeker, which clocks in at 4.4 seconds from 0 to 60. Towing capacity is rated at 3,500 pounds, though range will drop significantly when hauling heavy loads, not atypical of most EVs. Cargo space is "over 30 cubic feet", according to Toyota, which is a little more than the bZ's 27.7 cubic feet. The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland comes with a Panoramic View Monitor with Multi-Terrain Monitor, SofTex-trimmed seating, a 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, dual wireless Qi charging, and ambient lighting. There's a single upgrade Premium Package that comes with a JBL Premium audio system, a large fixed glass panoramic roof, a digital rearview mirror that provides an unobstructed image of what's behind, ventilated front seats, a memory driver seat, and memory side view mirrors. Pricing for the bZ Woodland hasn't been announced, but it's expected to exceed the 2025 bZ4X XLE AWD's starting price of $40,545 (including $1,395 destination charge). Full specifications and pricing will be revealed closer to its launch in early 2026. It's great to see Toyota finally infusing life into its bZ line, and it couldn't come at a better time to boost the model's sales. Adding a larger, more rugged version to the lineup is a smart move, and simplifying the name can't hurt matters, either. The bZ Woodland has enough range to be compelling, and the additional power puts it up there with some of the quicker electric crossovers. While it won't satisfy real off-roaders, it's a compelling choice for eco-conscious families who want to do more than just cruise the boulevard and run weekend errands. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Car and Driver
15-05-2025
- Car and Driver
2026 Toyota bZ Woodland Is the Brand's New Outdoorsy Electric SUV
The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland joins the brand's expanding EV lineup as an adventure-ready option. The new mid-size EV SUV has a 375-hp all-wheel-drive powertrain, an estimated 260-mile range, and a NACS charge port to access Tesla Superchargers. Toyota hasn't said how much the bZ Woodland costs, but we expect the lone well-equipped model to start at around $50,000. If you're like us, when you saw the new 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland, you said, "Golly, that thing sure looks a lot like the Subaru Trailseeker." It's great what two working eyes can do. It's also great that Toyota and Subaru have a strong bond, having birthed the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 sports cars as well as the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ EVs. The latter share a platform with the new bZ Woodland, though it's a half-foot longer and features mightier electric motors. bZ Gets the Woodland Treatment Unlike the regular Toyota bZ, the bigger Woodland variant has standard all-wheel drive, and its dual electric motors muster 375 horsepower (same as the Trailseeker). The Yota also features a battery with an estimated 67-kWh usable capacity, and Toyota says a full charge should provide up to 260 miles of range. The bZ Woodland comes standard with a NACS charge port, meaning it can connect to Tesla's vast network of DC fast-chargers (a.k.a. Superchargers). With the latter, Toyota claims the Woodland's battery can go from 10 to 80 percent state of charge in 30 minutes. Of course, there's an 11-kWh onboard charger too for Level 2 connections that can be installed at home. View Photos Toyota While the Subaru Trailseeker and Toyota bZ Woodland look a lot alike, the Toyota has the brand's "hammerhead" front-end styling, which gives it a more distinctive lighting signature. The dark overfenders, roof-mounted cross-bars, and wavy body lines otherwise overlap. The Woodland has 8.3 inches of ground clearance, and it's available with all-terrain tires—improving its mild off-road cred. Even without the knobbier rubber, every Woodland rolls on 18-inch wheels with removable aero covers. The mid-size EV SUV can also tow up to 3500 pounds. Inside, the bZ Woodland looks like Toyota's other EV models. That means a simple dash design with a high-mounted digital gauge cluster and a 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Every model has heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and the choice of black or brown upholstery. View Photos Toyota The center console houses a rotary gear selector and a pair of wireless charging pads. To spiff things up a bit, Toyota offers a Premium package, which includes a JBL stereo with nine speakers instead of six, a panoramic sunroof, and ventilated front seats. You don't need to pay extra to access the Woodland's 30 cubic feet of cargo space, which is about two cubes more than you'll find in the regular bZ. The 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland will reach dealerships sometime early next year. As for how much it will cost, we'll have to wait a while for official pricing. However, since it's only offered in a single well-equipped trim, we expect its base price will be a little higher than the Trailseeker ($45,000 est.), so we'd wager the bZ Woodland will start somewhere around $50K. Eric Stafford Managing Editor, News Eric Stafford's automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si.
