Ask people who regularly drive out of town what bothers them about EVs, and range is rarely their only worry. Many also want to know where the spare wheel is and whether the car can tow. Subaru New Zealand has now answered both questions for its Trailseeker electric wagon. The local distributor has confirmed two Genuine Subaru New Zealand accessories for the model. One is an underfloor spare wheel kit and the other is a towbar engineered specifically for the car. Both will be available for either Trailseeker variant.
A Spare Wheel That Doesn’t Steal Boot Space
The spare is a space saver that sits beneath the cargo floor, so luggage space is unaffected. Subaru NZ says it developed the kit locally and that it is securely mounted and fully integrated. It costs $1,299 plus fitment and will be available from January. Owners of cars already on the road can have it fitted, as can new buyers. Early owners won’t miss out.
A space saver is only a temporary fix, of course. Still, if you get a flat on a remote back road, a temporary fix is exactly what you need.
The towbar is rated to tow 1,500kg braked and 750kg unbraked. It costs $1,399 plus fitment and will be available from January 2027. That rules out heavier caravans, but box trailers and smaller recreational loads should be within reach, which matches the brand’s pitch for the towbar. Towing will cut any EV’s range noticeably, and Subaru hasn’t published range figures for towing.
The Wagon Underneath
The Trailseeker is Subaru’s first large all-electric, all-terrain wagon. It comes in two New Zealand variants: Trailseeker AWD:, for $68,990 RRP, and the Trailseeker AWD Touring, for $72,490 RRP. Both versions come standard with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and the full Subaru Safety Sense suite. A 280kW dual-motor powertrain gives a claimed 0-100km/h time of about 4.5 seconds, and Subaru quotes a driving range of up to 533km.
We’ve reviewed the AWD version, and you can find the video here:
Demand Ahead of Arrival
Paul Mallard, General Manager of Inchcape New Zealand, says customers are drawn to the idea of an EV that still suits road trips and weekends away. He adds that New Zealand drivers shouldn’t have to give up capability to go electric. Additionally, the first New Zealand allocation has already sold out, and the company is now taking orders for later shipments. The first cars for test drives arrive from late November.
Buyers have committed before driving the car. That suggests the adventure-wagon pitch is working. By adding a spare wheel and a towbar, Subaru has removed two practical objections that often put rural and regional buyers off EVs.
