Subaru Trailseeker vs Volvo EX40

The Subaru Trailseeker starts from $63,990 before on-road costs, while the Volvo EX40 opens at $69,990. That makes the Subaru Trailseeker the more affordable entry point by $6,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $70,389 and $76,989 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the Subaru Trailseeker and Volvo EX40 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 5 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 8 in the Subaru Trailseeker and 7 in the Volvo EX40.

How long each takes to charge — from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC — estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Subaru Trailseeker features a 14-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Volvo EX40 gets a 9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Subaru Trailseeker stands out with ambient lighting that you will not find on the Volvo EX40. The Volvo EX40 counters with head-up display, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Subaru Trailseeker gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Volvo EX40 offers textile/leather blend.

The Subaru Trailseeker uses a Dual Electric Motor producing 280kW and 536Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds.

The Volvo EX40 responds with a Electric making 185kW and 420Nm, paired to a single-speed driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

The Subaru Trailseeker has the clear power advantage at 280kW vs 185kW. In the real-world sprint, the Subaru Trailseeker is 2.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 74.7kWh (Subaru Trailseeker) vs 82kWh (Volvo EX40), giving WLTP ranges of 533km and 520km. DC fast charging peaks at 150kW (Subaru Trailseeker) vs 200kW (Volvo EX40).

The Subaru Trailseeker measures 4,845mm long on a 2,850mm wheelbase, 405mm longer than the Volvo EX40 at 4,440mm (2,702mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Subaru Trailseeker generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 609L in the Subaru Trailseeker and 536L in the Volvo EX40, giving the Subaru Trailseeker a 73L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Trailseeker leads with a 1,588kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 88kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Trailseeker) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Volvo EX40). Both match on warranty length.