Volvo EX40 vs Subaru Trailseeker

The Volvo EX40 starts from $69,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Trailseeker opens at $63,990. 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 $76,989 and $70,389 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 Volvo EX40 and Subaru Trailseeker 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 7 in the Volvo EX40 and 8 in the Subaru Trailseeker.

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

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

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

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

The Volvo EX40 uses a Electric producing 185kW and 420Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds.

The Subaru Trailseeker responds with a Dual Electric Motor making 280kW and 536Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.5 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: 82kWh (Volvo EX40) vs 74.7kWh (Subaru Trailseeker), giving WLTP ranges of 520km and 533km. DC fast charging peaks at 200kW (Volvo EX40) vs 150kW (Subaru Trailseeker).

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

Boot space is 536L in the Volvo EX40 and 609L in the Subaru Trailseeker, 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 (Volvo EX40) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Trailseeker). Both match on warranty length.