InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast · InsideEVs - Electric Vehicle News

Subaru Trailseeker, Donut Battery Tests, & The Future Of Cars w/ Eclipse’s Jiten Behl

·1 hr 8 min·4 clips

Donut Lab’s battery test hit 80% charge in under five minutes and 100% in around eight.

1. InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast centers on the Subaru Trail Seeker, Donut Lab solid-state battery tests, and a conversation with Eclipse partner Jiten Behl. 2. Tim Levin hosts with Matt Kogan, who reviewed the Trail Seeker, and Jiten Behl, a former Rivian chief growth officer, joins to discuss mobility startups. 3. The episode asks whether the Trail Seeker fixes Subaru’s EV weaknesses, whether Donut Lab’s battery claims hold up, and how EV startups scale in 2020s market conditions. 4. Matt Kogan says the Trail Seeker is best understood as an electric Outback, with more space than a compact SUV and a starting price of $40,000. 5. He compares that price to the Toyota bZ Woodland at about $45,000 and says the Subaru’s 281-mile range and 388 horsepower look strong for the segment. 6. The hosts contrast the Trail Seeker with EVs like the Blazer EV, Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Jeep Wagoneer S. 7. Matt says Subaru’s 8.5 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode all-wheel-drive grip control make the Trail Seeker well suited to dirt roads and rutted fire roads. 8. He notes that the Trail Seeker felt better than the Toyota CHR on the off-road course because it did not bottom out when driven a little harder. 9. Matt also says the Trail Seeker lacks a spare tire, which he treats as a real limitation for an electric SUV. 10. The discussion revisits early Toyota and Subaru EV problems, including a period when BZ4X and Solterra models could not fast charge more than once in a day. 11. Matt recalls winter charging on an early BZ4X that fell to roughly 50 kilowatts or even 37 kilowatts, depending on conditions. 12. He argues that the new generation fixed several hardware issues, including faster charging, NACS ports, and manual or automatic battery preconditioning. 13. The biggest criticism remains software, because Matt says the Trail Seeker still does not plan routes for long trips in the year 2026. 14. He says the car also lacks full one-pedal driving and has a basic infotainment system without the home screen layout he expects in a new EV. 15. Matt contrasts Subaru’s system with GM Ultium features such as route planning, trip-state-of-charge estimates, and charging-stop video streaming. 16. The hosts frame the software gap as more than a convenience issue, because they argue EV buyers need help choosing charging stops and managing battery temperature. 17. The tone is conversational and technical, with Tim Levin pressing for comparisons while Matt Kogan answers from road tests and review notes. 18. The Donut Lab section shifts into a skeptical evidence-checking format, using independent test results to separate lab claims from vehicle-level proof. 19. Listeners who follow EV software, charging, and compact-crossover pricing will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners who want a pure entertainment show without technical EV detail may skip it.

As heard by us

A practical EV-news mix of road test, battery reality, and mobility strategy.

The Plugged In crew keeps the pace up with a drive of the Subaru Trail Seeker, updates from Donut Lab on its solid-state battery, and a conversation with Jatane Bale about what he is watching in mobility.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a Subaru Trail Seeker verdict, a solid-state battery reality check, and a mobility investing angle.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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