It’s no secret how tight Toyota and Subaru have become over the years, including their recent tag-team efforts in electrification, the Toyota bZ (formerly known as the bZ4X) and the Subaru Solterra being the results of which.

The 2026 bZ Woodland steps in to fill a niche in Toyota’s lineup, serving as an alternative to their partner Subaru’s Trailseeker, unveiled at the New York International Auto Show. The Woodland isn’t a carbon-free copy of Subie’s attempt, but if you recall what the Trailseeker is all about, running down the Toyota’s specs will result in some deja vu.

The bZ Woodland is built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, carrying a 74.7-kWh battery pack. Said pack can provide an estimated 260 miles of range, powering a standard all-wheel-drive layout constituted by front and rear eAxles generating a total system output of 375 horsepower. Its North American Charging System (NACS) port opens up the bZ to Tesla Superchargers for quick top offs; Level 3 DC can send the Woodland from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes– again, estimated, and assuming ideal conditions are in play. We suspect towing 3,500 lbs. will require more top offs, but that is the Woodland’s tow cap, should you wish to bring a small pop-up camper with you into the sticks.

Getting to your unbeaten-path locale may require use of the X-MODE system (another tie to Subaru), offering drive modes tailored for specific terrain conditions; and Grip-Control is said to react to the road, keeping speed level and wheel slippage minimal. Black overfenders guard some of the paint work, reminiscent of the current Solterra and bZ4X, those colors including an all new Stepping Stone hue.

But it’s easy to look at the rest of the body work and assume it’s just an elongated bZ. That’s design language at work, featuring a prominent “hammerhead” front end akin to other Toyota models, bZ included, and sharp LED lighting elements. Still, an extra half-foot of length and single inch of height does speak to its stretched style, and its 8.3 inches of ground clearance is geared at its off-road approach.

But its interior may not have you think that’s exactly the case. The Woodland doesn’t lean as hardcore into the overlanding vibes, vibes instead remaining well within the character of street-going Toyota cabins. The SofTex-trimmed seats are heated up front, able to be ventilated with the Premium package which also includes a JBL sound system, panoramic roof and front radiant heater. The 14-inch touchscreen, the same unit seen in a number of Toyota products, is standard, as is a duo of wireless chargers.

Perhaps the bZ Woodland has been submerged in the vat of Subaru eccentricity more than it was dipped into the calmer, safer pool of Toyota’s mainstream appeal, but that makes it all the more of an interesting move. It’s too early to know the pricing and exact availability of the 2026 Toyota bZ Woodland, but we’ll report more on it, and drive it, when the time comes.