What’s New with 2026 Subaru SUVs: The EVs Are Coming!
It’s a busy year for Subaru with new all-electric and hybrid models, a redesigned Outback, and a face-lifted Solterra.
For 2026, Subaru is making big moves toward an all-electric future by expanding its electric SUV lineup threefold. The brand’s existing EV sees significant upgrades, while a new hybrid model joins the range alongside an updated version of the company’s popular midsize SUV.
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Keep reading to explore all the exciting new and refreshed features across Subaru’s safe, comfortable, and mostly AWD-equipped 2026 SUV lineup.
2026 Subaru Ascent
Subaru pares down the Ascent trim walk this year, discontinuing the Onyx Edition. The 2026 Ascent’s trim levels include Premium, Limited, Limited Bronze Edition, Touring, and Onyx Edition Touring.
The 2026 Premium base model picks up some of the retired Onyx Edition’s styling touches. These include black-finish 18-inch alloy wheels, black side mirrors, and black exterior and interior trim accents. The model’s front seats come standard in black water-resistant StarTex upholstery with silver contrast stitching.
With Java Brown Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery and silver stitching or Slate Black Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery and black stitching, the Touring grade scores an updated matte-finish woodgrain accent inside the cabin.
Finally, the 2026 Ascent also gets a new exterior color, Sapphire Blue Pearl, which replaces Cosmic Blue Pearl.
MotorTrend Ranked: #7 in three-row SUVs.
Read Our Experts' Full Subaru Ascent Review
2026 Subaru Crosstrek
The Crosstrek was redesigned for 2024, but Subaru didn’t replace the hybrid model until this year. Even so, the new version doesn’t exactly pick up where the previous one left off—for starters, it isn’t a plug-in hybrid.
The new 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid features a 2.5-liter boxer engine and electric motor. Combined output is 194 hp, making it the most powerful Crosstrek in the lineup. In comparison, with the 2.5-liter engine the SUV makes 185 hp, and with the now discontinued 2.0-liter flat-four, output is only 152 hp.
Fuel economy will also improve. The 2025 Crosstrek with the 2.5-liter engine returns 27/33 mpg city/highway. Look for Crosstrek Hybrid numbers to hue closer to the Forester Hybrid, which sees 35/34 mpg.
Hybrid trims are offered with model-specific 18-inch dark gray wheels. They are also available with Sand Dune Pearl or Citron Yellow Pearl exterior paint. There’s also a newly available 12.3-inch driver display for every 2026 that’s standard with the hybrids.
MotorTrend Ranked: #2 in subcompact SUVs.
Read Our Experts' Full Subaru Crosstrek Review
2026 Subaru Forester
Like the Crosstrek, the Forester is one of Subaru’s most popular models, and it now offers a 12.3-inch driver display. Additionally, the lineup introduces a new Forester Wilderness grade, which comes with a retuned suspension and 9.3 inches of ground clearance—slightly surpassing the previous model’s 9.2 inches.
The Wilderness trim also features improved approach, departure, and breakover angles of 23.5, 25.5, and 21 degrees, respectively, compared to the standard Forester's 19.0, 24.6, and 19.6 degrees.
The Forester Wilderness is only available with the gas engine (for now), but it comes with a CVT automatic that has a shorter final drive ratio. Subaru has also upgraded the transmission cooler to improve towing capacity, which now stands at 3,500 pounds. A new temperature sensor has been added to the rear differential. Additionally, the 2026 Forester Wilderness introduces Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud driving modes.
For enhanced off-road performance, the Wilderness trim is equipped with Yokohama Geolander all-terrain tires mounted on trim-specific 17-inch wheels. The roof features roof rails with an 800-pound load capacity at rest and 176 pounds while in motion. Other upgrades include LED hexagonal foglights, underbody protection, and anodized copper accents that carry over to the interior, where the seats are covered in Subaru’s water-resistant StarTex upholstery.
As before, standard gas and hybrid models are part of the 2026 Forester lineup.
MotorTrend Ranked: #5 in compact SUVs.
Read Our Experts' Full Subaru Forester Review
2026 Subaru Outback
A new seventh-generation Outback debuts for 2026, with a new front fascia and larger grille, revised headlights and taillights, and a more squared-off design. For the first time, the Outback may look more like an SUV than a lifted wagon.
Ground clearance remains at 8.7 inches. The roof is 2 inches higher, increasing passenger space and adding 2 cubic feet of cargo room, bringing total capacity to 34.6 cubic feet—the largest in Outback history.
The EyeSight system is enhanced with new radar sensors and three forward-facing cameras, improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists. It also enables hands-free driving up to 85 mph on designated highways. EyeSight also has a feature that can pull the car over and alert emergency services if the driver becomes unresponsive.
Inside, a new 12.1-inch horizontally oriented touchscreen controls most functions, with dedicated buttons for climate controls for improved usability. A 12.3-inch digital driver display is included.
The 2026 Outback also adds wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, and optional cloud-based navigation. Door bottle holders can now accommodate a 32-ounce water bottle.
At launch, the 2026 Outback features two familiar powerplants: a 180-hp 2.5-liter boxer-four or a 2.4-liter turbo-four making 260 hp.
MotorTrend Ranked: #1 in midsize SUVs (last-gen model).
Read Our Experts' Full Subaru Outback Review
2026 Subaru Solterra
The Solterra lands a refresh this year, and it’s more than cosmetic. Its EV platform has been revamped, incorporating a larger 74.7-kWh lithium-ion battery, which replaces the 72.8-kWh battery in the 2025 model. The updated architecture also allows for faster charging at up to 150 kW, a notable improvement from the previous 100 kW.
Solterras now come with a standard NACS charging port, offering access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Range has been boostedm, as well, with the base model now estimated to reach 285 miles, a 58-mile increase over the previous year’s entry-level trim.
The Solterra’s powertrain has been enhanced, delivering up to 233 horsepower, an increase from the 215 hp in the 2025 model. Subaru has also teased a higher-performance XT variant with motors producing up to 338 hp. The SUV’s all-wheel-drive system benefits from an improved motor controller and more powerful motors, further improving overall performance.
The 2026 Solterra features updated styling, including an EV lighting signature, redesigned headlights, and a new front bumper. Subaru offers 18- and 20-inch wheels, along with updated rear badging and a new spoiler. Inside, the Solterra boasts a larger 14.0-inch touchscreen and standard wireless smartphone chargers for both the driver and front passenger.
All of these meaningful changes should make for a much better Solterra ownership experience, but it might not be enough to beat the segment’s best.
MotorTrend Ranked: #7 in electric compact SUVs (2025 model).
Read Our Experts' Full Subaru Solterra Review
2026 Subaru Trailseeker
The Trailseeker is Subaru’s second electric vehicle after the Solterra; it offers a 74.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and dual motors for standard all-wheel drive. Range is an estimated 260 miles per charge for the most efficient models, with higher trims likely having a shorter range. A NACS-compatible port is standard, and the Trailseeker supports 150-kW fast charging.
The SUV delivers a solid 375 horsepower, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 4.3 seconds. It will be rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds. Off-road capabilities build on Subaru’s reputation for rugged vehicles—the Trailseeker features 8.3 inches of ground clearance, symmetrical AWD, and Snow/Dirt, Deep Snow/Mud drive modes, along with Grip Control and Downhill Assist Control.
Size-wise, the Trailseeker is larger than the Solterra by over 6 inches in length and nearly an inch taller, likely providing more cargo space and passenger room. It also comes equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assistance.
The SUV features a 14.0-inch touchscreen, dual wireless charging pads, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, it has roof rails for extra carrying capacity. Like all of Subaru’s electric cars, this one is based on a Toyota model (in this case, the bZ Woodland). But unlike the other two, this one has the most wagonlike proportions of the trio.
Read Our Experts' Full Subaru Trailseeker Review
2026 Subaru Uncharted
With the debut of the Uncharted this year, Subaru effectively triples its electric vehicle offerings. It also reintroduces a front-wheel-drive model to its product lineup, something it hasn’t offered since the mid-1990s.
The 2026 Uncharted AWD is equipped with a dual-motor system producing 338 horsepower, while FWD versions offer a more modest 221 hp. Higher trims with AWD feature specialized drive modes for snow, dirt, and mud. This setup should provide the Uncharted with performance similar to models like the Solterra and Toyota C-HR Electric.
Like the Solterra and Trailseeker, the Uncharted comes with a 74.7-kWh battery. In this model, range amounts to 300 miles of range for FWD models and 290 miles for AWD versions. The SUV's NACS port provides access to Tesla Superchargers. Under the right conditions, fast charging from 10 to 80 percent can take about 30 minutes. The Uncharted also comes with an 11-kW AC charger for Level 2 home charging.
The smallest of Subaru’s EVs sits below the Solterra in the lineup. It is nearly 7 inches shorter than the Solterra but still offers over 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and rear legroom like the Crosstrek.
Technology-wise, the Uncharted features a 14.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as dual wireless phone chargers and USB ports. It’s also available with an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, a digital rearview mirror, a 360-degree camera, and a suite of EyeSight driver assist technologies, including automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
Read Our Experts' Full Subaru Uncharted Review
2026 Subaru SUVs: What’s New
- 2026 Subaru Ascent: Minor update
- 2026 Subaru Crosstrek: Significant update
- 2026 Subaru Forester: Minor update
- 2026 Subaru Outback: Redesigned
- 2026 Subaru Solterra: Significant update
- 2026 Subaru Trailseeker: All-new model
- 2026 Subaru Uncharted: All-new model
My dad was a do-it-yourselfer, which is where my interest in cars began. To save money, he used to service his own vehicles, and I often got sent to the garage to hold a flashlight or fetch a tool for him while he was on his back under a car. Those formative experiences activated and fostered a curiosity in Japanese automobiles because that’s all my Mexican immigrant folks owned then. For as far back as I can remember, my family always had Hondas and Toyotas. There was a Mazda and a Subaru in there, too, a Datsun as well. My dad loved their fuel efficiency and build quality, so that’s how he spent and still chooses to spend his vehicle budget. Then, like a lot of young men in Southern California, fast modified cars entered the picture in my late teens and early 20s. Back then my best bud and I occasionally got into inadvisable high-speed shenanigans in his Honda. Coincidentally, that same dear friend got me my first job in publishing, where I wrote and copy edited for action sports lifestyle magazines. It was my first “real job” post college, and it gave me the experience to move just a couple years later to Auto Sound & Security magazine, my first gig in the car enthusiast space. From there, I was extremely fortunate to land staff positions at some highly regarded tuner media brands: Honda Tuning, UrbanRacer.com, and Super Street. I see myself as a Honda guy, and that’s mostly what I’ve owned, though not that many—I’ve had one each Civic, Accord, and, currently, an Acura RSX Type S. I also had a fourth-gen Toyota pickup when I met my wife, with its bulletproof single-cam 22R inline-four, way before the brand started calling its trucks Tacoma and Tundra. I’m seriously in lust with the motorsport of drifting, partly because it reminds me of my boarding and BMX days, partly because it’s uncorked vehicle performance, and partly because it has Japanese roots. I’ve never been much of a car modifier, but my DC5 is lowered, has a few bolt-ons, and the ECU is re-flashed. I love being behind the wheel of most vehicles, whether that’s road tripping or circuit flogging, although a lifetime exposed to traffic in the greater L.A. area has dulled that passion some. And unlike my dear ol’ dad, I am not a DIYer, because frankly I break everything I touch.
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