Is the Electric 2026 Subaru Solterra Too Little, Too Late?
The original version had uncompetitive specs, but more advanced technology shines on Subaru’s updated electric SUV.
After stumbling out of the gate with its first EV primarily due to lackluster range and charging performance, Subaru aimed to refine and improve its electric SUV for its midcycle refresh. Like its Toyota cousin, the bZ4X, the 2026 Subaru Solterra benefits from the company’s teething issues, now offering more range, more power, and quicker charging in a sleeker, more attractive package.
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Does the New Solterra Have More Range? Yes
The key to all this “more” is the new electronics package. A new lithium-ion battery pack good for 74.7 kWh gross (up 2.2 kWh) is paired with a new preconditioning system boosting its peak fast charge rate from 100 kW to 150 using a Tesla-style NACS port. That should drop the Solterra’s 10 to 80 percent charge time to less than 35 minutes while also making it easier to find fast chargers thanks to the expansive Tesla Supercharger network.
Level 2 charging also improves for 2026, rising from 6.6 to 11 kW. Coupled with new motors, Subaru says the Solterra’s range grows from 222 miles to more than 285 (final EPA results are pending).
All 2026 Solterras come standard with new permanent-magnet motors mounted at the front and rear axles for all-wheel-drive capability. Base Solterras produce 233 horsepower (up from 215), while a new Solterra XT sports 338 hp, which Subaru says should allow the Solterra to sprint from 0to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Subaru was unable to provide torque specifications as of press time.
Subaru promises better power delivery, traction, and ride quality than before in the 2026 Solterra, thanks to a new motor controller that can account for tire load and suspension position in addition to real-time traction.
New Digs
Like the 2026 Toyota bZ4X, the new Solterra also receives styling and technology upgrades. All new Solterras sport a cleaner, more aerodynamic exterior; a completely new front bumper, headlights, and grille with a backlit Subaru logo are the headline changes.
Around its flanks, the Solterra gets new 18- and 20-inch wheel options, and its charge port moves from the front-driver to front-passenger side. In back, the Solterra has a reworked spoiler, trim, and new badging. For 2026, shoppers who opt for gray, black, or white paint will get color-matched cladding, while other colors feature black cladding similar to pre-refresh models’.
Inside, the Solterra receives the same interior upgrades as the 2026 bZ4X. The central display grows to 14.0 inches (up from 8.0) and is powered by Toyota’s latest infotainment system with a Subaru skin. Beneath the new display sit dual wireless phone chargers and USB-C ports. The interior glow-up also includes a redesigned center console and new trim.
How Much and When?
When the 2026 Solterra hits Subaru dealers in late 2025 it will no longer be the sole electrified vehicle in the lineup, thanks to the introduction of the new (also Toyota-based) 2026 Trailseeker EV and new hybridized Forester and Crosstrek models.
Despite the added company, we expect the 2026 Solterra to retain its place at the top of the lineup, with pricing starting around $39,000. Subaru says final figures for pricing, power, and range will be released closer to its on-sale date.
I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born (New York City, in case you were wondering) or what type of cars I like (all of ’em, as long as it has a certain sense of soul or purpose), I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car (see above): How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name (The Stig’s American Cousin), signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
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