The 2026 Subaru Solterra (Photo by Casey Williams)
CASEY WILLIAMS | Auto Reviewer
AutoCasey@aol.com
There was very little wrong with the Subaru Solterra EV that debuted in 2022 beyond range and charging times. At its California debut, it sliced through Santa Barbara traffic and proved its off-road chops on Catalina. It was a no-hassle city car and all-capable Subaru — as long as you didn’t have far to go and had plenty of time to get there.
Now, we’re in mile-high Denver with a much-improved Solterra that puts critics on silent.
Before driving, a little history lesson: The Solterra was co-developed with Toyota, which offers the similar bZ4X. Engineering was 50/50 between the two automakers, with Subaru taking lead on traction and safety. Manufacturing is by Toyota in Japan.
There’s a lot of RAV4 in the styling, but Subaru’s facia dispenses with any pretense of a grille, accented by glittering LED driving lights over headlamps below. Black wheel cladding and roof rack that supports 700 pounds of tent camping are pure Subaru.
Click open the front fender port for the new Tesla-style NACS plug.
The interior seemed unchanged, but that’s an illusion. It still feels more Prius than Outback, with a flatscreen gauge cluster placed high for a head-up effect, but it adds a redesigned 14-inch widescreen for infotainment and dual charging pads on the console.
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2026 Subaru Solterra
Five-passenger, AWD Crossover
Powertrain: Li-ion batteries/dual motors
Output (2 versions): 233 hp/338 hp
Suspension f/r: Ind/Ind
Wheels f/r: 18-20-inch alloy
Brakes f/r: regen disc/disc
Driving range: 288 miles
0-60 mph: 4.9 seconds
Fast charge (10-80 percent): 35 minutes Assembly: Japan
Price range (est.): $40,000-50,000
Likes
- Improved range
- Trail cred
- Zippy acceleration
Dislikes - No HUD
- Hands-on cruising
- No Wilderness
A squircle steering wheel allows clearer views of gauges.
New for 2026 are fetching blue-and-black StarTex vegan leather seats. Our car had gray StarTex, but added Harman Kardon audio, heated/ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a power hatch.
Storage abounds with the flybridge console, door cubbies and roomy luggage compartment. You can even get it with leg warmers. Seriously.
A full suite of crash avoidance systems integrating Subaru’s eyesight system include automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and blind spot warning. Ambient lighting glows red when the safe exit assist system detects traffic.
Traffic jam assist allows hands-off driving up to 25 mph, but I’d love it with highway speeds. You may need it given longer distances traveled.
Range improves 25 percent to a more accommodating 288 miles. Quick charge 20-80 percent takes 35 minutes; originally, it took an hour. All-wheel-drive comes standard.
Base versions enjoy 233 horsepower (up from 215), but 338 horsepower systems zip 0-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds.
I was fine with the old Solterra’s performance, but this one elicited giggles as it effaced asphalt between apexes and while thrusting up steep mountain passes. In thin air that would wreak havoc on engines, EVs are unbothered.
The suspension is a little soft sweeping through corners but suitably tuned for daily driving.
On a rocky unpaved section, I was in full rally mode when I looked left to see a moose statue.
Wrong: Not a statue.
There he was, all 1,200+pounds of him, munching on a tree.
My driving partner and I watched him meander across the road before latching onto another tree. We gave him a courteous good-bye, then zapped towards the off-road course.
Dual Function X-Mode with deep snow/mud programming plus 8.3-inches of ground clearance proved its worth whether creeping down steep inclines or rolling over moguls. As in Catalina, its performance was impressive with the electronics shifting power as if by magic. It’s simply enchanting. Pitch and roll gauges tell you which way is up.
Back at the hotel downtown Denver, I reflected on a long day of fast driving and grippy climbing. Subaru could have just added range and reduced recharge times, but this vehicle is better in almost every way.
Subaru is still setting prices, but expect a base under $40,000 with top trims around $50,000.
That compares favorably to the Chevy Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-e, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6.
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.