2026 Subaru Solterra Announces Itself With Meaningful Upgrades

The Subaru Solterra is a capable vehicle, but has somehow remained in the shadow of the Toyota bZ4X. While it is a mechanical twin of the Toyota EV, it comes with a number of differentiating factors – standard AWD, better suite of standard safety tech, rugged exterior styling, etc. Although it did receive a refresh and a price cut a few months back, Subaru decided it needed to do something more with it. And that brings us to the 2026 Solterra that makes its debut at the 2025 New York International Show.

Armed with a plethora of updates and changes, the 2026 Solterra seems to be an improvement over the existing model in many ways. Here’s what’s new this time around.

More Power, More Range, And Better Performance

The 2026 Solterra comes with a 77-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that, for the Canada-spec model, could deliver up to 450 km (280 miles). As for the U.S.-spec model, a 74.7 kWh battery pack that’s good for 285 miles. This is 25 percent more than the outgoing Solterra for both, the Canada and U.S.- spec models. This is in part thanks to a newly added battery preconditioning system. It supports DC fast charging speeds of up to 150 kW, which means your Solterra can recuperate from 10- to 80-percent in approximately 35 minutes. It also comes with standard NACS ports which will allow you to plug your new Solterra into a Tesla Supercharger.

Another big takeaway this time around is the increased power. The new Solterra will be offered in a new XT trim that receives a massive 57-percent power bump compared to the trims on the 2025 MY. The combined output from the front and rear motors comes in at 338 horses. This allows the EV to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in under five seconds.

Furthermore, Subaru notes that the new AWD setup integrates an improved controller, that results in better on- and off-road performance. This also predicts the weight load and aids in reducing roll and sway by optimizing power distribution. Some fine-tuning has been made to the suspension and the electric power steering as well for better handling and responsiveness. The off-road capabilities are also said to have gotten better, with the X-Mode Dual-Mode system featuring Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes for better control in low-grip conditions and on beaten paths. The EV offers 8.3 inches of ground clearance, making it the best-in-class rating.

Updates On The Outside And Inside As Well

Changes go beyond the mechanical bits as well in the new Solterra. The exterior features redesigned headlamps, a new front bumper, new wheel designs on both 18- and 20-inch sets, new badges, garnishes, and a six-star illuminated logo. The aero performance is said to have improved, too, but the drag coefficient ratings are yet to be revealed.

On the inside, Subaru has made some updates:

• A new 14-inch touchscreen system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 15W wireless smartphone charger
• High-power USB-C charger

The pricing for the 2026 Solterra has not yet been announced, but they will be known once the vehicle goes on sale later this year.

2025 vs. 2024 Subaru Solterra Price Comparison

Back in December 2024, Subaru slashed the prices of the 2025 Solterra EV by up to $7,000 compared to the 2024 MY. This ensures the Solterra started at under $40,000 and topped out at a shade over $45,000 before options. It’ll be interesting to see how much of a price increase – if at all – the 2026 Solterra comes with. Let’s not forget that this is a segment with cutthroat competition and many EVs like the bZ4X, Mach-E, and ID.4 also received price cuts in recent times.