2026 Subaru Solterra Review

Subaru's updated EV doesn't change its tune, but it does improve its harmony.

Tim Stevens | 

Oct 3, 2025 | 7 min read

Tim Stevens

Life seems pretty good for Subaru right now. While global uncertainty around tariffs may have some buyers hesitating, the automaker's sales continue to climb. That's true even for the Solterra, the company's first electric vehicle (EV). However, with just 8,000 sold in the first half of 2025, it hasn't exactly been a high-volume sales success.

Now, nearly three years after it debuted, the 2026 Subaru Solterra receives numerous enhancements to improve its fortunes in an increasingly competitive segment. For example, Subaru significantly increases the Solterra's range and power. On its new battery, the SUV now travels up to an estimated 288 miles on a charge, an increase over last year's 227 miles, and offers up to 338 horsepower, a big jump from 215.

Additionally, modified styling maintains the SUV's chunky personality, but with a little more sophistication. Inside, the 2026 Solterra has enhanced interior materials and a larger infotainment touchscreen.

These changes don't alter the Solterra's underlying equation, but cumulatively result in an EV that's more likely to woo customers who might initially lean toward a different brand. Also, thanks in part to what Subaru claimed is a best-in-class ground-clearance measurement of 8.3 inches, the Solterra gives the outdoorsy Subaru faithful a logical choice when switching to an emissions-free lifestyle. I'd call that a success.

Tim Stevens

About the 2026 Subaru Solterra Review Vehicle

The 2026 Subaru Solterra is a five-person electric SUV that comes in Premium, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT trim levels. The base prices range from around $40,000 to just over $47,000, including the destination charge to ship the SUV to a dealership from the Toyota City, Aichi, factory that builds it in Japan.

For this review, I drove a Subaru Solterra Touring XT with no options. The manufacturer's suggested retail price of the test vehicle was $47,005, including the $1,450 destination charge. Subaru provided the vehicle for this Solterra review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

Tim Stevens

Subaru's 2026 Solterra Offers Big Changes Inside

The design differences between last year's Solterra and the 2026 model don't radically change its shape or style. Still, Subaru significantly reworked the front end to set it further apart from its Toyota bZ sibling. Where the old Solterra had a distinctly angular look to it, the new Solterra has a softer and rounder nose fronted by a giant, illuminated Subaru badge.

You'll find several styling tweaks throughout, including fresh wheel designs and newly painted front and rear fender trim that matches the Solterra's body for a monochrome appearance. That treatment is available only with specific paint colors. Others keep the matte-black plastic fender trim in alignment with modern Subaru styling themes.

Step inside the Solterra, and you'll find an interesting mix of materials throughout the cabin, including everything from a neoprene-like rubberized surface on the dashboard to typical vinyl and plastics elsewhere. In a welcome change, Subaru removed most of the piano-black plastic from the center console.

Tim Stevens

In addition to the new materials, Subaru dramatically reconfigured the SUV's center console, where a pair of wireless smartphone chargers now dominate. The petite, squared-circle steering wheel remains, as does the recessed digital driver display, which Subaru positions near the base of the windshield. That layout made it easy for me to see all the information on the display without the steering wheel obstructing my view.

In terms of comfort, both the front and rear seats offer plenty of headroom and legroom, with a flat floor in the back making three-across seating a reality. Even with the driver's seat positioned as I prefer it, I had plenty of room to relax in the rear. The Solterra's standard upholstery is a synthetic material called StarTex, but buyers can get full leather with the Solterra Limited trim level.

Cargo space is unchanged from the previous Solterra. It measures 23.8 cubic-feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.5 cu-ft with the rear seats folded down.

Tim Stevens

A Bigger Display and Improved Layout in the 2026 Solterra

A new 14.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity dominates the Solterra's dashboard, a modest but noticeable upgrade from last year's available 12.3-inch screen.

The software interface remains much the same, and I found during my test drive that the display handles most of the car's functionality, from navigation and media playback to climate-system temperature adjustment via a pair of knobs. Feeling cold? Spin the knob on your side for heat (and vice versa). But if you want to change more detailed settings for the heating and cooling system, such as engaging the recirculation mode or turning on the seat heaters, you'll need to start tapping on that touchscreen.

Speaking of heating, the Touring XT trim benefits from a radiant heating system beneath the dashboard that'll keep your legs extra toasty on winter days. I tested the Solterra in the summer, and the seat-ventilation system was largely ineffective. Generally, the car's air-conditioning system struggled to keep the cabin cool on a moderately warm, sunny day.

Tim Stevens

Subaru's EyeSight collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) is unchanged and remains standard. That means every Solterra SUV includes a comprehensive set of the typical ADAS features I'd expect on a modern EV. A notable feature is Emergency Stop Assist, which can detect an unresponsive driver and bring the Solterra to a safe stop.

During my testing, the lane-keeping assist did a nice job of keeping the car from wandering without being so obtrusive that I felt the need to turn it off on twisty roads. On the highway, the lane-centering-assist system tracked straight and true. The adaptive cruise control brought the Solterra smoothly to a stop when I caught up with traffic and then resumed again when things started moving.

Tim Stevens

Better Performance and Range in the 2026 Subaru Solterra

While Subaru has undoubtedly produced some high-performance cars over the years, most of its vehicles have seemed to be more about safety than speed. That's certainly true of the 2026 Solterra. Despite getting more than a 100-hp bump over the outgoing model, to 338 horsepower, the Solterra still has a relaxed feel about it on the road, lacking the neck-snapping acceleration of many competitive EVs.

That'll probably disappoint some potential customers, but, honestly, for a practical people- and dog-hauling SUV, that more relaxed feel makes sense. It's easy to drive the Solterra smoothly, especially because it offers limited regenerative braking. Even at its maximum setting, the regen falls short of what many other EVs I've driven can provide.

Tim Stevens

Overall, it's pleasant to drive the Solterra. The small-diameter steering wheel pairs with a reasonably quick ratio, making the SUV feel nimble. The revised suspension and steering system boost feel and feedback to the driver, but this is still not a machine meant for driving hard. As soon as the Solterra detects a hint of wheelspin or slippage, it immediately and abruptly cuts power.

Driving gently will certainly help its efficiency. Subaru rates the 2026 Solterra Premium for up to 288 miles on a charge from its 74.7-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. The Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT, meanwhile, supply 278 miles of range. That's a commendable increase from the outgoing car's 227 miles from 72.8 kWh. In my testing, which included extensive climbing through the Rocky Mountains, I managed an average efficiency of 3.3 miles per kWh (30.3 kWh per 100 miles). That translates to a theoretical maximum range of 247 miles.

Thanks to a new battery-preconditioning system, the 2026 Solterra charges faster, too, accommodating a maximum rate of 150 kW. Under optimum conditions, Subaru claims the vehicle can recharge from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes. Additionally, it has a standard North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, so it's compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network.

Tim Stevens

Is the 2026 Subaru Solterra a Good Electric Vehicle?

The 2026 Subaru Solterra is improved enough to qualify as a substantial step forward for the automaker's EV efforts. Still far from class-leading in the important metrics, it's at least now competitive in most of them. Overall, those big boosts in range and power make the 2026 Solterra a more compelling rival to alternatives such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Nissan Ariya, and Volkswagen ID.4.

Tim Stevens

Tim is a freelance automotive and technology journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He is a frequent contributor to major domestic and international online, print, and broadcast news outlets, sharing his insights and perspectives on everything from cybersecurity to supercars. Tim also serves as a juror for the World Car Awards and regularly acts as speaker and moderator at major industry events such as CES, Web Summit, SXSW, NAIAS, and AutoMobility LA. He formerly served as editor-at-large and vice president of content at CNET. Before that he was editor-in-chief of Engadget and editorial director at AOL Tech.