The Subaru Solterra is set to become more competitive thanks to a significant update for 2026.
While the model hasn’t been completely redesigned, the Japanese automaker has implemented several smaller improvements that make the Solterra much more appealing—both visually and mechanically.
A New Battery
Range is one of the most important specs when it comes to electric vehicles, and that’s exactly where Subaru decided to start with this update. The Japanese SUV swaps its previous 72.8 kWh battery for a new 77 kWh unit. This upgrade allows it to store enough energy to push the range to 450 kilometers on a full charge—a significant improvement over the previous model’s 359 kilometers.
That’s not all—charging itself has also been improved, thanks to an activated battery conditioning system. This allows the battery to charge from 10 to 80% in under 35 minutes, which is seriously impressive. A NACS charging port is also now standard, giving drivers access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
Subaru also took this opportunity to boost the Solterra’s performance. The SUV now features two new electric motors delivering a combined output of 338 horsepower—up from 215 horsepower in the previous version. This allows the Solterra to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 5.0 seconds.
A More Subaru Look
It’s no secret that the Subaru Solterra shares its platform with the Toyota bZ4X. Up until now, the two models looked quite similar, but Subaru has done an excellent job of giving its SUV a more distinct identity—one that’s more in line with the brand’s other offerings. The company also added a set of stylish wheels, ranging from 18 to 20 inches depending on the version selected. Finally, Subaru equipped the Solterra with sleek new six-projector headlights, giving the front end a more modern and striking appearance.
The interior has also received a few updates, most notably a new 14-inch display that runs Toyota’s infotainment interface.
Subaru is expected to announce the pricing range for the new 2026 Solterra in the coming weeks. Thanks to these many improvements, the updated model is likely to be far more popular than its predecessor.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
