Electric vehicles (EVs) have certainly had a challenge in the past year to grow outside of their current boundaries, but have still managed to win over a decently sized group of new buyers. A few years back, Subaru jumped into the EV fray with the Solterra with the aid of Toyota to utilize the same basis that we know to be the Toyota bZ (formally the bZ4X). Doing the EV thing with Toyota made some sense as the brands aren’t new to such an intertwined game, and what Subaru and Toyota have conjured up for the new 2026 model year is improved and quite an attractive buy in the newfound EV world.
Receiving a slight refresh for the 2026 model year, the Subaru Solterra (and Toyota bZ), is essentially a better vehicle. It has more power and a longer range, oh, and a Tesla NACS charging port to boot. These things are all welcomed in the EV world as manufacturers grapple with the current political environment that may have stifled forward momentum in some ways. Regardless, Subaru has a rather desirable EV in the new Solterra, which has since helped usher in additional EVs for the brand, also at the aid of Toyota.
Now with a total of 338 horsepower in the upper-level Limited XT and Touring XT trims for the Solterra (233 hp now in the base Premium and Limited trims), there’s more to appreciate in the Solterra’s improved performance. While Subaru doesn’t list the torque figure, we’d estimate that it is well north of 300 lb-ft of torque, which helps the 4,500+ pound SUV-ish vehicle get up to 60 mph in about 4.6 seconds.
The dual motor setup, found in all Solterra trims, plays to Subaru’s all-wheel-drive theme, as does the somewhat lifted suspension with about 8.3 inches of ground clearance. Subaru and Toyota seemingly did a purposeful design for the Solterra to fit inside the Subaru mold, and it pays off well until you dig inside the interior and find an abundance of Toyota equipment.
The new, larger battery pack at 74.7 kWh serves up the EPA-estimated range of 285 miles, which is a far cry from the outgoing 222-mile range. Moreover, charging improves not only in getting the Tesla port, but you can get up to 11 kW on a Level 2 charger and 150 kW on a Level 3 DC fast charger. If you notice, the DC fast charging rate falls below many competitors, but still, there’s an improvement here, and we’ll gladly take it.
Out on the road, the Solterra is well behaved with a driving character fitting for a premium vehicle, which is somewhat thanks to some additional improvements in the chassis for the new 2026 model year. Power is strong, which feels like much more than 338 horsepower, and the “different” driving position relative to the flat bottom and flat-top steering wheel and floating-above driver’s gauge cluster are surprisingly “okay.” The braking regen, which has multiple levels that you can set on the fly using steering wheel paddles, is a welcome feature. Moreover, the adaptive automatic setting for regen that utilizes the front radar to add subtle braking depending on how close you approach the vehicle in front of you, may be welcomed by some to add some range back to the battery when you’re not thinking too much about it. Unfortunately, there’s no true one-pedal driving mode – though you may set the regen to the highest setting and pretend.
Inside, the Solterra’s cabin screams Toyota, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Actually, there’s a lot of GOOD inside the Solterra with the use of Toyota’s latest infotainment unit and all of its simplistic features and floating-on-the-screen dual-zone climate control temp knobs. The Solterra gets the full screen, too, with the quick access menus for commonly used functions as well as many desirable amenities in the Touring XT Leather trim, such as heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, a power sunshade for the large fixed-glass sunroof, and ambient LED lighting.
You also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which goes well with the dual wireless charging pads. Subaru—er—Toyota packs in all of the expected active safety features as well as utilizes their 360-degree camera system that tracks and displays what is underneath the vehicle for a virtually see-through view. The one drawback in the area of tech is that the driver’s gauge cluster looks rather cheap with a low-resolution screen, which may be somewhat of a purposeful design element considering the high positioning that has you view it over the top of the unique steering wheel.
There’s a lot to appreciate when a brand goes the distance to listen to its customers and actually improve upon a product – or maybe Subaru just knew the Solterra wasn’t going to compete well with its old shortcomings. Now, Subaru has something to show its loyal fan base to win them over, ahead of its inevitable EV conversion, potentially. Pricing is where Subaru may also win some over with the Solterra in its base trim starting at $38,495 before any fees or options. Moving to my top-trimmed Solterra Touring XT Leather trim test vehicle you’ll be expected to pay just over $46,000.
Malcolm Hogan is the founder and editor of Automotive Addicts, a trusted voice in the automotive media world for over two decades. With 20+ years of hands-on experience covering the industry, Malcolm has built a reputation for delivering honest reviews, sharp insights, and in-depth coverage of everything from new car debuts to high-performance test drives. Passionate about the evolving car culture and staying ahead of the curve, Malcolm continues to lead Automotive Addicts as a go-to destination for enthusiasts and industry insiders alike.
