Subaru Solterra: Less aggressive (for some reason)

0 0 April 08, 2026 Edit this post

by Alistair Kennedy

What is it?

The Solterra is the first fully-electric vehicle from Subaru.

It’s a mid-sized SUV that went on sale here in early-2024.

If it looks familiar that’s because it’s a model-share arrangement with the Toyota bZ4X .

It’s the second such Subaru/Toyota partnership following the two-door sports Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86.

We understand that more will follow with Toyota hybrid powertrains to be fitted to existing Subaru models.

While Solterra and bZ4X share the same dedicated EV platform (e-TNGA), they are tuned and marketed independently to reflect their respective brands’ identities.

What’s it cost?

Solterra comes in two variants, the entry level just named Solterra at $63,990 and Solterra Touring at $69,990 plus on-road costs.

Bad news for early adopters is that these are down by $6000 and $7000 respectively on their original launch prices.

Clearly to bring them closer to those of the bZ4X.

These MY26 price cuts also came with extra power and torque, greater driving range and tech updates.

Unlike many of its competitors, including the entry-level bZ4X, which come with a single motor, Solterra maintains Subaru’s AWD commitment with a motor for each axle.

Our test vehicle was the better-equipped Solterra Touring.

The 2026 Solterra update comes with a noticeable change at the front, with a less aggressive look than its predecessor.

Although it’s still not immediately recognisable as an EV, like most others of its ilk there is a narrow ‘grille’ with a large Subaru badge in the centre.

It’s flanked by triple headlights with built-in daytime running lights.

The profile adopts the SUV/fastback crossover lines that are fashionable at the moment.

The bumpers are painted piano black, suggesting cladding.

Style overrides substance at the rear with the absence of a wiper.

Touring gets a full-length power-slide panoramic sunroof.

There’s a choice of six exterior colours, with Touring adding the option of a black micra two-tone roof with two of the colours.

The base Solterra runs on 18-inch alloy wheels while the Touring steps up to 20-inch. Both get aerodynamic caps.

Both Solterra models come with a 14.0-inch central infotainment touchscreen with split-screen capacity (up from the previous 12.3-inch), along with satellite navigation with intelligent EV route planning, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and Bluetooth voice control.

There are two 15W wireless chargers on the centre console.

The entry-level Solterra comes with a six-speaker audio unit while the Touring steps up to a premium 10-speaker Harman Kardon system with a subwoofer and amplifier.

A very sensible feature is the 7.0-inch digital cluster located on top of the dash, directly in front of the driver and at a level that almost makes it as visible as a windscreen head-up display.

We loved the large, square-shaped and padded steering wheel, although it does seem to divide opinion.

It carries a number of push-button controls and brake-regeneration paddles on the side.

Solterra was tested by ANCAP in late-2025 and scored the maximum five-star rating.

There are eight airbags including a driver knee bag and another front centre bag.

Other features packaged as part of the Subaru Safety Sense system, including pre-collision system, emergency steering and braking assist, lane departure warning and lane tracing assist, radar cruise control, road sign assist and speed limiter.

There's also Vision Assist with adaptive high beam, blind spot monitor, front and rear parking sensors and parking brake support, rear cross traffic alert, safe exit assist, 360- degree view monitor.

Touring adds advanced parking assistance via displays and alerts.

There are ISOFix child seat anchor points for the outside rear seats.

Both models come standard with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with a five-year service plan and roadside assist.

The battery is covered for 8 years/160,000km.

Key service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km.

What’s it go like?

With ground clearance of 212mm entry and exit to the Solterra is easy.

There’s also a Safe Exit Assist feature that alerts occupants from opening doors into the path of oncoming traffic or cyclists.

Synthetic leather upholstery is standard in both Solterra variants, with black in the base model and blue in the Touring. All seats are comfortable and supportive.

There’s eight-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, a heated leather steering wheel, heated front and outboard rear seats, ambient LED lighting and carpet mats.

Unusually, there is no glovebox, although we found the owner’s’ handbook in the storage area beneath the floating centre console.

Front and outboard rear seats are all heated.

Below the large central touchscreen there are rotary dials and knobs for audio volume and separate buttons for the dual-zone climate-control temperature, fan and air-flow settings.

There are also short-cut buttons on the driver’s side of the screen.

There is smart key entry, push-button start, all-auto power windows, 12V/120W outlet and both USB-A and USB-C ports (two each front and rear).

The rear window is wide but thin. To improve visibility there is a choice between a conventional mirror and a digital alternative.

The image in the latter is wide, sharp and easy to focus on, unlike some on the market that distort a magnified image.

Boot space is 421 litres in the base model and 410 litres in the Touring, expanding to around 1050 litres with the rear seats folded.

Both variants get a powered tailgate. Under the flat boot floor there’s a storage area for the charging equipment – but no spare wheel. That's a surprise for a brand that prides itself on moderate off-road qualities.

Solterra is powered by twin permanent magnet synchronous motors.

Using a 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack the front motor generates 167kW and 268Nm with the rear one adding 88kW and 169Nm for combined output of 252kW and 438Nm.

Subaru claims a driving range of up to 566km under the WLTP system.

Battery charging comes via AC or DC.

With a 150kW DC charger 10-80 percent takes about 30 minutes. A single phase 11kW AC charger will get from zero to 100 per cent in about 7.5 hours.

Visibility is excellent to the front and sides although limited to the rear because of the sloping roofline.

However, that is addressed with the inclusion of a rear-mounted camera that provides an uncluttered view that can be toggled and adjusted through a button on the bottom of the mirror.

Gear selection is a bit fiddly needing the dial on the centre console to be pushed down then turned.

Inevitably in today’s new vehicles, there is a range of driver assistance features most of which are set and can be adjusted through the touchscreen.

They are nowhere near as distracting in Solterra as in other cars -- especially those from China.

A tight turning circle and responsive steering make for comfortable city driving.

It’s an EV so sharp acceleration is a given but the twin-motors raise that to a new level.

Indeed, it has been timed at around 4.7 seconds for the 0 to 100km/h sprint, making it the fastest production Subaru ever tested.

That’s faster than its iconic WRX.

The ride is generally quiet and smooth although the 20-inch wheels and lower profile tyres in the Touring do add some rigidity.

The brake-regeneration system has four levels including the option of one-pedal driving.

There are three drive modes: Normal, Power and Eco with a range of power bands and energy efficiency.

As is likely to be the case with most owners we spent the majority of our test in Eco mode.

What we like?

Remains AWD
Faster than iconic WRX
Tuned differently to the BZ4X
Driver assist nowhere near as distracting as other cars

What we don’t like?

No glovebox
no spare wheel
rear window is wide but thin
Gear selection is a bit fiddly

The bottom line?

It’s almost unheard of for a new vehicle to get such a range of enhancement so soon after its original release. But that’s what happened with the Solterra between March 2024 and October 2025.

Starting with the significant price cuts the MY26 Solterra gets new styling, increased power, extra driving range, faster charging and a tech upgrade.

While the same upgrades have been made to the NY26 Toyota bZ4X the comparative pricing between the two rivals is now closer than before. So, well worth potential buyers doing a comparison test.