2025 Subaru Solterra

The compact, all-electric, five-seat Solterra EV, debuting in the 2023 model year, constructs its name by wistfully combining together ‘earth’ and ‘sun,’ which in Latin speak spells out ‘Sol’ and ‘terra.’  

Subaru’s first ever all-electric vehicle received mixed reviews since its debut three years ago but addresses lingering issues in the 2026 version which undergoes a substantial, well-executed, mid-cycle upgrade. Increased electric range (by as much as 25 percent in some cases) leads the charge as one Solterra trim now feature 288 miles of range. Also, Solterra includes a new inlet port design welcoming access to Tesla’s more than 35,000 Supercharging stalls nationwide: very useful when away from home and in need of substantial direct-current assist. Best of all, the $38,495 starting price for the entry Premium trim checks in unchanged from 2025, while including all the value-added upgrades 2026 brings to the table.  

Subaru co-developed Solterra with Toyota, but Japan’s largest automaker chose less memorable product identifiers; Toyota selected bZ4x and Lexus rode with RZ 450e. Then in the 2026 model year, Toyota shorted the bX4x identifier to a more truncated bZ. All build from Toyota’s e-TNGA platform, which Subaru remarkets as the ‘e-Subaru global platform’.  

A key takeaway between the two manufacturers; Toyota and Lexus offer both a front-wheel drive version (with an electric motor powering front wheels) and an all-wheel drive option while Subaru employs the all-wheel format exclusively with an electric/traction motor on each axle from the get-go. It’s a recommended choice if one prioritizes light trail riding. All Solterras include Subaru’s on demand symmetrical all-wheel drive standard, automatically selecting the desired torque as needed between front and rear axles to minimize slippage.

Four 2026, Solterra crossover trims include: Premium, Limited, Limited XT and Touring XT. A Touring trim from last was dropped, replaced with the Limited XT. Entry Premium trims now average 288 miles of estimated range after a full charge while the other three trims estimate 10 miles less at 278. Both these estimates increase from last year and pull much closer to compact EV rivals from Hyundai and Chevrolet. Content levels increase as one travels upward the trim ladder with scant factory choices available save for one of six exterior color selections.  

Our top-line Touring XT tester arrived with a $45,555 starting price and with a $1,450 destination charge bottomed out at $47,005. Touring XT exclusively includes a power sunroof with a power sunshade. Also included, ventilated front seats and nifty digital rear-view mirror feed magically bypassing any heads or shoulders positioned in row two utilizing a camera placed by the rear window. Driver’s just manually flip from mirror to camera view with the flip of a manual tab under the bottom mirror frame.  

New exterior visuals up front include a nighttime illumination/backlighting of Subaru’s six-stared oval logo located smack dab in the middle of Solterra’s front end. To the far sides, newly designed illumination structures include two rows of three small rectangular light slits serving as daytime running lights with an ‘eye’ bulb LED style below serving as the primary headlight. An amber turn signal bar situates between the two rows of daytime running slits.  

A high side belt line with narrow side windows visually creates a strong, planted stance. Ground clearance measures 8.3 inches identical to many gas-powered Subarus contributing to easy ingress and egress for riders while not compromising off-road needs. The power liftgate opens and closes by hand or foot with gentle swipe of extremity under the cargo region (in all but the Premium trim).  

Electric vehicles in general provide engineers with a welcome challenge: less parts and fluids under hood provide the opportunity for a larger cabin design welcoming additional upfront leg room, a long, deep dashboard top and a flat floor improving second row comfort with no vertical transmission hump dividing the cab into left-right spheres. Also, the dashboard top inches down creating an atrium-like ambiance.  

The benefit of increased cabin space include not just one, but two flat 15-watt wireless Smartphone chargers found side-by-side between the front bucket seats with a pair of Type C USB ports nearby. Solterra includes several storage opportunities including under the bridge housing the dual wireless chargers and rotary transmission dial atop. Doors can handle two cans/bottles of soda with side-by-side beverage holders located in front of the arm rest/storage bin.  

nstead of an instrument panel built into the dash, Solterra takes advantage of a generous cab-forward design with a flatscreen TV like, digital gauge cluster resting atop the dash deeper set towards the windshield behind the steering wheel featuring a go-cart-like flat top and bottom. Information includes a digital speedometer, state of DC battery charge (listed in a percentage from 0 to 100, estimated miles to empty, digital time and odometer.  

The electronic one-speed transmission regulates via a dial between a center console between the front buckets. Selecting drive, neutral or reverse requires a push down of the dial, than a twist left or right with the fingers. Park summons by pushing a standalone button in front of the dial. Our XT trim featured cloth-like ‘SofTex’ seating material with metallic and piano black accents.  

A button near the rotary dial selects from three drive modes: Eco, Power and Normal. The selected drive indicates in the flat digital instrument cluster. Also available when conditions get sloppy and pernicious: Subaru’s dual mode X-mode. This nearby selector offers enhanced modes including snow, deep snow, mud, along with grip control and downhill assist control.  

Also new for Solterra in 2026, a larger multifunction center high-resolution flat screen now 14 inches in most trims extending up from the lower center dash above the dashtop. This system works in tandem with wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto. Entry Premium trims continue sporting an eight-inch screen size.  

Temperature controls work within the 14-inch screen and include two tactile twistable lower dials monitoring dual zone front temperatures with the digital number inside the dial reflecting the temperature. A swiping finger motion onscreen controls fan speed while a push button alters fan direction. The screen also includes a welcome on/off/volume button along the lower central region adjacent to front/rear defroster buttons. The screen’s nesting design rates as user friendly as we had little trouble selecting different pin light interior accent colors.  

A couple of notable omissions include the absence of a conventional glove box on the front passenger side and no rear window wiper to chase away rain or accumulating snow.  

For those new to driving EVs in general, the process eliminates the rumbling of an internal combustion engine. When pushing the push-button electric start button, one hears beeping from the seat best reminder and the fan blower if activated, but no hint of an engine. One feels instant torque delivering quick starts from a standing stop when punching down the accelerator pedal. Steering wheel-feel and input remains quite similar to traditional ICE transports.  

As with all EVs, PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) and self-charging gas-electric hybrids (also known as hybrid electric vehicles or HEVs), Solterra benefits from highly effective Regenerative Braking. This energy recouping slight-of-hand captures friction created during the mechanical braking process and delivers the newly created kinetic energy back into the DC battery pack for later reuse as electricity. It’s a passive design requiring little to no interaction from pilots.  

However, drivers do have the option to increase/decrease the friction force level via steering wheel paddle shifters. Solterra includes two steering wheel finger-operated paddles (one + one -) allowing drivers to dial in their preferred resistance setting (with four choices). A graphic within the instrument cluster details the selected setting. Personally, I’d enjoy an even greater resistance choice/level then the four Solterra currently provides. Many EVs include a one pedal driving setting allowing drivers to primarily focus on the accelerator pedal with minimal brake pedal usage as the vehicle slows considerably when removing the right foot off the accelerator. Solterra has yet to embrace one-pedal driving completely. Restarting the car defaults to the lightest resistant level.  

Manually fold the 60/40 split seatbacks down and enjoy 63.5 cubic feet of space, more room than a Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 compact EV.  

The sizeable, high-capacity 74.7-kilowatt hour direct-current battery pack (uprated from last year’s 72.8 kilowatt hours) delivers 391 volts (up from 355) and contains 104 small individual battery cells clustered withing six modules connecting up into one DC battery pack. The nickel, manganese, cobalt battery construction delivers a 25 percent increase thanks to better cell insulation and upgraded cooling techniques. Helping speed charged electrons along at night when plugged in at home, a more potent 11.0-kilowatt onboard charger in 2026.

All EV’s utilize an onboard charger (OBC), an important device acting as a gate keeper of sorts. It regulates voltage when converting alternating current from a home charge to direct current utilizing diodes and transistors for storage in the DC battery pack and helps prevent overcharging. Solterra’s 2026 11.0-kilowatt OBC rates higher than last year’s 6.6-kilowatt version helping to speed along the process when using 120 volt or 240-volt outlets (also known as Level One and Level Two charging). When using a Supercharger or DC fast charger away from home, the OBC gets bypassed as no conversion is necessary since Superchargers and DC fast chargers dispense direct current from the get-go.

The DC battery powers two independent, Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) design traction/electric motors one on each axle providing Solterra with its symmetrical all-wheel drive.  

In addition to the vast number of svelte Superchargers located at many Target department store parking lots and other popular gathering spots, Solterra continues its association with the publicly available Combined Charging System (CCS) network of DC fast chargers operating through franchises such as EV Go, Charge Point and Electrify America. A special, lightweight adaptor is needed when connecting Solterra’s 2026 inlet port to the DC fast charger’s rather hefty nozzle-like end.  

No matter what vendor selected, Solterra circa 2026’s Battery Management System (BMS) now welcomes speeds up to 150 kilowatts when utilizing a DC Fast Charger or Supercharger; a much higher level than 50 kilowatts which was the norm in EV circles a dozen years ago. The higher the kilowatt rating, the quicker the recharge time. In 2025 and 2024, Solterra’s battery management system accepted speeds up to 100 kilowatts. When purchasing or leasing a 2026 Solterra, Subaru includes two adapters, one for DC fast charging when visiting CCS franchised networks and a smaller J1772 connector for Level Two public AC charging (240 volts) when away from home.  

During optimal circumstances, Solterra’s lithium-ion battery’s state of charge increases from 10 to 80 percent in as quickly as 30 minutes when utilizing a DC Fast Charger or Tesla’s Supercharger away from home. That’s on par or close with many high-volume EV rivals, but optimal conditions remain fleeting. Pencil in a few extra minutes if away from home and refilling ions as DC fast charging rarely delivers optimal charging circumstances no matter what EV one drives.  

Solterra circa 2026 includes a long Level One (120-volt) charge cord with a NACS pistol grip head at one end and three-prong grounded plug at the other. When not in use, this cord stores in a compartment under the cargo area floor. Level one delivers between three and four miles of electric range per hour, a very sloooooow means of recharge to reach a full state of charge. A 120-volt household outlet generates between 10 and 12 amps. Most folks opt for in-home installation of Level Two Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) wall box connecting up with 240-volts delivering a wider range of amps, between 12 and 80. Utilizing a Level Two wall box at home, Solterra can charge up from a low state to a full state of charge in 11 hours or less.  

Most EV purchasers invest in a Level Two EVSE wall unit not just for the overnight charging perk, but because a 240-volt outlet better pre-conditions some lithium-ion battery packs. Wall unit instillation runs between $700 and $1,500 depending upon a home’s electrical design. Many entities offer rebate programs when purchasing/installing Level 2 wall units. In the Chicagoland area, Com Ed offers a ‘Residential EV Charger and Installation Rebate Program’ for those meeting certain requirements.  

Electrify America, EV Go, Charge Point and Tesla Superchargers require downloadable Smartphone Apps to begin the direct current fast charging process and to make payments. Credit card information downloads to the App for a speedier exit while cash is accepted as payment virtually nowhere at this juncture.  

Charging away from home utilizing a Tesla Supercharger or DC Fast Charger generally costs between 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt hour, depending upon the time of day and demand. It’s far more expensive (sometimes two-to-three times more) than at-home charging utilizing alternating current where Chicago-area rates hover around 14 cents per kilowatt hour.  

In the 2026 model year, Subaru introduces its second EV to the lineup in the form of the Trailseeker crossover (six inches longer than Solterra) also with the built-in North American Charging Port allowing DC recharging when on the road with Tesla DC Superchargers.  

2026 Subaru Solterra EV

Price as tested: $47,005

Total horsepower: 338

Motive source: Two electric motors: 167 kw, 87 kw.  

Battery Pack: Liquid-cooled, Prismatic, Lithium-Ion  

EV Range: 278 miles

Torque: 249 lb.-ft.  

Wheelbase: 112.2 inches

Overall Length: 184.6 inches

Overall Width: 73.2 inches

Overall Height: 65.0 inches

Curb weight: 4,510 pounds

Electric Component Warranty: Eight year/100,000 miles

Assembly: Japan