2026 Subaru Solterra First Drive: It Rides on Subie Vibes, But Is It a Better EV?
Subaru knows what its loyal fans want: vehicles that can handle rougher terrain when called upon, are safe, and can easily carry pets and gear. Oh, and all-wheel drive is a must, of course. The Subaru Solterra was built with those traits in mind, and Subaru keeps building on them as it rolls the Solterra into the 2026 model year with a slew of updates.
But what about buyers without a true brand preference looking for an affordable electric SUV—does Subaru know what they want? The 2026 Solterra’s larger battery, stronger motors, and Tesla-style NACS port should theoretically appeal to a broad range of EV shoppers. Still, even with those upgrades, it remains a peculiar choice, whether you're new to Subaru or a longtime fan.
Sorta, Slightly, Subaru
First of all, it’s not exactly a Subaru. Co-developed with Toyota, the Solterra is functionally identical to the renamed 2026 Toyota bZ, which placed sixth out of seven in our recent comparison test. Subaru led the engineering work in aspects such as the all-wheel-drive tuning, but the Toyota-based exterior, interior, infotainment setup, and features make the Solterra feel less Subie-ish as a whole.
That said, the Solterra looks more like its own thing now, thanks to a fresh 2026 fascia. Aside from a slim black band with an illuminated Subaru logo, nothing resembles a traditional grille. Instead, attention is drawn to LED accents in each headlight, below which primary lamps are embedded. Other design changes include paints, wheels, and tweaks to aero aids.
More has changed inside. The dashboard features a new design and trim work, and the previous model’s controversial driver display has been repositioned. Familiar buttons and toggles on the center console are rearranged, now integrating relocated cupholders and dual wireless charging pads. All models get a 14.0-inch touchscreen—the largest ever for Subaru (but not Toyota).
The battery pack grows to 74.7 kWh, taking its EPA-estimated range to 285 miles, up from 222. The standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain produces 233 hp, an increase of 18 hp. For 2026, a new XT model arrives with 338 hp. On all models, the charge port moves to the passenger side so the Solterra can nose into Superchargers, because thanks to the new standard NACS port, it can now access Tesla stations—a huge boon for road trips. Charging improves to 11 kW on Level 2 and 150 kW on Level 3. That’s up from 100 kW, but it's still far from world class for the class.
Numerous changes have been made to the Solterra’s chassis, including the front subframe, control arms, wheel hubs, bearings, and axles. The motor and steering rack mounts are now firmer to aid more direct responses, and its suspension springs, dampers, and bushings have been retuned. On models with a glass roof, the structural crossbar has been eliminated. Throughout, revisions have also been made to the sound deadening and assembly processes to further reduce noise and vibration. (In case you were wondering, the Toyota bZ also gets all these changes for 2026.)
Solterra On- and Off-Road
Adding everything up, there’s enough of a difference that Subaru calls this a new platform—and you can just about feel it. The 2026 Solterra drives much the same but slightly better.
It rides comfortably, particularly on the smaller 18-inch wheels; the thicker tires cushion sharp impacts better than the 20-inchers. The body is well isolated, feeling settled and stable as the suspension soaks up bumps. Steering is crisp, with light effort but direct responses that make the Solterra easy to place. It’s a rather serene ride.
More power is always welcome, and the 2026 Solterra benefits from it. Usually, automakers only bring top-spec models for media drives, but here Subaru included the base model along with the new XT. The XT is clearly quicker; when we recently tested a bZ with this powertrain it hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Still, the base powertrain admirably climbed mountain roads around Denver, Colorado; bottom line, the XT’s difference isn’t transformative.
Like any good Subaru, the Solterra is engineered to handle the uppaved surfaces that constitute normal driving for many Americans. At our event, Subaru had set up a course designed to flex the Solterra’s off-road chops. Here, its 8.3 inches of ground clearance helped it through steep chutes, rocky ditches, and offset surfaces. In stock form, it seems more capable than most of its electric SUV rivals.
How It Drove Was Never the Problem
The thing is, most of its rivals exceed the Solterra in key EV factors. NACS makes a massive difference, but it’s not magic. If the 2026 bZ with identical high-voltage hardware is any indication, the updated Solterra’s range and charging still won’t impress.
In the Road Trip Range test, the new bZ achieved 222 miles, not great but nevertheless an improvement from the earlier Solterra’s sub-200-mile result. And at least it should hit its advertised—albeit still slow—peak charge speed now.
Subaru still also hesitates to commit to one-pedal driving, instead teasing with regen that’ll bring the Solterra to a crawl before you must press the brake to stop. It remains silly how the Solterra provides five user-selectable levels of regenerative braking strength, none of which bring the vehicle to a full stop. With all that choice, a true one-pedal mode should be available.
Inside, space is generous, yet the driver’s area remains awkward despite the interior remodel. Everything seems shaped around Toyota's big infotainment touchscreen. Visibility to the gauge display is improved, but it’s now housed in a protruding slab. Vague detents in the touchscreen knobs make fine adjustments tricky. Dual wireless charging pads are standard on all 2026 Solterra trims. They’re sometimes useful, but they always take up a lot of space on the center console.
According to market research, tech features are a top consideration for Solterra customers, hence this year's upgrades. But accordingly, it’s unfathomable that the Solterra lacks any sort of on-route charge planning. The built-in navigation will tell you how to get to a distant destination, but you’re on your own to figure out charging along the way. This is a glaring omission for any new 2026 EV.
New 2026 Solterra: Better, But..?
Compared to the first Solterra, the 2026 model is meaningfully improved. With that, it comes closer to being average among new electric SUVs. Rather than offering cutting-edge EV capability, Subaru asks you to consider how the Solterra might satisfy your sentiments and lifestyle pursuits—which a Subaru might do for you now. And although the Solterra comes standard with the automaker’s renowned AWD capability, its Toyota overtones dominate.
Subaru loyalists might be able to look past all that. Anyone else might struggle to see sense beyond the Solterra’s star-adorned badge.
