2026 Subaru Solterra Up Close: Meaningfully Updated, Nearly Competitive

The Subaru Solterra SUV has been revamped for the 2026 model year with an eye toward improving its competitiveness in the electric vehicle space, and the resulting refreshed model comes to us with updates that will help it along significantly. The product of a joint venture with Toyota (which sells its version as the unfortunately named bZ4X), the Solterra came to market as a compromised vehicle, with lackluster range, poor fast-charging speed, an odd interior layout and looks that didn’t really ignite a lot of interest except from die-hard Subaru fans. It was perfectly fine to drive, but it just didn’t compare well to its long list of competitors.

But for 2026, Subaru has revised the Solterra, bringing with it some improved styling, a better interior, upgraded battery performance and range, and even a higher-performance variant that is going to be the quickest Subaru ever made. Have the changes made it a fully competitive EV? No, not entirely. But they do go a long way toward bringing it closer to the best in the business, and it just might be enough to sway a few more Subaru fans.

Related: More 2025 New York Auto Show Coverage

Now, Doesn’t That Look Better?

The biggest visual change to the new Solterra is the elimination of the massive flat-black plastic fenders, which are now painted body-color for white, black and gray Solterras and gloss black for all other colors. The front bumper has been redesigned, and there are new headlights and taillights, as well. You’ll also notice the charge port door has moved and now hides a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard connector, which is being adopted across the industry.

The overall look is dramatically improved, especially in the pearlescent-white version I had an up-close look at. The Solterra’s styling was originally somewhat questionable, but with these revisions, it becomes a much more appealing car that blends in a lot better with the rest of the street (if not the rest of the Subaru lineup, which it doesn’t resemble much at all).

Improvements continue inside, as well, with a new dash incorporating an improved multimedia system and various controls. The layout is still the same, with the driver looking over the steering wheel at the high-set digital instrument panel — an issue for drivers who don’t care for this configuration. I don’t mind it at all, as I think it’s an interesting compromise for an automaker that doesn’t want to add the expense of a head-up display. The instrument panel screen is high enough on the dash that it doesn’t require you to let your eyes stray too far from the road in order to see all the gauges, but shorter drivers may find its placement to be a problem.

The rest of the interior has also seen some upgrades to materials and colors, and it looks good. The interior is still plenty roomy in the second row, and outward visibility is excellent. There’s a decent amount of cargo room, and the rear seats fold to make it even more useful. Overall, the changes to the Solterra’s styling are positive and give it a more upscale, cohesive look.

What Are the Performance Specs for the 2026 Solterra?

The revisions to the new Solterra aren’t just skin-deep, however. The battery is bigger, with a capacity of 74.7 kilowatt-hours​ (up from the old car’s 72.8 kWh), meaning range has extended from 222 miles to more than 285 miles, according to Subaru. Power is up, too, with total horsepower rising from 215 to 233, and a new XT trim produces 338 hp, which Subaru says is good for a 0-60 mph sprint time of less than five seconds. That would make it the quickest Subaru ever made if it can deliver on that in real-world testing.

Charging speed has also been improved with the new battery pack, with an onboard 11-kilowatt charger replacing the old 6.6 kW one, and DC fast charging can now happen at up to 150 kW instead of 100 kW. That’s still not a great fast charging speed, especially when competitors from Hyundai and Kia can achieve speeds over 235 kW (I’ve done it myself in an Ioniq 5), but it should help improve fast-charging speeds a bit if you use such things frequently.

The improvements in performance need to be tested for range, charging and acceleration, but they do help bring the Solterra more in line with competitor vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which has similar numbers and pricing. The Solterra’s standard all-wheel drive is a bonus, however — something common to most Subarus but uncommon to most entry-level EVs. The overall changes are solid improvements to the Solterra, but we do need to reserve final judgment for how successful the revisions are for when we get behind the wheel.

More From Cars.com:

• Is the 2025 Subaru Solterra a Good EV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
• 2024 Subaru Solterra Review: A bZ4X by Another Name?
• 2025 Subaru Solterra Gets Significantly Lower Starting Price, New Trim
• Subaru Latest Brand to Adopt Tesla Charging Standard
• Research the Subaru Solterra

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