First Drive: 2026 Subaru Solterra EV Gets a Major Freshening to Catch Up to the Competition

Increased range, more power, a standard NACS port, and faster charging come at about the same price as last year’s model

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

November 3, 2025

Subaru and Toyota are about to enter the fourth model year of their joint electric vehicle project, and to celebrate, they’ve made some big changes to deliver a more competitive EV. The 2026 Subaru Solterra (and similar Toyota BZ) features a standard NACS (North American Charging System) Tesla-style charge port, more power from new motors, faster charging speeds for the slightly larger battery, and under-the-skin improvements to reduce noise and improve ride and handling. The changes are much-needed, as the prior Solterra suffered from slow charging and an uncompetitive range.

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There are fewer trim options available for 2026, and Subaru has kept any price increases relatively small—it even dropped the price on one trim. This is likely a response to the end of federal tax credits on EVs and a corresponding drop in demand.

The MSRP on the Premium trim, before adding options, remains $38,495, unchanged from 2025, while the Limited, at $41,395, costs $600 less. Both trims have two motors that combine to produce 233 hp, an increase of 18 hp over the 2025 version.

The Touring trim has been discontinued, and in its place is a Limited XT that costs $42,895—$2,100 less than the trim it replaced. At the top of the trim list is a new Touring XT, the version that Subaru lent to Consumer Reports for this evaluation, which has a base price of $45,555. The two XT versions use the 338-hp dual-motor setup. Subaru says this powertrain makes the Limited XT trim quicker from 0 to 60 mph than a Subaru WRX STI sports sedan.

In 2026, a larger version of the Solterra, the Trailseeker, will arrive. It’s over 6 inches longer and nearly an inch taller than the Solterra and has 8.3 inches of ground clearance. It’s built on the updated platform that the Solterra rides on and is supposed to produce 375 hp from its two electric motors.

If you’re a Consumer Reports member, our initial expert assessment of the 2026 Subaru Solterra is available to you below. When the Toyota BZ we purchase arrives, we will put it through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical measurements of acceleration, braking, handling, car-seat fit, and usability. The BZ’s test results will also apply to the Solterra because the two EVs are nearly identical.

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What we drove: 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT
Powertrain: 338-hp, dual electric motors; 74.7-kilowatt-hour battery; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $45,555
Options: Not available
Destination fee: $1,450
Total cost: Not available (vehicle loaned from manufacturer)

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.