Subaru Solterra 2026: Fully electric Forester sibling steps up in capability and down in price

Subaru has confirmed its leisurely-starter midsize electrical SUV, Solterra, has been vastly upgraded and reduced in designate to amplify its outreach in Australia.

Available in the neighborhood since November 2023, the Solterra is a sister automobile to the Toyota bZ4X, and is supplied in two grades: AWD and AWD Touring. Those grades maintain been slashed for MY26 by $6000 and $7000 respectively, now priced from $63,990 and $69,990 earlier than on-roads.

In a one-two-punch, Subaru has also vastly improved the performance for the Solterra: Up from 160kW to 252kW.

Stylish EV performance also improves. Fluctuate increases to 566km (WLTP) in AWD smooth, or 517km in Touring -every up from 416km – thanks to an even bigger 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery and an improved e-Subaru World Platform.

Battery charging instances are also considerably shorter. Peak AC charging flow improves from 11 to 22 kW, now taking spherical four hours from flat-to-plump. Mercurial DC charging peaks at 150kW, taking half-hour to designate from 0-80 percent of designate.

Additionally, Solterra positive aspects new styling, with a new front dwell, wheel designs (18-inches for AWD and 20-inches for Touring), re-styled headlights, a revised suspension tune, and an upgraded inner.

The centrepiece of Solterra’s inner upgrades is a stunning 14.0-spin infotainment camouflage, whereas diversified new equipment entails dual wireless tool chargers and LED ambient lighting. In the fluctuate topping Touring grade, the interior also positive aspects a Harman Kardon sound system.

Worship any Subaru models, the Solterra is marketed as a legit at ease-roader. For MY26, it contains a legitimate 212mm ground clearance, and an improved braked towing skill of 1500kg (up from 750kg).

Subaru isn’t very any doubt a typical label in Australia, nonetheless its sole EV has struggled to rack up essential sales. As of October 2025, Subaru has only shifted 142 Solterras, when put next with 12,480 equal-sized Subaru Foresters.

For reference, Porsche has sold 161 Taycans – that automobile starts at a staggering $181,200 and climbs to a frankly peek-watering $419,000.

Spirited pricing and improved performance is a truly mighty for the Solterra if it’s to be marketed as a substitute to the midsize EV section main Tesla Mannequin Y. In a connected Lengthy-fluctuate AWD grade, that automobile starts from $68,900 earlier than on-road expenses.

The usual Tesla aloof outpaces the Solterra, producing 378kW/493Nm to Subaru’s 252kW/~437Nm. Tesla’s ‘Y also racks up some distance extra sales, to this point shifting 17,972 devices, or, 12,556% larger than Solterra.

Subaru isn’t the single standard label to wise up and knuckle down on a increasing native EV market. Kia’s introduction of the Chinese-assembled EV5 vulnerable affordability to develop to be the emblem’s most standard electrical automobile in precisely twelve months, shifting 4241 devices twelve months-to-date.

Sister label Hyundai will rapidly copy Kia’s homework when it introduces the Chinese-constructed Elexio next twelve months. That automobile desires to be priced very equivalent to the frightening $56,770 earlier than on-roads EV5 Air usual-fluctuate FWD.

Expose that in all-wheel power configuration, the EV5 starts from $64,770 +ORCs for mid-spec Earth.

Subaru will rapidly originate a long body Solterra, identified as the Trailseeker to match sister automobile bZ4X Touring in the predominant quarter of 2026. Chasing Cars protection of that automobile, besides to further dialogue on aggressive midsize EV pricing, will be seen right here.

Subaru Solterra 2026: costs in Australia

All costs listed are earlier than on-road expenses.

• Solterra AWD: $63,990
• Solterra AWD Touring: $69,990