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

---

Subaru has confirmed its slow-starter midsize electric SUV, Solterra, has been vastly upgraded and reduced in price to increase its outreach in Australia. 

Available locally since November 2023, the Solterra is a sister car to the Toyota bZ4X, and is offered in two grades: AWD and AWD Touring. Those grades have been slashed for MY26 by $6000 and $7000 respectively, now priced from $63,990 and $69,990 before on-roads.

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

General EV performance also improves. Range increases to 566km (WLTP) in AWD trim, or 517km in Touring -both up from 416km – thanks to a larger 74.7 kWh lithium-ion battery and an improved e-Subaru Global Platform. 

Battery charging times are also significantly shorter. Peak AC charging speed improves from 11 to 22 kW, now taking around four hours from flat-to-full. Rapid DC charging peaks at 150kW, taking 30 minutes to charge from 0-80 percent of charge. 

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

The centrepiece of Solterra’s interior upgrades is a large 14.0-inch infotainment screen, while other new equipment includes dual wireless device chargers and LED ambient lighting. In the range topping Touring grade, the interior also gains a Harman Kardon sound system. 

Like all Subaru models, the Solterra is marketed as a competent soft-roader. For MY26, it features a respectable 212mm ground clearance, and an improved braked towing capacity of 1500kg (up from 750kg). 

Subaru is undoubtedly a popular brand in Australia, but its sole EV has struggled to rack up significant sales. As of October 2025, Subaru has only shifted 142 Solterras, compared to 12,480 similar-sized Subaru Foresters.

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

Sharp pricing and improved performance is crucial for the Solterra if it is to be marketed as an alternative to the midsize EV segment leading Tesla Model Y. In a comparable Long-range AWD grade, that vehicle starts from $68,900 before on-road costs. 

The popular Tesla still outpaces the Solterra, producing 378kW/493Nm to Subaru’s 252kW/~437Nm. Tesla’s ‘Y also racks up far more sales, so far shifting 17,972 units, or, 12,556% more than Solterra. 

Subaru isn’t the only popular brand to wise up and knuckle down on a growing local EV market. Kia’s introduction of the Chinese-assembled EV5 used affordability to become the brand’s most popular electric vehicle in just twelve months, shifting 4241 units year-to-date. 

Sister brand Hyundai will soon copy Kia’s homework when it introduces the Chinese-built Elexio next year. That car should be priced very similar to the base $56,770 before on-roads EV5 Air standard-range FWD. 

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

Subaru will soon launch an extended body Solterra, known as the Trailseeker to match sister car bZ4X Touring in the first quarter of 2026. Chasing Cars coverage of that vehicle, as well as further discussion on competitive midsize EV pricing, can be viewed here. 

Subaru Solterra 2026: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

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