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Although the current Subaru Solterra is offered in Australia, the Japanese brand is yet to confirm the arrival of the new-look, longer-range updated model.
Subaru has unveiled a new version of its Solterra electric car at the New York motor show, mirroring the upgrades already confirmed for its Toyota bZ4X twin under the skin.
While the 2026 Solterra is not yet confirmed to arrive in Australia, a local spokesperson for the brand said they will share “what these global debuts mean for the Australian market in due course”.
The headline changes include more driving range, increased power, and reduced charging times thanks to revised high-voltage components.
It is now fitted with a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery, a 5 per cent increase in capacity from the current car's 71.4kWh pack – but the new Solterra claims a 25 per cent longer range of up to 459km, according to Subaru.
It is based on US testing, where the current Solterra claims 357km to 365km of range. Under European WLTP testing, the existing model claims 414km of range.
The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system has also been upgraded with more powerful motors, now outputting a combined 174kW in base form and 252kW in the top-spec US-market XT.
For context, in Australia, the current Solterra punches out 160kW in both the unnamed entry-level grade and flagship Touring.
The new Solterra is also now able to charge its battery from 10 to 80 per cent in less than 35 minutes “at speeds up to approximately 150kW”, according to the brand, but the current car already has this functionality and can recoup the same amount of charge in “an estimated 30 minutes”.
Subaru has now fitted a Tesla Supercharger-compatible NACS port to the new Solterra for the US market.
There have also been tweaks to the suspension and electric power steering, which Subaru promises improve handling and responsiveness, while a new all-wheel-drive control system is also claimed to afford drivers more control.
From the outside, the new Solterra is distinguished by a brand-new front end, featuring fresh headlights, a closed-off bumper and an illuminated Subaru badge.
The rear end is also refreshed thanks to a new boot lip spoiler and 'SUBARU' script, while the 18- and 20-inch wheels also feature new designs.
Inside, the updated Solterra scores a larger 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and a new 15-watt wireless smartphone charger.
Subaru’s EyeSight drive-assist systems carry over to the updated car, with functionality for autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more.
While Subaru Australia is yet to confirm the new EV for local showrooms, the revised Toyota bZ4X is due before the end of the year, meaning a similar timeframe could be on the cards for the Solterra.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
