2026 Subaru Solterra Evaluation: A Contrast with Lexus and Toyota Vehicles

If you’re looking for a brief overview of the 2026 Subaru Solterra, here it is: Its key weaknesses have been improved in the recent update, making it the obvious choice over its Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ counterparts.

The new Solterra comes with enhanced power, extended range, and updated aesthetics. These small modifications culminate in an EV that’s now worth your consideration, and it offers better value than its redesigned siblings.

It’s also vital to mention that I approached my weeklong trial of the 2026 Subaru Solterra with quite low expectations, and the more I engaged with it, the more I found myself enjoying it. It occurs.

The Essentials

The Solterra marks Subaru’s initial foray into the electric vehicle realm, although it’s not entirely a Subaru product. It shares components. The Solterra is essentially a rebranded version of the Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ. Subaru collaborated with Toyota for its development, incorporating distinctive features such as Subaru’s X-Mode, a standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, and a combination of parts sourced from the two. The Solterra will occupy the space between the forthcoming smaller Uncharted and the more wagon-like Trailseeker EVs, with the former being a rehashed Toyota CH-R and the latter a wagon variant of the bZ and Solterra.

The design of the Solterra carries into 2026, though the front has been revamped with a new bumper that removes the faux grille, divides the headlights, and adds attractive six-diode (per side) LED daytime running lights. I particularly enjoy the refreshed front, especially in white and blue tones. It appeared somewhat dull in the Harbor Mist Gray Pearl shade as evaluated. The rear displays “Subaru” across the tailgate instead of the automaker’s emblem. That’s about it. The new wheel designs enhance the aesthetics slightly, producing a less divisive and, frankly, more appealing look compared to both the Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ.

Inside, the Solterra combines elements. It now features the 14-inch touchscreen from the Lexus, rather than from Toyota. This is significant because it introduces physical temperature dials to the climate control system. There’s also now a physical volume knob located in the center of the dashboard instead of just buttons. The broad center console, which significantly impinges on knee space, includes two wireless smartphone chargers that appeared to function somewhat reliably. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, but the touchscreen interface originates from Toyota and won’t allow for split-screen capabilities despite its 14 inches. That’s quite a bit of CarPlay.

Experiencing the 2026 Subaru Solterra

The powertrain represents the most substantial upgrade for potential Solterra purchasers—a 74.7-kWh battery energizes two motors, one on each axle, providing standard all-wheel drive. Power has increased, at least in the new XT variant evaluated, achieving 338 horsepower, reducing the 0-60 mph time to under five seconds. The remains of the lineup now offer 223 hp due to the upgraded motors, an increase of 18 hp compared to last year. Subaru’s X-Mode is available with Snow/Dirt, along with Deep Snow/Mud Modes. Despite residing in Minnesota, I didn’t encounter adverse weather that would allow testing of these modes. Maybe next time, Subaru.

The Solterra can be described as unremarkable in terms of driving experience. That’s likely by design. This crossover won’t thrill any driving purist, elevate anyone’s heartbeat, or convert a WRX enthusiast into an EV advocate. However, as a means of safely transporting kids to school and managing my busy schedule, it was unobtrusive and seamlessly blended into daily life. The light steering offered negligible feedback. The all-season tires lost grip early on, though they were quieter than those on the Jeep Wagoneer S, likely due to the Solterra weighing up to 4,510 pounds. The gentle suspension did a commendable job handling road irregularities better than the Wagoneer S, delivering a composed ride.

Unlike in the new Nissan Leaf, my wife never voiced concerns about space in the Solterra, and my children had ample legroom in the backseat.

The Positives and Negatives

The steering wheel design with its six-sided shape and wing-like controls still strikes me as somewhat peculiar, but at least the buttons are tangible and labeled. The sizable touchscreen seems merely attached to the dashboard and lacks integration, but the Lexus interface does keep the climate control options at the bottom of the display, making them consistently accessible.

2026 Subaru Solterra Features, Options, and Competitors

The Solterra comes with a price tag of $40,420, which notably undercuts its sibling, the Toyota bZ (unless you choose the single-motor front-wheel-drive bZ) and the Lexus RZ by nearly $1,000 and $7,000, respectively. It also beats a dual-motor Hyundai Ioniq 5 by close to $2,000. It’s well-equipped, featuring that 14-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power liftgate, and a ground clearance of 8.3 inches (yes, that counts as a feature, after all, it’s a Subaru). It effectively fulfills its purpose, but I would likely prefer the Limited XT trim at $44,345 specifically because it unleashes the added power. I would certainly choose to replace the contrasting painted fender flares for a color-matched option at no extra cost. It looks appealing in pearl white as well. This upgrade also includes power-adjustable front seats, a surround-view camera system, a heated steering wheel, and a Harman Kardon sound system, along with heated seats for the driver and front passenger to boost cold-weather efficiency.

While I would select the Solterra over the bZ and RZ, it would definitely require some thought to choose it over the Hyundai Ioniq 5 immediately. The Hyundai boasts stunning retro design and, more importantly, an 800-volt electrical architecture along with a larger battery capacity that allows for faster charging and greater range. Ironically, as you will soon discover, the Subaru proved to be surprisingly efficient.

Range, Charging, and Efficiency

The larger battery provides the 2026 Solterra with a 25% enhancement in range compared to previous iterations. EPA estimates indicate a maximum of 285 miles, although the more powerful trims see that figure drop to 278 miles. This range competes directly with the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which offers 290 miles with 19-inch wheels and 269 miles with the 20-inch options.

What was truly unexpected was the efficiency of the updated Solterra, even paired with the more powerful powertrain. Throughout most of the week, the EV achieved an average of 3.8 mi/kWh, which decreased to 3.5 mi/kWh over 382 miles of mixed suburban driving during a Minnesota cold snap. Nonetheless, at 3.5 mi/kWh, this translates to a real-world range of 261 miles in mixed suburban driving scenarios. It outperformed any Ioniq 5 I’ve driven in terms of efficiency.

The 2026 Solterra features a Tesla-like NACS port located on the front passenger-side fender, and fast charging from 10-80% now takes less than 35 minutes. This is where the Ioniq 5’s 800-volt electrical architecture excels with super-fast charging times.

Value and Conclusion

At a cost significantly lower than its competitors, the 2026 Subaru Solterra offers considerable value that the brand is recognized for. Although the nameplate debuted with various pitfalls, Subaru has evidently listened to the market and implemented corrective measures that have greatly enhanced the model.

It may not be thrilling, nor is it fashionable, but those elements aren’t really Subaru’s focus. Models that are safe, trustworthy, comfortable, and value-oriented have established Subaru as the well-regarded household name it is today, and the Solterra aligns with that philosophy like the rest of the company’s offerings.

Subaru provided The Drive with a seven-day loan of this vehicle for the purpose of crafting this review.