Subaru has taken the wraps off a brand new and improved Solterra for the 2026 mannequin yr. The EV has extra vary, an NACS plug, and extra energy output with sooner charging occasions. Additionally unveiled is a brand new off-road model of the Solterra, the Trailseeker.
2026 Solterra
The Solterra was first unveiled in 2021, and entered the North American market in 2022. Designed in collaboration with Toyota, which calls it the bZ4X, the Solterra EV sees a number of adjustments for 2026. Most of these are evolutionary enhancements over the unique. Adjustments that I believe are much-needed for the automotive. The largest enhancements are in vary and energy output.
The battery within the Solterra sees a small achieve in storage to 74.7 kWh, a lift of about 2 kWh. This and a few reprogramming for reconditioning up the vary for the EV to 285 miles (458.7 km), a 25% enchancment over the outgoing model. That’s not insignificant, and fixes certainly one of my largest complaints in regards to the bZ4X/Solterra. This improve will hopefully additionally enhance chilly climate efficiency, which was beforehand fairly dismal.
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The Solterra nonetheless has Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system by default, however the 2026 mannequin provides extra highly effective motors. This boosts horsepower output to 233 (171 kW). The Solterra XT mannequin will increase horsepower to 338 (248.5 kW) and sport a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) dash of 5 seconds.
One other change for the Solterra is in its plug. Subaru has moved to the North American Charging Commonplace (NACS / Tesla) plug. This implies charging from 10 to 80% at as much as 150 kW is feasible, thus which means a ten to 80% cost in 35 minutes or much less. This alteration additionally provides entry to Tesla Superchargers throughout North America.
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As with most Subaru fashions, the Solterra EV has excessive floor clearance (8.3 in / 21 cm) and off-road functionality. The 2026 mannequin yr provides suspension refinements and steering responsiveness updates together with new AWD management programming to optimize off-road energy distribution and physique management.
Contained in the 2026 Subaru Solterra is an all-new 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, 15W wi-fi smartphone charger, and USB-C plugs. Subaru’s driver help methods (by way of its EyeSight tech) are commonplace within the Solterra.
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2026 Trailseeker
Primarily based on the brand new 2026 Solterra, the Trailseeker is a extra rugged and barely upsized EV with a extra SUV-focused design. Many of the adjustments listed for the Solterra are discovered on the brand new Trailseeker. Floor clearance and efficiency metrics are about the identical as effectively.
The Trailseeker, nevertheless, provides extra cargo house and a tow score of three,500 lb (1,588 kg). To accommodate this enchancment, the Trailseeker’s output is upgraded to 375 horsepower (276 kW), which reduces vary to 260 miles (419 km). Added off-road drive modes, by way of Subaru’s X-Mode Twin-Mode System, together with downhill help additionally improve the Trailseeker’s capabilities.
Dimensionally, the Trailseeker is about 6 inches (15 cm) longer and about an inch (2.5 cm) taller. Aesthetically, new wheel designs and a novel bumper set the Trailseeker aside even additional.
Subaru expects to launch pricing and different particulars nearer to product launch in early 2026.
Sources: 2026 Subaru Solterra unveil, 2026 Subaru Trailseeker announcement
