Subaru Solterra sales hit an all-time U.S. high of
1,736 in March.
Thanks to the arrival of two new EVs — the Trailseeker and Uncharted — Subaru's EV sales in April improved to 2,053 (up 116% year-over-year),
reaching a record share of 3.9% in the brand’s total volume.
There’s a reason why the Solterra is hot. The model, which is the result of a collaboration with Toyota,
benefits from significant upgrades for the new model year as does its twin, the Toyota bZ.
I recently had the opportunity to test drive the 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring
XT.
The all-electric SUV featuring a 338-horsepower dual-motor drivetrain, standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and a range of up to 278 miles. It features 20-inch wheels, a
14-inch screen, panoramic roof, and charges from 10% to 80% in roughly 30 minutes.
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The compact SUV is nimble, but comfortable. The 8-way power front passenger seat is best in
class. It features radiant leg warmers for both driver and passenger.
The cargo space is extremely adequate, even with the second row seats up. Once the seats are down,
there’s a huge amount of space. And bonus: they fold very flat, which is something those of us who are known to haul around dog crates look for. The power liftgate with kick to open or close is
a luxurious touch.
I had the chance to take it on a short road trip last week. Thanks in part to faster charging speeds and the ability to use the new NACS charging port at a
Tesla super charger on two occasions, I felt very little “range anxiety.”
It’s still not as easy to charge as it could be. The hotel I stayed at on the Michigan
State University campus boasts the university’s very first EV charger. Unfortunately there is exactly one available there for the 160 guest rooms, with a limit of four hours.
Another vehicle was on it when I arrived and still had several hours to go before hitting the four-hour mark. Rather than plug in at 10 p.m. and have to technically come out at 2 a.m. to
move the vehicle, I opted to drive 13 minutes to the closest Tesla super charger.
I was able to charge from 23% (51 miles of range) to 90% (195 miles of range) in 32 minutes
for $27.95, adding 144 miles. At the conclusion of the trip, at a second Tesla charger, I charged from 26% (57 miles of range) to 80% (172 miles of range) for $27.77, adding 115 miles.
As always, it’s much cheaper to charge on a home EV charger, but that’s not possible during road trips, so I think these real-world usage stories will always be
relevant.
The 2026 Subaru Solterra Touring XT has a starting MSRP of $45,555, which feels a bit on the high side, but Subaru should still get props for all the improvements
made this model year.