2026 Subaru Solterra Review: Necessary Improvements
Is the 2026 Subaru Solterra a Good Electric SUV?
- The redesigned Solterra is certainly much more competitive, with more power (including a new XT variant with 338 horsepower), significantly more range, improved charging capabilities and a new Tesla-style North American Charging Standard. Pretty much everything that could be improved was.
How Does the 2026 Subaru Solterra Compare With Other Electric SUVs?
- While its significant upgrades make the new Solterra much better than the first-generation model, they don’t do anything to raise the ceiling of the segment. Rather, they raise the floor. A Ford Mustang Mach-E is a bit sportier with longer available range, the Volkswagen ID.4 is more comfortable on-road, and the well-rounded Hyundai Ioniq 5 remains a leader in the class. But seeing a Solterra on the road will no longer elicit surprise — at least if it’s the new one.
2026 Subaru Solterra | Cars.com photo by Leslie Cunningham
Subaru announced the redesigned 2026 Solterra this year, and it impressed us when we first saw it in person. The second-generation Solterra, like the first, is the result of a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota, and it shares much of its improvements with its 2026 Toyota bZ cousin. Those include battery, efficiency, charging and interior tech updates that make the Solterra much more than just a vehicle that lets Subaru tick the “sells an electric vehicle” box. And the Solterra, unlike the bZ, comes exclusively with dual-motor all-wheel drive.
Related: Updated 2026 Subaru Solterra EV Boasts More Than 285 Miles of Range
To find out as much as I could about the 2026 Solterra’s improvements — and to give it something of a quick and dirty efficiency test — I headed to Denver to drive the new Solterra on twisty mountain roads both paved and unpaved, on highways and even on a light off-road course (per Cars.com’s ethics policy, we pay for all travel and lodging when attending such manufacturer-sponsored events).
Read on to learn how the Solterra performed.
What Are the 2026 Solterra’s Power, Range and Charging Stats?
Stats matter for EVs, though it’s never a guarantee that an EV will always deliver on its promises. But when the previous Solterra had less than 230 miles of EPA-estimated range in every configuration, a maximum power output of 215 horsepower and a maximum DC fast-charging rate of 100 kilowatts, it never even offered on-paper competitiveness. Compare those numbers to these:
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD Extended Range
- 370 hp
- 300 miles of range
- 150-kW max DC fast-charging rate
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL AWD
- 320 hp
- 290 miles of range
- 235-kW max DC fast-charging rate
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro S
- 335 hp
- 263 miles of range
- 175-kW max DC fast-charging rate
Compared with its predecessor, the 2026 Solterra improves on every single one of these stats, with an estimated 288 (Premium) or 278 (Limited, Limited XT and Touring XT) miles of range, 233 or 338 (XT) hp, and a 150-kW DC fast-charging rate. Not one of those specs blows away the Ford, Hyundai or Volkswagen (if they exceed them at all), but at least they’re all competitive now.
Related Video:https://players.brightcove.net/1578086878/HyOJ1bP6_default/index.html?videoId=6377327397112
When I started driving, the Solterra Touring XT’s battery was at 100%, and it was showing 280 miles of range — slightly more than its estimated 278 miles. After 121.3 miles of extremely mixed-use driving (including heavy climate-control use, various driving modes and even an off-road course), I’d used 42% of the battery’s charge. The range estimate was now 149 miles, meaning I’d used 131 miles of range — fairly accurate, but not perfect.
I did not, however, get to test the new Solterra’s charging capabilities during my time with it. We’ll have to wait until we have one at our home offices in Chicago for a more thorough evaluation.
How Does the 2026 Subaru Solterra Drive?
1 / 212026 Subaru Solterra, rear badge | Cars.com photo by Leslie Cunningham
The Solterra’s driving experience is fairly pedestrian for an EV. I drove a Touring XT, which Subaru says can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. That makes it the quickest model in the automaker’s lineup, but it’s not all that quick in the world of EVs. While there’s far more power than in the last Solterra, flooring the accelerator pedal hardly pushes you into your seat. The added power is more noticeable on the highway, where there is now enough reserve power for worry-free passing and merging.
Ride comfort is adequate, even with my test vehicle’s 20-inch wheels and tires (18s are standard on the Premium). Washboard gravel roads made the Solterra shudder, but it never felt out of control. The standard dual-motor AWD system — retuned for 2026 for better power distribution and control — and the car’s driver-assist features made getting sideways even on dirt hairpins difficult.
Braking feel is solid and linear enough, and while there are five regenerative-braking settings (four if you don’t count “none” as a setting), there is no true one-pedal driving mode. Fortunately, Subaru has tuned the regen admirably, and it’s easy to seamlessly transition from the strongest setting to braking to a full stop with the brake pedal without stopping short and throwing everyone and everything in the car forward. Annoyingly, Subaru has not figured out that drivers might like to keep their regen-braking setting from drive to drive; when the Solterra is turned on again after stopping, it reverts to the weakest “on” setting.
About the make
Subaru
Standard all-wheel drive made Subaru popular with drivers in cold climates and outdoorsy types alike. The company is also known for its boxer engines.
Latest news
News
IIHS Adds Speeding, Drunk-Driving Detection to Award Criteria
By Robert Duffer
September 10, 2025
News
How Much Is the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser?
By Jennifer Geiger
September 10, 2025
News
10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota Prius Crowds Out Lexus RZ
By Matt Schmitz
September 10, 2025
Learn more
Shop the Subaru Solterra2026 Subaru Solterra specs and reviewsCompare the 2026 Subaru Solterra
How Does the 2026 Subaru Solterra Drive Off-Road?
Subaru is quick to point out the 2026 Solterra has 8.3 inches of ground clearance, and with its standard AWD and dual-mode X-Mode terrain settings, it’s more than capable of tackling the average owner’s off-roading needs — and then some. The course we drove was narrow but not especially challenging, based on my experience, and the Solterra had no issues with the uneven, undulating and loose terrain. The Solterra is not a dedicated off-road rig, but it is a Subaru.
More Subaru Solterra News From Cars.com:
- 2026 Subaru Solterra Up Close: Meaningfully Updated, Nearly Competitive
- Is the 2025 Subaru Solterra a Good EV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
- 2025 Subaru Solterra Gets Significantly Lower Starting Price, New Trim
- 2024 Subaru Solterra Review: A bZ4X by Another Name?
- Subaru Latest Brand to Adopt Tesla Charging Standard
How Good Is the 2026 Subaru Solterra’s Interior?
1 / 482026 Subaru Solterra, cargo outlet | Cars.com photo by Leslie Cunningham
Inside the Solterra, improvements include a new 14-inch touchscreen — Subaru’s biggest ever and vastly superior to the portrait-oriented displays found in many other current Subaru models. If it’s different from Toyota’s 14-inch infotainment display in any meaningful way, I couldn’t tell. It’s responsive and intuitive enough, and the graphics are crisp.
A new, wider center console now houses two wireless device chargers. It’s a nice design, but over the course of my driving, I found it irritated my right knee. I’m 6-foot-1, and taller drivers may find this even more annoying. Backseat room was good for someone of my height even behind my preferred driving position. Cargo space should be more than adequate for smaller families or folks with pets, but I’m looking forward to measuring the cargo area ourselves to see how it compares with other SUVs.
Should You Buy the 2026 Subaru Solterra?
With a competitive feature set and spec sheet — and assuming competitive pricing (it wasn’t available as of publication) — the 2026 Subaru Solterra is definitely worth your consideration if you’re shopping for an electric compact SUV. If it can deliver on its improved charging and range in the real world — and currently we have no reason to believe it won’t — it’s better than its predecessor in every conceivable way. While it’s not necessarily vastly better than any of its chief competitors, there’s a chance it could be a relative bargain.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Road Test Editor
10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota Prius Crowds Out Lexus RZ
By Matt Schmitz
September 10, 2025
Share2025 Toyota Prius | Cars.com photo by Corey Watts
Electric vehicles get a whole lot of headlines but still represent a waxing-and-waning fraction of U.S. car sales that currently sits at around 10%. While life has objectively gotten a lot more manageable for EV owners in the past decade, with thousands more public charging stations added every year, switching to all-electric still feels like taking the plug-in plunge. For change-averse Americans, that’s why hybrids present a more palatable transitional choice on the path to a possible all-electric-all-the-time future — fuel economy without the range anxiety of giving up gas entirely. The Toyota Prius continues to stand as a beacon on that path, balancing fuel economy, daily-driver practicality, style and price for bet-hedging buyers.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Dodge Charger Sixpack Makes Its Case, Tesla Cybertruck Settles
In one of Cars.com’s most popular articles of the past week — reviewer Jennifer Geiger’s comprehensive critique of the 2025 Prius — we tell you how this hybrid among hybrids protects its rep as a reasonable compromise for car shoppers, as well as the things about it that may just make you think twice. Making the grade are gas mileage, specifically the Prius-lineup-best EPA-rated 57 mpg combined; surprisingly eager acceleration, confident handling and generally normal-feeling driving characteristics; forgiving bump absorption; user-friendly infotainment system; generous suite of safety tech; and hard-to-beat sub-$30,000 starting price (all prices include destination charge). Falling short are the Prius’ ho-hum interior appointments; coolness-over-comfort exterior styling that cuts into headroom, visibility and child-safety seat accommodation; and an annoyingly positioned gauge cluster and other components.
“Overall, the Prius is an excellent pick for value-minded hybrid shoppers so long as they’re ready to make some comfort and ergonomics trade-offs,” Geiger concludes in her review.
For our full take on the 2025 Toyota Prius, follow the link below to the No. 2 article on this week’s countdown of most read stories.
If you’ve already made the jump to all-electric and are looking to spend significantly more, however, you may want to check out our pricing report on the updated-for-2026 Lexus RZ. The electric SUV gets 23 more horsepower at the base and 36 more miles of total driving range on a charge, along with an expanded lineup with a new entry-level model (the RZ 350e) and the new range-topping, high-performance RZ 550e F Sport. The power and performance upgrades aren’t free but instead start the 2026 bidding at $3,200 higher than the outgoing model. That puts the price at $47,295 to start, rising incrementally across the four middle trims to top out at $58,295 for the F Sport.
For full details on pricing for the 2026 Lexus RZ — including a trim-by-trim breakdown of features and equipment as well as powertrain specs and driving-range estimates — follow the link below to the No. 3 news story of the week.
Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the Hyundai Palisade, Toyota 4Runner, Subaru Solterra, Mazda CX-90, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. 2026 Hyundai Palisade Review: Growing Gains
2. 2025 Toyota Prius Review: Big on Mileage, Small on Space
3. How Much Is the 2026 Lexus RZ?
4. Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?
5. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
6. How Much Cargo Space Does the 2025 Toyota 4Runner Have?
7. 2026 Subaru Solterra Review: Necessary Improvements
8. How Much Is the 2026 Mazda CX-90?
9. 2025 Mercedes-Benz E450 All-Terrain Review: Wearing Your Dress Shoes On a Hike
10. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Assistant Managing Editor-News
Is the 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant a Good Car? 4 Pros, 2 Cons
By Jim Travers
August 29, 2025
Share
2024 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance | Cars.com photo by Brandon Lim
For the 2024 model year, Audi made some notable updates to the performance-focused RS 6 Avant wagon, not the least of which squeezed yet more power out of its already potent twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine. The juiced-up wagon’s other changes include a weight loss program that shaved about 60 pounds from its overall weight. The net result is a sharp-handling car with a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 3.3 seconds.
Related: 2024 Audi RS 6 Avant Performance Review: Long Roof, Long Fun
Shop the 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant near you
Used
7,012 mi.
$148,000 $6,500 price dropFair Deal
New
$144,365
View all 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant models for sale near 60606
The American market has never embraced the idea of a performance station wagon as much as its European counterpart, but we still have the privilege of choosing between upscale alternatives such as the BMW M5 Touring and upcoming 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon. All provide better handling and a more dynamic driving experience than an SUV while still offering seating for five occupants, more cargo room than a sedan and standard all-wheel drive. For 2025, the RS 6 Avant GT joined the Performance trim in the lineup and added goodies such as a carbon-fiber hood and front fenders.
Cars.com’s West Coast Editor Conner Golden spent time with an RS 6 Avant Performance on both the crowded highways and the twisty canyons of Southern California, and he came away impressed with this wagon’s performance — but not all is perfect. Tap the link above to read his expert review; for a quicker rundown, read on to learn four things we like about the Audi RS 6 Avant and two things we do not.
What Do We Like About the Audi RS 6 Avant?
2024 Audi RS 6 Avant | Cars.com photo by Brandon Lim
1. Old-School Powertrain
With a honkin’ twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 under the hood, the RS 6 Avant takes a more old-school approach to horsepower than most modern performance cars and their hybrid or all-electric powertrains. Instead of adding a battery and electric motors, engineers gave the V-8 larger turbos and other tweaks, sizzling the wick for another 30 hp. Combined with its 48-volt mild-hybrid system, the wagon’s total output increases to 621 hp and 627 pounds-feet of torque. With an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD, the RS 6 Avant is ferociously quick yet refined, all the while cranking out evocative V-8 thunder.
2. Commendable Cabin
The RS 6 Avant’s interior vibe is typical of a modern Audi, with quality materials and an upscale ambiance that combines traditional luxury cues with modern tech. A heavily digitized dashboard combines three vivid displays and Audi’s excellent MMI infotainment interface. If that’s not enough, an available Executive Package adds soft-close doors, extended leather and heated rear seats. Other options include a Bang & Olufsen sound system and night-vision tech.
3. Weight Loss Program
Reduced sound insulation, a new wheel design and a lighter center differential all add up to shave about 60 pounds in curb weight, which helps keep this Audi barely under the 5,000-pound mark. While it’s no lightweight, the RS 6 Avant is respectably agile for a five-seat wagon, and 621 hp is more than enough to make this car incredibly quick.
4. Canyon Carver
With massive P285/30R Continental SportContact 7 summer tires mounted on 22-inch wheels, the RS 6 Avant serves up buckets of grip and smooth power transfer to help rip through corners with ease. An adaptive air suspension helps smooth out the rough stuff, but it’s still on the firm side even in its most civilized setting. The Audi’s electric power steering is accurate (though it lacks feel), while massive disc brakes provide lots of stopping power and are easy to modulate.
Read More Audi News:
- 2025 Audi A5 and S5 Review: Bigger and Better
- How Much Are the 2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 Sportback e-Tron?
- All-New 2026 Audi A6: Refining a Sports Sedan Favorite
- Going Gray: 2025 Audi S6, S7 Add Nardo Sport Editions
- Research the Audi RS 6 Avant
What Do We Dislike About the Audi RS 6 Avant?
2024 Audi RS 6 Avant | Cars.com photo by Brandon Lim
1. Big-Tire Blues
The RS 6 Avant’s standard adaptive air suspension does a commendable job smoothing out rough surfaces, but it can only compensate for those big 22-inch wheels and fat summer tires so much. Even on the suspension’s softest setting, we experienced more road noise and impact harshness than expected.
2. Act Now
Wagons have been on the endangered species list for years, and that goes double for performance wagons. Add in that the RS 6 Avant is still powered by a V-8 when others have gone to more fuel-efficient powertrains and its days would seem to be more limited than most. If a long roof with the performance of a sports sedan is on your shopping list, it might be wise to start shopping soon.
Related Video:https://players.brightcove.net/1578086878/HyOJ1bP6_default/index.html?videoId=6374522912112
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
About the make
Audi
Audi is Volkswagen’s luxury brand, offering a lineup that ranges from subcompact sedans to seven-seat SUVs and includes a growing roster of EVs.
Latest news
News
IIHS Adds Speeding, Drunk-Driving Detection to Award Criteria
By Robert Duffer
September 10, 2025
News
How Much Is the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser?
By Jennifer Geiger
September 10, 2025
News
10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Toyota Prius Crowds Out Lexus RZ
By Matt Schmitz
September 10, 2025
Learn more
Shop the Audi RS 6 Avant2025 Audi RS 6 Avant specs and reviewsCompare the 2025 Audi RS 6 Avant
Featured stories
Expert Review
2026 Subaru Solterra Review: Necessary Improvements
Expert Review