It’s January so that means we’re officially at the start of the award season. We take this time to look back over the past year and call out the best picture, best actor, etc. In the automotive world it’s the same. Car of the Year, Best Value, etc. The list goes on. After reviewing the many cars I’ve driven this past year, I’d like to propose a new award that I think would be meaningful—Most Improved EV.
Of course, I’ve got the awardee in mind—the 2026 Subaru Solterra. It was a late-in-the-year arrival, but a welcome entrant to the growing electric compact SUV class. I first tested the Solterra when it was introduced in June 2024. My praise was muted as I found the Toyota-Subaru collaboration (the Solterra’s sister vehicle, the Toyota BZ) dominated the discussion, to the point where from some angles the two models were virtually indistinguishable.
Improvement #1 – Looks
My comments were echoed by other reviewers and, apparently, the public as well. Subaru’s designers went to work and did a quick turnaround on a restyle that seeks to put some distance between the Toyota and Subaru siblings. With distinct headlights, wheels and available body color trim pieces, the Solterra now has a more Subie aesthetic.
But “most improved” is not simply a comparison of mugshots old and new like some swimsuit competition. Solterra scored points on substance as well.
Improvement #2 – Power and Range
Solterra Gen. 1 was okay for the time with 200+ horsepower from its two electric motors to move its two-ton mass. But when Consumer Reports tested its range, it barely went beyond 200 miles between charges.
The 2026 Solterra bumped up the standard model’s horsepower by a tangible 18 horsepower, but also added a more powerful model that has a substantial 338 total horsepower. On top of that, the upgraded 74.7 kWh battery promises 278 miles of range (compared to 288 on the base model with less horsepower). Subaru has finally fielded a competitive EV.
Bonus points go to a more subtle, but critical additional change. The new 11 kWh onboard charger enables charging at up to 150 kW and adds pre-conditioning. Subaru now claims that in ideal conditions you can go from 10-to-80% charge in 30 minutes.
All this puts the improved Solterra in the midst of the increasingly crowded electric SUV pack in the most important performance specs.
Improvement #3 – Goodies
The sum of an improved car is more than styling tweaks, 0-to-60 numbers and the speed of electrons filling up its battery. Sometimes it’s the little things that endear a model to you.
The new 14-inch multimedia screen was one thing that caught our eye immediately. The NACS (Tesla style) charging port was our second aha moment. Driving in one of the rainy interludes we’ve had recently, Subaru’s synchronous all-wheel drive exudes confidence because it always has. In this EV, its low-slung battery weight enhances the traditional sure-footedness found in most Subarus.
I didn’t get a chance to test out the X-Mode off-road system like I did on my first Solterra test. But I have confidence built up from years of Subaru driving that tells me the combo of 8.3 inches of ground clearance, all that EV power and X-Mode will allow Solterra owners to venture confidently further into the wilderness with this version.
If I had an award statuette, I would have taped it to the dash. The quickly delivered substantial improvements in the 2026 Subaru Solterra deserve some recognition. Finally, there should be an additional award because the base price of the Solterra is virtually unchanged from the first generation, in spite of all of the improvements. And dealers have leasing and financing deals to seal the deal.
