Subaru Solterra 2026 News

What a month! The war in the Middle East has created serious panic for commuters stung by soaring fuel prices.A way out of that spiral is getting into an electric vehicle (EV), and there are still several models available at heavily-discounted prices to make the transition from internal combustion engines easier.Here are a handful of electric bargains we found online at a minimum of 30 per cent off retail, with odometers capped at 10,000km for that fresh-car feel. Many had barely breached 2500km.To be sure, there must have been at least three examples at the lower prices advertised to make this list at the time of publishing. Most are dealer demonstrators, and all will bring savings if you depend on your vehicle on a daily basis, since the bulk of their early depreciation has already occurred.Kia Niro EVThe second-gen Niro launched in 2022 from an eye-watering $65K, putting punters off from what was a pleasant, competent and likeable mid-sized crossover EV. Sales stalled, and Kia discontinued it. But there are still a handful of MY23 demos at under $40K. That’s over 40 per cent off retail!New price: $65,300 before ORCSeen for: $36,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Hyundai InsterCharming, chuckable and ideal for urban commutes, the Inster can be had for over 33 per cent off retail if you’re willing to snap up one of the demos doted around the country.New price: $43,500 drive-awaySeen for: $28,990 drive-away (MY25, demo)Renault Kangoo E-TechAbout a half-dozen demo examples of Renault’s terrific little Kangoo E-Tech from 2023 are still available for under $40K, representing another 40 per cent saving. The little French van is also indecently fun. What a bargain!New price: $66,500 before ORCSeen for: $38,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Hyundai Kona ElectricSpacious, agile and refined, the electric version of the Kona small SUV punches above its weight, as reflected by its current mid-fifties price point. Which means that a 30 per cent saving with just 3000km on the odo make this a no-brainer buy.New price: $54,000 before ORCSeen for: $38,000 (MY24 demo)Audi Q4 45 e-tronOne of our favourite premium EV SUVs, the Q4 e-tron combines high couture with sophisticated engineering, for an on-brand luxury experience that will have you seeking the long way home.New price: $93,000 drive-awaySeen for: $66,000 drive-away (MY25, demo)Ford Mustang Mach-E SelectThe Mustang Mach-E is an enigma. Disregard the baggage associated with the pony-car image and instead revel in a sporty, dynamic and surprisingly practical family car with ample range. Yes, it’s the pre-facelift model, but the savings are worth it.New price: $73,400 drive-awaySeen for: $50,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)Jeep AvengerArguably the most athletic Jeep in history, the Avenger is a sweet-driving, decently packaged and well-presented city-sized SUV with relatively minor off-road capabilities. Built in Poland, it’s related to the Peugeot 2008 EV.New price: $53,990 before ORCSeen for: $37,000 drive-away (MY24, demo)Subaru Solterra TouringSubaru’s version of the Toyota bZ4X has really struggled to secure buyers, with the up-spec Touring launching at nearly $84K before quickly being reduced to $77K. Though facelifted and improved, there are loaded demos advertised in the low-fifties drive-away, offering a lot of EV for the money.New price: $76,990 before ORCSeen for: $53,000 drive-away (MY24, demo)Fiat 500eItalians know how to make a chic urban runabout and Fiat’s stylish 500e is no exception. Rapid yet refined, its small battery is quick to charge, still provides over 311km of WLTP range and the handling is a lot of fun.New price: $52,500 before ORCSeen for: $36,000 drive-away (MY23, demo)

The way a car looks can make or break a model, and recently we’ve seen cars such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Tasman receive so much criticism because of their styling that the brands appear to be working on a quick redesign for them. So will the new-look Tasman and Santa Fe translate into better sales? We’ll find out soon, once we see the updated cars and then the sales figures, but in the meantime here are our top 5 car re-designs from the past five years. And by redesign we don’t mean the change in styling, which comes with a new-generation of a car, but the facelifts and makeovers that happened in between.  5. 2025 Nissan QashqaiMost brands update their models over the course of about seven years between all-new generations. Normally these involve tweaks to headlights or taillights and are often cosmetic changes that are easy to fit onto the existing design. So it’s always impressive when we see a striking new look come along such as with the Nissan Qashqai in 2025.The Qashqai received a complete ‘face transplant’ giving it an entirely new look. The smaller plunging grille it had worn for years had been replaced by a gloss black textured one-piece grille stretching the width of the car. 4. 2025 Isuzu MU-XIsuzu’s seven-seater MU-X SUV has spent most of its life living in the shadow of the D-Max ute it’s based on, but a revamp in 2025 saw it lose its goofy grille and gain a menacing new look.Isuzu said the mid-life update came after customer feedback and along with the redesigned face the MU-X also gained a host of new features and safety tech.Isuzu said the restyling incorporated “aeronautical design cues to inject strength and dynamism” while improving aerodynamics.3. 2026 Subaru SolterraSubaru’s Solterra EV was massively overhauled just two years after its launch in 2023 due to strong criticism of its range, power, price and styling. The Solterra returned new and improved in 2025 with a redesign that made the SUV unrecognisable from the front.For Australia the change came even more rapidly, with the Solterra launching here in early 2024 and the updated version having just arrived in early 2026.The new face was just the tip of the huge changes that had taken place, with a larger battery installed for increased driving range and more powerful motors added. Subaru also dropped the price by up to $7000.2. 2021 Lexus ISThe Lexus IS hasn’t been sold in Australia since 2021 but it was in that year that the mid-sized sporty sedan launched locally with a redesign so big that this looked like a new-generation and not just an update.  More aggressive, but more refined the new IS had a wider body, a bigger grille, new headlights and LED running lights and new taillights.1. 2023 Hyundai SonataThe 2023 Hyundai Sonata was hit with a stunning makeover. The facelift took a fairly dull-looking sedan and turned it into a desirable, sleek and modern four door.A new frontal design incorporating a thin LED strip skirting the bonnet edge, large lower grille and a beautifully treated tailgate with restyled taillights completed an exterior design which looked more new-gen than makeover.The updated Sonata’s cabin also received an overhaul with new tech and features.

Any hopes of seeing a much wider range of electric Subarus appears to be dashed with the Japanese car manufacturer becoming the latest brand to step back from plans to invest heavily in electric vehicles.

Subaru’s first electric car has been updated for 2026 as it struggles to find buyers in an increasingly competitive EV market.The 2026 Subaru Solterra, which shares the majority of its make-up with the Toyota bZ4X, comes with more power and range, as well as other tech updates.Importantly, it’s also the recipient of a significant price drop, despite the increased capability. It now starts from $63,990 before on-roads, which represents a $6000 price cut over the pre-update car.The higher-grade Solterra Touring now starts from $69,990 before on-roads, where it was previously a $76,990 ask - that’s a $7000 drop.It’s also significantly more powerful, with its total power output now 252kW as opposed to the 160kW its dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system used to offer.With a larger 74.7kWh battery, its WLTP-tested driving range is also up from 414km to 566km in the base model, or 517km in the Touring. Slightly more weight and bigger wheels (20-inch compared to the base’s 18-inch wheels) likely contribute to the shorter range.The Solterra has also been visually redesigned, with new bumpers, headlights, a new ‘grille’ shape, and new wheel designs giving it a significantly different look.Subaru is likely hoping offering more for a lower price will boost the Solterra’s sales somewhat. The electric car has sold just 142 units in 2025 so far, while the near-identical Toyota bZ4X is on 797.Solterra AWD:Dual Mode X-Mode with Grip Control Function18-inch alloy wheelsAutomatic, self-levelling LED headlightsLED tail-lightsPower mirrorsPuddle lampsPowered tailgate with new kick-sensorRoof railsNew synthetic leather seat trimHeated, eight-way power-adjustable front seatsHeated leather steering wheelDual-zone climate control14-inch multimedia touchscreen7.0-inch driver displayWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlayDual wireless phone chargersUSB-C portsSix-speaker sound systemSolterra AWD Touring adds:20-inch alloy wheelsAuto-dipping door mirrorsPanoramic sunroofVentilated front seatsVehicle-to-load (V2L) 220V/1500W power outlet10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system *new features in bold2026 Subaru Solterra optional features Touring only - $1500Two-tone exterior paintNatural leather accented seat trim in blue and black theme2026 Subaru Solterra coloursAltitude Black Mica (NEW)Cosmic White PearlDark Blue Mica*Elemental Red Pearl*Smoked Carbon*Harbour Mist Grey Pearl**$660 cost-optional paintSRS airbags – dual front, dual front side, dual curtain and front seat centre plus new driver’s knee airbags3-point ELR rear seat belts Subaru Safety Sense featuring: Dynamic Radar Cruise ControlEmergency Driving Stop SystemEmergency Steering AssistLane Departure AlertLane Tracing AssistLow-speed Acceleration SuppressionPre-Collision SystemRoad Sign AssistSpeed Limiter Subaru Vision Assist featuring: Adaptive High-Beam SystemBlind Sport Monitor (BSM)Front Parking SensorsFront View MonitorPanoramic 360 Degree View MonitorParking Support BrakeRear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)Rear parking sensorsSafe Exit AssistMulti-Terrain Monitor Driver Monitoring System – featuring: Distraction warningDrowsiness warning Subaru offers a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with 12 months of roadside assist. Electric car batteries are covered for eight years or 160,000km, whichever comes first.Servicing is every 12-months or 15,000km, and Subaru offers capped price servicing with costs able to be confirmed at Subaru’s website.

The new Subaru Forester landing in Australia could finally open the gates for more proper hybrid models in the brand’s local line-up, as well as more electric cars to come after the lacklustre Toyota bZ4X-based Solterra EV.