Latest news with #SubaruSolterra
The Advertiser
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Subaru Uncharted teased as small electric SUV with video game name
Yes, 'uncharted' means something that's never been mapped, but is Subaru capitalising on the popularity of a certain video game franchise with its latest electric SUV? The 2026 Subaru Uncharted has been teased by the Japanese brand's North American arm as its "newest, all-electric compact crossover SUV". Per US definitions, that makes it a mid-size SUV… which is also what the Solterra is referred to there. Subaru of America has released a single teaser but it's hard to make out much beyond a sleek roofline, what appears to be a full-width light bar, 'Subaru' lettering across the tailgate, and the requisite plastic wheel-arch cladding. The vehicle will be revealed on July 17, 2025 at 7:30pm US Eastern Time, so July 18 for Australians. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. There appears to be a close resemblance to the recently revealed electric Toyota C-HR+ (pictured below), which could point to the Uncharted being yet another Toyota twin. The Trailseeker revealed in April has been twinned with the Toyota bZ4X Touring, differing predominantly in front- and rear-end styling, following the formula set by the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X. The C-HR+ is being offered in Europe with a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains, and with either 57.7kWh or 77kWh batteries. Claimed range is between 455km and 600km depending on the variant, while the entry-level FWD C-HR+ will produce 123kW of power and the flagship dual-motor AWD variant will pump out 252kW of power – good for a claimed 5.2-second sprint to 100km/h. Despite sharing its name with the hybrid C-HR, the C-HR+ is a larger vehicle. At 4520mm long, 1870mm wide and 1595mm tall on a 2750mm wheelbase, it's 55mm shorter and 25mm wider than the outgoing Mazda CX-5, while still being 170mm shorter (if 10mm wider) than the Solterra. The C-HR+ hasn't officially been locked in for an Australian launch, but CarExpert understands it will eventually come here. Subaru has also confirmed it plans to offer more electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, but has kept mum on what these could be. ABOVE: Subaru Trailseeker; facelifted Subaru Solterra "Globally, Subaru Corporation has made it clear their desire is to have eight EVs by 2028," said Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence in May. "How each one of these and when each one of these fits into… we're working very close with Subaru Corporation. And we absolutely have a desire to build our EV offerings for Australian consumers." The company's Australiam arm has yet to confirm when it'll launch the Trailseeker here, as well as the facelifted Solterra also revealed in April. Subaru announced in 2023 it plans to offer four electric SUVs by 2026, with another four EVs due by 2028 ahead of EVs accounting for 50 per cent – or 600,000 units – of its global sales volume per year by 2030. A three-row electric SUV co-developed with Toyota had been expected to be among the next to be revealed. However, production of the Toyota and Subaru twins was delayed last year from 2025 to 2026. MORE: Everything Subaru Content originally sourced from: Yes, 'uncharted' means something that's never been mapped, but is Subaru capitalising on the popularity of a certain video game franchise with its latest electric SUV? The 2026 Subaru Uncharted has been teased by the Japanese brand's North American arm as its "newest, all-electric compact crossover SUV". Per US definitions, that makes it a mid-size SUV… which is also what the Solterra is referred to there. Subaru of America has released a single teaser but it's hard to make out much beyond a sleek roofline, what appears to be a full-width light bar, 'Subaru' lettering across the tailgate, and the requisite plastic wheel-arch cladding. The vehicle will be revealed on July 17, 2025 at 7:30pm US Eastern Time, so July 18 for Australians. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. There appears to be a close resemblance to the recently revealed electric Toyota C-HR+ (pictured below), which could point to the Uncharted being yet another Toyota twin. The Trailseeker revealed in April has been twinned with the Toyota bZ4X Touring, differing predominantly in front- and rear-end styling, following the formula set by the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X. The C-HR+ is being offered in Europe with a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains, and with either 57.7kWh or 77kWh batteries. Claimed range is between 455km and 600km depending on the variant, while the entry-level FWD C-HR+ will produce 123kW of power and the flagship dual-motor AWD variant will pump out 252kW of power – good for a claimed 5.2-second sprint to 100km/h. Despite sharing its name with the hybrid C-HR, the C-HR+ is a larger vehicle. At 4520mm long, 1870mm wide and 1595mm tall on a 2750mm wheelbase, it's 55mm shorter and 25mm wider than the outgoing Mazda CX-5, while still being 170mm shorter (if 10mm wider) than the Solterra. The C-HR+ hasn't officially been locked in for an Australian launch, but CarExpert understands it will eventually come here. Subaru has also confirmed it plans to offer more electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, but has kept mum on what these could be. ABOVE: Subaru Trailseeker; facelifted Subaru Solterra "Globally, Subaru Corporation has made it clear their desire is to have eight EVs by 2028," said Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence in May. "How each one of these and when each one of these fits into… we're working very close with Subaru Corporation. And we absolutely have a desire to build our EV offerings for Australian consumers." The company's Australiam arm has yet to confirm when it'll launch the Trailseeker here, as well as the facelifted Solterra also revealed in April. Subaru announced in 2023 it plans to offer four electric SUVs by 2026, with another four EVs due by 2028 ahead of EVs accounting for 50 per cent – or 600,000 units – of its global sales volume per year by 2030. A three-row electric SUV co-developed with Toyota had been expected to be among the next to be revealed. However, production of the Toyota and Subaru twins was delayed last year from 2025 to 2026. MORE: Everything Subaru Content originally sourced from: Yes, 'uncharted' means something that's never been mapped, but is Subaru capitalising on the popularity of a certain video game franchise with its latest electric SUV? The 2026 Subaru Uncharted has been teased by the Japanese brand's North American arm as its "newest, all-electric compact crossover SUV". Per US definitions, that makes it a mid-size SUV… which is also what the Solterra is referred to there. Subaru of America has released a single teaser but it's hard to make out much beyond a sleek roofline, what appears to be a full-width light bar, 'Subaru' lettering across the tailgate, and the requisite plastic wheel-arch cladding. The vehicle will be revealed on July 17, 2025 at 7:30pm US Eastern Time, so July 18 for Australians. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. There appears to be a close resemblance to the recently revealed electric Toyota C-HR+ (pictured below), which could point to the Uncharted being yet another Toyota twin. The Trailseeker revealed in April has been twinned with the Toyota bZ4X Touring, differing predominantly in front- and rear-end styling, following the formula set by the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X. The C-HR+ is being offered in Europe with a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains, and with either 57.7kWh or 77kWh batteries. Claimed range is between 455km and 600km depending on the variant, while the entry-level FWD C-HR+ will produce 123kW of power and the flagship dual-motor AWD variant will pump out 252kW of power – good for a claimed 5.2-second sprint to 100km/h. Despite sharing its name with the hybrid C-HR, the C-HR+ is a larger vehicle. At 4520mm long, 1870mm wide and 1595mm tall on a 2750mm wheelbase, it's 55mm shorter and 25mm wider than the outgoing Mazda CX-5, while still being 170mm shorter (if 10mm wider) than the Solterra. The C-HR+ hasn't officially been locked in for an Australian launch, but CarExpert understands it will eventually come here. Subaru has also confirmed it plans to offer more electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, but has kept mum on what these could be. ABOVE: Subaru Trailseeker; facelifted Subaru Solterra "Globally, Subaru Corporation has made it clear their desire is to have eight EVs by 2028," said Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence in May. "How each one of these and when each one of these fits into… we're working very close with Subaru Corporation. And we absolutely have a desire to build our EV offerings for Australian consumers." The company's Australiam arm has yet to confirm when it'll launch the Trailseeker here, as well as the facelifted Solterra also revealed in April. Subaru announced in 2023 it plans to offer four electric SUVs by 2026, with another four EVs due by 2028 ahead of EVs accounting for 50 per cent – or 600,000 units – of its global sales volume per year by 2030. A three-row electric SUV co-developed with Toyota had been expected to be among the next to be revealed. However, production of the Toyota and Subaru twins was delayed last year from 2025 to 2026. MORE: Everything Subaru Content originally sourced from: Yes, 'uncharted' means something that's never been mapped, but is Subaru capitalising on the popularity of a certain video game franchise with its latest electric SUV? The 2026 Subaru Uncharted has been teased by the Japanese brand's North American arm as its "newest, all-electric compact crossover SUV". Per US definitions, that makes it a mid-size SUV… which is also what the Solterra is referred to there. Subaru of America has released a single teaser but it's hard to make out much beyond a sleek roofline, what appears to be a full-width light bar, 'Subaru' lettering across the tailgate, and the requisite plastic wheel-arch cladding. The vehicle will be revealed on July 17, 2025 at 7:30pm US Eastern Time, so July 18 for Australians. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. There appears to be a close resemblance to the recently revealed electric Toyota C-HR+ (pictured below), which could point to the Uncharted being yet another Toyota twin. The Trailseeker revealed in April has been twinned with the Toyota bZ4X Touring, differing predominantly in front- and rear-end styling, following the formula set by the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X. The C-HR+ is being offered in Europe with a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains, and with either 57.7kWh or 77kWh batteries. Claimed range is between 455km and 600km depending on the variant, while the entry-level FWD C-HR+ will produce 123kW of power and the flagship dual-motor AWD variant will pump out 252kW of power – good for a claimed 5.2-second sprint to 100km/h. Despite sharing its name with the hybrid C-HR, the C-HR+ is a larger vehicle. At 4520mm long, 1870mm wide and 1595mm tall on a 2750mm wheelbase, it's 55mm shorter and 25mm wider than the outgoing Mazda CX-5, while still being 170mm shorter (if 10mm wider) than the Solterra. The C-HR+ hasn't officially been locked in for an Australian launch, but CarExpert understands it will eventually come here. Subaru has also confirmed it plans to offer more electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, but has kept mum on what these could be. ABOVE: Subaru Trailseeker; facelifted Subaru Solterra "Globally, Subaru Corporation has made it clear their desire is to have eight EVs by 2028," said Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence in May. "How each one of these and when each one of these fits into… we're working very close with Subaru Corporation. And we absolutely have a desire to build our EV offerings for Australian consumers." The company's Australiam arm has yet to confirm when it'll launch the Trailseeker here, as well as the facelifted Solterra also revealed in April. Subaru announced in 2023 it plans to offer four electric SUVs by 2026, with another four EVs due by 2028 ahead of EVs accounting for 50 per cent – or 600,000 units – of its global sales volume per year by 2030. A three-row electric SUV co-developed with Toyota had been expected to be among the next to be revealed. However, production of the Toyota and Subaru twins was delayed last year from 2025 to 2026. MORE: Everything Subaru Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2025 Lexus RZ review: Quick drive
For a company with such a long history of electrified cars, it took Lexus a long time to enter the fully electric vehicle (EV) game with the UX 300e in 2021. But with more and more all-electric models being released by its rivals, Lexus clearly saw the lay of the land – and so it followed up the zero-emissions small SUV with the larger RZ mid-size electric SUV two years later. A solid effort which employed the same underpinnings as the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, the RZ took aim at premium electric SUVs led by the top-selling Tesla Model Y, and while initial critical impressions were favourable, there were a few issues – like not enough power, not enough range, charging speeds that were too slow and pricing that was too high. Well, in a series of carefully thought-out revisions, Lexus has pretty much identified and addressed each and every one of these foibles (wit the exception of pricing, which is yet to be reveled), while also taking the time to introduce two flashy new bits of tech to the RZ canon. These include a steer-by-wire (SBW) system complete with controversial steering yoke, and something called the Interactive Manual Drive, a system that's similar to that seen in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and facelifted Kia EV6 GT and aims to simulate driving an internal-combustion car, even when you're in an EV. We headed to the revised RZ's European press launch in southern Portugal to see what the wider, improved model range is like to drive, including coming to grips with that unusual yoke-operated steer-by-wire system. How much does the Lexus RZ cost? We don't have Australian prices for the updated Lexus RZ range yet, although we are expecting them to be inflated from the already-expensive existing lineup. ABOVE: Lexus RZ 500e We only get the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive RZ 450e variant here, which currently costs $121,059 before on-roads in Luxury trim, and $133,059 plus on-roads when specified in Sports Luxury form. As the 450e will be replaced by the 500e for 2025 – and the 550e will be an all-new flagship variant – we'd not be surprised to see the RZ's starting price creep up as a result. To see how the Lexus RZ lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What is the Lexus RZ like on the inside? As it ever was, with one very notable exception. ABOVE: Lexus RZ 500e The RZ features a beautifully put-together cabin with tight tolerances on all the trim gaps you can see, while material finishing is of a generally excellent standard. Sitting up front, even entry-level variants feel grand (barring a few more value-oriented interior panels), while fancier door cards and Ultrasuede synthetic microfibre trim ramps up the luxury factor further in top-spec RZs. Space is good throughout the cabin, with both headroom and legroom in generous supply in the second row; particularly impressive for the former, given there's a dual panoramic sunroof on top on this Lexus SUV. Boot capacity stands at a generous 522 litres with all seats in use, rising to 1451L with the 60/40-split rear seats folded down. And ever since Lexus did away with those daft mousepad-like controllers to oversee its in-car infotainment systems, the interface in any vehicle from this company has become far less infuriating than it once was. The main 14-inch touchscreen dominating the dash works well and looks graphically crisp, while much the same can be said about the sharp head-up display for the RZ's driver. The digital instrument cluster is less eye-catching, though it doesn't ruin the Lexus experience. ABOVE: Lexus RZ 550e That leaves the steering yoke. This is only available with the steer-by-wire technology, which is likely to be standard in the RZ 550e but probably an optional extra for the 500e. It's a 360mm-wide, 197mm-high oblong item, similar to what you'd see in a Formula 1 car or an airplane, and it makes for a strange driving experience. This is because there's nowhere to realistically place your hands except at the quarter-to-three position, which'll mean on long journeys you won't be able to adjust their position that much for comfort. It also necessitates splitting off various lighting and windscreen-wiper functions from the remarkably stubby little stalks on the steering 'wheel'. This means they're not column-mounted, but move with the yoke itself, although as it only rotates 200 degrees in either direction off the dead centre, you're very rarely crossing your arms and therefore moving your hands, so you at least 'know' where these stalks are all the time. This removes some of the intuitiveness of using traditional stalk controls in the first place, however. And there are also very slim, too-high-mounted paddles for the simulated gearshift function, so all in all the yoke is not a very successful reinvention of the wheel, despite it arguably being the star turn of the updated RZ. To see how the Lexus RZ lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What's under the bonnet? Lexus does offer a long-range (568km on 18-inch wheels) single-motor, front-drive 350e variant in other markets, but it's likely we'll only get the dual-motor, all-wheel drive 500e and 550e here – the first of these to replace the old 450e, and the latter representing an all-new, higher-performance derivative. The power output has grown significantly, though. Whereas the RZ 450e had 230kW dual electric propulsion units, the 500e takes that up to 280kW, allied to a chunky 538Nm of torque, while the 550e goes even further with a peak of 300kW but the same torque. The claimed 0-100km/h times of these two-tonne-plus electric SUVs come in at 4.6 and 4.4 seconds respectively, which seems needless given Lexus isn't exactly a sporty brand – but, thankfully, the power delivery is linear and smooth, so they feel about spot on for performance. The slight fly in the ointment here is that the 550e feels appreciably no sharper nor swifter than the 500e. All Lexus RZ models are now fitted with a 77kWh battery pack, up from 71.4kWh previously. That improves the range on cars shod in 18-inch wheels, to 500km for the RZ 500e. Fit 20-inch alloys, however (and they're standard on the 550e), and the range drops to 456km for the 500e, only just ahead of the 450km of the 550e. However, there's a change to the makeup of the battery cells and a new pre-conditioning system, which Lexus says means the RZ no longer needs 'perfect' ambient conditions to achieve its fastest 30-minute 10-80 per cent DC charge; it should be able to do the same thing even if the mercury drops to -10 degrees C, although quite where and when that'll happen in this country is another matter. The peak AC charging speed has also been doubled to 22kW, which'll see a 10-100 per cent charge take just 3.5 hours. It'll be more like 10 hours via the usual 7.4kW domestic wallbox, though. To see how the Lexus RZ lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool How does the Lexus RZ drive? Revisions to the springs and dampers, the steering system – in cars equipped with a traditional mechanical link between the steering wheel and the front axle, that is – and also reinforcement of the body structure all aim to make the revised Lexus RZ better to drive. The good news is these updates have worked. ABOVE: Lexus RZ 500e For a big, heavy and luxurious SUV with no pretensions to dynamism whatsoever, the RZ 500e is a pleasing machine in the corners. It's more agile than it has a right to be, with accurate steering, lots of grip and improved traction – Lexus has also worked on the Direct4 all-wheel drive system of the RZ to make for more cultured power delivery. Of course, the real strength of the RZ is its supreme refinement and, here, it delivers in spades. The ride quality is excellent, save for a few odd occasions on the 20-inch wheels when the suspension didn't deal with the most hard-edged impacts that well, and there's an incredibly high level of noise suppression going on. Even at highway speeds, the RZ 500e is hushed and thoroughly dignified. The problems, if they are such, come when the Lexus tries to get clever with the technology. Easily avoided by not opting for the RZ 550e, of course, but both the SBW and the Interactive Manual Drive fail to convince. The former's faults, however, can be squarely laid at the door of that squared-off steering yoke – the actual system behind it is geared to work organically at speed, so that the main drawback is how otherworldly that yoke always feels in your hands. ABOVE: Lexus RZ 550e Yet the way the Lexus tries to imitate an ICE car is what grinds our gears the most. It's a worthy attempt at bringing added driver interactivity to a motoring experience that would otherwise be a case of simply 'point and shoot', but it doesn't work well enough for us to enthuse about it. The noise the RZ 550e makes when it is 'revving' is utterly weird, a kind of mix of a gravelly industrial roar and the synthesised whooshing of a jet engine. That wouldn't be so bad if you didn't rip through the fake gears so blinking fast, nor if the paddles on the yoke weren't such thin strips of hard-to-locate plastic. Neither really gets you into the mood for driving the RZ with Interactive Manual Drive engaged for very long, which means that both it and the SBW are in danger of being nothing more than gimmicks. You may sample them once or twice, then wish you'd just plumped for the more conventional 500e with mechanical steering instead. To see how the Lexus RZ lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What do you get? While we don't have Australian specs yet, we'd expect the Lexus RZ to come with a wealth of useful standard equipment, which is something it wasn't lacking before this update. 2025 Lexus RZ 500e equipment highlights (in Europe): 14-inch touchscreen infotainment Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto Digital instrument cluster and head-up display 18-inch alloy wheels, optional 20s Auto-levelling LED headlights LED daytime running lights Privacy glass Heated side mirrors 10-speaker Panasonic sound system Wireless phone charger 8-way power front seats 2-way driver lumbar support Heated front seats Opacifying panoramic sunroof To see how the Lexus RZ lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Is the Lexus RZ safe? The Lexus RZ picked up a full five-star ANCAP rating when it was introduced in 2023, with solid scores across the four main test disciplines. The level of safety equipment, both passive and active, hasn't changed since then, so it ought to remain a very safe car. To see how the Lexus RZ lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool How much does the Lexus RZ cost to run? As an EV, the Lexus will be a lot easier on your wallet to run than a comparably sized SUV with a similarly powerful petrol engine under its bonnet, while the company's impressive level of aftermarket provisions also adds more peace of mind to the prospect of RZ ownership. Not only is there the five-year, unlimited-distance warranty on the car, but as an EV the high-voltage parts are covered for eight years and 160,000km. For the current RZ, capped-price servicing costs just $395 per maintenance session, with five services costing a total of $1975. To see how the Lexus RZ lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool CarExpert's Take on the Lexus RZ The pricing and specifications of the revised Lexus RZ family are going to be key to its ultimate success here, but given the current model's relatively high pricing and market positioning it won't come cheap, especially in new top-shelf 550e form, and it's a shame we're unlikely to see the cheaper, longer-range, single-motor variant on these shores. That said, the improvements made to the battery tech, the motors and the rolling refinement ensure this updated Japanese electric SUV beings a lot of promise. If you can forgive us the pun, we'd steer clear of the SBW setup with its odd yoke, and we also don't see the merit in the RZ 550e with its less-than-stellar soundtrack and underwhelming Interactive Manual Drive. But stick with a nicely specified RZ 500e with a round steering wheel in its cabin, and the longer real-world range plus smoother driving manners mean there's a very good luxury SUV to be found within the upgraded RZ lineup. Interested in buying a Lexus RZ? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here Pros Superb rolling refinement Ride comfort Improved driving range Cons
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota And Subaru Dragged To Court Because A Simple Component Keeps Failing
Toyota And Subaru Dragged To Court Because A Simple Component Keeps Failing originally appeared on Autoblog. The Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra haven't been particularly popular EVs, and their popularity may be about to wane a little further, with a new lawsuit concerning faulty batteries being filed in the U.S. Eastern District Court of California. According to a report by Road & Track, the 12-volt battery that runs the accessories (not the drivetrain) of these EVs is claimed to repeatedly fail, with the plaintiff who filed the suit saying that his bZ4X has required numerous battery replacements in just 5,000 miles of driving. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Although this is a class-action lawsuit, concerning all bZ4X and Solterra EVs from the 2023-2025 model years, the court documents focus mainly on the plaintiff's claims, arguing that the Toyota and Subaru were both aware of 12V battery problems before the cars went on sale, and that they failed to warn customers or fix the problem. "The 12-volt battery in Plaintiff Wade's vehicle has been replaced twice since March 2023," reads the filing on with the owner saying that the first failure occurred just weeks into ownership and the second when it had roughly 2,000 miles on the clock. The third reportedly happened around 5,000 miles. Another owner (this time with a Solterra) told the NHTSA that they had had the car since December 2024, and that they got the car new on a lease. "I have had the car since December 2024; the car was a new lease," said the complainant. "The battery has failed twice - once in January, and again last week. When I took it to the dealership, they said they replaced the battery, [but] the new battery is now doing the same thing." Other accounts have been posted on Reddit since early 2023, but the lawsuit does not claim to know what the core defect is, so determining Toyota and Subaru's culpability may be difficult. Hopefully, the updated and renamed Toyota bZ and its Solterra twin don't face the same troubles. Toyota And Subaru Dragged To Court Because A Simple Component Keeps Failing first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
7NEWS
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Subaru Australia confirms more EVs, but when?
Subaru has promised to expand its electric vehicle (EV) lineup in Australia with a broader range of battery-powered models, but is yet to confirm which EVs will be released here, or when. The Japanese brand introduced its first dedicated EV, the Solterra, to local showrooms last year after it was developed as part of a joint venture with Toyota. The mid-size electric SUV is twinned with the Toyota bZ4X with only minor cosmetic changes. But Subaru Australia sells the Solterra exclusively with a twin-motor configuration to maintain its trademark all-wheel drive layout, while the BZ4X is available with the same dual-motor AWD powertrain, as well as a single-motor front-wheel drive version for a lower price. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 2026 Subaru Solterra Credit: CarExpert While the Solterra has received a relatively luke-warm reception from Australian consumers, finding just 68 new homes in 2025 to the end of April (compared to 299 for Toyota), Subaru confirmed to Australian motoring media during a recent presentation for the sixth-generation Forester that it remains committed to EVs locally. However, it would not provide any additional details on when it plans to launch additional EVs, now what they will be. 'Globally, Subaru Corporation has made it clear their desire is to have eight EVs by 2028,' said Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence. 'How each one of these and when each one of these fits into… we're working very close with Subaru Corporation. And we absolutely have a desire to build our EV offerings for Australian consumers.' The next Subaru EV most likely to arrive is the Trailseeker SUV, which was revealed for the first time at the New York motor show in April. 2026 Subaru Trailseeker Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Trailseeker is a more conventional wagon version of the Solterra that measures 152mm longer overall and 25mm taller, creating additional cargo space in the rear. While it features a more rugged appearance, it does not have any additional ground clearance compared to the standard Solterra. It was revealed in New York alongside the first facelift for the Solterra, which brings a more unique and distinctive front-end design, a larger-capacity 74.7kWh battery pack, 14kW more power (up from 160kW to 174kW) from its twin electric motors, and the introduction of a range-topping XT flagship that produces 252kW. 2026 Subaru Solterra Credit: CarExpert Expect the revised Solterra, and potentially the Trailseeker, to arrive in local showrooms by the end of this year. Beyond that, Subaru has confirmed it will continue to work alongside Toyota to build its EV portfolio, including a seven-seat large family SUV to rival the likes of the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. Toyota has also admitted it will create a dedicated battery-powered ute and compact car as part of its bZ (Beyond Zero) electric car range. But whether these models will be shared with Subaru has yet to be made clear. MORE: Everything Subaru Solterra
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Subaru Australia confirms more EVs, but when?
Subaru has promised to expand its electric vehicle (EV) lineup in Australia with a broader range of battery-powered models, but is yet to confirm which EVs will be released here, or when. The Japanese brand introduced its first dedicated EV, the Solterra, to local showrooms last year after it was developed as part of a joint venture with Toyota. The mid-size electric SUV is twinned with the Toyota bZ4X with only minor cosmetic changes. But Subaru Australia sells the Solterra exclusively with a twin-motor configuration to maintain its trademark all-wheel drive layout, while the BZ4X is available with the same dual-motor AWD powertrain, as well as a single-motor front-wheel drive version for a lower price. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 2026 Subaru Solterra Credit: CarExpert While the Solterra has received a relatively luke-warm reception from Australian consumers, finding just 68 new homes in 2025 to the end of April (compared to 299 for Toyota), Subaru confirmed to Australian motoring media during a recent presentation for the sixth-generation Forester that it remains committed to EVs locally. However, it would not provide any additional details on when it plans to launch additional EVs, now what they will be. 'Globally, Subaru Corporation has made it clear their desire is to have eight EVs by 2028,' said Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence. 'How each one of these and when each one of these fits into… we're working very close with Subaru Corporation. And we absolutely have a desire to build our EV offerings for Australian consumers.' The next Subaru EV most likely to arrive is the Trailseeker SUV, which was revealed for the first time at the New York motor show in April. 2026 Subaru Trailseeker Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Trailseeker is a more conventional wagon version of the Solterra that measures 152mm longer overall and 25mm taller, creating additional cargo space in the rear. While it features a more rugged appearance, it does not have any additional ground clearance compared to the standard Solterra. It was revealed in New York alongside the first facelift for the Solterra, which brings a more unique and distinctive front-end design, a larger-capacity 74.7kWh battery pack, 14kW more power (up from 160kW to 174kW) from its twin electric motors, and the introduction of a range-topping XT flagship that produces 252kW. 2026 Subaru Solterra Credit: CarExpert Expect the revised Solterra, and potentially the Trailseeker, to arrive in local showrooms by the end of this year. Beyond that, Subaru has confirmed it will continue to work alongside Toyota to build its EV portfolio, including a seven-seat large family SUV to rival the likes of the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. Toyota has also admitted it will create a dedicated battery-powered ute and compact car as part of its bZ (Beyond Zero) electric car range. But whether these models will be shared with Subaru has yet to be made clear. MORE: Everything Subaru Solterra
