Andrew Lambrecht
Project Engineer
Mar 4, 2026
The first-generation Subaru Solterra was one of the slowest fast-charging EVs on the market. But with the arrival of the 2026 Subaru Solterra, it's clear that Subaru was paying attention to the comments section.
In our latest real-world test, we took the 2026 Solterra to a Tesla V3 Supercharger to see if the new hardware lived up to the hype. While Subaru officially claims a 10% to 80% charge time of approximately 28 to 35 minutes, our results were even more impressive. We recorded a 10% to 80% sprint in just 27 minutes—shattering the manufacturer's conservative estimate and proving that this "jacked-up" EV is finally a legitimate road-tripper.
This massive improvement over the Gen 1 model isn't just luck; it's the result of several critical engineering upgrades:
Native NACS Port: The 2026 Solterra is the first Subaru to feature a native Tesla-style charging port, giving you seamless access to over 15,000 Superchargers without fiddling with adapters.
Preconditioning is Key: Unlike the original model, the 2026 version features a manual battery preconditioning system. By warming the battery before arrival, we were able to maintain higher charging speeds even in chilly conditions.
Improved Peak Speeds: The DC fast-charging cap has been bumped from a mediocre 100 kW to a much more competitive 150 kW.
A Better Curve: The most important change is the "charging curve." While the old car's speed would fall off a cliff early, the 2026 model holds its higher rates significantly longer, making those highway charging stops much shorter.
Combined with an increased range of up to 288 miles and a significant power boost to 338 horsepower on the XT trims, the 2026 Solterra has officially traded its "flabby bagpipe" energy for a serious performance glow-up.
Subaru
Charging
Range
Road Trips
Battery
About the Author
Andrew Lambrecht
Project Engineer
Andrew Lambrecht is a project engineer at Ever and a leading voice in the electric vehicle sector. An industrial engineer by training and a prolific contributor to outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, InsideEVs, and MSN, Andrew blends technical expertise with sharp insights on EVs, mobility trends, and charging.
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