Solterra has electric convenience in Subaru package

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- A compact sport-utility vehicle that's a Subaru and all-electric to boot.

For a certain segment of motorists, that's an ideal combination.

I give you the 2026 Subaru Solterra EV.  My week was in the Premium edition of the SUV.  No price was listed in the accompanying documents, but Subaru loudly touts the base of $38,495 in its marketing materials.

My week in the "Midnight Tide Mica"-colored machine was a celebration of what makes Subaru popular with its devotees ... minus the boxer-style engine of course.  Power on the Solterra comes from front and rear electric motors, generating the equivalent of 233 horsepower.

Those e-motors more than did the job, propelling the tester with satisfying oomph off the line and darting through the local urban and rural roadways with effortless ease.

Yes, this is an EV but it includes a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, for which Subaru is famous.

Volunteer passengers liked the performance characteristics and the relatively roomy space for five in the cabin. They also liked the modernistic lighting on the front and rear ends of the vehicle.

Subaru advertises electric range of 288 miles, and buyers can choose from various plug-in charging cords for convenience.

For those who wish to take the Solterra off the paved surfaces, there's a healthy 8.3 inches of ground clearance. Subaru insists that the Solterra is utterly comfortable off-road, and the vehicle includes a mode-selection feature to match specific surfaces and conditions.

The tester also included some high-end touches that I did not expect. That included dual wireless smartphone chargers, a 14-inch multimedia touchscreen and a suite of "EyeSight" driver-assist technologies.

Subaru tech in a sporty-looking electric vehicle ... Pretty nice pairing.