"The elevation gain was quick, too. In an hour, I went from 5,000 feet to 9,000 feet. The Solterra remained unbothered. The thinner air up here would have made combustion engines labor a little harder. But electricity is agnostic to altitude. If anything, thinner air is a bonus for EVs, reducing drag and letting the car slip through the atmosphere marginally easier."
"The Solterra, now heavily upgraded for model year 2026 just like its Toyota bZ twin, negotiated these roads with poise. Its ride quality was sophisticated. The cabin felt quiet and refined. Curvy roads meant I was barely using the 338 horsepower instantly available on tap. And it now gets the Tesla-style North American Charging Port (NACS) right from the factory, opening up access to tens of thousands of Tesla Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada, so I wasn't really worried about range."
"Like most EVs, the Solterra will soon have to live life without the federal tax credits, which sunset on September 30. Subaru has so far been able to offer aggressive offers on its EV thanks to the tax credit loophole, which allowed buyers to claim the credit via leasing even if the EV didn't meet the critical minerals requirements. From October onwards, the Solterra will have to sell on merit, which makes this upgrade rather timely."
Roads climbing from Denver into the Rocky Mountains present rapid elevation gains and tight switchbacks amid dense pine forests. The 2026 Subaru Solterra handled steep ascent from 5,000 to 9,000 feet without performance loss. Thinner air marginally reduces drag, benefiting EV efficiency while combustion engines would labor. The Solterra received substantial upgrades for 2026, delivering sophisticated ride quality, a quiet refined cabin, and 338 horsepower available instantly. The vehicle now includes the Tesla-style North American Charging Port (NACS) from the factory, enabling access to tens of thousands of Superchargers. Federal EV tax credits sunset on September 30, removing prior leasing loopholes and increasing market pressure.
#2026-subaru-solterra #electric-vehicle-performance #north-american-charging-port-nacs #ev-tax-credits-and-policy
Read at InsideEVs
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