Subaru has introduced the 2025 Solterra and announced pricing will start at $38,495 before a $1,420 destination fee. That’s a $6,500 drop, but the delivery fee climbs $75.

Thanks to the change, the Solterra Premium costs less than the Toyota bZ4X XLE AWD. That model begins at $39,150 and has a $1,395 destination fee that brings the combined price to $40,545.

More: 2025 Toyota bZ4X Gets $6,000 Price Cut, New Nightshade Edition

Pricing aside, the 2025 Solterra gains a new Onyx Edition. It costs $45,495 and is based on the range-topping Touring trim.

As the name suggests, the model echoes the bZ4X Nightshade Edition and features a host of dark flourishes. This includes black badging and 20-inch wheels with a black finish. They’re joined by an assortment of other black accents including the roof pillars, shoulder line trim, door frames, and rear spoiler. Buyers will also find black StarTex upholstery and black door trim.

All Solterras are equipped with a 72.8 kWh battery pack, which powers a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing a combined output of 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 249 lb-ft (337 Nm) of torque. The Premium trim has an EPA-estimated range of 227 miles (365 km), while higher-end variants are limited to 222 miles (357 km) due, in part, to their larger 20-inch wheels.

Speaking of equipment, the Solterra Premium has LED headlights and 18-inch wheels. Customers will also find a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Rounding out the highlights are a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system.

Since EVs aren’t ideal for long distance trips, customers who purchase or lease a new Solterra gain access to the Subaru Just Drive Rental program. Participating Subaru dealers will provide a free car for up to ten days, so you can get something gas-powered for your family vacation.

2025 Subaru Solterra Pricing

After years of speculation, new reports from Japan suggest that Subaru’s electric crossover, the Solterra, could finally get the long-rumored STI version next year. Set to coincide with the mid-lifecycle update of the electric crossover, this performance-focused variant could come with several upgrades, though it’s more likely to focus on handling than sheer horsepower.

STI Concept, But No Performance Promises

The idea of a performance Solterra isn’t purely wishful thinking. Subaru unveiled an STI concept alongside the supercar-like STI E-RA study at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, though it withheld details on specifications. At the time, rumors swirled that the production model would hit the market by the summer of 2024. But as the months went by with no STI news, that timeline began to look increasingly optimistic.

Fast forward to today, and Japanese outlet Best Car is back with new information, reheating those old rumors with a fresh twist. The publication now claims that the performance-focused Solterra will arrive in 2025, as part of a facelift that will focus on improving the EV’s e-TNGA underpinnings.

More: Toyota And Subaru’s Next Joint Electric SUV Coming In 2026

While the new STI trim is expected to maintain the same dual electric motors, power and torque are likely to get a boost through software tuning. Even if a significant horsepower increase seems unlikely, the report suggests that Subaru is prioritizing improvements to the Solterra STI’s handling. The goal appears to be a more engaging driving experience, complemented by sportier design elements—think a sharper body kit and wheels that echo the concept’s flair. At the very least, the Solterra STI should look the part, even if it doesn’t fully meet performance expectations.

Could Toyota’s bZ4x Get The Same Treatment?

The Subaru’s electric twin, the Toyota bZ4x, is also expected to undergo a facelift in 2025, making us wonder if it could get a similarly sporty trim borrowing cues from the GR Sport concept from 2022. A few years ago, the bZ lineup’s chief engineer mentioned discussions with Gazoo Racing about a more powerful bZ4x, though the specifics were never disclosed.

Did You Know About The Solterra STe?

If you’re tired of waiting for a Solterra with the Subaru Tecnica International emblem, there is an alternative, though it appears to be available only in the German market. The Solterra STe was actually unveiled in November 2023, but for some reason, it flew under the radar of most automotive media.

The sportiest Solterra yet swaps out the usual plastic cladding for body-colored panels and rolls on 20-inch black alloy wheels, giving it a more aggressive, road-hugging appearance. Other highlights include the STe emblems on the exterior and the custom floor mats. However, the fancier looks are not backed up by any performance upgrades under the skin, meaning the Solterra STe still relies on the stock AWD powertrain, delivering a modest 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS). That’s hardly what you’d call a powerhouse in today’s electric SUV market.

More: Is This Our First Look At The 2026 Toyota RAV4?

The STe package is available as a €3,500 ($3,700) option for the high-spec Platinum and Platinum Plus trims of the Solterra. The latter is priced at €53,890, meaning that a full-spec Soltera STe costs an eye-watering €57,390 ($60,400) in Germany.

For comparison, a quick browse on Tesla’s website reveals that a new Model Y Performance can be had for as little as €54,970 ($57,900) in the same market. The Tesla delivers more than double the power of the Subaru, with 527 hp (393 kW / 534 PS) on tap, along with a longer WLTP range of 514 km (319 miles). The difference in performance and pricing explains why you don’t see many Soltera STes cruising on German roads.

It’s Thanksgiving and that means it’s turkey time. However, we’re not talking about food as we’ve seen plenty of automotive turkeys this year.

One of the biggest might have been the EV push, which has backfired by virtually all accounts. While sales of electric vehicles are indeed climbing, it’s occurring much slower than many companies had anticipated. This has resulted in firms canceling or delaying future models as well as pushing back plans to go electric-only.

More: Stellantis Profits Crash In 2024, Some Brands Could Be Axed

If lackluster adoption wasn’t bad enough, President-elect Trump is expected to throw a wrench into the automotive industry. Besides talk of new tariffs, reports have suggested he wants to eliminate the EV tax credit. Even some Democrats have campaigned against electric vehicle mandates, suggesting the tide has turned against extensive government support.

Moving on, years of bad decisions have finally come back to haunt Stellantis. They’ve stopped the Jeep money printing machine, neglected several brands, and have flip-flopped about killing some off.

These issues are being compounded by union pressures on both sides of the Atlantic. The UAW has been particularly critical, going as far as launching ShitcanCarlos.com. They’ll get their wish soon enough as Carlos Tavares is slated to retire in 2026.

On the product side, Audi decided to launch a new brand named AUDI, while recalls seem like a daily occurrence for some brands. Subaru also appears intent on destroying its last redeeming qualities as the company confirmed plans to kill the Legacy after nearly four decades. The Outback is also set to transition from a cool wagon into an ugly SUV with all the character of an old refrigerator.

While those are just a few examples, who or what do you think was the biggest turkey this year?

Depreciation is a fact of life, but what you buy has a big impact on resale values down the line. To help consumers, J.D. Power has released their 2025 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards which highlight the vehicles that are projected to hold the highest percentage of their manufacturer’s suggested retail price after three years of ownership.

The winners aren’t exactly a surprise as Honda and Lexus walked away with top honors for the fourth consecutive year. J.D. Power’s Danny Battaglia credited part of this success to Honda’s pricing discipline as well as Lexus’ restraint on incentives, which can negatively impact resale values of older vehicles.

More: 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Starts At $59,595

Besides being named the best premium brand, Lexus picked up the most model-level awards. Class honors went to the IS, LS, NX, RX, and TX. Their mainstream counterpart, Toyota, also picked up awards for the Camry and GR Supra as well as the Tundra and Land Cruiser.

Japanese models dominated the rankings as Honda scored wins for the Civic, Passport and Odyssey, while Subaru picked up accolades for the Crosstrek, Forester, and WRX. Other awards went to the Acura Integra and Nissan Kicks.

American brands might have played second fiddle, but GM racked up five wins. The Chevrolet Corvette was named the best “midsize premium sporty car,” while the Cadillac Escalade was the best large premium SUV. GMC also picked up awards for the Sierra 3500 HD as well as the Hummer EV Pickup and SUV.

Interestingly, the soon to be launched Dodge Charger Daytona was named the best electric car. While it remains to be seen what resale values will look like three years from now, electric coupes are virtually unheard of in America so the Charger Daytona doesn’t really have any competition.

Sticking with EVs, the Tesla Model 3 was dubbed the best premium electric car. The Hyundai Kona EV, on the other hand, was named best electric SUV.

Awards were also given to the BMW X1 and 5-Series, Jeep Gladiator and Wagoneer, and Kia Telluride. Mercedes’ only win was for the Sprinter, which took the commercial van class.

America is a deeply divided country, but there’s one thing that unites all of us – hatred of car dealers. However, a new study suggests things are getting slightly better.

According to J.D. Power, overall customer satisfaction with purchasing a vehicle climbed from a score of 793 last year to 801 in 2024. That’s basically an 80% grade as scores are based on a 1,000 point scale.

More: Study Finds 25% Of Car Buyers Won’t Return To Dealership That Charged Above MSRP

So what’s behind the improvement? Pricing and inventory. The shortages and markups from the pandemic have largely subsided, meaning some of the power has shifted from dealers back to consumers.

Given these developments, it’s not surprising to learn the number of people paying over MSRP has dropped significantly. J.D. Power says 15% of mass market buyers paid over sticker last year, but that number dropped to 8% in 2024. For premium buyers, the number fell from 10% to 6%.

While everyone can get onboard with lower prices, dealers still have a lot of work to do in regards to personnel, paperwork, and delivery. It also appears the EV buying experience is significantly worse than that of an ICE-powered vehicle.

The buyer satisfaction score for mass market ICE-powered vehicles was 857, but just 822 for EVs. J.D. Power also noted a “similar pattern exists among buyers of premium vehicles.”

Part of this appears to be a lack of dealership employees knowledgeable about electric vehicles. However, even Tesla buyers had “markedly lower satisfaction with the effectiveness of the vehicle features explanation.”

Among premium brands, sales satisfaction was highest at Porsche. They were followed by Infiniti and Jaguar. Genesis got a dismal rating of 781, while Alfa Romeo was second to last with a significantly higher score of 810. That put them two points behind Mercedes and Lexus.

On the mainstream side of things, top honors went to Mini, Buick, and Subaru. Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Toyota were the worst.