Subaru electric cars

A well-established Japanese mainstream all-wheel-drive specialist in Australia, whose first EV (Solterra, co-developed with Toyota) has sold slowly since its early-2024 local debut.

Subaru Corporation (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries) was founded in Japan in July 1953. Subaru vehicles first reached Australia via private imports in the early 1960s; Subaru Australia has been the brand's exclusive AU importer/distributor since 1973, and the brand has since become a well-known AU nameplate built around all-wheel-drive and boxer-engine models (Forester, Outback, WRX).

Subaru's first electric vehicle, the Solterra mid-size SUV — co-engineered with Toyota (which sells the near-identical bZ4X) under a long-running technology partnership — arrived in Australia in early 2024 but was not well received, with high pricing and short driving range cited as key complaints; total AU sales were just 588 units over almost two years. A substantially updated Solterra reached Australia in 2026 with WLTP range increased by 152km, to 566km (base Solterra AWD) / 517km (Solterra AWD Touring), alongside more power/torque and reduced pricing (down $6,000–$7,000 depending on grade).

mainstream all-wheel-drive specialist; slow-starting EV entrant

Battery-electric: Solterra mid-size SUV (AWD; substantially updated 2026 model). Subaru's broader Australian range remains predominantly petrol and hybrid (Forester, Outback, Crosstrek, WRX).