Subaru’s smartened-up electric SUV is regionally available - but when or even if it will come to NZ isn’t clear.

SPRUIKED in Australia, but in New Zealand they’d rather not talk about it just now.

Inchcape, the common distributor for Subaru in both countries (along with LDV and KGM), is currently talking up big updates to Solterra electric sports utility - but only to fans across the Tasman.

But here inquiry about when the freshened model whose name is a blend of the Latin words for ‘sun’ and ‘earth’ is coming to Kiwi customers is being politely but firmly rebuffed.

Just another sign that electric car distributors here have become a lot more cautious about selling latest product while the sector is in a huge slump?

Perhaps so.

That suggestion was also put to Subaru New Zealand, which declined to comment.

But in respect to the refreshed Solterra, the comment from Jerry Delaney, who has just been named Inchcape’s general manager, New Zealand, having joined the outfit from Ford NZ just a few months ago as head of distribution, is simply: “Our timings are not aligned with Australia for the new Solterra.

“We will update you when we have more information.”

It’s not surprising if the operation is cautious.

After running hot from 2020 through to 2023, the EV sector has fallen into a complete nosedive. The withdrawal of the subsidy for cars selling for less than $80,000 then the types being struck with Road User Charge, plus the general economic condition, have been hard hits.

While some brand selling NZ-new EVs are now claiming some improvement in interest, that’s really not being shown by monthly statistics.

In October, the national registrations take for electric passenger models came to just over 500 units - less than a single popular model would be expected to achieve over that time frame in the boom period.

Subaru NZ held high hopes for Solterra, in part because it is one of the few electric cars developed to deliver something that’s become synonymous with the brand; genuine off-road ability.

However, it and the Toyota sister model, bZ4X, failed to resonate; and when the hard times hit, they became tamong many cars whose promise was forgotten by a suddenly less interested clientele.

The updated model features design changes the factory (for both cars) recognised required addressing, as result of disgruntlement from the few adopters.

Under the skin, the new type gains a 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery supplied by a new provider, China’s CATL. The original had a 71.4kWh unit, so that might seem a small change. However the WLTP driving range rating of up to 566 kilometres is a massive step up. the old car promised no better than 414km.

In addition, there’s more pep. The car has a new 252kW dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, up from 160kW. One point enforced by Inchcape in Australia is that this make the Solterra the most powerful production Subaru sold there to date, above cars such as the WRX STI.

Design changes include revised front styling, new 18- and 20-inch alloy wheel designs, a restyled rear bumper, and a Subaru wordmark on its tailgate instead of a logo.

A larger 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual 15-watt wireless smartphone chargers, acoustic glass, 64-colour interior ambient lighting, and a driver's knee airbag are also new features for 2026.

Enticingly, also, prices across the water have dropped, but just over $8000.

In NZ, the car’s full RRP in highest presentation was $84,990.

Conceivably, Solterra is just one of three electrics Subaru can deliver regionally - should it choose to. The others are the Trailseeker, a Solterra spin-off but also cited as Subaru's first electric car to be developed in-house, and the Uncharted, effectively an electric equivalent of the brand’s petrol Crosstrek crossover and Forester sports utility based on the Toyota C-HR Plus.