The heavily updated Subaru Solterra electric SUV has arrived in Australia, and behind its new face is refreshed tech and a larger battery, promising more driving range and more power – sweetened by price cuts of up to $7000.

The two-model Solterra range now starts at $63,990 before on-roads – a whopping $6000 cheaper than the outgoing model – while the flagship Touring costs $69,990 before on-roads, a further $7000 down from its predecessor.

The facelifted Solterra also boasts a substantial driving range increase of up to 152km, bringing total WLTP range to 566km for the base Solterra AWD. Range for the flagship Solterra AWD Touring, meanwhile, has increased by 103km to 517km.

Subaru claims that this has been achieved through the inclusion of a larger 74.7kWh lithium-ion battery (up from 71.4kWh) sourced from Chinese manufacturer CATL, along with improved electric motor efficiency and optimised, streamlined aerodynamics.

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Like the bZ4X, the Solterra has received a healthy power bump. The dual-motor, all-wheel drive SUV now produces a peak power output of 252kW, albeit with no peak torque claim, making it the most powerful mainstream Subaru ever produced.

The AC charging rate has also been increased to 22kW from 11kW, while DC fast charging remains unchanged at 150kW, with an approximate 10-80 per cent charging time of 30 minutes.

Additionally, Subaru says it has introduced an intelligent adaptive torque system. According to the brand, front-motor torque is increased on corner entry to assist turn-in, with this torque progressively shifted to the rear motor through the corner to enhance balance, stability, and traction under acceleration.

This is aided by slight suspension tweaks that are intended to improve ride comfort, particularly in the rear seats.