Subaru is finally stick into the EV plot . The Subaru Solterra is build to usher Subaru into the years of galvanizing cars , offer all the welfare of an electric elevator car but with those rugged features that customer know and love about their Subarus .
And , for the most part , it succeed . It delivers a enough drive experience , has a comparatively roomy Department of the Interior , and more . But , unfortunately for Subaru , it has to go up against some stiff competition — including the like ofthe Tesla Model Y , Hyundai Ioniq 5 , Kia EV6 , and theFord Mustang Mach - E , all of which are in a like price bracket or tinny .
Does it do enough ? Well , perhaps for the right person — but most people buy a car this sizing will in all likelihood stop up looking elsewhere . We took the Subaru Solterra Touring for a spin for a week to detect out just how well it performs .
Design and interior
I inhabit in California , so I see Subarus more or less every day . For the most part , they ’re immediately placeable — but the Solterra does n’t look like any Subaru that came before it .
That ’s not a bad thing , though . The Solterra is n’t themoststylish EV out there , and it perhaps does n’t do all that much to resist out from the gang . But it ’s far from an ugly elevator car . The Solterra has an angular build , with big black plastic wheel arch and a pointed posterior .
If you ’re experiencing déjà vu , you ’re not hallucinating — the Solterra looks very similar to the Toyota bZ4X. In fact , aside from some underage tweak , it ’s really the same railway car — as it was developed in partnership with Toyota .
The interior of the Solterra is spacious enough for a small family , and there ’s a good amount of storehouse , include a 23.8 cubic - human foot trunk . It has a digital gauge cluster that is mounted further back toward the windshield than many other cars , coupled with an 12.3 - inch exhibit for documentary ( or an 8 - inch display on the foot models ) . The gadget driver handles the car with a straightforward steering cycle , and I did n’t heed the spirit of it — I got used to it moderately quickly .
It ’s pretty prosperous , too — with plushy leather - track seats , and seat ventilating system — at least in the highest - end Touring model I reviewed . I did find that some of the interior materials felt slightly flashy , with a fortune of charge plate throughout , but it was n’t too sorry . For the most part , the railway car was roomy and comfortable , which is exactly what you would expect .
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist
The Subaru Solterra is n’t necessarily the most tech - advancing car out there , but there are still a few helpful feature that drivers can make use of . The 12.3 - inch infotainment display at the front of thecar supports CarPlayand Android Auto — and you ’ll likely need to expend it , as Subaru ’s infotainment software package is n’t cracking . You ’ll get used to the software program eventually , but again , you ’ll find things easier if you connect your speech sound . There ’s a wireless earphone courser at the front of the car too , and it was easily large enough for my iPhone 15 Pro Max , so most people should have no issues with its size .
The Solterra is Subaru ’s most forwards - face machine yet , and it does have some helpful equipment driver - aid features . For starters , there are basic 1 , like blind - spotlight monitoring and a backup camera — though I really dislike the fish - eye effect on the automobile ’s backup television camera . On our review example , there was also a bird’s - eye view for parking , which was quite helpful . And you ’ll get things like adaptative sail control and lane - focus on . There ’s even a digital rearview mirror , which can be utilitarian for seeing behind you when marvelous passengers or other target are blocking your view .
These features are n’t groundbreaking , and many are n’t available standard , so if you want them , you ’ll have to upgrade to a higher - oddment model or tally - on choice . But some of them could be authentically useful to drivers who desire a slimly more tech - forward driving experience .
Driving experience
The Subaru Solterra is built to be a small more rugged than other EVs . As such , it ’s only available in an all - rack drive configuration with two motors that present 215 horsepower and 249 pound - feet of torsion combined . There are a few different drive modes , let in Eco , Normal , Power , and X - Mode , which is built more for off - roading or driving on slippery road as it severally cope each wheel ’s power .
Generally , I find driving the Solterra Touring to be a good experience . The car was comparatively zippy , though not as ready as many of the competitor in this price range . Steering was relatively responsive , but again , perhaps not quite as much as thelikes of the Ioniq 5 . The Solterra has paddle behind the steering bike to pull off regenerative braking , and there ’s a release to enable single - pedal driving . regrettably , like many other cars , the Solterra wo n’t remember if you had single - pedal driving turn on — it ’ll be off by default every time you sprain on the machine .
The Solterra can speed up from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds , which is n’t all that quick , especially for a car in this toll mountain chain . challenger like the Ioniq 5 and EV6 have options for quicker quickening , depending on the model , so if velocity is significant to you , it ’s worth deliberate an alternative .
Range and charging
One area in which the Solterra lags behind the rivalry is in range and charge . The auto has a top chain of mountains of 227 miles on the lowest - end Premium trim , or 225 miles for the other two clipping ( Limited and Touring , which we push back ) . This only is n’t full enough — specially considering the fact that there is n’t even an alternative for a large assault and battery that could make for a high-pitched range . We would want the car to save a range of at least 300 mile , if not in the base model , then as an option .
The Solterra has a dull buck stop number , too . Subaru says that the car can charge from 0 % to 80 % in around 35 minute , with a maximum charging stop number of 100 kilowatts . This is just is n’t as tight as it should be — most advanced EVs support charge speeds ofat least150kW , with some getting as high as 350kW , reserve drivers to charge to 80 % in under 20 minutes .
How DT would configure this car
The 2024 Subaru Solterra Touring is n’t a bad electric car , especially give the fact that the base modeling is all - cycle drive . However , it lag behind the rival , namely cars like the Tesla Model Y , Ford Mustang Mach - E , Kia EV6 , and Hyundai Ioniq 5 . It ’s not as fast as these cars , it does n’t have as farsighted of a mountain chain , and it does n’t institutionalise as quickly .
If you ’re still do on buy the Subaru Solterra , the Limited trimness is probably the way to go . It ’s not as pricey as the top - end Touring model but still has helpful comfort - related lineament , like heated seats and driver - assist features , like additional parking sensors .
