2024 Subaru Solterra Touring
Specs
Class: Compact crossover
Colour: Machine Grey
Miles pushed: 343
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Battery capability: 72.8 kWh
EPA-estimate MPGe: 111 metropolis/93 hwy/102 mixed
EPA-estimated driving vary: 222 miles
Client Information vary estimate (very best situations): 222+ miles
Snow Efficiency: N/A
Base value: $51,995 (not together with $1345 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at automobile: Particular paint ($890), cargo tray ($141), flooring liner ($187)
Value as examined: $54,558
Fast Hits
The good: Spectacular journey and dealing with, better-than-expected vary
The nice: Snug cabin
The not so good: Too-high checklist value
Overview
At first blush, the Subaru Solterra is one thing of a disappointment. It’s a bit costly, it’s battery vary is mediocre, and it isn’t even constructed by Subaru. Certainly, new for 2023, the Solterra was designed and assembled by Toyota, with Subaru accountable just for design, trim, and chassis tuning. In truth, the Solterra may be very a lot a clone of Toyota’s personal BZ4X.
Essentially the most cynical interpretation of all that is that Subaru, feeling the necessity to have an EV in U.S. showrooms, took the simplest highway to that finish. The excellent news is that, as a compact crossover, the Solterra is positioned within the EV market’s hottest section, and to some extent completes for gross sales with well-regarded Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Tesla’s hot-selling Mannequin Y.
All just isn’t doom and gloom, nevertheless, as we’ve discovered an important to love in regards to the unassuming Solterra, together with real-world vary which exceeds the crossover’s modest EPA estimates, and arguably best-in-class journey high quality. We’ll get to our subjective evaluation in a second.
Costs and Trim Ranges
For 2024, Subaru’s solely EV is obtainable in three trim ranges: base Premium ($46,340), mid-level Restricted ($49,840), and top-of-the-line Touring ($53,340).
Shifting from the Premium as much as the Restricted will get customers, amongst different issues, 20-inch wheels, , energy seats, and Subaru’s Superior Park Help. Shifting from there to the Touring provides such niceties as a glass-panel roof, digital rear-view mirror, and ventilated entrance seats.
Engines
As a result of it’s a Subaru, the Solterra is obtainable solely with AWD, a factor which accounts a minimum of partly for its elevated base costs. All Solterras function a pair of electrical motors mated to a 73-kWh battery. Complete system output is 215 horsepower.
Vary
For 2024, Restricted and Touring fashions are EPA rated to journey 222 miles on a full cost, whereas the Premium as rated at 227 miles.
Whereas massive adjustments are anticipated for the 2026 Solterra, the automobile shall be little modified for 2025. Word that, as a result of it isn’t assembled within the U.S., the Solterra doesn’t qualify received the EV buy federal tax credit score for outright buy, however will be leased to entry these funds. Ask your Subaru vendor for particulars.
Client Information lately spent per week behind the wheel of a 2024 Solterra Touring in Harbor Mist Grey. Together with vacation spot cost, our take a look at automobile got here to $54,558.
Cabin
Contained in the Solterra presents properly. Although not precisely premium in really feel, issues like a padded, carpet-trimmed sprint high and apparently wonderful meeting high quality give the electrical Subaru a contemporary, upscale atmosphere. And whereas the infotainment system’s giant, easy-to-read touchscreen is a plus, we bristle at seeing Toyota’s low-dash instrument panel, which is seen excessive of the steering wheel. This setup can be seen in the same BZ4X, and the Toyota Prius. Whereas driver’s fast acclimate to the setup, it feels unnecessarily Quirky to us, and never in a great way.
Room and Consolation
Massive door openings make for simple entry and exiting of the Solterra, and there’s a beneficiant quantity of front-seat house, even for bigger adults—equivalent to this creator. Rear seat house is equally beneficiant, and legroom is satisfactory even aft of taller front-row passengers. Outward visibility from the motive force’s seat can be superb, although the over-the-shoulder view to the left is obscured considerably by the Solterra’s thick rear pillar.
Energy and Efficiency
Although not a powerhouse by EV requirements, the Solterra is among the many quickest automobiles within the Subaru portfolio. Throttle responses is instant, and the ‘Terra bursts away satisfyingly from stops, providing up loads of passing and merging muscle. Although we didn’t have a possibility to guage the Solterra in snow, Subaru does model the little crossover’s AWD setup with its personal “Symmetric AWD” moniker, suggesting the maker has religion that the electrical AWD system will approximate the efficiency of its personal—traditionally wonderful—mechanical system discovered on model fashions.
Additionally, although rated at simply 222 miles of vary, this creator loved almost 260 miles of real-world journey between fees—with a bit juice remaining within the battery. This was admittedly on a battery-friendly temperate summer time day; nevertheless, we suspect the Solterra’s EPA estimated vary is a minimum of a bit conservative.
Trip and Dealing with
The place the Solterra shines is journey and dealing with. Whereas many EVs endure from a specific amount of secondary movement after a big influence—a difficulty associated to the burden of the battery—the Solterra demonstrates stunning composure over particularly tough surfaces. Dealing with, too, is spectacular. The Solterra feels virtually sporty round corners, and there’s extra steering really feel than typically present in an electrical automobile. Additionally, even at freeway speeds, the cabin is quiet sufficient for regular-volume dialog between the seating rows.
Worth
Whereas dear at first look, and vary restricted, the accommodating and refined Solterra is value a glance. We have been most impressed by the electrical Subaru’s premium-feel journey and dealing with, and long-distance consolation. As this evaluate as posted, Subaru is providing Solterra lease offers beginning at $329 a month. And, once more, by leasing the Solterra—or any EV—you develop into eligible for the federal tax credit score, this attributable to a commercial-vehicle exemption—once more ask your vendor for particulars.
We just like the Solterra. It doesn’t strive too onerous to look or really feel electrical, and its core efficiency is mostly spectacular. If , we recommend checking a few Subaru shops to see what sort of offers can be found in your space. We’re fairly certain sellers are prepared to barter.
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2024 Subaru Solterra Touring Photos
Click on under for enlarged photographs
