Although one of the most conservative carmakers in the business, Subaru also follows the trend of electrification. After so many years, we are finally seeing a Subaru without a boxer engine. It comes as the 2023 Subaru Solterra and it is the company’s first all-electric vehicle on the offer. Just like some previous projects, this crossover was developed together with Toyota engineers. As a result, there is a twin from Toyota, known as the bZ4X. The two models share most of the parts, with minor styling differences only.
In any case, this crossover has a lot of good things to offer. Besides decent performances and range, it also offers a nice and comfortable cabin, along with strong off-road capabilities. However, there are some drawbacks as well, and that mainly refers to the fact that most rivals come with faster charging options. Also, some buyers may find the interior design too simple.
2023 Subaru Solterra Design
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is a brand-new model from the Japanese company and it comes as the first all-electric vehicle we’ve ever seen from Subaru. It has been co-developed with Toyota, so it’s no wonder it shares most parts with the bZ4X. The two models share the drivetrain and chassis, as they are both based on the TNGA-e platform. Furthermore, the exterior design is also pretty much the same, with minor differences at the front end only.
What we like about this EV is its chassis setup. The rides is quite comfortable. The suspension is soft but there isn’t too much body roll in corners. Also, all models come with electric motors on both axles, so traditional Subaru drivers may count on a typical grip that comes from the company’s legendary all-wheel-drive system.
Interior
On the inside, we are talking about a typical Subaru approach. The cabin is rather functional than stylish, so the first thing you’ll notice is a simple dashboard design. Most of the dash is clean and simple, while the biggest highlights are things like a massive touchscreen and a nicely-designed digital instrument cluster. The overall interior quality is good, though you may expect a lot of plastics and other hard-touch materials.
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is a compact crossover and the amount of passenger space is typical for that class of vehicle. The front seats are massive and supportive, while the second row also accommodates adults with ease. The driving position is good, both in terms of visibility and ergonomics.
The cargo area offers around 30 cubic feet behind the second row, which seems quite good for an EV of this class.
Features
Base models come decently equipped. Although you won’t find too many luxury features, all the essentials are there. You may count on things like an 8-inch touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth five USB ports, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and automatic climate control. There is also a long list of available features, which includes goodies like a panoramic sunroof, digital key, a 12.3-inch touch screen, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hot spot, navigation and a Harman Kardon stereo.
When it comes to safety, all models come standard with goodies like a rearview camera, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, intersection collision avoidance, and emergency steering assistance, blind-spot monitoring etc. You can pay extra for upgrades like a surround-view camera, parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing windshield wipers etc.
2023 Subaru Solterra Powertrain
The 2023 Subaru Solterra comes in just one configuration regarding drivetrain. It includes a couple of 80-kW electric motors, where the total output goes around 215 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough for a 0-60 spring in about 6.5 seconds.
When it comes to the battery, it features a 72.8-kWh pack, which should ensure around 222-228 miles of range, depending on the version you pick. With the fast charger, you can charge 80% of the battery in less than an hour.
2023 Subaru Solterra Price
The base Premium trim starts at around 45.000 dollars. The mid-range Limited starts at around $49.000, while the range-topping Touring trim starts at around 52.000 dollars. Key competitors should be models like VW ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-E etc.
