The Subaru Solterra, which the media referred to as the Subaru Evoltis previously, debuted as the first Subaru electric car in November 2021. It was displayed at the 2021 LA Auto Show.
The Solterra, developed in association with Toyota, is not an electrified Subaru Forester or a ‘conversion’ of an existing Subaru product. Subaru has invested in the future by creating the Solterra, an electric car that is not a traditional engine swap. Unlike other auto manufacturers, Subaru has moved forward without waiting to see if its electric cars will catch on, with help from Toyota.
In this post, we take a close look at the Subaru Solterra.
Subaru Solterra Reviews
According to Motor1.com’s review, the Subaru Solterra’s electric powertrain delivers ample power on highways to keep up with the traffic flow. There’s enough power in reserve for overtaking as well. What might disappoint customers is that the Soleterra’s drive modes only alter the throttle response—the steering and brake feel don’t change.
The Solterra also comes with Dual Function X-Mode and a new low-speed cruise control-like function christened Grip Control. Grip Control auto-adjusts speed while driving off-road and comes with three settings; Low, Medium, and High. With 8.3 inches of ground clearance, the Solterra can easily reach the far end of the trails. Active Cornering Assist and Vehicle Stability Control are standard.
Car and Driver says that customers can switch off stability control completely, after which the EV is happy to drift around on low-grip surfaces. CNET‘s review suggests that the Solterra doesn’t deliver the outright performance like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It could have been more fun to drive if the electric motors were tuned for more power and torque. However, the Solterra makes up for this by outperforming rivals off the beaten path thanks to its more rugged demeanor.
Subaru Solterra Design
Subaru says that it created the name “Solterra” by joining the word “Sol” and “Terra,” which mean the “Sun” and the “Earth,” respectively, in Latin. The C-segment is the most popular class worldwide and gives automakers a very high level of scale and decent margins. That explains why Volkswagen, Nissan, and Skoda focus on electric cars in the C-segment first – consider the VW ID.3, the VW ID.4, Nissan Leaf, Skoda Enyaq iV, and the Nissan Ariya. In line with the industry trend, Subaru has introduced a C-segment BEV first, in the SUV body style.
The Subaru Solterra is basically a differently designed Toyota bZ4X, and that is evident in its identical shape. Subaru appears to have made no sheet-metal changes and dealt with easily swappable parts like the lights, grilles, bumpers, and wheels to keep the costs low.
Image Source: Subaru
At the front, the Solterra has bigger headlamps with C-shaped daytime running lights that are typical of Subarus. Subaru has used a unique hexagonal faux radiator grille and a distinctive bumper also to set the new electric SUV apart from its twin. Both parts carry a sharper design, making the front-end more aggressive compared to the Toyota. Another difference is the application of fog lamps on the Subaru model, a feature that aligns well with the brand’s adventure-themed vehicle line-up.
On the sides, the ‘EV’ badge instead of the bZ4X’s ‘ELECTRIC’ badge on the charging port cover and the model-specific alloy wheels are the differences on the Solterra. At the rear, the Solterra again tries to show that it’s very much a Subaru with uniquely designed tail lamps featuring C-shaped light guides. Unlike on the bZ4X, there’s no light band connecting the tail lamps. The interior design is the same, with the steering wheel’s closed bottom spoke being the only exception. There’s no yoke steering or wing-shaped steering option in this model.
Subaru Solterra Specs
The below photograph shows the component structure of the platform with the drive system mounted under the hood and the battery pack embedded in the floor. The Subaru Solterra does not feature a front trunk or a ‘frunk,’ but it does have a nearly flat floor.
In Japan, the Subaru Solterra has a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. In the U.S., the battery capacity is 72.8 kWh, the same as the U.S.-spec bZ4X AWD. Subaru offers the U.S.-spec Solterra in only an AWD configuration with two motors that generate 215 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. The U.S.-spec Solterra delivers an EPA-est. range of only 228 miles in the Premium trim and 222 miles in the Limited and Touring trims.
| Specifications | 2023 Subaru Solterra (USA) |
| Battery | 72.8 kWh |
| EPA-est. EV Range | 228 miles (Premium)/ 222 miles (Limited Touring) |
| EPA-est. Efficiency (MPGe) | 94/114/104 – Premium and 93/111/102 – Limited and Touring |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| No. of Motors | 2 |
| Motor output | 215 HP |
| Torque | 249 lb.-ft. |
| Passenger volume | 95.7 cu.ft |
| Cargo volume with rear seat up, luggage compartment deck board up | 27.7 cu.ft |
| Cargo volume with (rear seat up, luggage compartment deck board down | 29.0 cu.ft |
| Total passenger & cargo volume | 126 cu.ft |
| Rear cargo opening width | 41.3 Inch |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 Inch |
| Length | 184.6 Inch |
| Width | 73.2 Inch |
| Height | 65.0 Inch |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Ground clearance | 8.3 Inch |
| Curb Weight (lb.) | 4,365 (Premium)/4,455 (Limited)/4,505 (Touring) |
Subaru Solterra Charging
In Japan, Solterra customers will be able to charge it with up to 6.6 kW with AC using the on-board charger or with up to 150 kW with DC at fast-charging stations. Subaru hasn’t disclosed the peak charging power for the U.S.-spec Solterra, but it has said that charging to 80% SoC with a DC fast-charger will take less than an hour. Final specifications for the U.S. should become available in the coming months.
| Charging Method | Charging Time |
| L2 240V at 32a | 9 hours |
| L1 240v at 8a | 35 hours |
| L1 120v at 12a | 50 hours |
| L1 120v at 8a | 77 hours |
| DC fast charging (80%) | 56 minutes |
All-wheel drive (AWD) specialist
With Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD system, the Solterra should be capable of tackling snow, mud, and gravel with ease. While it’s not a rock-crawler, don’t take it for a high-riding wagon, for it’s a Subaru. It features the dual-function X-Mode system of ICE Subaru models that allows the driver to adapt the vehicle’s components for specific driving conditions like snow/dirt and deep snow/mud. There’s also a newly developed Grip Control, which consists of Hill Ascent and Descent Assist, to refine the SUV’s rough road performance.
Partnership justified
In June 2019, Toyota and Subaru agreed to develop a C-segment BEV SUV for sale with their own badges. Subaru borrowed Toyota’s technical resources for the Solterra instead of indigenously developing it because it wanted to keep the investment and risk low. Tomomi Nakamura, Representative Director, President, and CEO, Subaru, had said this in an interview with autonews.com. Concurring that the new electric SUV is a compliance car to adhere to California’s emission regulation, he suggested that the project was driven as much by the law as by the market demand.
Having sold a wide range of hybrid EVs for years now and a few pure EVs recently, Toyota possesses expertise in electrification that Subaru lacks. While Toyota may have a higher contribution to the platform’s development due to its better know-how regarding electrification, Subaru has leveraged its strengths in areas like all-wheel drive and control.
Subaru Solterra Features
Key features of the Solterra are similar to those of the bZ4X, but it doesn’t get all of the Toyota model’s equipment. The Solterra is Subaru’s first vehicle to feature fully automatic parking. Other key features of the brand’s first EV include a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, digital key, heat pump-type AC, X-Mode AWD control system, and Grip Control. Like the bZ4X, the Solterra has a shift-by-wire system with a dial-type gear selector and will be available with a solar, but it won’t be available with a steer-by-wire system.
Subaru Solterra Trims
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is available in the U.S. in three trims: Premium, Limited, and Touring.
Premium
The Premium trim comes with exterior features like LED headlights, windshield wiper de-icer, heated ORVMs, 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/60 R18 tires, etc. Interior highlights include a 7-inch LCD instrument cluster, automatic climate control with S-FLOW, heated front seats, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. A wireless phone charger is available as an accessory.
Subaru Solterra Connect (SSC) offers connected services like cloud-based navigation and Remote Climate Control and Remote Lock/Unlocking via smartphone. These services come with a free trial subscription. On the safety front, Premium includes Blind-Spot Monitor; Rear Camera Detection with Pedestrian Warning; and Parking Support Brake.
Limited
The Limited trim upgrades to 20-inch wheels paired with 235/50R all-season tires and adds many features like a split roof spoiler, LED fog lights, power tailgate with automatic close and height memory, rain-sensing wiper system, and roof rails. Inside, it adds a 10-way power driver’s seat, heated outboard rear seats, heated steering wheel, wireless smartphone charger, and 12.3-inch high-res touchscreen infotainment system, and a free one-year subscription to a cloud-based navigation system.
The Solterra Limited is the first-ever Subaru in which a 360-degree camera system is available. Advanced Park enables automated parallel/perpendicular parking in the Limited trim. Plus, Parking Support Brake includes Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Lastly, a digital key is also part of the standard features.
Touring
The Touring trim adds a digital IRVM, LED footwell lighting (front and rear), HomeLink, front-seat ventilation, and two-tone paint options.
Subaru Solterra production
The Solterra’s production takes place alongside the bZ4X at the Toyota Motomachi Plant in Japan.
One would think that the joint development with Toyota, plus the Toyota plant-based production would ensure the Solterra’s reliability. Unlike Subaru, Toyota is among the top 3 reliable brands in the U.S., as per a recent Consumer Reports study. Moreover, Toyota has already developed and is making several partially electrified (hybrid and plugin) cars that are impressive in the reliability aspect. The bZ4X and Solterra twins could be such high-quality products eventually, but initially, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Recall
The Solterra is facing an embarrassing recall already. On June 23, 2022, Subaru announced in Japan that the hub bolts used on the Solterra may loosen due to repeated sharp turns or sudden braking, which could cause abnormal noise, and in the worst case, detach the tire. The company recalled 10 units with chassis numbers falling between XEAM10-0001021 and XEAM10-0001051 and 82 units with chassis numbers in the YEAM15-0001032-YEAM15-0001190 range in Japan.
The same day, there was a 2023 Subaru Solterra recall announcement in the U.S. as well. According to the Defect Information Report Toyota filed with NHTSA, this recall has affected 403 U.S.-spec Subaru Solterra units and 258 U.S.-spec Toyota bZ4X units manufactured between March 30, 2022, and June 3, 2022.
Toyota first received a field technical report from Taiwan indicating the separation of the front left wheel. Then, there were two similar incidents in the U.S., one indicating loose hub bolts of the front left wheel and the other indicating the front left wheel getting detached from the vehicle.
Subaru Solterra Release Date U.S.
Subaru has put a pause on new 2023 Solterra reservations in the U.S. It may begin deliveries of the already reserved units by the end of September 2022.
Subaru Solterra Pricing
Subaru has priced the 2023 Solterra from USD 44,995 plus USD 1,225 destination and delivery charge. The destination and delivery charge is USD 1,375 in Alaska, and it could vary in Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Subaru Solterra prices in the U.S.
| Trim | MSRP | MSRP plus Destination & Delivery (USD 1,225) |
| Solterra Premium | USD 44,995 | USD 46,220 |
| Solterra Limited | USD 48,495 | USD 49,720 |
| Solterra Touring | USD 51,995 | USD 53,220 |
Subaru Solterra Color Options in U.S.
Subaru offers five color options for the 2023 Solterra, along with a two-tone color scheme option for four of them:
| Color | Paint Charge | Dual-tone Paint Charge |
| Harbor Mist Gray Pearl | USD 395 | USD 890 |
| Elemental Red Pearl | USD 395 | USD 890 |
| Cosmic White Pearl | USD 395 | USD 890 |
| Galactic Black | USD 0 | Not Available |
| Smoked Carbon | USD 0 | USD 495 |
Subaru has partnered with EVgo, the largest public fast-charging network in the U.S. to provide Subaru customers access to over 46,000 charging locations across all 50 states. The EVgo network has 800 public fast-charging locations and over 1,200 Level 2 fast chargers in the United States.
Subaru Solterra availability
The order book for the 2023 Subaru Solterra has been closed owing to overwhelming demand. The reservations opened on February 8, 2022, in the U.S, across all 50 states, and the EV was sold out within 72 hours, as confirmed by Subaru of America. Reservation opportunities for the 2023 Soletrra are no longer open.
Hanover (Massachusetts)-based dealer Planet Subaru expects the availability to be scarce, and it could be that each American dealer gets one or two Solterras per month throughout this year. Solterra Forum user markkmcgough has already made a reservation for the Solterra in advance, and the dealership has suggested the same constraints for Canadians. The Canadian dealership will reportedly receive only 3 units of the Subaru electric car in June, July, and August.
Subaru’s focus in the U.S. market
The Solterra could be a game-changer for Subaru, allowing it to revamp the brand image with higher quality and more advanced technologies not offered on existing models. Subaru has announced that it will focus on U.S. customers and prioritize improving quality, both of which should lead to the Solterra receiving special attention during development.
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Subaru plans to offer vehicles with new hybrid and pure electric powertrain technologies in North America before other regions. The company will continue rolling out new vehicles designed for U.S. customers from the very outset. These models, possibly including the Solterra, will come with Advanced Driver Assist Systems for safety, connected car technology, and AI-enabled technologies, as per an official announcement in 2021.
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On June 24, 2021, Subaru released its annual Corporate Impact Report for the U.S. It reiterated its commitment to creating a carbon-free society in the report and said that it is working to increase EVs and hybrid vehicles in its global sales to form at least 40% by 2030. In the coming years, it plans electrification across the line-up. By 2050, the company wants to reduce average CO2 emissions by at least 90%, compared to 2010. The Japanese automaker sold nearly 6,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States by the end of 2020.
Subaru Solterra Norway launch
Introducing the Solterra in Norway in April 2022, Subaru promised to begin deliveries there in June 2022 with a battery pack rated at 71.4 kWh and a dual-motor AWD system rated at 160 kW (214 hp). The company hasn’t given any updates on the launch since.
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Initially, the Solterra was priced at NOK 479,000 in the base ‘Nordic’ trim, NOK 499,900 in the mid-range ‘Limited’ trim, and NOK 509,900 in the top-end ‘Sport’ trim. Since then, the prices have gone up to NOK 488,900, NOK 509,800, and NOK 519,800, respectively.
In comparison with other markets, the Norwegian-spec Solterra has a different WLTP range. The Nordic trim offers 466 km (290 miles), while the Limited and Sport trims offer 419 km (260 miles) and 416 km (258 miles). Norway may not be a hot market for Subarus, but it is among the first to get the Solterra. As the world’s leading adopter of EVs, automakers prioritize launching new EVs in the land of the midnight sun.
Subaru Solterra in Australia & New Zealand
The Solterra will be launched in New Zealand in the first half of 2023, with April as the target date. The company expects the electric SUV to deliver a range of approximately 460 km (286 miles) there. New Zealand will get the Solterra exclusively with the 71.4 kWh battery pack and a 160 kW (214 hp) dual-motor AWD system. Australia will also receive the Solterra in 2023—the dual-motor variant has been confirmed, and Subaru may not bring down the single-motor variant to the Trans-Tasman market.
Subaru Solterra STI
At the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon held in January, the Subaru booth hosted a surprise debut – the Subaru Solterra STI Concept. As the suffix indicates, this is a concept of the potential performance version of the Subaru electric car. The Solterra STI Concept features a special light blue color, red underbody spoilers on all four sides, a body-colored vertical blade in the side air inlets, gloss black alloy wheels with red highlight, and a gloss black roof spoiler featuring the STI logo on the sides. Subaru hasn’t revealed the technical details or confirmed a Solterra STI launch yet.
Subaru Electric Car FAQs
What is the Subaru Electric Car release date?
Subaru has announced that the Solterra will likely go on sale in the U.S. in September 2022.
What will be the Subaru Electric car price?
Subaru has priced the Solterra from USD 46,220 to compete with offerings from VW, Hyundai & Nissan.
Which electric SUVs will the Subaru Solterra compete with?
The Solterra will challenge the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Toyota bZ4X, VW ID.4 & Nissan Ariya.
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