The Last Chance Solterra for Subaru

With the Solterra, Subaru may be playing its last chance for survival in a world where electric is king.

By developing the Solterra, Subaru’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV) launched worldwide, the engineers probably felt very little pressure. At a time when all their competitors have already taken the all-electric path, Subaru somewhat looked like a grumpy old uncle resistant to progress, stubbornly hybridizing its Boxer engines. It’s not easy to abandon its thermal roots. To avoid mistakes, it was deemed better to base the vehicle on the technical platform of the Toyota bZ4X rather than starting from scratch. A mutually beneficial exchange, since the small sporty coupe Toyota GT86 presented in 2012 and sold over 200,000 units was simply a restyled Subaru BRZ. Goodwill can always lead to mutual understanding among reasonable people.

First and foremost, Subaru proudly announces that the Solterra stays true to the brand’s values. Sure, it won’t be asked to win rally specials like its prestigious predecessor Impreza driven by Colin McRae, but in that case, it must retain its versatile aspect that has made Subaru recognized for the variety of its models. A task in which an all-electric motorization can only help.

Off-road capabilities and environmental credibility

The Solterra is 100% electric, but it remains fundamentally a Subaru, according to the manufacturer. The brand gained its reputation through its models with all-wheel drive, a technology modernized with an electric motor driving the front wheels and another powering the rear wheels. The combined maximum power reaches 160 kW, while the battery capacity is 71.4 kWh. Subaru claims a range of 465 km, which is quite credible and supported by Toyota’s generally honest stance on the topic. Also standard is the X-MODE function with hill assist, helping to maintain proper grip according to the terrain for greater stability and control, providing an increased sense of confidence. For even more versatility, the Solterra features a ground clearance of 210 mm and short overhangs, facilitating obstacle crossing. The specifications seem well met, and that’s really a good thing.

The bodywork is intelligently designed, with protections such as black matte plastic extensions on the sills, bumpers, and wheel arches. It could look ugly, but actually, it’s quite nice.

And Subaru slips up on prices

As the cherry on top, the Subaru Solterra scored the maximum rating of 5 stars in Euro NCAP crash tests. The picture seems idyllic, but as always, there’s a catch, and this one is significant. The Price!

The entry-level Confort version is listed at 59,990 euros. A major effort was made because the announced price during the presentation was well above 60,000 euros. That’s very expensive, especially considering that for 58,000 euros you could be on the road in a Toyota bZ4X with an Origin trim slightly above. You can even find a 2-wheel drive version at 55,000 euros at Toyota. This raises the question of all-wheel drive transmission if you’re not planning to venture off paved roads.

If you want the top-of-the-line trim, it will cost you 63,990 euros for the Luxury version with a panoramic roof and 20-inch wheels. Let’s be frank, that’s way too expensive, and it’s really unfortunate because the promise was attractive.