Subaru joins the list of automakers with EV models with a flagship vehicle named the Solterra. The Solterra is a non-luxury all-electric SUV.
The Subaru Solterra is the company’s flagship electric vehicle and has several features. The Solterra’s production follows numerous EV releases from several automakers as efforts to dominate the market as it continues to surge. The EV market is highly competitive, with many automakers striving to outdo one another. In a market laden with electric models like the Volkswagen ID.4, Kia Niro EV, or Ford Mach-E, the Solterra affirms Subaru’s efforts to remain relevant in the market.
The Solterra is an electric crossover built in conjunction with the popular automaker Toyota, and it’s not surprising that the Solterra shares several similar body styles and interior designs with the BZ4X, Toyota’s pioneer EV. Subaru claims that the Solterra is its most technologically advanced model, with the vehicle said to possess powerful off-road capabilities. The Solterra’s flagship product’s design is based on the company’s e-Subaru Global Platform, an all-electric system. The nameplate is culled from combining the Latin words for “sun” and “earth.” While the Solterra is the automaker’s first attempt at making an EV, more electric models from Subaru are expected as the buzz about EVs grows.
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Subaru offers the Solterra in three trims and three different price ranges. The base trim, Premium, retails for $51,995, while the next trim, Limited, starts at $48,495. Solterra Touring is the elite trim and that model starts at $51,995. When compared to the pricing of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Solterra should appeal to those seeking a non-luxury electric SUV. A Federal Tax Credit worth $7,500 applies to all Solterra trims. Additionally, Subaru claims that Solterra owners in California may be eligible for single-rider carpool lane access, among other state incentives. Prospective buyers should note that the starting prices for the three trims exclude additional fees like taxes and destination/delivery charges.
Features Of The Subaru Solterra
The Subaru Solterra’s base trim, Premium, features Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, 8.3 inches of ground clearance, Automatic Climate Control, sleek LED headlights, black mirror housings, and 18-inch alloy wheels fitted with 235/60 R18 tires. The Premium trim also has a seven-inch LCD, heated front seats, and a windshield wiper de-icer. Other standard features for Subaru’s entry-level trim include an eight-inch high-resolution touchscreen, smartphone integration with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM Radio with a four-month audio free trial. The next trim, Limited, offers all of the base trim’s features and then some more. For instance, the wheels get bigger with 20-inch alloy wheels. The Limited trim also includes fog lights, roof rails, dual liftgate spoilers, a 12-inch multimedia system, a 360-degree surround-view camera, Harman Kardon premium audio speakers, and more. Buying the Touring trim will get the driver the features found in the other trims and add-ons like a panoramic glass roof with a retractable sunshade, ventilated front seats and a display rearview auto-dimming mirror.
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Despite these exciting exterior and interior specs, the Solterra falls short in the performance department. With dual electric motors capable of generating 215 hp and 249 lb-ft, the Solterra pales in comparison to other models in the electric SUV category. For example, the Solterra’s zero to 60 mph record is 6.5 seconds. In addition, the Subaru Solterra comes with an EyeSight driver-assist technology capable of scanning traffic movement, maximizing cruise control, and warning the driver when they veer off their lane. This technology is standard for all trims.
