Subaru Solterra

The Subaru Solterra won’t be in Australian dealerships until at least mid 2023, so standing next to the model in a northern Sydney studio 12 months early is a clear indication of its importance.

Solterra is the Japanese company’s first dedicated electric vehicle – and formed from another joint-venture project with compatriot Toyota.

Both brands will be hoping their respective EVs can have an even bigger impact than their last JV, which spawned the terrific Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 sports cars.

Combining two Latin words for its name - Sol for ‘sun’ and Terra for ‘earth’ – Subaru’s nameplate rolls off the tongue more naturally than Toyota’s bZ4X twin, which sounds like a better name for a Star Wars droid.

Design

Compare images of the Solterra and bZ4X and it’s obvious they have far more in common than another pair of EV platform buddies, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

It also seems Toyota’s designers had the bigger say in the SUV’s styling; squint and you could believe you were looking at a RAV4.

There’s a sportier roofline than Toyota’s midsized SUV – something it has in common with the EV6.

Still, the Solterra should sit naturally in a Subaru showroom, especially next to the XV compact SUV – and the EV is arguably more handsome than either the XV or Forester.

Distinguishing the Solterra’s front end from the face of the bZ4X are a hexagonal grille and C-shaped LED headlights. C-shaped tail-lights are also the main point of difference at the back, where the Toyota’s rear lights are styled in the opposite direction and are joined by a central light bar.

Wheelarch cladding is very much a traditional Subaru aesthetic – and looks more natural on the Solterra than the new WRX.

There are more than off-roading design cues – a 210mm ride height is only 10mm lower than the Forester’s ground clearance.

Wheel sizes are 18 or 20 inches overseas, with our Euro example sitting on the biggest wheels. Whether Australian buyers have a choice depends on how many spec levels Subaru chooses for the Solterra’s launch.

Compared with rival EV SUVs, the 4.7m-long Solterra is a bit longer than the Ioniq 5 and anticipated VW ID.4, the tiniest smidge shorter than the EV6, and 6cm shorter than Tesla’s Model Y.

Within the Subaru stable, it’s slightly longer than a Forester midsized SUV but shorter than the Outback wagon.

The Solterra’s wheelbase is 10cm longer than Outback’s, however, following the EV SUV trend for a wheels-at-each-corner stance that’s more easily enabled by flexible battery platforms and simplified drivetrain components.

Front cabin

The Solterra’s interior is virtually identical to that of the bZ4X, which is perhaps more disappointing than similar exteriors as cabin design is such as key way for car manufacturers to bring its own character and style to a vehicle.

Owners of a bZ4X will at least have the option of a ‘yoke’ steering wheel, with the Solterra sticking to a conventional round design.

Paddleshift levers mounted to the steering wheel adjust the level of regenerative braking when lifting off the throttle.

There’s a strange-looking, recessed digital instrument cluster, while infotainment is provided via a panoramic, 12.3-inch display that’s offered with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This will also house a new panoramic view monitor that provides a visual guide to the vehicle’s immediate surroundings. A Safe Exit system also makes it onto a Subaru – where sensors alert the driver and passengers if they’re about to open the car’s doors into oncoming traffic.

Subaru’s Eyesight driver aid technology will also feature.

It’s too early to know which safety features will be standard or optional; same for the Harman Kardon audio system installed in our high-spec European Solterra.

The front cabin is busily designed, especially when compared with a Model Y or Ioniq 5. It also feels more cramped in the driver’s seat than the EV6 that shares the Subaru’s approach to a wider centre console, though the Kia’s doesn’t fully intersect with the dash.

A tactile fabric is used for the main dash, interesting textures are applied in a couple of areas, gloss-black plastic covers much of the centre console, and there’s no shortage of padded trim including leatherette on the door armrests and console cubby lid.

The door pockets are moulded to take a couple of drinks bottles and two cups can be stored in the centre console, while other storage on our vehicle included a wireless smartphone tray.

Rear seat

A 2850mm wheelbase is shorter than the axle spans of most rivals – as much as three metres in the case of the Ioniq 5 – yet six-footers can be accommodated without issue in all four main seat positions.

The rear seat doesn’t feel as airy as the Ioniq 5’s and the Solterra’s floor isn’t quite fully flat, with a slight hump in the middle.

The relatively high floor brings the biggest compromise to comfort, creating a knees-up posture for even average-height adults. Toe space is also minimal.

This overseas Solterra was a high-spec model, featuring heated rear seats. Vents, two USB ports and a centre armrest with cupholders should be standard on all models.

Boot space

A boot capacity figure isn’t available for Australia yet. Our best guess is that it’s a touch smaller than the 480 litres of the EV6 and further off the likes of Ioniq 5 (527L) and ID.4 (543L).

The rear seatbacks fold flat in a 60-40 split, though there are no release levers.

An underfloor section provides a convenient spot to hide charging cables.

Unlike its key rivals, the Subaru forgoes a frunk up front.

There’s no ‘boxer’ engine under the bonnet, though, of course…

Performance and range

We still know few details about the specifications we’ll get for Australian versions of the Solterra, which is not unexpected considering its launch is about a year away.

What must be a certainty is an AWD model, because Subaru has made that a signature feature on its vehicles in Australia.

And the company is already promoting all-wheel drive as a feature on the Solterra’s ‘Register your interest’ page on the Subaru Australia website.

The Subaru Solterra AWD employs an 80kW electric motor on each axle for a total of 160kW.

It joins other Subaru SUVs in offering the X-mode traction management electronics, including Dirt, Mud and Snow modes. The Solterra adds Grip Control, an off-road cruise control system.

X-mode gives the Solterra one key difference to the bZ4X.

Subaru Australia faces a trickier decision over the front-wheel-drive Solterra also available overseas. Does it keep AWD as an ongoing trademark for its SUVs or does it opt for an even cheaper entry point for buyers?

The AWD and FWD variants feature the same 71.4kWh battery, and the latter isn’t much less powerful as it features a 150kW electric motor up front.

The FWD Solterra also has a 530km range that’s not only 70km higher than the AWD’s 460km but would put it just ahead of the rear-drive EV6 (528km), rear-drive Ioniq 5 (452km) and Tesla Model Y Long Range (505km).

Subaru’s first dedicated EV comes equipped with 6.6kW AC charging capability. DC fast charging is rated at 150kW, which puts it well behind the 350kW of Korea’s EV6 and Ioniq 5 twins.

Where those EVs can go from 10 to 80 per cent charge in about 18 minutes, Subaru America’s specs state it takes 56 minutes for the Solterra’s battery to undergo the same replenishment process.

Pricing

Not even Subaru Australia knows how much it will charge yet for the Solterra. The company will no doubt continue to monitor the EV segment over the next 12 months.

What we do know is that the cheapest AWD model costs about A$65,000 in the United States. And AWD versions of the Ioniq 5 and EV6 cost between $76,000 and $83,000, respectively, though they are more powerful and equipped with 800V charging capability.

So, there’s potential for the Solterra to be more affordable, even if it isn’t offered in front-drive form.

There’s also an expectation that the fully electric Solterra will be more convincing than Subaru’s first efforts at electrification, the Forester and XV Hybrids.