Amid a flood of decisions from rising and current producers, Subaru’s Solterra AWD Touring represents the Japanese automobile maker’s first foray into the absolutely electrical house. Badging and grille apart, it’s visually completely different from its Toyota bZ4X sibling.
The results of a collaborative partnership between the 2 manufacturers, the Solterra prices barely extra at simply over $83,000 drive away, however does have just a few differentiating options. Examined right here in Harbour Mist Gray Pearl, there are 5 different colors to select from.
The checklist consists of Galactic Black, Cosmic White, Elemental Pink, Smoked Carbon and (merely) Darkish Blue. With a few of these, you possibly can possibility a Galactic Black, two-tone roof. On the surface, the entrance guards and rear arches are lined in black plastic.
Very similar to say the WRX, it’s a design characteristic that would polarise followers. There’s some gloss black touches on the outside too, notably on the bonnet, across the taillights and to create that entrance grille define.
In Touring spec, the Solterra includes a 71.4kWh battery that may recharge to 80 per cent in about half an hour when related to a 150kW DC quick charger. Subaru claims a spread of 485km, however actuality is someplace nearer to 400km.
This variant has a motor on every axle to ship 180kW of energy and 337Nm of torque, which is sweet for a dash to 100km/h in about 7.0 seconds. It’s no velocity demon, however quick sufficient for our roads and concrete areas.
Drivers have the choice of Regular, Eco and Energy drive modes, with paddles behind the steering wheel permitting for as much as 4 ranges of brake regeneration. Whereas the strongest will sluggish the automobile, the Solterra doesn’t characteristic a one pedal driving mode.
Experience consolation is fairly good given the 20-inch wheels the Solterra Touring rides on. It’s compliant even on rougher, unsealed surfaces the place some X-Drive modes will be chosen for extra adventurous events, together with Filth, Mud or Snow.
Inside, the cockpit is futuristic trying and a departure out of your extra acquainted Subaru format. Taking a leaf out of Peugeot’s inside design e-book, the digital instrument panel sits above a squared off steering wheel, however doesn’t really feel as distinctive or unfamiliar.
There are many precise buttons, all of that are fairly simple to work with. An enormous 12.3-inch touchscreen dominates the centre sprint. Interacting with the system is simple and clear, and we discovered as soon as we have been arrange we didn’t have to the touch it fairly often.
That’s significantly so when you’ve paired wirelessly through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The Solterra Touring does characteristic native maps as nicely, although it doesn’t provide to seek out your nearest charging stations as soon as the battery begins getting low.
There are some giant storage areas, together with an enormous one beneath the centre tunnel, whereas a wi-fi charging pad will be discovered below a flap within the console. As appears to be the norm with these items, your cellphone can usually get too sizzling after which charging stops.
There’s an fascinating materials end on the dashboard and no glovebox. The remainder of the inside is generally gray and is useful, with out being something too thrilling. The huge panoramic roof helps with the sense of spaciousness inside.
Audio is shipped by way of a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system which provides an honest aural expertise for the occupants. That is an additional speaker over the JBL system within the Toyota. Each entrance seats characteristic 8-way energy adjustability with two reminiscence settings.
The driving force’s seat consists of lumbar whereas the powered passenger seat is unique to this trim. The entrance seats and steering wheel are heated, and the Touring provides the outer rear seats to that characteristic as nicely.
The Solterra additionally will get ventilated entrance seats, with occupants handled to a roomy and cozy inside and a flat ground. There’s even some room below the ahead pews for these within the second row, though it’s not good for taller rear passengers.
All three rear seats characteristic a baby seat tether level, whereas the outer seats embrace ISOFIX connectors. Whereas there’s no frunk, an electrical tailgate reveals 410-litres of boot house, which places the Solterra on par with the Volvo XC40 Recharge.
Different rivals provide barely extra, with the Kia EV6 delivering 490-litres and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 offering 520-litres. Driving round within the Solterra is sort of a breeze too, due to a commanding seating place and huge glasshouse.
In fact, being an EV, the automobile is quiet and feels comfy to take a seat in. Round city the Solterra is compliant and simple to manoeuvre. On longer journeys it soaks up the bumps, and the gap with ease.
We wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s enjoyable to drive, however for getting the household from A to B; this automobile positively can fulfil that function with out a fear. Blind spot monitoring is commonplace whereas the Solterra additionally options the flexibility to self-park.
We tried to make use of this for a reverse-parallel park however couldn’t fairly get the characteristic to work. That mentioned, in a carpark it was capable of choose up the parallel strains of a parking house and managed to reverse centrally into the chosen spot with no fuss.
For individuals who love to do issues the old style method, the rear view mirror will be switched to a digital show utilising a rear going through digicam, which is nice for when passengers within the again seats is perhaps blocking the standard possibility.
Different security options embrace a driver monitoring system which alerts you in case your eyes aren’t deemed to be taking note of the highway. Fortunately the warnings aren’t as annoying as in another vehicles with this characteristic.
You possibly can depend on Subaru to offer a protected automobile although, with Subaru SafetySense including a pre-collision system that features dynamic radar cruise management, emergency steering help, lane departure alert, lane tracing help and highway signal help.
Subaru backs the 2024 Solterra AWD Touring with a 5-year limitless kilometre guarantee and consists of 5-years or 75,000km price of servicing within the buy worth. Total, it’s good that we now have an electrical possibility from Subaru to contemplate.
These loyal to the model who’ve been ready for an EV shouldn’t be dissatisfied within the Solterra AWD Touring both. It’s a roomy and succesful electrical SUV with loads of security options. Discover out extra on the Subaru Australia web site or out of your native dealership.
To get a low price finance quote, discuss to Australia’s finest reviewed automobile finance dealer; Credit score One. To see an awesome vary of automobiles on the market, take a look at OnlyCars.com.au.
Our take a look at car was offered by Subaru Australia for unbiased evaluate functions.
