This electric compact SUV offers many fine qualities car shoppers are seeking. And the 2024 Subaru Solterra even has one additional trait that very few rivals can match.
The sleek-looking Solterra has sophistication and also provides some toughness due to its ability to go off-roading. With an 8.3 ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive, the Subaru SUV has the traction to take on dirt and muddy roads, along with slippery, snowy ones.
The Solterra won’t have one climbing atop intimidating boulders, yet challenging road surfaces are no problem thanks in part to the vehicle’s grip control, downhill descent and uphill ascent.
A partnership between Subaru and Toyota resulted in the release last year of the Solterra and its twin, the Toyota bZ4. These are the first true electric vehicles for both companies and they are manufactured together at Toyota assembly plant in Japan. The SUVs share the same platform and have many other similarities.
The 2024 Solterra is nearly identical to last year’s version, the difference being quicker charging and extra driver assist features. It serves as a solid commuter vehicle and as mentioned, provides something extra with its off-road capability.
The biggest knock against the Solterra is range. It comes up short at just 222 miles with a single charge. Several competitors exceed 300 miles and the Toyota bZ4 goes further as well (252 miles). The Solterra charging is quick – the 72.8-kWh battery goes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger in around 35 minutes, down from nearly an hour with last year’s model.
We’ve been critical for years of the modest performance up and down the entire Subaru lineup. Well guess what? Subaru finally has a vehicle that offers some meaningful acceleration in normal driving and can tackle some demanding hills.
The Solterra has two electric motors and delivers 215 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. It goes from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, far quicker than most Subarus.
Although it lacks a sporty feel, overall the drivability is solid. The Solterra offers a smooth ride and the regenerative braking is a plus when quickly wanting to bring the vehicle to a stop. Note that it lacks true one-pedal driving. The small SUV can handle itself well on winding roads and is agile enough to navigate tight parking areas.
Standard driver-assistance safety features include blind-spot monitoring, emergency steering, lane keeping and intersection assist, lane-departure warning, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, vehicle exit warning, and rear-seat alert.
AT A GLANCE – 2024 SUBARU SOLTERRA
- Performance: two electric motors, 215 horsepower
- Mileage estimate: 94-114 mpge
- Price estimate: $44,900 to $51,900
- Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles; Drivetrain: 5 years/60,000 miles; Roadside assistance: 3 years/36,000; Corrosion: 3 years/60,000
Subaru is applauded for the Solterra’s roomy interior that will seat four adults comfortably and assuming one is a child, accommodate five passengers. There’s an abundance of leg room front and back, but the head room can be a bit limiting for taller individuals. Seating is comfortable and suitable for long trips. The cargo area is 27.7 cubic feet in the back and expands to 63.5 cubes when the seats are folded to the floor.
The Solterra has an 8-inch touchscreen display, which is sharp and responsive. It also has buttons for some controls, instead of everything requiring touchscreen access. Standard offerings include a wireless charging pad, four USB-C ports and one USB-A port. There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and integration.
Kudos to Subaru, which not only released its first true EV, but also equipped it with solid performance and off-road capability.
Weidel on Wheels is featured regularly on www.tahoeskiworld.com. Auto writer Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffweidel.
