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The Solterra shares much with Toyota’s intriguingly named bZ4X, but that just means the electric SUV is built on oh-so solid foundations.
They say sharing is caring, and Toyota has done plenty of that of late. The company has worked with BMW and Suzuki in recent years, and it has a long-standing collaboration with Subaru, too. The latest product of that tie-up is this, the Subaru Solterra electric SUV. Based on the Toyota bZ4X, it’s a family car that promises to mix Toyota’s electric car know-how with Subaru’s off-road capability. But will that be a match made in heaven? And will the Solterra prove more desirable than its Toyota-badged sibling.
Nose job
Subaru has tried to give the Solterra a little individual styling with the attachment of a new front end, but even that can’t prevent the Solterra from looking much the same as the bZ4X. Yes, there’s a hint of a grille on the nose, but the roofline, bumpers and the angular rear end are all exactly the same. From the back, the only surefire way of differentiating the two cars is to have a good look at the badges.
It’s the same story inside, where the Solterra has exactly the same interior as the bZ4X, complete with its futuristic digital instrument display and the wide centre console. Of course, being a Toyota interior, it’s one of the most convincing cabins in the Subaru range, with better fit and finish than anything else the brand currently sells. Admittedly, the plastics aren’t all that upmarket, but they’re securely bolted together and everything feels as though it’s built to last. The buttons are all substantial and robust, and most of the things you touch regularly are made with more premium materials.
Subaru has also included Toyota’s touchscreen technology, which looks clean and sharp, but isn’t always the easiest system to use. That said, it’s much better than anything else in Subaru’s range, and the digital instrument cluster is clear and easily legible, which puts it well ahead of some other systems.
Breathing space
As with the bZ4X, one of the best things about the Solterra is the amount of space in the cabin. The whole interior is wide and airy, with plenty of space between the driver and passenger, while headroom is more than adequate. Rear headroom is good, too, despite the low-looking roofline further back. But the most impressive aspect of the Solterra’s interior is the rear legroom, which is more than sufficient to seat even very tall adults in comfort.
Unfortunately, boot space is not quite such a strong suit for the Solterra, which has slightly different amounts of luggage space depending on which version you choose. The basic Limited model comes with 452 litres of boot capacity, while the Touring cuts that to 441 litres. And there’s no ‘frunk’ under the bonnet, either.
Positively charged
Both versions of the Solterra come with the same 71.4kWh battery and two 80kW electric motors, with one mounted at each end of the car. Together, they produce 218hp and give the Solterra Subaru’s trademark all-wheel drive. That, combined with decent ground clearance, gives the Solterra a surprising amount of off-road capability, but that isn’t the headline for this family SUV.
Instead, the basic Limited model will cover 465km on a single charge, while the Touring manages to squeeze 413km from a fully charged battery. Of course, that’s all according to the European Union’s official economy test, so while those who choose the Limited might manage more than 400km if they drive carefully, Touring customers are looking at around 350km between top-ups. That range isn’t terrible, and our test revealed an easily achievable range of around 300km or so at motorway speeds and with the air conditioning running.
Of course, that assumes you won’t make too much use of the Solterra’s ample performance, which allows it to get from 0-100km/h in less than seven seconds. For a family SUV, that’s pretty punchy, and the immediacy of the acceleration makes the Solterra perfect for overtaking.
But however quickly you use the Solterra’s battery capacity, it can charge fairly quickly, supporting 150kW DC charging. As a result, the brand says the car can be filled from 10 to 80 per cent in around half an hour. And if you charge at home, it’ll accept 7kW from a domestic ‘wallbox’ charging point
Softly, softly
Mechanically, the Solterra is identical to the bZ4X, so it’s no surprise to find the two cars behave similarly on the road. That’s good news for the Subaru, because that means it’s every bit as comfortable and mature as the Toyota, and both cars manage to soak up most of the bumps quite well. The sharp bumps and low speeds found in urban environments don’t always do the car, or your backside, too many favours, but at motorway speeds it’s remarkably supple. And with the quietness of the powertrain, it’s quite a relaxing long-distance electric car. Particularly if you know there are fast chargers on your route. Fortunately, the range readout on the instrument display tends to be reasonably accurate, which is a useful feature for journey planning.
But while some cars seem to be comfortable or sporty, and never both, the Solterra is stable and secure enough to offer drivers a bit of enjoyment. It doesn’t lean too much in corners and there’s plenty of grip, while the power is delivered securely and safely. It won’t set keen drivers’ hair on fire, but it’s good enough about it to enjoy a good back road.
Solid, but not spectacular
By basing the car on the bZ4X, Subaru gave the Solterra a strong start in life, and it has delivered everything expected from it. It might not be the most impressive or the most exciting electric car on the market, but it’s dependable and accomplished, and with prices starting at less than €50,000, it’s competitively priced. In short, it has all the ingredients required to be a success.
What next for Subaru?
Subaru is not the brand it once was, having largely abandoned its rally-bred heritage in favour of building dependable 4x4s. The brand’s most exciting car, the BRZ, won’t come to Ireland, and there’s still no indication whether the forthcoming Impreza will make it to the Irish market. However, the brand has confirmed more all-electric SUVs are on the way, and we’ll wait to see which of those cars arrive in Europe.