Overview

Don’t adjust your set. The Subaru Solterra electric car may have its own face and wear Subaru’s six-star badge but look beyond that and you’ll see that this is actually a re-badged Toyota bZ4X. The two companies partnered in developing this model, though there’s an awful lot more Toyota than Subaru in the finished product.

Still, it gives Subaru what it has hitherto been missing – a fully-electric vehicle. It’s a mid-size coupe-SUV, which puts it in an increasingly crowded sector of the market. Rivals include everything from the Kia EV6 and Ford Mustang Mach-E to the Tesla Model Y and Volvo C40. You could also lump in more hatchbacky cars like the Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

But the Solterra has a bit of a mountain to climb if it’s to win buyers, as its range is uncompetitive and it’s performance is only average. But it’s unique-in-class off-road ability could be enough to persuade the new customers Subaru is keen to attract, and to persuade famously loyal Outback and Forester owners to switch to electric.

The Solterra range is easy to understand. There are just two models to choose from, both of which are powered by a 71.4kWh battery and two electric motors (one for each axle) that produce a combined 215hp.

The Limited trim comes with a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated seats and steering wheel and a power tailgate. Top-spec Touring adds leather seats, driver’s seat memory, 20-inch alloys, wireless phone charger, panoramic glass roof and Harmon/Kardon stereo with boot-mounted subwoofer.

With proven Toyota technology but sold through Subaru’s well-regarded, largely family-owned dealers, the Solterra could prove an easy step into the world of electric motoring. But neither brand has made an EV before, despite such cars having been around in volume for a decade at this point. Does Subaru’s approach work here?

Over the next few pages, we’ll review every aspect of the Subaru Solterra. We’ll consider its practicality, interior quality, driving experience and running costs before offering our final verdict on the car.