Should you buy one?

There’s a lot to like about the Subaru Solterra including its styling, refined and composed driving experience, infotainment and build quality. But it equally has some shortcomings such as its relative lack of space and practicality, and high list price.

And there’s the ever-present, all-but-identical Toyota bZ4X – with its industry-leading warranty – that casts doubt on the very point of the Solterra. On paper, at least, the Solterra is quite hard to justify.

But most people who buy one will do so simply because they prefer their local Subaru dealer to the nearest Toyota agent. After all, Subaru owners keep going back, so they must be doing something right. They’re quite good at winning over new customers, too.

Ultimately, though, if you want a family-size electric SUV, the likes of the Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq and Tesla Model Y are more practical propositions that are easier to live with day-to-day.

What we like

The Solterra looks distinctive, it’s pleasant to drive, and feels like a quality product that’s built to last. The car’s genuine off-road ability has real appeal, as well, especially to Subaru’s largely countryside-based audience. Subaru’s dealers breed loyalty and there are some cracking deals available, as well, taking the sting out of the list price.

What we don’t like

A car of the Solterra’s size really should be more practical and taller people might not get on with the high-level driver’s display and lack of thigh support. The biggest problem, though, is the range. If you only do relatively short journeys, it may not be an issue. But there are plenty of similar cars that can go beyond the psychologically important 300-mile mark, even in the real world.