Review - 2024 Subaru Solterra

While it’s taken Subaru quite a while to get off the mark with an electric vehicle, Subaru hopes that the Solterra’s adventurous take on the conventional electric vehicle platform will win over fans.

With no shortage of options, though, the Subaru Solterra has its work cut out to impress buyers with its first-ever EV; let’s look at just how well the Solterra handles the heat here in Australia.

Subaru Solterra Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

The MY24 Subaru Solterra range is being introduced here in Australia in a simple, two-variant lineup.

Prices kick off from $69,990 for the Subaru Solterra AWD and rise to $76,690 for the flagship Solterra AWD Touring variant.

These prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Subaru Solterra (AWD) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Subaru Solterra Have?

The Subaru Solterra AWD comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloys and receives self-levelling LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, a powered boot lift, cloth upholstery with heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry & start, dual-zone climate control, reclining rear seats, a digital rear-view mirror and a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster.

Stepping up to the Solterra AWD Touring adds a set of 20-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, ambient interior lighting, leatherette upholstery, a wireless smartphone charger, semi-autonomous parking assistant, auto-dipping side mirrors and eight-way power-adjustable front seats.

Subaru Solterra Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The Subaru Solterra AWD comes packaged with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display that offers DAB+ digital radio, satellite navigation, USB-C and USB-A inputs and is paired with a six-speaker sound system.

Stepping up to the Solterra AWD Touring flagship adds a premium ten-speaker sound system from Harman/Kardon.

The infotainment system is great, offering a large and crisp display that is relatively easy to navigate, though we wish there were maybe some more special touches that EV tech-heads might be looking for.

Does the Subaru Solterra Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Buyers will be pleased to know that both variants of the Subaru Solterra have an infotainment system offering wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, meaning you can simply step in and hit the ground running with your music, contacts and navigation ready to go, wirelessly.

Is the Subaru Solterra Comfortable to Drive?

On the road, the Subaru Solterra feels like a futuristic yet familiar package that will resonate well with Subaru fans.

While the Solterra features a brand-new electric beating heart, the company is sticking with its symmetrical all-wheel drive system, which adds confidence and an adventurous nature to the mix.

Underneath, there are electric motors at the front and rear that produce a combined 160kW of power and 337Nm of torque, giving the Solterra perky, instant acceleration off the line.

In reality, it’s more power than you’ll ever need on the road due to the fact it’s thrown to all four wheels immediately - which makes launching off the line and up to highway speeds smooth and rapid.

Throw it around and the Solterra’s platform feels rock solid on the road with impressive grip in the corners and great stability from the electric AWD system.

With a lightweight steering rack and great visibility, the Solterra is impressively user-friendly as a city car option that floats around town and eats up smaller bumps around town without a problem.

The Solterra’s steering remains light when you need to squeeze it into a tight car park while offering a healthy amount of feedback, while extracting the most juice possible from the regenerative braking system becomes addictive on hills via the wheel-mounted paddles.

Hit the open road and the Solterra’s suspension package works a treat with larger bumps on the road while the all-wheel drive system keeps things stable and the body confident, making for a great country drive.

Like the Subaru Forester, the Solterra offers an adventure-ready EV platform with some impressive light off-roading abilities on loose surfaces, with 212mm of ground clearance making it one of the most confident EV off-roaders.

While it’s no thoroughbred bush-busher, it’s hard to deny how happy the Solterra is to get its toes dirty, which is quite a unique feat for the electric vehicle segment.

The result is one impressive EV package from Subaru overall, with the Solterra’s versatility giving it a solid footing in a super competitive market landscape.

How Far Can the Subaru Solterra Drive on a Single Charge?

The Subaru Solterra range is powered by a 71.4kWh battery pack that feeds both electric motors, resulting in a claimed 414-kilometres of driving range on the WLTP test cycle.

Energy efficiency figures of the Solterra’s dual motor powertrain stand at a claimed 14.1kWh per 100km.

This means the Solterra isn’t a class leader in terms of driving range per charge, though it’s easy enough to attain Subaru’s energy consumption figures and get at least 400km of range per charge.

How Fast Can You Charge the Subaru Solterra?

Subaru’s 71.4kWh battery pack powering the Solterra can be DC fast-charged at a maximum speed of 150kW, which is less than some of the fastest-charging EVs on the market.

This lags some of its key rivals in terms of outright charging speeds, with some of its most competitive rivals offering charging speeds up to 350kW with access to the right charger.

That said, a 30-minute stint with a 150kW fast charger can still bring the battery pack from 10 to 80 per cent.

• 0-100% Charge Time with 11kW Wall Box: 6:30

• 0-100% Charge Time with 50kW Charger: 1:38

• 10-80% Charge Time with 150kW DC Charger: 0:30

Is the Subaru Solterra Practical and Spacious?

Step inside the Solterra and it’s immediate that this is a brand new package from Subaru.

The unique steering wheel, digital instrument cluster and large infotainment display make things feel nice and modern in the front of the cabin, while things are nice and spacious overall.

Those seated in the front of the cabin are treated to acres of headroom thanks to the tall roofline and great forward visibility, with the low-slung dashboard adding to forward visibility.

There are some trim elements in the front of the cabin that might not justify the Solterra’s price tag in the eyes of some buyers, though the new layout feels unique to the brand and representative of the brand-new tech underneath.

The beefy centre console does come in handy when it comes to practicality, with the Solterra offering no shortage of storage options.

Up front, there’s a hidden layer of storage underneath the console itself, while a pair of cupholders, added storage under the folding armrest and large bottle holders are on hand to eat up your loose items.

Move to the rear and the Solterra is a strong performer for second-row accommodation, with more than enough legroom on offer for adults to stretch out, though your legs are positioned quite high due to the battery underneath translating to a higher-than-average floor.

The second row picks up the usual set of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for child seats, as well as USB-C charging ports and air vents to keep things comfortable in the rear.

How Big is the Subaru Solterra’s Boot?

The Subaru Solterra has a boot measuring in at 410L with the rear seats standing, making it slightly less capacious than your typical midsize SUV.

The rear seats fold down in a 60:40 split arrangement that allows you to squeeze in sports gear and bulky cargo, though no exact figures have been confirmed by Subaru for maximum boot space.

There’s also a compact shelf sitting beneath the boot floor that allows you to stash a charging cable out of the way.

The Solterra’s rear hatch is absolutely massive, with the inclined glass eating up into potential boot space which means you can’t stack particularly tall items in the rearmost of the cabin.

Is it Safe?

Safety equipment is one area that the Subaru Solterra does not disappoint, with a long list of active safety gear thrown in as standard.

The range picks up forward and rear autonomous emergency braking atop rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alerts with lane-keep assist, emergency steering assist, a surround-view monitor with rear parking sensors, driver attention alerts and traffic sign recognition.

The only feature missing in the base model is an intelligent parking assistant, which is reserved for the range-topping Solterra AWD Touring variant.

Does the Subaru Solterra Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Subaru Solterra wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing conducted in 2022 where it scored the following marks:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 88%

• Child Occupant Protection: 88%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 79%

• Safety Assist: 93%

What Warranty Does the Subaru Solterra Come With?

Subaru offers the Solterra with its standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery and high-voltage components are backed by an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty.

Buyers will be pleased to know that the Subaru Solterra is packaged with five-year or 75,000-kilometres worth of free servicing.

Our Verdict: Is the Subaru Solterra Worth it?

While it’s taken Subaru quite a while to get off the mark with an electric vehicle, the Solterra is a fitting addition to the range that carries on with its confidence-inspiring four-paw tradition- but lacks in some key areas.

It’s a promising sign of what’s to come from Subaru’s electrified lineup, but it’s not the top of the segment right now, due primarily to the mediocre range figures and the fact it misses out on super fast DC charging.

Having said that, the Solterra’s versatile nature tops the segment and makes it feel at home on rougher roads here in Australia, which will resonate well with fans of the brand.

As a result, we’d encourage you to add it to your prospective electric vehicle shortlist and to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price on your next car.

Five Subaru Solterra Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Eight-year/160,000km warranty for battery

3. 414km range from 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery

4. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

5. 410L boot space