Of all the major automakers, only a handful have not gotten into the electric hype train. Subaru is one of them. But that changes last month when the Japanese automaker pull the wrap off its very first all-electric vehicle, an SUV called Subaru Solterra.
[UPDATE April 27, 2022: The 2023 Subaru Soltera SUV EV will arrive this summer with Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and in three trims: Premium, Limited, and Touring, for a starting price of US$44,995. It will be available in all 50 states. The vehicle is eligible for up to US$7,500 federal tax credit. More details can be found HERE.
A front and rear electric motor, combined to produce 215 horses and turns out 248 lb-ft (336 Nm) of torque, drives the 2023 Subaru Solterra. The power is put to good use on all four wheels via Subaru’s pride and joy, the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
The electric motors are juiced by a lithium-ion battery system that supports Level 2 AC and DC fast charging and have an estimated EV range of more than 220 miles (354 km).
Other noteworthy mentions include a generous 8.3-inch ground clearance with Subaru X-MODE for “increased performance in low-friction and off-road conditions,” Grip Control featuring Hill Ascent and Descent Assist, a suite of driver-assist technologies, a new multimedia system offered with 12.3-inch touchscreen, standard multi-element LED headlights, optional 360-degree surround-view camera, and smartphone-connected features including Remote Start with Climate Control, Smart Navigation, and Remote Lock/Unlocking.
Aesthetically, Subaru said the 2023 Subaru Solterra has a “bold design” but personally, I think it is not quite bold, bold. It is just very Subaru-ish. It is pretty sleek but nothing mind-blowing, really.
The 2023 Subaru Solterra Electric SUV will go on sale in mid-2022 as a 2023 model and it will be offered in three trims: Premium, Limited, and Touring. Pricing is TBA. Meanwhile, you can learn more about the new 2023 Subaru Solterra Electric SUV HERE.
P.S. It looks like the 2023 Subaru Solterra will be offered with Front Wheel Drive in other markets. The FWD model will pack 150 kW (201 HP) output from its front-mounted AC synchronous electric motor. It is worthy to note that the cruising range per change (WLTC, Japan standard) is about 460 km (or about 285 miles) for the AWD model.
All images courtesy of Subaru of America.
