Subaru is a manufacturer with a marked DNA of its own. Technologies such as the Boxer engines with horizontally opposed cylinders, or its appreciated and efficient symmetrical all-wheel drive, served to create powerful, safe and, above all, different cars from those offered by its competitors.
Times have changed a lot and Subaru has been able to adapt to the new demands. Now is the time to debut in the 100% electric market and the Solterra SUV is your big bet. It is a car that, like its predecessors, aims to make a difference from its competitors thanks, for example, to its remarkable off-road capabilities.
The Solterra has a length of 469 cm, width of 186 cm and height of 169 cm. Its exterior image is striking, with a stylized lateral silhouette and a front in which the seamless hexagonal grill stands out, typical of electric vehicles and whose shape has already become a distinctive sign of the brand.
Once inside, the good work of quality, execution and distribution carried out by the Japanese manufacturer is appreciated. The driving position guarantees the driver maximum comfort and concentration, thanks to the multiple existing regulations. The front seats are comfortable and the distance between the rows is good for the occupants of the rear seats.
The instrumentation of the vehicle does not show the spectacularity and generosity of other competing models, but it is orderly and clearly visible. It is a 7-inch screen that requires some adaptation for viewing, above the steering wheel.
The 12.3-inch instrument panel located in the center console completes the available information, all the controls are at the driver's fingertips and the modular cockpit adapts to the needs of any user.
The Moveo-tested Touring finish features Harman/Kardon premium audio equipment with a total of ten speakers, a subwoofer and an eight-channel amplifier. The sound quality is extraordinary, even when very high volumes are desired.
To complete its equipment, the Solterra has USB ports of type A and C, wireless connection for smartphones and the Subaru Care app provides multiple functions such as managing the air conditioning from home, checking the state of charge of the battery, etc.
In the mechanical section, the Subaru Solterra has two electric motors of 109 hp each, 218 hp and 337 Nm in total, which provide a range of up to 466 km in combined cycle and 610 km in urban (WLTP). In the Touring version, equipped with 20-inch wheels, the WLTP-approved autonomy drops to 414 km.
The 96-cell lithium-ion battery has 71.4 kWh of capacity. The recharge is through alternating current, which can be done at a maximum of 6.6 kW and with continuous current of 150 kW, charging to 80% in 17 minutes. In case of finding the right charger, it is a small interval of time.
As usually happens in 100% electric cars, the real autonomy is much lower than the approved one. This circumstance also occurs in the Solterra and it is not even necessary to circulate to verify it. In summer, the use of the air conditioner immediately subtracts a high estimated mileage, leaving it slightly above 300 km.
Consequently, if the air conditioning is used, it is a vehicle that allows you to travel between 250 and 280 km between recharges. This figure increases significantly if the vehicle is basically used in the city and driving at low speeds.
Honoring the recognized off-road capacity of its vehicles, Subaru has opted to continue this point of differentiation in the Solterra, so appreciated by its customers.
The Japanese SUV adopts a 4x4 system that drives the front and rear wheels through independent motors. In practice, this AWD technology offers agile response by distributing drive force between the front and rear flexibly. The driver must not intervene in this process, which is self-managed automatically.
Additionally, it features the dual function X-MODE AWD control system (Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud) which has been greatly enhanced by the powerful torque and highly responsive capacity of the two independent motors. In this way, the driver can adapt the traction response in different grip conditions.
A Grip Control function allows the Solterra to move forward at a constant speed while stabilizing it and allows for five levels (2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 km/h). This technology allows you to navigate very rough terrain and do it smoothly and firmly.
Another of the virtues of this Subaru when it comes to leaving the asphalt are the angles of its bodywork, thanks to its 18º attack, 18º ventral and 25º exit. In addition, the minimum height from the ground of 21 cm allows you to move forward with many guarantees of not touching the bottom of the vehicle.
The driving of the Subaru Solterra is optimal on all types of terrain. Driver. The driver can choose between three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Power, in addition to the possibility of adjusting the regenerative braking through paddles located behind the steering wheel. For its part, the S-Pedal allows you to accelerate or brake gradually, even allowing you to stop the vehicle without having to step on the brake pedal.
In any case, the Solterra is not only about efficiency. The fun behind the wheel is present thanks to a low center of gravity that generates high cornering speed, the effectiveness of its braking equipment and the precision offered by the steering. The only negative factor is the total weight of the vehicle, above 2.1 tons, which reduces agility in areas with linked curves.
The dynamic performance of its engines is very remarkable. The maximum speed is self-limited to 160 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is achieved in just 6.9 seconds, a figure typical of a sports car.
Subaru has introduced its best safety technology to the Solterra. The systems use a wide-angle monocular camera with a high-resolution sensor and forward-facing millimeter-wave radar to detect everything in front of the vehicle.
The Japanese model is also equipped with dynamic cruise control, lane departure alert, Proactive Driving Assist, emergency braking system, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic detection sensor, adaptive road light system, blind spot monitor and side traffic detection. These technologies provide a plus of attention in the event of possible driver oversights.
