2022 Subaru Solterra priced confirmed as £49,995
Subaru's first ever all-electric car will launch in July. It'll be technically related to Toyota's bZ4X
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If you're familiar with the Subaru brand, the name may remind you of burbling engines and blue and yellow rally cars from yesteryear, or it might remind you of rugged crossovers that are loved by farmers and country folk alike. Or it might remind you of neither, because Subaru's a fairly left field brand in Britain these days. Either way, it almost certainly does not make you think of electric cars, because, well, Subaru's never made one before. Until now. Meet the new Solterra, Subaru's first battery-powered offering, which is coming to Britain this July with a starting price of £49,995.
You may at first glance think this looks a lot like the Ford Mustang Mach-E… and yes, we're inclined to agree that the front looks a little similar to the American electric SUV. In fact, this new Subaru has far more in common with a Toyota, because the sleek EV shares bodywork with that of the new Toyota bZ4X. It's another Subaru and Toyota collaborated project, like that of the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ. Whether you prefer one or the other offering from the partnershi is likely to be entirely subjective - or related to which cars takes your fancy most.
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When it comes to the Subaru Solterra, it gets a 71.4kWh battery, which is pretty substantial. There will be two different models available from launch, with the entry-level ‘Limited’ version coming with a single motor, which will deliver an impressive 289 miles of claimed range while producing 204hp and 336Nm of torque. While the top of the range 'Touring' model has a dual-motor system with four wheel drive and an extra 14hp. But this extra power output means there’s naturally a slight decrease in range, which drops to a claimed 257 miles. That's still pretty competitive. The 'Touring' Solterra is the quicker of the two versions, and it goes from 0-62mph in just 6.9 seconds, meaning this SUV is no slouch.
Along with the Solterra’s remarkable range, it is also capable of 150kW fast charging, meaning you can get the battery up from 20% to 80% in just 19 minutes when using a fast charger, like those increasingly located at service stations and in petrol station forecourts.
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As for the kit, each Solterra will get 18-inch alloys as standard, or 20-inch alloys if you go with more expensive ‘Touring’ model. With the entry level car you will get heated seats in the front and back, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree bird’s eye camera and a digital rear view mirror. While the more expensive version gets a fixed panoramic roof, Harman Kardon sound system, wireless charging and synthetic leather seats. The interior comes with a huge touchscreen, giving the driver and passenger easy access to the infotainment system. It all looks pretty promising.
Can't wait until July? If you're a fan of Subarus, look at the selection we have on offer in our online showroom. Oh, and don't forget to check out our new electric cars help page, if you're undecided whether an EV is the right next choice for you.
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