Subaru announced that its first electric car was in the pipeline last year, and now it’s called the Solterra
There doesn’t seem to be much hype around Subaru at the moment, especially in the UK where we’re unlikely to see the next generation, 228bhp at BRZ Europe’s shows. However, we are talking about an all-new C-Class SUV that will be launched in 2022. That’s great news!
Well, there’s not a whole lot to get you excited on the surface, but if Subaru is embracing the electric future, it might – just maybe – tempt you to give us something more sporty in the future. Which means you’re a Subaru fan, and that’s the hope. Suffice it to tell you that Subaru won the 2021 Car of the Year.
The new SUV will be Subaru’s first, as it competes with the likes of the Kia e Niro, the 2008 Peugeot E and countless other electric vehicles that are beginning to flood showrooms.
The automaker’s values include safety first, driving pleasure second, all-weather capability, readiness, and a low center of gravity.
One look at a photo released by
Subaru Corporation reveals a Solterra with mud on the car’s rear deck.
Which means that the new all-electric SUV will be ready for off-roading.
It is likely that the new Subaru Solterra 2022 will have additional features beyond the all-wheel drive system.
The new SUV will come with a battery that gives it the ability to get away from the city for long distances, which means that the range of the car on a single charge will be large, and it also has an additional height from the ground.
And the Solterra can come with a dual-function X-Mode with settings for deep snow and mud, with a lower center of gravity to improve performance while navigating steep trails.
Subaru’s all-electric vehicle will be built on the e-TNGA platform Toyota has built for its upcoming electric vehicles, making it a twin to any production car of the Toyota bZ4X concept we saw last month.
We don’t know much about how it performs yet, but Subaru has hinted at the use of an all-wheel drive system, with which we can expect electric motors on each axle for real off-road utility.
As for the name, Subaru combined the Latin words for “sun” and “earth” to produce the Solterra name, signifying that the company would “appreciate Mother Nature and evolve a form of coexistence with it.”
Of course it is environmentally friendly.
Environmentally friendly aside, the Middle East will be late to enjoying the new Subaru, and the Solterra will go on sale in Japan, China, the United States, Canada and Europe halfway through next year.
We may see her around the end of the year becoming one of the inhabitants of the roads of the Middle East.
Summary of the Subaru Saltera
SolterraThe upcoming 2023 Subaru Soltera is a compact electric crossover, and the Japanese automaker’s first electric vehicle.
Appropriately, it will have all-wheel drive as standard, a staple from Subaru.
Subaru has teamed up with Toyota to co-develop the platform for this SUV, which is also set to underpin other future models.
The Solterra, on the other hand, will be visually and mechanically similar to the upcoming Toyota bZ4X, but will have a more beautiful name echoed, perhaps sporting some subtle Subaru styling motifs.
While the bZ4X and 2023 Solterra don’t currently face much competition in the non-luxury and compact segment, the landscape could change dramatically by the time they both hit showrooms next year.
What’s new for 2023?
The Solterra crossover will be Subaru’s first electric vehicle when it goes on sale in 2022 as the 2023 model.
Subaru hasn’t announced pricing for the 2023 Solterra, but we expect it to be matched closely with the Toyota bZ4X, which we think will start at $30,000.
Once we know how much Subie will cost and learn more about the different trim levels and features available, we can make a recommendation on which ones to buy.
Engine, transmission and performance
Aside from the fact that the Solterra will be exclusively electric and have all-wheel drive, we don’t know much about the powertrain or performance.
It is likely that Subaru’s partnership with Toyota on the project will lead to each company developing the areas where they have the most institutional experience and knowledge: Subaru is best known for its standard all-wheel drive systems, and Toyota has gained extensive experience in the electric field since the advent of the Toyota Prius.
Subaru hasn’t announced pricing for the 2023 Solterra, but we expect it to closely align with the Toyota bZ4X, which we think will start in the high $30,000s.
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