- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
Perm Magnet, LI
- Engine Power
160kW, 169Nm
- Fuel
35h 0m chg, 485km range
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Red'n Gear
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2022)
2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring review
Subaru is the latest car maker to take on the Tesla Model Y in the mid-size electric SUV category. Is it worth a look over its Toyota BZ4X twin?
- Confident handling
- Well equipped and appointed inside
- Easy-to-use technology
- Expensive given rivals have longer driving range, faster charging, better energy efficiency
- Small boot and limited interior storage, including no glovebox
- Feels too much like a Toyota than a Subaru
2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring
Subaru has finally joined the electric-car game – with a little help from its friends.
The Subaru Solterra mid-size family SUV was developed in partnership with the Toyota BZ4X, and is pitched at the category dominated by the Tesla Model Y – as well as the likes of the Kia EV6 and coming EV5, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The twins share their bodywork, interior and underpinnings – a new dedicated electric-car platform set to underpin other future electric Toyotas – but have different bumpers, lights, badges, and certain interior details.
Is there too much Toyota in this Subaru to please loyal customers – and make new customers choose it over its BZ4X twin?
How much is a Subaru Solterra?
The Solterra was originally planned to range from $77,990 to $83,690 plus on-road costs, but the price was cut days before first deliveries, priced at $69,990 to $76,990 plus on-road costs.
A reason was not given for the price cut, but three days later the near-identical Toyota BZ4X was announced from $66,000 to $74,900 plus on-road costs.
Both Subaru Solterra variants are dual-motor all-wheel drive, but it is the better-equipped Touring model on test in this review, priced from $76,990 plus on-road costs.
With single-tone Harbour Mist Grey Pearl paint fitted – a no-cost option; only two-tone colours cost extra at $1200 – the drive-away price in NSW is $83,065, according to the Subaru Australia website.
Its closest rival is the BZ4X, which in equivalent AWD trim is $74,900 plus on-road costs, or $2090 cheaper.
Australia’s top-selling electric vehicle, the similarly sized Tesla Model Y, was at the Solterra’s launch priced from $78,400 plus on-road costs in Long Range AWD form, but the price has since been cut to $69,900 plus on-road costs.
Other competitors include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Dynamiq AWD ($80,500), Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD ($87,590) and Ford Mustang Mach-E Select RWD ($72,990), all before on-road costs.
Standard equipment in the base Solterra includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and satellite navigation, a 7.0-inch instrument display, LED headlights, heated front and outboard rear seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, 360-degree and rear-view cameras, six speakers, front and rear parking sensors, and a full suite of safety technology.
Get a great deal today
Interested in this car? Provide your details and we'll connect you to a member of the Drive team.
The Touring adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a wireless smartphone charger, glass roof, synthetic leather-look seat trim, power-adjustable front passenger seat, semi-automatic parking, and 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
Key details | 2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring |
Price | $76,990 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Harbour Mist Grey Pearl |
Options | None |
Drive-away price | $83,065 (NSW) |
Rivals | Toyota BZ4X | Tesla Model Y | Kia EV6 |
How big is a Subaru Solterra?
In general terms, the Subaru Solterra – which measures 4690mm long, 1860mm wide and 1650mm tall – is a few centimetres longer and wider than a Subaru Forester, but the front and rear wheels are pushed closer to the corners of the car to increase interior space.
There is a lot more Toyota than Subaru in the Solterra’s cabin, and key elements you touch and interact with – the seats, steering wheel, instrument display and central touchscreen – will be familiar to Toyota owners, not Subaru customers.
But they are not identical. The biggest difference is the steering wheel, which in the Solterra is not circular, rather an unusual squared-off design.
There is a good reason for it: the Toyota and Subaru twins have an unusual driving position, with the instrument display is placed high and far away, and the steering wheel designed to be set low, so you look over rather than through it to see the instruments.
It is unusual at first, but at 186cm tall I got used to it quickly – and is much better integrated than a similar attempt at this layout in modern Peugeots. The squared-off wheel helps the driver see the instruments more clearly than in the BZ4X – which has a circular steering wheel – and it’s not too awkward to use when parking.
The front seats – trimmed in synthetic leather-look material – are from the Toyota parts bin, and they provide good comfort with an acceptable amount of support.
Unlike the BZ4X, the Solterra misses out on ventilated front seats – offering heating only – but in this Touring grade it adds heated outboard rear seats and a power-adjustable passenger seat, which are not available on either version of its Toyota twin.
There is eight-way power adjustment for the driver (plus two-way lumbar) – as with the Toyota – and space is reasonably accommodating, but the centre console is wide, cutting into knee room.
There’s a mix of materials – from easy-to-mark gloss black plastic on the centre console, to soft armrests, and a fabric-like covering on the dashboard that feels like bus-seat fabric – and perceived build quality in our test vehicle was good, with no squeaks or rattles.
There is a row of controls for the air conditioning and heated seats, though they are touch-sensitive not physical buttons, as well as volume buttons, though again a dial would be easier.
Amenities in the Touring include keyless entry and start, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, two USB-C ports, one USB-A socket, one 12-volt outlet, a wireless phone charger (in a lidded compartment), heated steering wheel, 360-degree camera, automatic parking, and a glass roof.
Compared to the BZ4X AWD, the Solterra Touring also gains a digital rear-view mirror and heated rear seats.
Storage space could be better given the external dimensions. There is space under the centre console tunnel, but it is hard to access, while the main centre console box is not the largest.
The door pockets are on the small side – though they can accommodate a bottle – and there is no glovebox of any form, as Toyota and Subaru say the space was needed to fit a radiant heating system claimed to be more energy-efficient than heating the cabin through traditional air vents alone.
In the rear, passengers are offered excellent leg room and good head room, even behind a tall driver, but the high seat base means occupants’ knees are perched in the air, even more so than rivals, and toe room is almost non-existent with the front seats in their lowest positions.
The rear backrest does recline – or fold 60:40 for more boot space – and there are bottle holders in the doors, two USB-C ports, a fold-down armrest with two cupholders, three top-tether points for child seats, two ISOFIX anchors, two map pockets, and rear air vents.
Boot space is a claimed 410 litres, which is smaller than a Subaru Forester (498L) – as well as electric rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y and, by one litre, the BZ4X AWD. As with most electric cars, there’s no spare tyre under the floor, rather a puncture repair kit.
2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 410L seats up |
Length | 4690mm |
Width | 1860mm |
Height | 1650mm |
Wheelbase | 2850mm |
Does the Subaru Solterra have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Both of the Solterra’s interior screens – a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and 7.0-inch instrument display – run software from Toyota, not Subaru, though the companies have changed the start-up screens depending on the vehicle they are fitted to.
The infotainment system is not the fastest or most contemporary on the market, and the icons and text feel small given how large the display is, but it works effectively and is easy to use once you live with the car.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included – the former of which worked well in our testing – plus AM/FM/DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, and satellite navigation.
Frustratingly – at least in the software version loaded to our test vehicle – there is no easy function in the embedded satellite navigation to search for charging stations, which feels like a bizarre omission for an electric car with a shorter driving range than its rivals.
The 7.0-inch instrument display can only display basic information such as the speed, energy use and tyre pressures, but it’s clear and relatively easy to navigate. It is more than can be said for a Tesla, which does not have a dedicated instrument display of any form, rather merging all vehicle functions into the touchscreen.
The Solterra’s 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo has one more speaker than the nine-speaker JBL system in the BZ4X, but we found the Toyota to deliver the deeper, more balanced audio experience. Still, it is no match for the stereo in a Tesla Model Y, which was in-house by engineers poached from top Danish home audio brands.
Unlike its Toyota twin, Subaru does not offer a smartphone app to track the vehicle’s location, unlock the doors, or control other functions – though owners can turn on the climate-control system from the key fob before entering the car.
Is the Subaru Solterra a safe car?
The Subaru Solterra earned a five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) based on testing of its Toyota BZ4X twin conducted by its European counterpart Euro NCAP in 2022.
Against just-superseded 2020–2022 test protocols, it was awarded category scores of 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 88 per cent for child occupant protection, 79 per cent for vulnerable road user protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and 93 per cent for safety assist technology.
2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring | |
ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2022) |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Subaru Solterra have?
Unlike its Toyota twin, every version of the Subaru Solterra is fitted with a full list of safety technology – particularly blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which are absent on the front-wheel-drive BZ4X.
The safety systems worked well in our testing, and did not get in the way of day-to-day driving, though the driver monitoring system could be overzealous at times.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) | Yes | Includes cyclist, junction, night-time awareness |
Adaptive Cruise Control | Yes | Includes traffic jam assist |
Blind Spot Alert | Yes | Alert only |
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | Yes | Alert and assist (AEB backover) functions |
Lane Assistance | Yes | Lane-departure alert, lane-keep assist, lane-centring assist |
Road Sign Recognition | Yes | Includes speed limiter |
Driver Attention Warning | Yes | Camera-based with distraction and drowsiness monitoring |
Cameras & Sensors | Yes | Front and rear sensors, 360-degree camera |
How much does the Subaru Solterra cost to run?
The Subaru Solterra is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty, whichever comes first.
For the time being it is offered with the first five services – at 12-month or 15,000km intervals, whichever comes first – for free, as well as five years of roadside assistance, and membership to a state motoring club (such as NRMA, RACV or RACQ).
The free servicing offer gives the Solterra a cost of ownership advantage over its rivals. Over five years/75,000km, servicing for a Toyota BZ4X costs $900, a Kia EV6 costs $2168, and a Ford Mustang Mach-E Select costs $780, while four years/60,000km of maintenance for a Hyundai Ioniq 5 costs $1730.
A year of comprehensive insurance coverage with a leading provider costs $1823, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
For context, based on the same parameters, a Toyota BZ4X AWD costs $2019 and a Tesla Model Y RWD costs $1864.
At a glance | 2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Battery warranty | Eight years/160,000km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | Free for first five years |
What is the range of a Subaru Solterra?
The Subaru Solterra Touring claims a driving range of 485km in lenient NEDC lab testing and energy consumption of 14.1kWh per 100 kilometres.
Subaru Australia does not provide claimed figures under more stringent – and more realistic – European WLTP testing, but its identical Toyota BZ4X twin with the same NEDC results claims a 411km range and 18.1kWh/100km energy consumption.
Over a week of primarily urban testing, we observed consumption of 17.8kWh/100km, beating the WLTP estimate – though due to the way energy consumption and driving range are measured in lab testing, that only translates to a range of 401km, less than the WLTP rating.
We were not able to test the Subaru Solterra on Drive’s highway electric-car range test loop. However, the mechanically identical Toyota BZ4X AWD displayed 18.2kWh/100km on a 110km/h highway test loop, which returned frugal energy consumption of 15.8kWh/100km from a Tesla Model Y RWD.
In other words, the Subaru Solterra is on the 'thirsty' side for a mid-size electric SUV, but when driven modestly can deliver about 400km on a charge in suburban areas.
Subaru claims a 10 to 80 per cent fast charge can be completed in about 30 minutes at up to 150kW. A real-world test of the Toyota BZ4X AWD returned a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in 34 minutes and 30 seconds at a peak of 129kW – and we have no reason to assume the Subaru would perform differently given they share battery packs and charging power claims.
It is worth noting the Subaru and Toyota do not use the lithium iron phosphate chemistry of a base Tesla Model Y, meaning regular charges to 100 per cent – and down to empty – will accelerate the wear of the battery pack.
It is generally advised owners keep the battery between 20 and 80 per cent charge, and only use the full zero to 100 per cent capacity on a road trip when maximum driving range is needed.
Energy efficiency | 2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring |
Energy cons. (claimed) | 14.1kWh/100km (NEDC), 18.1kWh/100km (WLTP projected) |
Energy cons. (on test) | 17.8kWh/100km |
Battery size | 71.4kWh |
Driving range claim (NEDC) | 485km |
Charge time (11kW) | 6h 30min (0–100% claimed) |
Charge time (50kW) | 1h 38min (0–100% claimed) |
Charge time (150kW) | 30min (claimed 10–80%) 34min 30sec (based on BZ4X AWD test at 129kW peak |
What is the Subaru Solterra like to drive?
On paper, the all-wheel-drive Solterra’s electric motor outputs (160kW/337Nm) sound modest, but they never feel inadequate for the size or weight of the car.
There is no rush of acceleration like a Tesla – the Solterra won’t pin you into the back of your seat on a light touch of the accelerator – but the electric motors’ instant responses are ideal for sneaking into gaps in traffic, and at higher speeds do not feel out of breath.
The claimed 0–100km/h acceleration time of 6.9 seconds is a match for a base Tesla Model Y, and more than three seconds faster than a 2.5-litre petrol Subaru Forester, though it is not a quick car to begin with.
The electric motors and 71.4kWh battery are shared between the Subaru and Toyota, but the twins differ when it comes to the tuning of the steering and suspension.
The Solterra is firmer over bumps than the BZ4X, and does not disguise its two-tonne weight as well. While the Toyota irons out small lumps and imperfections in the road at high speeds, the Subaru doesn’t feel as settled, jostling its occupants around.
At low speeds in the city, neither car delivers a magic-carpet ride – as the 20-inch wheels and low-profile tyres mean passengers feel more of potholes and expansion joints in the road than we’d like – but the Subaru is not as comfortable as its twin.
We wouldn’t call the Solterra’s suspension uncomfortable, and it is easier to live with on bumpy city streets than a Tesla Model Y or Ford Mustang Mach-E Select, but it’s not as plush as a Subaru Outback or Forester.
On a winding road, the battery placed low in the chassis means the Solterra sits flat in corners, with decent grip from the Bridgestone Alenza (235/50 R20) tyres and not much body roll – though a Tesla Model Y feels lighter on its feet and more agile.
The steering in the Subaru Solterra is heavier than the Toyota BZ4X, and is not as effortless as buyers may expect coming from a petrol-powered Subaru. It is reasonably quick and direct, though a Tesla Model Y’s steering feels more precise.
Solterra drivers are given paddles behind the steering wheel to choose from four levels of regenerative braking – compared to two settings, and no paddles in the Toyota – but none bring the car to a full stop without the driver touching the brake pedal.
We understand not all buyers like ‘one-pedal’ drive modes, but it would be nice for Subaru (and Toyota) to offer the option of such a system for customers who want it.
There is a fair amount of tyre roar on coarse-chip country roads, as well as some wind noise on the motorway, though it is perhaps more noticeable with the lack of engine noise.
Visibility is good around town, and it’s easy to park with a suite of cameras and sensors.
Other points from our notebook: there are Eco, Normal and Power drive modes that change the accelerator pedal response and steering weight; there’s another pair of X-Mode settings for off-road driving; and the brake pedal feels natural and easy to modulate.
Key details | 2024 Subaru Solterra AWD Touring |
Engine | Dual electric motors |
Power | 160kW combined |
Torque | 337Nm combined |
Drive type | All-wheel drive |
Transmission | Single-speed |
Power-to-weight ratio | 77.7kW/t |
Weight (tare) | 2060kg |
Spare tyre type | Tyre repair kit |
Tow rating | 750kg braked 750kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 11.2m |
Can a Subaru Solterra tow?
The Subaru Solterra has a maximum braked tow rating of 750kg, whether braked or unbraked.
A gross vehicle mass of 2550kg leaves 490kg for up to five passengers and their cargo – before the car becomes overweight and illegal to drive on the road – when the Touring’s 2060kg tare mass is subtracted.
Should I buy a Subaru Solterra?
The Subaru Solterra does not rewrite the rulebook for electric cars, but it represents an excellent landing pad for petrol-powered SUV drivers looking to jump into the world of electric cars.
It is relatively spacious inside, well-featured in terms of technology, delivers brisk performance, handles well on the road, and is currently offered with five years of free servicing to sweeten the deal.
However, compared to our favourites in the mid-size electric SUV category – the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6 – the Solterra is not as energy-efficient, spacious inside, enjoyable to drive, doesn't travel as far on one charge, top up its battery as quickly, or as competitively priced.
And while it is better equipped, the Solterra AWD Touring does not feel different enough – and is lacking ‘Subaru-ness’ – to present a compelling reason to buy it over its cheaper and more comfortable BZ4X twin.
If you’re a Subaru loyalist that wants an electric car, but won’t consider anything else, the Solterra should be near the top of your shopping list. Although, if you like what this car offers but aren’t tied to the badge, the Toyota BZ4X may be a better fit.
How do I buy a Subaru Solterra? The next steps.
The Solterra AWD Touring is worth considering if you’re after every luxury feature, but the entry-level model may present better value if you don’t need leather seats or a sunroof.
The next step on the purchase journey is to contact a Subaru dealer for stock of your preferred variant at this link. You can also find Subarus for sale for sale at Drive Marketplace.
We strongly recommend taking a test drive at a dealership before committing because personal needs and tastes can differ. We’d also recommend test-driving the Toyota BZ4X, Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6 as they are Drive favourites and formidable competitors.
If you want to stay updated with everything that's happened to this car since our review, you'll find all the latest news here.