Subaru Solterra All-Electric SUV Debuts in Japan, Bound for U.S.
Subaru debuted the global version of the all-electric Solterra SUV ahead of its U.S. reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week. It’s hard to miss the familial resemblance between the Solterra and the new Toyota bZ4X, and that’s not a coincidence — the SUVs were jointly developed by the Japanese automakers and share the e-Subaru Global Platform. Here’s what we know so far about the global Solterra model, with more details to come for the U.S. version.
Related: Subaru Sheds More Light on Upcoming 2023 Solterra All-Electric SUV
Subaru claims the battery-electric-dedicated platform’s rigidity and low center of gravity will benefit the Solterra’s stability and handling. Power will come from a 71.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack along with the choice of one or two electric motors depending on if it’s a front- or all-wheel drive model. The latter will utilize Subaru’s X-Mode AWD system with a new Grip Control function intended to maintain constant speed on rougher terrain. According to Subaru, the FWD Solterra’s range is estimated at almost 330 miles, slightly more than the FWD bZ4X’s 310, but the AWD Solterra is estimated to match its Toyota cousin’s approximately 285 miles of range. Official range estimates from the EPA are not yet available for either vehicle.
You’d have to squint to spot the styling differences between the Solterra and the bZ4X; both SUVs sport sharp angles, a faux grille (which comes in a hexagonal shape for the Solterra) and bulging fenders. Just like the bZ4X, the Solterra will offer a panoramic glass or solar roof. The Solterra also gets a unique wheel design with 18- or 20-inch wheels available.
Based on the vehicles’ identical dimensions, the Solterra will match the bZ4X’s size, which falls somewhere between the Toyota RAV4 and the hybrid-only Venza. The similarities extend to the cockpit, with both vehicles housing large multimedia displays and digital top-mounted instrument panels. However, the Solterra’s conventional steering wheel deviates from the bZ4X’s Tesla-inspired yoke offered in select markets.
Subaru says the Solterra will arrive in the U.S. by mid-2022, where it will compete against the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4 and the bZ4X. Stay tuned for more details on the U.S.-bound Solterra to be revealed next week.
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- Subaru Solterra Electric SUV to Arrive in 2022
- Toyota’s All-Electric bZ4X Concept Launches ‘Beyond Zero’ Brand
- 2021 Subaru Forester Review: Worthy Contender
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