2023 Subaru Solterra electric SUV debuts with AWD and 215 horsepower

Following in the footsteps of the Toyota bZ4X unveiled back in April and extensively detailed late last month, Subaru is now coming out with its sister model – the new Solterra. Billed as being the company’s very first global EV, the zero-emissions SUV doesn’t bring any surprises in terms of design as the differences between the two models are rather subtle. Some will likely be disappointed the two models are extremely similar as more variety would’ve attracted a wider customer base.

The 2023 Solterra adopts modified headlights and taillights along with a discreetly revised front bumper incorporating fog lights that you’re not going to find in that spot on the equivalent bZ4X. The badge placement is different since it’s mounted just below the frunk’s outline on the Toyota while Subaru’s Pleiades star cluster sits front and center in the mildly tweaked hexagonal grille.

Aside from these changes, the two SUVs are virtually identical, save for the fresh set of alloy wheels for the bZ4X. The angular design of the Subaru looks substantially different than the company’s other models, and it’s easy to notice the body panels are shared with the Toyota model. We could say the same thing about the black plastic body cladding on the wheel arches, the placement of the charging port on the front fender, and the quirky roof-mounted, two-piece spoiler at the back.

The similarities don’t end here as the Solterra and bZ4X largely share the same interior with a center console dominated by a large touchscreen. In both cases, there are several physical controls providing quick access, along with a fully digital instrument cluster mounted near the windshield to be closer to the driver’s line of sight.

As far as the technical specifications are concerned, the Solterra is 4,690 millimeters (184.6 inches) long, 1,860 millimeters (73.2 inches) wide, and 1,650 millimeters (65 inches) tall, which is the same as the bZ4X. Subaru doesn’t specify the length of the wheelbase, but logic tells us it mirrors that of the Toyota, which stretches at 2,850 millimeters (112.2 inches).

While its cousin is also offered in a base version with a single electric motor and front-wheel drive, the Subie will sell its EV exclusively with AWD courtesy of a dual-motor setup. It packs the same punch as the all-paw bZ4X, with dual 80-kilowatt motors producing a combined output of 160 kilowatts (215 horsepower).

Interestingly, the Solterra tips the scales at 2,020 kilograms (4,453 pounds), which makes it 15 kilograms (33 pounds) heavier than the bZ4X. Both share a 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery, offering enough energy for 460 kilometers (286 miles), but bear in mind this number is based on the local Japan standard WLTC. That means we should expect different range figures for the WLTP and EPA cycles. For what it’s worth, the Toyota electric SUV can do 450 kilometers (280 miles) in WLTP, while the EPA figure has yet to be disclosed.

Details regarding the US-spec 2023 Solterra will be released on November 17 when Subaru will host the vehicle’s North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both EVs are scheduled to go on sale in mid-2022.

Source: Subaru