Revealed on the very same day as the US-spec 2023 Toyota bZ4X, the sister model from Subaru is also celebrating its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. While the mechanically related electric SUV comes with a choice between front- and all-wheel drive, the new Solterra will be offered exclusively with AWD courtesy of dual motors.
That’s hardly a surprise seeing as how Subarus are known for sending power to both axles even in their most basic configurations. Joining the Outback, Forester, and Crosstrek in the company’s SUV portfolio for the US, the 2023 Solterra can be had with a single drivetrain setup. You get a combined output of 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque along with a battery pack with enough juice for more than 220 miles on a single charge.
There’s not much to say about the design since it’s a spitting image of the bZ4X, with only a few mild modifications to give the Solterra a different identity and bring it somewhat in line with the current Subaru products. A major improvement ushered in by the zero-emissions SUV is on the inside where it gets a newly developed 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration as well as wireless charging.
As standard, the 2023 Solterra will get LED headlights with high-beam assist, while a 360-degree surround-view camera will be making its debut on a Subaru model. Also worth mentioning is the X-Mode for better off-road performance, combined with 8.3 inches of ground clearance. By riding on a dedicated electric platform, it comes with a completely flat floor in the same vein as its Toyota sibling.
Pricing details have not been disclosed, but Subaru is expected to reveal how much the Solterra will cost closer to the vehicle’s market launch programmed to take place in 2022 when the bZ4X is also due. Meanwhile, here are all the technical specifications released so far by Subie about its electric SUV co-developed with Toyota.
Source: Subaru
| Specification | 2023 Solterra |
| EV Range (estimated) | 220+ miles |
| Horsepower | 215 |
| Torque (lb.-ft.) | 246 |
| Passenger volume (cu.in.) | 95.7 |
| Cargo volume from upper row (cu.in.) | 27.7 |
| Cargo volume from lower row (cu.in.) | 30.3 |
| Total passenger & cargo volume (cu.in.) | 126 |
| Rear cargo opening width (in.) | 41.3 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 112.2 |
| Length (in.) | 184.6 |
| Height (in.) | 73.2 |
| Width (in.) | 65.0 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passenger |
| Ground clearance (in.) | 8.3 |
