Out of all the electric vehicles on sale today, the 2024 Subaru Solterra didn’t get the strongest start in life. It shares more than just a platform with Toyota’s bZ4X – including a problem where the wheels literally came off, although that’s subsequently been resolved. Although we appreciated the bZ4X for what it is when we drove it, it’s not an EV that boasts class-leading specifications in its own right. Both Subaru and Toyota may not be at the cutting edge of what’s possible in an EV, at least not in 2024, but both the Solterra and the bZ4X received some important updates for their second year on sale.
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2024 Subaru Solterra
- Base MSRP
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$44,995
- Horsepower
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215 hp
- Torque
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249 lb-ft
- Fuel Economy
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114/94/105 MPGe – Base Model | 111/93/103 MPGe – Top Trims
- Exterior Design
- Performance
- Fuel Efficiency
- Interior & Cargo
- Infotainment & Features
- Reliability
- Safety
- Value For Money
- Drivetrain
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AWD
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2024 Toyota bZ4X
- Base MSRP
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$43,070
- Horsepower
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201 hp
- Torque
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196 lb-ft
- Fuel Economy
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112 – 119 MPGe Combined
- Exterior Design
- Performance
- Fuel Efficiency
- Interior & Cargo
- Infotainment & Features
- Reliability
- Safety
- Value For Money
- Drivetrain
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FWD
There are no major changes in terms of peak charging speed, which is an important metric for EVs, but the 2024 Solterra benefits from an improved charging curve that lowers the charge times on a DC fast charger. While far from the quickest-charging EV on the market, the new charging curve should help make the Solterra a better option on a road trip. We spent a week with the 2024 Solterra Touring to discover if the small alterations for the new model year are enough to make this EV worth your consideration.
Exterior: Toyota With A Splash Of Subaru
The limits of a shared platform mean that Subaru’s design can’t be too radically different from the bZ4X. That being said, the front end looks different from its Toyota counterpart, thanks in part to a faux grille stamped into the bodywork with a black ring around it. We get similar vibes from the Ford Mustang Mach-E front end. The hexagonal shape is meant to mimic a Subaru grille, whereas the bZ4X has a faceless front end, although it admittedly looks a lot more futuristic than the Solterra. Subaru added a unique headlight signature and LED fog lights that aren’t present on the Toyota version. To get that familiar, rugged Subaru look, the painted fenders from the bZ4X are finished in unpainted plastic on the Solterra.
That’s about where the changes end, as even the Solterra’s paint doesn’t differ greatly from the bZ4X. Our tester came finished in Elemental Red Pearl, which appears similar to Toyota’s Supersonic Red. As for the wheels, those will also look familiar to Toyota owners. The base Solterra rides on 18-inch wheels while the two upper trims get 20-inch wheels.
Interior: Smart Layout
Stepping into the Solterra’s cabin, it’s hard to ignore that the seats, screens, and switchgear all come from Toyota. Subaru did insert its own door chimes to make it more familiar to owners, and the Touring trim has an available Gray/Blue StarTex interior option that is not available on the Toyota side. Sadly, our Solterra showed up with a less exciting black interior option. On the base Premium model, cloth seats come standard.
An eight-inch touchscreen comes standard, while the upper trims are upgraded to a larger 12.3-inch display – the display is oriented horizontally, like you’d find in the Toyota. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are included right off the bat. For 2024, the Solterra swaps its traditional steering wheel for a more square apparatus, which takes some getting used to, but the flatter top makes it easier to see the seven-inch digital display. Toyota still uses a round wheel that partially blocks some of the information, which we found when we drove the bZ4X last year.
At the top level, the Solterra feels premium inside with features such as heated/ventilated front seats, a high-resolution 360-degree camera, wireless phone charger, and a panoramic moonroof. The moonroof doesn’t open, like a Tesla, but it does have a shade in case occupants don’t want to be blasted by the sun.
Practicality: Fitting The Customer
The Solterra slots nicely in the Subaru lineup, measuring just under two inches longer than the Forrester but more than seven inches down on the Outback. The Solterra boasts 35.3 inches of rear legroom, which is on the lower end of the spectrum for the compact EV crossover segment. The Solterra fairs better behind the rear seats, where the trunk accommodates 23.8 cubic feet or 63.5 cubes with the seats folded – numbers that are competitive.
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Wheelbase |
112.2 inches |
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Length |
184.6 inches |
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Height |
65 inches |
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Width |
73.2 inches |
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Cargo Space |
23.8 – 63.5 ft³ |
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Curb Weight |
4,354 – 4,486 lbs |
Performance: Deceptively Quick
Unlike its Toyota sibling, the Subaru Solterra is only sold as a dual-motor with that brands Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. The two motors combine to produce 215 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque, which doesn’t sound like a ton on paper. That output is deceptive though, as we registered 0-60 mph in just 6.38 seconds, which is just under Subaru’s 6.5-second estimate. If the Solterra is your first EV, and you’re coming out of a traditional gas-powered crossover, the Solterra will feel plenty quick.
As for the driving range, the Solterra is less impressive. The 72.8 kWh battery pack (64 kWh usable) provides just 227 miles of range for the Premium, dropping to 222 miles in the Limited and Touring trims. That’s far less than competitors with similar battery sizes, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID.4.
On our Lectron Level 2 charger, the Solterra matched its estimated charge time of approximately nine hours. On a DC fast charger, it can hit a 100 kW peak charging speed, which is slower than rivals can charge. A 10-80% charge now takes 35 minutes, down from 50 minutes previously, which is closer to rivals but not on par.
In our testing, the Solterra averaged 3.1 miles per kWh in mostly city driving, meaning it may struggle to hit 200 miles in the real world. At 100% state of charge, the car’s computer showed an estimated 209 miles with the air conditioning on; turning it off bumped the estimated range to 224 miles.
Driving Impressions: Just Be Normal
Subaru wanted the Solterra to feel as much like a traditional gas-powered crossover as possible, likely to avoid alienating loyal customers who aren’t used to EVs yet. To that end, most of the controls are designed to be familiar to anyone who has ever driven a car, except for the rotating shifter that will take a few minutes to figure out. There is a button to engage regenerative braking, which you can then adjust using the paddle shifters, but there is no “one pedal” mode where the brake regeneration is strong enough to stop the vehicle completely.
At first, we had some trouble turning smoothly using the steering ‘squircle’, but a minor adjustment to our hand placement quickly corrected the issue. Once those tiny idiosyncrasies are dealt with, the Solterra feels remarkably normal, just smoother than any other Subaru we’ve driven.
There is no CVT drone or rumbly Boxer engine note on this EV, just instant, silent acceleration. Despite being the Toyota’s sibling, the Solterra exhibits that fun-to-drive spirit that all cars bearing the Pleiades star cluster should. It’s far from the most exciting EV on the market, but it’s not designed for those who want to be on the cutting edge; the Solterra is for people who seek what feels familiar.
Pricing & Verdict: Needs To Be Cheaper
With the updates for the 2024 model year, Subaru proved that the Solterra is more than just an afterthought, and more than a compliance vehicle to have some EV it can offer customers. It may not be the ideal road trip vehicle based on its limited range and mediocre peak charge speed, but the improved charge curve is a welcome change that makes the Solterra easier to own if you rely on public charging. The Solterra is better suited for someone with a home charging setup who doesn’t travel far for work and can recharge overnight.
Pricing for the 2024 Solterra starts at $44,995 for the base model. That puts it above most of its competitors, but remember that Subaru only offers a dual-motor AWD setup, which is optional on most EVs in this segment. The price goes up significantly from there, at $48,495 for the Limited and $51,995 for the top Touring trim. That’s more than we could stomach spending on an EV that is not best-in-class in terms of performance or range. If it was slightly cheaper, we could see ourselves recommending it as a daily driver for shorter commutes.
Don’t let these prices deter you though, because Subaru offers some competitive lease deals that make use of the $7,500 federal tax credit, bringing down the monthly payment significantly. If you want a nice EV with a Subaru badge on it, the 2024 Solterra is a pleasant option.