The 2023 Subaru Solterra is Subaru’s first electronic Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that comes with a lot of impressive features and a standard all-wheel drive. It is the best choice for every Subaru fan who needs an electronic vehicle.
The Solterra is 184.6 inches long, 64.9 inches tall, and 73.2 inches wide. It comes with two electric motors paired with an all-wheel-drive system. These two engines combined produce up to 215 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque which is relatively low compared to their rivals.
This electric vehicle comes with four different drive modes; Eco, Normal, Power, and X-mode. There will be only 6,500 Solterras built for the 2023 model year in three different trims (Premium, Limited, and Touring). Now, let us dive into its impressive features.
Overview of the 2023 Subaru
The Subaru Solterra is an electric crossover that is meant to rival the Tesla Model Y, the Kia EV6, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and many others just like it. There is not much information about its pricing, but it is estimated to start around $30,000 – $40,000.
This crossover has an estimated maximum towing capacity of about 2,000 and 4,000 lbs. This is a low figure compared to its rivals; their base models offer similar figures, but they offer more powerful versions with over 300 miles of driving range. Models with 18-inch wheels have an estimated driving range of 228 miles, while models with 20-inch wheels have 222 miles.
Lastly, this vehicle is expected to have a combined fuel economy rate of 94 miles per gallon – equivalent (MPGe) and comes with 8.3 inches of ground clearance which is way more than its rivals.
Features of the 2023 Subaru Solterra
The Key
The first noticeable cool feature of the Subaru Solterra is its key, which at first looks like a regular key until you examine its entire buttons. An interesting button that says ‘Hold A/C’ allows you to get the air conditioning system running before you get into the car.
This feature is perfect for hot days because you can cool down the interior of the car until you are ready to climb in.
Interior Design
The first thing you will notice the minute you step into the 2023 Solterra and sit in the driver’s seat is that the gauge cluster is situated almost on top of the dashboard, which is different from nearly every other vehicle.
The advantage of this new setting is that the gauge cluster is now located in your line of sight, so you do not need to look anywhere else to check your speed or directions when driving. The disadvantage is that it affects the steering wheel and does not allow much knee room for taller drivers.
The center console set-up is another interesting quirk of the 2023 Solterra. You will find storage space with a see-through lid with a box-like pattern. You will see your wireless cell phone charger when you open it up. It is see-through so that you do not forget your phone in there after closing it up.
A button in the center console marked ‘X mode’ activates the Solterra’s off-road driving modes (snow/dirt and deep snow/mud). The former mode is for light off-roading adventures, and the latter is for deep off-roading adventures.
The gear selector is a dial located in the middle of the center console. You cannot twist it to operate it. Instead, you have to push it down first and then turn it (to the right for drive and the left for reverse). You can also push it straight down for neutral.
The dashboard is quite different from most dashboards because it is covered in cloth, and strangely enough, this vehicle does not have a glove box. Another quirk in this car is the volume button and how you adjust it. A plus button (increase) and a minus button (decrease) below the center infotainment screen to change the volume.
Technology
The center infotainment screen is responsive and an excellent feature in the 2023 Subaru Solterra. It is straightforward to operate, but the only problem is that you cannot do two things simultaneously. For example, if your map is open, you cannot have your radio open next to it.
There is an auto setting for the heated seats and the steering wheel; when you turn it on, it heats or cools your seats and wheels depending on the ambient temperature. There is also a button to turn on heated windshields which are heating lines under the wipers, as there is no access to a thoroughly heated windshield.
The most exciting part about the infotainment system is that it is Toyota’s infotainment and not Subaru’s. The Solterra was developed as a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota. So, Subaru has the Solterra, while Toyota has the bZ4X.
Because of this, many of Solterra’s interiors, such as the infotainment system, the stocks, and the gauge cluster screen, are Toyota’s.
Exterior Design
The Solterra is the definition of ruggedness at its finest, so some parts of the exterior design and its off-road features scream rugged. In contrast, its overall look is a fairly standard-looking crossover.
One rugged feature on the exterior of the Solterra is its massive plastic front and rear fenders, extremely huge. They are so big; that they take up a greater portion of the front part of the car and even extend to one side of the charge port door. They serve as a significant design element to the fairly designed vehicle.
The charge port door has the letters EV for Electric Vehicle mounted on them on each side of the car because who does not want to let the world know that they are driving an electric vehicle. Unfortunately, the Solterra takes about an hour to charge from 10% to 80%, which is low compared to the Kia EV6, which takes only 20 minutes.
This crossover does not have a front trunk; all you get is a panel that mimics a front trunk but cannot be opened. There is no latch and no storage area inside. On the rear windows, two black panels resemble a spoiler, a very distinctive design. Also, there are no rear window wipers.
The Backseat and Cargo Area
The backseat is pretty spacious for children and adults; it gives ample head, leg, knee, and hip room. There is access to heated rear seats and USB C ports in the back. There is also a rear sunroof, a giant panel of glass over the entire car, but unfortunately, it does not open. You can only open the cover and not the glass.
You can pop open the tailgate automatically to access the cargo area, which is quite large but a little pinched on top because of the sloping roofline, which leads to less room. You can access extra storage space under the floor by lifting a loop for smaller items as the seats cannot be folded.
Conclusion
The 2023 Subaru Solterra might not be high up in the ranks when it comes to performance, just like its rivals, but it sure is worth something when it comes to capability, which every Subaru fan looks out for.