2023 Subaru Solterra Early Review | Consumer Reports

The 2023 Subaru Solterra is the first EV offering from the brand. Sharing a platform with the nearly identical Toyota bZ4X, the all-electric SUV claims an EPA-rated 222 miles of range, and is offered in three trim levels. We purchased a Limited trim with all-wheel drive for our test program, at a cost of just over $50,000. With an EV market that is becoming increasingly crowded with each passing day, can the Solterra deliver what people love about the Subaru brand in an electric package? Or does the shared platform approach introduce compromises not found in other vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, and Ford Mustang Mach-E?

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2023 Subaru Solterra

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[Lhaffinatu]

I've owned to Solterra for many months now. For my wife and I, it has been an ideal "run around town" car. It's just the right size, it's comfortable and it's fun to drive. Other than on a couple of longer overnight trips where we lightly felt the range limitations, we just charge with a level 2 charger in our home and that has been an absolute delight! I don't really miss the glove compartment, and one becomes used to the instrument cluster over the top of the steering wheel.

We purchased a Touring trim level, so some of my comments below may not apply to every model of Solterra.

- I think they could ditch the self parking features since it is way too slow and finicky to use under most real world conditions.
- I love the cruise control! I am one of those folks who is looking forward to the day when my car really CAN drive from point A to point B on its own. This isn't that, but it's really quite nice.
- I think they really need to reconsider adding a rear window wiper.
- Ventilated seats will be a MUST HAVE addition to any future cars I purchase! Having a little cool air blow on my back on a hot day is AWESOME!
- Charging at home with our level 2 charger is wonderful, but trying to find a working level 3 fast charger on the road is an exercise in frustration. Most times we've stopped to find what was supposed to be a level 3 charger isn't. If it is a level 3 charger, there's a better than even chance it isn't working. Even if it is working, it still may not charge the car any faster than a level 2 charger.
- The driver settings tied to the keys are finicky and inconsistent. The car is supposed to remember things like seat position and infotainment settings based on the driver, but it can easily get confused if both the driver and the passenger are carrying keys. Even if a driver touches or enters the car first, that isn't any guarantee that it won't suddenly want to use the profile for the other driver once they touch or get into the car. Once it does this, getting it to switch back is stupidly difficult. We generally have to turn off the car, exit, and lock the car. Then we can start over and the driver must touch then enter the car first.
- I love the Connect app and what it can let you do. Remote lock/unlock, remote start, check milage, check charge levels, get notified when charging is complete etc.
- I also kind of hate the Connect app. It's slow, frequently crashes, and has several features that are half baked and require subscriptions to work. Also I can't seem to get my wife setup with the same features in the app. It really only seems to work properly for a single driver.
- This may seem a small thing, but the ability to go directly from Drive or Reverse to Park with the push of a button is really quite nice! If I'm waiting in a drive through, I just put the car in Park while stopped.
- I got the "Accessory Hitch Receiver" installed, and was VERY disappointed to find that it is limited to 100 LBS! Once you put a reasonably sturdy bike rack and a couple of inexpensive adult bikes on there, or a recumbent trike in my case, you can pretty quickly get to 100 lbs...
- Speaking of bike racks, you have to essentially disable ALL the safety features while using one, and it isn't very simple or clear about how to go about that without delving deep in the the owners manual. Otherwise you end up with crazy alarms and a car that won't let you go in reverse at all. While this isn't an issue specific to the Solterra, I really think they could have done a better job of providing owners with a simple "bike rack installed/in use" switch or mode to help with this.

This is already way more than I wanted to type out, so I'll leave you with this last thought. Would I buy it again? Absolutely!

[BillySmith]

50 thousand for a range of 222 miles and slow charging? NO

[hawkwind]

Did 1000 miles trip last weekend
Used 267 kWh
Pretty awesome trip.
No complaints

[NH]

I'm not a Tesla fan but I have to say that when comparing interior space, charging, range, and (ridiculous) price tag, this car is not a competitor to the AWD Tesla Model Y.

[MoMoPuppy]

My local dealership has like 8 available and they reduced the price to 33K for the premium model. is it a good deal?

[surferboy]

I test drove one today, it’s a very smooth ride and has comfortable seats but I don’t get that hollow empty “storage space” in the middle by the center console, it’s an odd design don’t see the function of that, my 2008 Volvo S40 had that too and I never used it. Is it meant to be a litter box? In case you decide to have cats in the car and when they feel the urge they can use that?? I’m disappointed to hear that there’s no glovebox compartment LOL

[TheTomvideo]

The Solterra has many good features and benefits. Two things they lack: driving random and dc rapid charging. They’re way out in left field. I originally had one reserved in February 2022. Had to cancel due to the embarrassing recall on the front wheels could potentially fall off. Ended buying the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Good range and rapid charging time. EPA rated at 266 miles. I can get over 300 miles and rapid charge from 10-80% in less than 20 minutes. The Solterra would take over an hour. I travel between Baltimore and New York often. It will take me forever to get to New York from Baltimore or vice versa. If the Solterra was around 300 miles range and dc rapid charging was less than 30 minutes, I would’ve waited .

[carljaekle]

Wouldn't that gauge cluster being higher, and so close to the windshield, partially block vision to objects low and in front of the vehicle?

[subaru]

I owned this car since 12/24/2022. very quiet ride, no wind noise whatsoever, decent acceleration
I charged at home with level 2, always got 291 miles of full charge despite what the specs said,
it synced nicely with the actual mileage. A very built car, a piece of mind to own the Subaru Solterra.

[northstar]

An outrageous price for what limited horsepower and range it delivers, especially compared to other EVs at that price point.

[normaspirated]

Torque so instantaneous that the wheels fall off

[cesartrujillo]

Please be careful with the wheels. Please check wheel bolt tightness every time you drive it. I saw some very disturbing things in the news about a recall for wheels falling off. Please address this in your full review. Maybe do an episode on how to check and what to do if you are driving and this happens.

[hereigoagain]

Good first EV by Subaru & Toyota. Given their record of constant improvement, it will be more competitive in a few years.

[HOON]

Great daily driver for 40k. Just doesn't have the fundamentals to compete at $50k+

[davidmccarthy]

I hope they improve, and get less expensive, before we need to replace our '19 Forester Sport.

[gianfrancoa]

This is the one to skip. Being the first EV attempt from Toyota/Subaru, it seems like a half baked solution. So better to wait for the second generation

[brightsideperspectives]

Is there a Blindspot monitor or camera for the Blindspot?

[BryceLovesTech]

Wow so for the price of this vehicle you could get a Tesla Model Y performance that does 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds over 300 miles of range and fast charging and a much better auto pilot system. You would have to be nuts to buy this.

[MasterOfTheRealm]

Looks cool on the outside but very plain on the inside. Not many bells and whistles from what I see. And no glove box?

[luisramirez-mves]

I own a Solterra and while going out during a heavy storm, one street had a current of about 8" of water coming down and I drove through it at about 13 MPH and several undercarriage panels got ripped off and it was not cover under the guarantee. But the worst part is that the spare parts are not available and I can be without a car for 2.5 months according to the Subaru dealer. Subaru is selling cars without caring for having spare parts available. Be Careful.