I normally love what Subaru does. I admire the engineering purity, the willingness to do things differently - such as its commitment to ‘boxer’ engines and permanent symmetrical all-wheel-drive - and the sheer robust quality of the cars.
So I am sad to report that I didn’t get on well with its newest model, the Solterra. It is Subaru’s first electric car, but the problem is that it’s not a very appealing one, mainly because it doesn’t go far enough for the £52,495 you’ll have to pay for one.
It’s a joint production with Toyota, who will sell you the same car as the appalling named bZ4x. Toyota has front-wheel-drive, and therefore cheaper, versions, starting at just under £43k.
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Subaru only offers all-wheel-drive, which is keeping with its long-established values and reputation. By all accounts it is accomplished in muddy conditions, but any thoughts I had of flexing the Solterra’s off-road chops on the farm disappeared when I realised I wouldn’t be able to get there and back without the jeopardy of trying to find a charger on the way.
Subaru quotes a range of up to 289 miles on the official WLTP test. Around 100 of those miles had gone missing on the Solterra I tested just before Christmas.
After a couple of journeys in which the range dropped alarmingly quickly, some quick calculations revealed that even if fully charged, the 71.4kWh battery would struggle to take me more than 180 miles.
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The weather, you may remember, was relatively mild in mid-December; I fear what detrimental effect properly cold temperatures might have on the Solterra’s battery and range.
The problem is that the Solterra is not a very appealing EV because it doesn’t go far enough for the £52,495 you’ll have to pay for one
You don’t even get scintillating performance as consolation for the poor range. The Subaru might have a dual motor set-up but unlike rivals such as Tesla or Kia who bestow their twin-motor cars with generous amounts of power, the Solterra has a total of 215bhp, with torque of 249lb ft. Most rivals will crack 300 miles’ range, too.
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The Subaru is not a slow car by any means, and it flows along the road with a lovely, planted gait. Other positives include being beautifully built and a spacious interior. It also looks interesting.
But it really should offer much more for more than £50k in terms of range and performance. With sincere regret, the Solterra is a Subaru that I struggle to recommend.
