To date, Subaru has only released a few teasers and little information about its first-ever EV – the Solterra. Earlier this month, Ford Authority spies spotted Subaru benchmarking a number of EV crossovers, including a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Now, the 2023 Subaru Solterra has been officially revealed, just one day after the Toyota bZ4X – a vehicle that it shares the new e-TNGA platform with, as well as a number of other similarities.
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is indeed closely related to the Toyota bZ4X, but is catered more toward the brand’s customers, who prioritize things like off-road capability and safety features. While the overall shape of these two vehicles is virtually identical, the Solterra features larger plastic cladding, a body-color hexagonal grille, a dual-roof wing, short overhangs, and 8.3 inches of ground clearance.
The Solterra and bZ4X feature unique suspension tuning and throttle mapping, and the former is available only with all-wheel drive, while the latter can be had in both front- and all-wheel drive configurations. Power comes from two electric motors mounted in between the front and rear axles that provide a combined output of 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque.
With a 64.0 kWh battery pack on board, the Solterra provides 220 miles of range – a bit less than the bZ4X’s estimated 250 miles of range, but that’s for the single motor front-wheel drive model. Toyota hasn’t yet released estimates for the dual-motor all-wheel drive model. The Solterra is capable of Level 1, Level 2, and DC quick-charging, which Subaru says can bring it up to 80 percent in an hour.
Like the bZ4X, the Solterra doesn’t have a frunk, but does offer 30.3 cubic-feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. The cabin is quite similar to its Toyota twin as well, sporting a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, as well as a digital instrument cluster that sits above the dash.
Subaru has not announced when the Solterra will launch, and didn’t provide any pricing information as of yet, but the Toyota bZ4X is expected to enter production in mid-2022 and launch by the end of the summer, with a starting price of around $37,000.
We’ll have more on what Ford and Lincoln’s competition is up to soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for non-stop Ford news coverage.
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I don’t know what it is Toyota, Subaru, BMW ? Look like Toyota is playmates with both to build vehicles these days
Oh Well! Good luck with that since the World is waking up to the detriment of ICE vehicles boxer or not because by 2030 almost all cars will be some Alt fuel for the better of the planet! So you.r beloved boxer will go by way off the dinosaur! For all Our sakes! About time!