Subaru Solterra Release Date: Everything You Need To Know
Subaru Solterra by Tokumeigakarinoaoshima - CC-BY-SA-4.0
For 70 years, Subaru has steadily built a dedicated following among car owners seeking rugged and capable vehicles. These efforts included launching its U.S. operation in 1968, with buyers flocking towards the company’s Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and other all-wheel-drive vehicles over the years. Yet today’s automotive landscape is rapidly changing as the industry shifts away from internal combustion engines and toward all-electric powertrains. The Tokyo-based company is following suit with its first electric vehicle (EV), the Solterra. Company loyalists and others curious about this gasless crossover will want to know about the Subaru Solterra release date and other pertinent details.
Keep reading as we explore this latest offering from the automaker. We’ll examine a brief history of the company before getting into the Subaru Solterra release date and key facts about this EV.
Subaru History: an Overview
Subaru has its roots in Japan, formed in 1953 as an aircraft manufacturing division of Fuji Heavy Industries. By 1958, Subaru began producing affordable, compact passenger vehicles, with the Subaru 360 launching in the postwar era.
Known for emphasizing practicality and affordability, Subaru focused on all-wheel-drive models starting in 1972 with the Leone. Subaru then hit a turning point in the U.S. market in the 1990s with the popular Outback and Forester models. These vehicles helped establish a niche for the automaker in the early days of the SUV craze.
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After the parent company Fuji Heavy Industries merged with Toyota’s Daihatsu division in 2005, Subaru continued expanding globally and diversifying its model lineup. Subaru remains headquartered in Japan and is valued for its safe, reliable, and adventurous image. Today, Toyota owns 20% of Subaru and is the company’s largest single shareholder.
Subaru Solterra Release Date: The Origins
The Subaru and Toyota connection is important in bringing the Solterra to life, as the automakers have a history of collaboration. For instance, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 sport coupes are identical vehicles built by Subaru. With both automakers needing a dedicated battery-electric vehicle in response to tightening emissions regulations and rising EV demand, the companies joined forces to co-develop the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X.
Engineers worked closely across teams from Toyota and Subaru to create a shared platform and core components for the Solterra/bZ4X. The Solterra channeled Subaru’s expertise in all-wheel-drive performance, while the bZ4X emphasized Toyota’s strengths in quality and high-tech features.
Toyota builds both vehicles at its Motomachi assembly plant near Nagoya, Japan. For the most part, the vehicles are identical other than badging. However, the Solterra’s standard drivetrain is all-wheel drive, which is optional on the bZ4X
Subaru Solterra Release Date: Key Milestones
Subaru’s public efforts for its first EV surfaced in May 2021 when the automaker announced “Solterra” as the vehicle’s name, combining the Latin words for sun and earth. The company remarked that the moniker reflects “Subaru’s commitment to deliver traditional SUV capabilities in an environmentally responsible package.”
In November 2021, Subaru offered more details about the Solterra and opened orders and deposit acceptance in February 2022. While manufacturing started later in 2022, the Subaru Solterra release date was delayed due to a defect that could cause the wheels to come loose. With the problem solved, the first Solterra deliveries in the U.S. occurred in November 2022.
The Subaru Solterra is available now at authorized dealers.
Subaru Solterra Overview
Here’s a summary of the features and specifications for the Subaru Solterra based on 2023 model year details.
Trims/Equipment
Subaru offers three versions of the 2023 Solterra: the base Premium, mid-tier Limited, and top-dog Touring. The Premium is focused on more essentials, like a manually adjustable driver’s seat and fabric upholstery. However, upscale touches include dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats.
Meanwhile, the Limited splits the difference between basic and luxury, with a power driver’s seat, power tailgate, a heated steering wheel, and leatherette upholstery. The Touring goes one step further with a panoramic glass roof and ventilated front seats.
Powertrain/Charging/Range
All versions of the all-wheel-drive Solterra come with dual electric motors (one per axle) that produce a combined output of 215 horsepower. A 72.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides power to the motors. Subaru reports that the battery takes “an afternoon” to charge from zero to 80% via Level 2⁄240-volt charging. Level 3/DC fast charging takes less than an hour for the same activity. Meanwhile, slower charging (120-volt household current) requires 24 hours to reach 80%.
According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing, the Solterra Premium has a maximum range of 228 miles and a miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 111 in the city and 114 on the highway. The Limited and Touring have an estimated range of 222 miles and economy ratings of 93 MPGe in the city and 94 MPGe on the highway.
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Safety
All Solterras come with a collection of advanced driver assist technologies (Subaru calls this the EyeSight system). This includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane monitoring and controls, and adaptive cruise control. Other safety tech includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and rear automatic braking. The Limited and Touring also get a 360-degree monitor for easier maneuvering in tight spaces.
Infotainment
All three Solterra trims have an infotainment touchscreen: 8.0 inches for the Premium and 12.3 inches for the Limited and Touring. Both systems are integrated with cloud-based navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and Apple Music. The Premium gets a six-speaker audio system, while the Limited and Touring have an 11-speaker Harman Kardon arrangement. All versions come with connected services for emergency support and remote vehicle features.
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Measurements/Capacities
- Cargo: 23.8 cubic feet (behind the rear seats), 63.5 cubic feet (behind the front row)
- Wheelbase: 112.2 inches
- Length: 184.6 inches
- Width: 73.2 inches
- Height: 65 inches
Warranty
- Limited “bumper-to-bumper” warranty: Three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: Five years or 60,000 miles
- Electrical components: Eight years or 100,000 miles
Price
- Premium: $44,995
- Limited:$48,495
- Touring: $51,995
Prices exclude destination charges and are based on the 2023 model year (as of October 20, 2023).
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