I got mine 3 months ago and haven't seen the inside of a gas station since. No oil change, no leaky fluids, no noise (heaven driving it) charging takes a little time but it's perfect for me. Basically I am in love with my new Solterra
@@TH-camUser_2020 Seriously? EVs break down at a much lower rate the Ice vehicles, have less complicated systems that need to be maintained, no oil changes, etc. Keep driving your pollution spewing ICE vehicle that kills you and us all with its pollution! Cough, Cough. LOL
I've had my US market Solterra for two months. The dealership turned off the reverse bong and reduced the volume and removed many of the other various beeps. It is much more pleasant with those adjustments.
I am pleased with my Solterra. I charge it every two days on my home charger, not a problem. This is my 9th Subaru. We have several charging locations in LA CA soon not a problem
Seems to me both Subaru and Toyota (and Mazda, and Honda and so forth) fell asleep at the wheel and just woke up to the realization that they now have several years of catching up to do compared to the competition. That said, I hope they are good students and copy the homework of their better peers. :)
Nope, they still have not come to that realisation, the Toyota President (previous CEO) only said last week that hydrogen is the future.And also they dont like their current platform and will replace it, so theyve Osborned the BZ (and this by definition) with new platform cars not available til 2026 earliest.
@@Joe-lb8qn they don't want to admit that they've been wrong and it's going to cost people their jobs. That said I do actually believe that hydrogen could be part of the future, but I'm talking about the distant future, when we already have a nearly full ev world but there are still people clinging on to ice cars for long distance or off grid uses, and we have an abundance of renewable energy. We will be creating hydrogen for other uses with it, maybe also for those uses as generator fuel and Rex.
Loving my 2023 Solterra Limited. Was hoping to pick up the premium trim which is about 4K cheaper but wasn’t available. I knew about the sub par reviews, but after driving it myself I choose the Solterra over the other competitors in this EV class. At the end of the day it is quality, reliability, and safety that sold me.
@@samusaran7317 they all don't make an actual usable EV yet, Honda has one, Mitsubishi is selling out with Nissan and Renault tech and Toyota has already said this platform is a failure. I don't know why, but Japan has failed on the EV-rage.
Nice & balanced review. Reminder to North American viewers, in the US & Canada, the Solterra & AWD bZ4X get a different battery. Top DC fast charge speed is 100 kW versus 150 kW in Europe or Japan. There are reports of serious charging and range issues in cold weather (worse than typical EVs). Buyers in Canada or Northern US, unless used exclusively for short commutes, be wary of the Solterra or AWD bZ4X!
Would add to this; the cars are not priced to be for local trips only. Not a great buy unless you absolutely love Toyota/Subaru, but even then be prepared to lose a significant amount of money when you come to sell them.
That's a shame. I've been waiting 18 months for an Ioniq 5 and getting antsy. Supposedly, I might get something in the next 6 months. The local Subaru has Solterra's in stock and I'm tempted to stop waiting. My 4 year old Ioniq EV gets 10km/KW, so I can get 280km on its 28kW battery in the summer (down to 200km in the Winter). Sounds like I will barely do better with the Solterra and the battery is almost 3 times bigger.
We've been delighted with our two 3.6 litre Subaru Outbacks since 2010 (a 2010 model, then a 2019) and as we get ready to move into EV mode I was looking at Subaru again. The range in this Solterra though is too small at present to interest me. Living in Sydney but with 2 destinations of 400-450 kms we often travel we'll want an EV with a useable 600+kms range with A/C engaged (ie still 500+kms when the battery has lost some of its oomph). I really want a Subaru again since we have developed such confidence in the brand and the Outbacks' cruising attributes have been undeniable - reliability, all day comfort, very nice ground clearance and total sure-footedness. Looks like we'll be waiting till something like a more energy intensive lithium/Sulphur battery replaces current battery technology. The Solterra at present seems like an decent adventure vehicle stuck with city and highway duty due to range limitation
I worked in intensive cares and operating theatres. I had a special interest in the ergonomics of monitors and alarms. It is essential to make the full use of the auditary spectrum. Grraded for urgency...'here is something I woulds like to bring to your attention' through to 'stop everything'. Then there were efforts to differentiate classes of alarms such as those related to the patients physiology or the breathing machine. It was difficult to get different companies to agree, but that was the intent. As a comment below suggests, too many similar alarms leads to all being ignored or the message buried n the noise. Great review BTW
As someone who usually drives manual I really appreciated the annoying reversing beep in my partner’s Prius cos it meant I wasn’t gonna accidentally put the car in reverse! I think you could turn it off though.
Woeful efficiency. I’ve averaged 3.8 miles per kWh doing 8k miles in an MG5 in the 6 months since October, including a fair amount of motorway miles. The bongs on this would drive me crazy. The best thing about this whole collab is the Toyota’s warranty.
I am 76 years old. Bring on the bongs, warning lights, attention monitors, and all the aggravations. Besides I get to yell at my car when I am falsely accused, and bless it when I see the pedestrian behind me with their little dog.
Oh… we've owned two Subarus, and really loved them. It thus hurts me to say that… we wouldn't opt for a Solterra. Over a decade ago, I had hoped and even expected Subaru to start selling its R1e and Stella EVs, but it never happened -which really disappointed me. The Solterra's range is too limited, the energy efficiency too low, the regen needs work, and I don't get the impression that it has one-pedal driving. I dunno… it seems to me that this Toyota/Subaru EV is simply to have some "skin in the game," but they're not serious about producing a true contender.
Toyota will not survive the transition to EVs. By the end of this decade they will be hanging on by a thread and are becoming the Nokia of the auto industry.
@@JAM_2024 the Japanese to me may now be incapable of leading the pack for fear of failure and losing face. During and following the WFC it seems to me some countries (Germany in particular) went for it hell for leather while the Japanese tightened their belts and lost years of development. Different national mindset?
@@JAM_2024 Electric vehicles don't work for the 80-90% of the World driving population, Toyota is a global brand, they collaborate and participate in some of the best battery brands. They develop their own electric motors, gearboxes and so on. They are centered in global solutions, not cars that just work for rich countries of EU and EEUU, that's why they do lots of research with hydrogen, synthetic fuels and so on. Toyota has helped brands like Tesla to start developing their electric motors and batteries, they have thousands of research papers about battery charging, degradation, electric motor optimization and so on. Electric cars don't make sense for now, it's a trend created by politicians. Toyota's CEO has said it openly, other manufacturers CEOs have been in silence until now, but most of them say the same thing now, electric for everything is a nonsense
@@JAM_2024 I thought I heard that Toyota was not really interested in ev's anyway, so I suspect the bz might be in their lineup just to have "something ev to sell." I believe Toyota's philosophy is to focus on hybrids because on the whole hybrid building is just cleaner for the environment overall than building ev's given current technology. Since Toyota has a modest percentage stake in Subaru, I doubt the Solterra will really ever become more than just ok.
@@brendanmalloy-painting The Solterra is all electric. So is the Volvo XC 40 I was talking about. They do still make XC40 hybrids though, but I was referring to the BEV.
That's battery costs for you. Especially as they don't have the volumes of sale that, say Tesla or Greely/Volvo/Polestar: can't negotiate so well. If they had a more efficient vehicle they could maybe have fitted a smaller battery-but this model seems weak all round
I think this was an utterly charming and wonderful, incisive review. You didn't hold back on your opinions or try to make excuses for the car. And writing from Australia, where range (anxiety) is a concern - the UK is less than 4% the size of Oz - the relatively short distance between charges will see many (including me) reject what is otherwise a good - but not great - car. Would I buy an Outback XT over this and pocket what will be substantial savings? (The projected price of the Solterra is around 1/3 more than the XT.) Every time. I have a naturally aspirated Outback, and it's great and will not replace it with a "good" car.
I'd like someone to explain to me how its become possible to charge this much for an electric car when you only have to look at other manufacturers to find you are desperately overpriced. I understand Subaru themselves are a small-volume manufacturer but Toyota certainly are not so that's not an excuse either. Look at the new MG's, both are just as terribly cheap inside, but ones the cost of an entire new car cheaper. They both seem to have the same basic driving charactics and function, granted the Subaru has a few extra toys hidden in that menu, but thats about it. I cannot fathem the cost of this.
Other than the price (!) the occluded driver's console would put me off, followed by the beeps. There might be a way to disable them, but these things have a way of re-enabling themselves. And unless you live in a city, that battery performance is a concern.
It had a number of chimes/beeps on our test drive which can be distracting when you are driving. It took me weeks to figure out what my CRv was beeping for after it reset some random setting.
Excellent point about the bongs and beeps. For people with hyperacusis or misophonia it would be infuriating. Not to mention it's damn annoying for anyone else. That feature alone would make it not worth buying.
The reverse bleep can be switched off by the dealership according to the manual. Did you try the one pedal driving button on the centre consul as it has more bite than using the region paddles. The car doesn't come to a complete stop but a very slow creep which gives the driver the choice whether to stop the vehicle completely using the break. You are right in what you say about an update which should go some way to address the available range. I watched a review recently which tested three different vehicles to show their range capabilities .One of the cars gained around 100 miles more than the Solterra but the car as tested cost a shade over £100,000. Just about double the purchase cost . I have been driving my Solterra since November and 3 miles per kw is not difficult to achieve and I hope that figure will increase when the weather is warmer.
I wish the one pedal driving was more aggressive with the braking. It needs to be turned up A LOT. I like Hyundai and Tesla one pedal driving much better.
@Sonny Malone. Is there one perfect EV or ICE vehicle? Probably not. There are some Inonic 5 owners who are on their third 12. Volt battery in a year. You never know if you are going to get in your car because the battery is flat.
@Sony Malone. Yes I say a video recently from America and the guy said the Hyundai America have admitted it’s a component problem and can’t be fixed with an over air update. They seem to suffer from phantom drain. I have seen owners with battery monitors and booster packs to power the car up.
Short ime with Solterra Liimited and all quite good, so far. Excellent one-hour session, with dealer specialist, covering every detail, and all questiions. Home charging system and very low monthly miles, ALL local. Why not Toyota ??? ..... easy peasy ..... incredible local Subaru dealership .... in every respect. Very confident going forward, but let's see in next several months.
Seems like nobody has realized yet, it's the cars with electronic shifters, especially the Japanese ones, beep in reverse. Imagine how many people didn't adopt the original Prius' slap to the left and up/down and couldn't tell which gear they were in. Same with Leaf's puck.
Prius does that sound in reverse too. You get used to it. It also helps because you don' t have a physical visual when you switch from D to R. You only see it on the dash. Without the sound, D and R sound the same.
A friend complained about his Prius (older) chiming when in reverse and hated it every bit as much as you. He found on the internet a door open/close, window up and down process that would turn off the reverse chime.
Been driving my US spec 2024 Solterra for about a month and a half now. Came from a 2013 Model S. I get 3.8mi per kWh which is notably more efficient than it's rated 3.2. It gets the range it's supposed to (and better). The DCFC is consistent (definitely faster than my old Tesla). Has a very comfortable and usable interior. Drives and handles amazing for a SUV. Has what seems to be a very efficient heat pump system, which not too many EV's come equipped with. My only critique is the software. It's great that it has wireless Apple Carplay, however the built in software (including the mobile app) are not even in the same league as Tesla's software. While the specs on paper for this class of EV are mediocre, where it excels is real world usage. Long story short I absolutely love this car.
My last Toyota was badged as a Chevrolet and I drove it for 250,000 miles before it became too expensive to warrant replacing the struts. I have owned or leased 7 Subies since, and I have ordered a Solterra for 2024. We are city folk in a cold climate, and our longest usual journey is 150 miles over a weekend. I think we are going to be good to go.
yes, it sounds like a good choice for you. We (here in Sydney) have loved our 3 Japanese built Subaru Outbacks (premium quality and reliability). They take us 600kms return on sometimes cut up dirt roads to our destination and then driving to various vantage points while camping out there with never any thought we'll have any issues - an electric Sube with this range automatically introduces a worry factor - range
Great review. I didn't see anything here that made me feel my Enyaq was the wrong choice. I agree that the efficiency is a problem. It wouldn't be an everyday concern but people always worry about those longer journeys with a charging infrastructure that is currently a bit subpar. For the money, there are better EVs on the market. The bongs would either drive me crazy or I would learn to ignore them so even the important ones would be ignored which is a problem. The styling is fine, not amazing, but it wouldn't put me off or make me want to buy it.
I wouldn't swap my Enyaq either, I have done a few long journeys in mine. Back in October I did a trip of 500+ miles and a week ago I drove 400 miles across Ireland and back pulling a box trailer on a very cold & wet day to make a delivery.
@@toyotaprius79 Well, I've a hatchback (ioniq 5) awd and my range is in summer , with 100 km /h (62mph) is close to the wltp range, in winter (zero degrees celsius) ca 15% less than wltp.....and that is a real choice in this price level. Also the teslo model 3 is not a crossover....
I can see they used the same interior-designer like most other manufactures - I think he`s called Mr. All-Dark? Thats very progressive, forewardthinking and uplifting ;-)
You would think Subaru would have learned from the Tribeca... the attraction of Subaru is a quality AWD vehicle that is very similar across all models that can be depended everyday during weather but also good for adventures. Sure Subarus get tweaked but it is a very predictable process on the 5 year update cycle. They came out with the Tribeca which looked wildly different than all other Subarus and it tanked. The Solterra doesn't look like a Subaru inside or out, compounded with weak range in a vehicle platform used by many to go on adventures (which usually means long drives somewhere) in out of the way areas (where usually there aren't chargers). My perspective is different though, Im in the US and in Rocky Mountains. We own three Subaru's right now, Crosstek, Ascent and Forrester. We looked at the Solterra but just doesn't have range needed. I understand why Subaru partnered with Toyota - leveraging a larger companies reach - and why Toyota has partnered with Subaru - leveraging a smaller companies record of dependability and popularity. I just think in this case it shot Subaru in the foot because Toyota is so against EVs in general.
I own the Solterra. I think it's only real downfall is the range and charging speeds in the winter. However, in mild/warmer temperatures....the range appears to be more efficient than initially advertised at 220miles per charge. I do a combo of highway/city though.
@@TheBrucifer great question. The awesome news is that I've gone 275 miles with no ac and relative flat land in the summer. This was before the update to improve range readings. The charge was as advertised in a little under an hour. Winter you'll be charging for damn near an hour and a half. Range is awful at around 160-170miles no ac with heated seats and steering wheel
that's a pass from me. We LOOOOVE our subaru and want to give them a chance when we're ready to get a new car. Hopefully after a few iterations, there will be an electrified Outback with a range of at least 300 miles. Until then, we're happy to wait it out.
I wish I had seen this review before I bought my Solterra! You are spot on with everything - the bings and bongs, the poor range. I am really bothered by not having a glove box and did not even notice this when I bought it -and why not make the manual small enough to fit in the center console? I really wanted the Chevy Blazer EV but Chevy could not even provide a rough timing for availability and I didn't want to wait a year.
Great video, My only thing i would say is that he put the car into reverse and did not have his seat belt on so yeah it is going to beep on him all Subaru do that
I am not yet a full EV driver, hybrid for me currently, this certainly wouldn't tempt me to full EV. 2m/kWh doesn't come close to what I would hope for even in winter! It is baffling why a manufacturer would introduce an EV which is barely OK in terms of potential range and don't get me started on the chimes!
I can’t understand why they make them look so similar, they’re not even targeting much difference in the market, aside from branding? Hyundai / Kia and the Volkswagen group etc. do such a good job of selling the same car many different ways!
I am a 8x Subaru owner, having two at the moment (Outback Limited and Forester Touring). My mistake was in buying the models with the Driver Monitoring System. While the seat and mirror memory parts of the system are fine, I absolutely hate the software's beeping at you to keep your eyes on the road when they are in fact on the road. I think the brand is excellent from a driving and mechanical point of view. Mine have always been reliable. I agree with you though that the cars beep at everything. On the Outback, I can adjust some things in the settings menu; not so in the Forester. Over time, I have not acclimated to the beeping. Instead, I am wearying from it and I periodically think about going to another brand. Of course, that is difficult at this time of shortages and "market adjustments." I still have to say that I am intrigued by the Solterra. The limited range is not as much a problem for me since I am retired and see myself using it only for short trips. The Outback would otherwise be the car I use for long trips.
Current owners: I'm curios about the main "instrument" cluster. I currently drive a 2012 Ford Escape and drive with the seat all the way back. I can easily see the speedometer and the rest of the cluster from where I sit. During this review, the reviewer stated he had some difficulty seeing the instrument cluster sitting all the way back given the way the display is so far forward near the windshield. What is your experience?
I saw a Solterra for the first time in the metal on a convention trip to NJ. I live in Burlington, Vermont - for a Subaru not to be selling here something must be very wrong, it's a big Subaru market and a big EV one with lots of Tesla 3/Y, Bolt and Leaf (I think the Chevy and Nissan dealers here sell more EVs than anyone else outside SoCal).
I owned 3 Subaru Foresters in succession, I'm willing to bet that my favorite feature on them is not on this car. That is the radio which had the ability to pause the play when a phone call came in & resume where it stopped when the call was finished. I have never come across this feature on any other car.
I have had many Subarus in the past and my present car is a Solterra. Just like your Forester the radio starts playing when your phone call is finished.
@@johnnyboy7459 What I said was that when a phone call comes in that the radio pauses and resumes at the exact same place where it had paused, so you miss nothing of an interview for instance.
"Who is this for?" has basically been the question I've asked since I first saw the specs on this car. There are several more compelling options that get better range, are more fun to drive, offer more space, have better fit and finish and just basically do most things better than this late arrival. Unless you're a diehard Subaru fan, I can't imagine having this on my list of considerations. I live in the Washington state, which is both a Subaru stronghold and one of the top EV markets in the United States and I just saw my first Solterra yesterday in downtown Seattle. I would have imagined a new Subaru would be all over the place here by now. This thing just seems like too little, too late.
The fast DC charge time is a complete lie. It takes over two hours to get a DC 80% charge. I brought mine into the dealership after 3 days and was told that the Subaru engineers are saying that that is how it was designed. They are advertising an hour to charge but their own engineers told me it takes between 2 and 3 hours to get an 80% charge. This is not a factor for in town using a home level 2 charger, but for a road trip, it means you will spend at least 2 hours charging for every 3 you drive. This is criminal fraud.
We have a leased SOLTERRA for local errands, occasional commuting to the city (30 miles), and trips here and there. We have another ICE SUV for longer trips and when we need more space. The reverse chime is annoying.
I’m in the market to buy a new car. I always thought I’d forever be a Subaru owner and am coming to terms with the realities that this is no longer to be. I loved my Subaru Forester but there isn’t a hybrid version in N. America and no auto maker is making hybrids with manual transmissions. Driving is no longer fun. Oh and that Reverse alarm…such a deal breaker! Thanks for the great review!
BZ4X was tested here in Sweden during real winter conditions and was actually really bad in the cold. There was a comment that Toyota had built a really good car, but unfortunately it was a really bad electric car. Guess that the Solterra is the same... Otherwise I agree that I would also prefer the Subaru.
We had two software updates for the Solterra, with great results. 450km real world range, far better charging, 100kw all the time..., very efficiënt ev motors, considering the small battery pack, very good real world range of 450km, as tested by car journalists in the Netherlands. The Solterra won a comparison test with an Audi q4 etron...the Solterra was the far better EV, and car.....rock solid. The Bz4x won a test, another car magazine, from the VW id4.
Hi - so does that mean that software updates have now improved the battery range, so it's now closer to the claimed 250-280 than the 128 this review found?
We’ve had a solterra for just over a month now and overall we’re very happy with it.yes the mileage is a bit disappointing and I hope that we’ll get call from the dealer to take the car in and tweak the battery for greater distance. But we love it! It’s roomy enough for all our needs, a very comfortable ride, sure footed and we feel very safe in it. We’re glad that we bought this, against a car with slightly longer mileage but less capable.
You got a lifted hatchback, it will only be so efficient. Losing a part of the buffer built in doesn't sound like a good idea too me. Should of waited for a solid state battery car with faster charging/range.
In Austrailia, the Soltera gets a Square steering wheel, which makes it easier to see the display over the Toyota, which was the only reason I would have chosen it over the Toyota,. But in the UK the Subaru seems to be lumbered with the Toyota wheel
I was at a shopping centre last week where the Tesla Model Y and Toyota BZ4X were both on display so I took a look at them. The difference was unbelievable - the Tesla felt like a new approach to a car, the Toyota felt like a 15 year old petrol car converted to EV. The guy on the Toyota stand didn’t seem to know much about EV’s and told me rapid charging takes 4 hours… clearly some work to be done on staff training 😅
Never been a fan of the Model Y. Just looks like an over bloated Model 3. Plus I could never live with that atrocious interior that Tesla have persuaded everyone is the 'future'. Pushing all of a car's core functionality onto a touchscreen is utterly crazy. The only benefit is to the manufacturer because it's cheaper to make. Same goes for those amazing giga-castings. Cheaper to make but one small bump and you've written off your car. Nice.
I've been looking at this car. I ask myself this question. If I spend about the same money for either this car or Tesla, why should I choose Saltera? I just can't find the answer.
Great review and really interesting comparison. Seems to be a lot of chatter on the web that Toyota have royally screwed up their EV strategy and nothing I've seen on either variant would seem to suggest otherwise. It seems that a few manufacturers are struggling to with EV development and a bit like VW with its very average ID range, Toyota needs to do much better. EVs are expensive and inconvenient to charge for many, and that's not an easy sell. If the efficiency isn't there to sell the dream of cheap running costs then the case for an EV starts to look very thin. Maybe Toyota's continued comments about hydrogen give is a clue to which tech they are really backing ?
Neither Toyota or Subaru, thanks to Toyota's weird hatred to EV's in general and their sole focus on Hybrid or the Hydrogen model it could be that in some markets they'll get banned before they even can sell anything such as Norway next year to start. Never mind the charge rate which is crazy particularly if you're DC fast charging it expect a 4hr wait on a low SoC(under 10%) to 100% as tested by other EV TH-camrs.
I can look over the fact they released with an issue that the wheels could fall off. The thing that would stop me buying it is the fact the interior dash looks like it's from 2006. The wheel arches taken from a Dacia, the charging flap cuts into the arch, the chargegate where it throttles repeated charges, the incredibly poor range and efficiency. The fact that it's almost £50k is laughable.
I think the front end looks better than the bZ4x which is frankly hideous in person, *BUT* that being said, I would not touch either this or the 'yota with a bargepole as they are in most ways some of the worst EVs available. They would've been great 6 years ago before we had the I-pace or anything else more competent since.
Very helpful. In “buy mode” as we speak and, trying to muster some patience for all the reasons you pointed out. Too bad, Subaru is the one I’ve been waiting on, not now. These are expensive vehicles and should be doing better. Thank You
I've been put off buying a vehicle in the past as they had put tiny door mirrors on it ("because they look better") creating blindspots (this from a company famous for their safety inventions), then tried to charge many thousands of pounds for their Blindspot elimination system!
i want to nominate you for a nobel peace prize ! ive been saying that for years! people say im stupid! but i call it common sence! wish people would learn how to drive!
In April 2024 the 2023 model is available used (very low mileage, strong warranty) for 60% of the new price. That's a great deal for the buyer. This review is focused on the new car price/features but buyers in 2024 have to consider reality. There is no competitor if you need ground clearance, and the likelihood of reliability over the long haul. Few EVs in the US are useful for driving more than 200 miles today because of the lack of charging infrastructure.
Wow, changing the colour of the car on the thumb nail to get more views. Reminds me when I worked for Subaru many years ago and all the press guys wanted was red demonstrators. Seems bright colours are still more photogenic.
Thank you for featuring the dozens of features that will inevitably malfunction six or seven years from now and will cost a fortune to fix. It's just all so depressing how with each model year we creep closer and closer to maniacal complexity.
I live in Australia and a Suburu fan and have been waiting for the Soltera release. I'm very worried about the range as it seems from the Canadian experience that range and efficiency are not up to scratch. We have long distances and still a low number of charging stations in this country and plenty of rough roads. I love the ground clearance it seems to be at least 50 mm or 2 inches better than the rest in the field. But rang Range range in this country. There is still no release date or specs released in Australia much to my disappointement.
To answer your Q the thing that would put me off is a split rear screen, as in a Prius for example. I had a Civic and after 18 months couldnt take it any more. Hence me ruling out the Genesis GV60.
When it comes to chimes in a car, I would like to be able to replace the chimes with words. When something unusual happens I have to look at the dash and try to figure out what that light is for, since I haven't looked at the manual in years. So I when I first got the car, if I could have replaced the chime with "Tire Low", "Brake Engaged"...., then I'd understand the problem quicker. My 2017 car does not have the big LCD screen so maybe LCDs give better info than dash lights.
Things that put me off buying a car: 1. All controls for climate control etc in a digital screen. 2. Bongs every time you go 1mph over the speed limit. 3. Driver aids only able to be adjusted or switched off via deep menu on screen (every time you start the car!) 4. Haptic buttons on steering wheel.
I like Subaru and we currently have two, but the Solterra is a HUGE disappointment. Toyota needs to get serious about BEVs and give the triplets more range and better performance. They are a generation behind the Koreans. My local Subaru dealer had a Solterra with a $140 cargo tray and $175 all-weather floor liners for an MSRP of $54,427 USD. That's way too much for the low range, slow charging, and mediocre performance. Plus, it's ugly, lacks a glove box and rear wiper, and the rear bumper looks like installing a hitch would be a PITA. X-Mode would be nice if it operated at higher speeds. I own a tree farm and my parents have a cabin on 50 acres of woodland. Both have steep spots I've tried to use X-Mode, but I end up turning it off after a few seconds because it creeps too slowly. That was the case with our ‘13 and ‘21 Crosstreks and ‘15 Forester XT. The Forester will be my last Subaru if they don't right the ship soon.
I prefer the Subaru headlight design and the standard fit 4S tyres is a bonus but I couldn't forgo the Toyota Warranty if i really wanted one of these two. However although range isn't important to me, dragging around, and paying for, the extra weight without benefiting from additional range would be. Mazda has deliberately chosen reduced weight over range in the MX30 and in the UK is nearly 40% cheaper!
To decide whether it's to be a Toyota or a Subaru is the local dealer. I have had first-class Toyota standard service from my Toyota dealer for 20 years. Google struggles to find a Suburu one. But I would like the Subaru.
I am on my second Subaru xv, this one is the hybrid. It is a superb underrated vehicle. As far as the Solterra goes I think they have dropped the ball, why would I pay another 17k for a car that has such a poor range? If they can get it to 350 miles and reduce the price in line with ice cars then I may be interested, as it stands, Thanks but no thanks.
Don’t forget this car’s wheel will literally fall off. During testing in China, wheels from test vehicles fall off causing significant delays to this car’s introduction into Chinese market, the largest ev market in the world. Test vehicles were directly imported from Japan meaning the base car design is seriously flawed. Chinese market bz4 is modified so this problem wouldn’t happen, but what about cars already sold in us? On top of that, this car sells for 160k rmb in China, about 20k usd, in us, more than 40k, ouch
For me, I like how the interior is designed but not how it looks. For me, the problem is the colour scheme: to grey, a bit early 80's looking and maybe because of all the grey, the plastics look far less quality than they probably are. I need to see it in real life.
In the video you're saying that the steeringwheel is blocking the sight on the scree. I suppose the steeringwheel can be leveled up and down some inches. (Like in my car). Maybe it's possible to put the wheel at that hight that it does not block any longer the screen. (I've done so in my car...steerinng wheel adjusted to my chair position and sight on screens...(also I've an headup display but apart from that I want to be able to see the information on the screen.)
@Reinier NN . As a Solterra owner seeing the screen is easily fixed by steering wheel and seat adjustment. Toyota are moving to the airplane style steering wheel with drive by wire steering. I’m not sure if Subaru will do the same. I think the layout was originally designed for that but it’s needs homogenization in various countries. I have been a Subaru driver for many decades and just love the Solterra and I know some of the Chinese cars are less expensive but I think the build quality and reliability and established dealerships are a bonus. I see comments from people who describe the car as rubbish and I bet they have never even seen one let alone driven one. I would be curious to know what they actually drive so I could do a little assessment.
I put it on par with the Mazda MX 30, in other words rubbish. You mentioned “red lines” that would exclude you from buying a new EV, well here are mine.. must have a rear window wiper, must have true one pedal driving, must have the charging port on the left hand side rear, must not be front wheel drive. I know I’ve just excluded 95% of new EVs but when I’m paying forty odd thousand pounds I’m very choosy.
Really kind of like the looks of the Toyota/Subaru but the plastic interior added to its poor range & power would be enough to put me off... Actually talk about the RRP and I'm running in the opposite direction!!
I just went to the Lexus RZ launch in Montreal Canada. Beautifully put together with some very nice features but 305km autonomy at best is not going to sell well in any country. 95% of people don’t need more autonomy but perception is king.
I got mine 3 months ago and haven't seen the inside of a gas station since. No oil change, no leaky fluids, no noise (heaven driving it) charging takes a little time but it's perfect for me. Basically I am in love with my new Solterra
Wait when it breaks to compare repair cost with compatible ICE car. Hope you don't get even iminor collision.
@TH-camUser_2020 It's less likely to break BECAUSE it's not an ICE vehicle. Add on top of that, a Toyota platform...
@@bonilla1240 EV can break as well. Toyota ICE and hybrid cars are known for better reliability but its EVs reliability has to be seen.
@@TH-camUser_2020 Seriously? EVs break down at a much lower rate the Ice vehicles, have less complicated systems that need to be maintained, no oil changes, etc. Keep driving your pollution spewing ICE vehicle that kills you and us all with its pollution! Cough, Cough. LOL
You, and you alone.
I've had my US market Solterra for two months. The dealership turned off the reverse bong and reduced the volume and removed many of the other various beeps. It is much more pleasant with those adjustments.
I am pleased with my Solterra. I charge it every two days on my home charger, not a problem. This is my 9th Subaru. We have several charging locations in LA CA soon not a problem
Seems to me both Subaru and Toyota (and Mazda, and Honda and so forth) fell asleep at the wheel and just woke up to the realization that they now have several years of catching up to do compared to the competition. That said, I hope they are good students and copy the homework of their better peers. :)
Nope, they still have not come to that realisation, the Toyota President (previous CEO) only said last week that hydrogen is the future.And also they dont like their current platform and will replace it, so theyve Osborned the BZ (and this by definition) with new platform cars not available til 2026 earliest.
@@Joe-lb8qn I don't know what they are smoking in Japan, but it must be some potent stuff.
@@Joe-lb8qn they don't want to admit that they've been wrong and it's going to cost people their jobs. That said I do actually believe that hydrogen could be part of the future, but I'm talking about the distant future, when we already have a nearly full ev world but there are still people clinging on to ice cars for long distance or off grid uses, and we have an abundance of renewable energy. We will be creating hydrogen for other uses with it, maybe also for those uses as generator fuel and Rex.
@@Joe-lb8qn lmao nobody has a hydrogen fuel station in their garage. Everybody that has a garage has an outlet..
@@sakidickerson lol someone finally gets it!
"Just not good enough". Took the words right out of my mouth.
Loving my 2023 Solterra Limited. Was hoping to pick up the premium trim which is about 4K cheaper but wasn’t available. I knew about the sub par reviews, but after driving it myself I choose the Solterra over the other competitors in this EV class. At the end of the day it is quality, reliability, and safety that sold me.
You don't question the reliability of the first electric car every built by Toyota and Subaru? While others have been manufacturing them for a decade?
@@iaintdonknow Toyota, Subaru, Honda, Mitsubishi have been dabbling in for evs for a long time...
@@samusaran7317 they all don't make an actual usable EV yet, Honda has one, Mitsubishi is selling out with Nissan and Renault tech and Toyota has already said this platform is a failure.
I don't know why, but Japan has failed on the EV-rage.
@@iaintdonknow I see what you're saying but you missed my point. Oh well
Toyota has their own hydrogen engine.
Nice & balanced review. Reminder to North American viewers, in the US & Canada, the Solterra & AWD bZ4X get a different battery. Top DC fast charge speed is 100 kW versus 150 kW in Europe or Japan. There are reports of serious charging and range issues in cold weather (worse than typical EVs). Buyers in Canada or Northern US, unless used exclusively for short commutes, be wary of the Solterra or AWD bZ4X!
Would add to this; the cars are not priced to be for local trips only. Not a great buy unless you absolutely love Toyota/Subaru, but even then be prepared to lose a significant amount of money when you come to sell them.
That's a shame. I've been waiting 18 months for an Ioniq 5 and getting antsy. Supposedly, I might get something in the next 6 months. The local Subaru has Solterra's in stock and I'm tempted to stop waiting. My 4 year old Ioniq EV gets 10km/KW, so I can get 280km on its 28kW battery in the summer (down to 200km in the Winter). Sounds like I will barely do better with the Solterra and the battery is almost 3 times bigger.
thanks for the heads up, I'll wait for the new Chevrolet batteries in that case
We've been delighted with our two 3.6 litre Subaru Outbacks since 2010 (a 2010 model, then a 2019) and as we get ready to move into EV mode I was looking at Subaru again. The range in this Solterra though is too small at present to interest me. Living in Sydney but with 2 destinations of 400-450 kms we often travel we'll want an EV with a useable 600+kms range with A/C engaged (ie still 500+kms when the battery has lost some of its oomph). I really want a Subaru again since we have developed such confidence in the brand and the Outbacks' cruising attributes have been undeniable - reliability, all day comfort, very nice ground clearance and total sure-footedness.
Looks like we'll be waiting till something like a more energy intensive lithium/Sulphur battery replaces current battery technology.
The Solterra at present seems like an decent adventure vehicle stuck with city and highway duty due to range limitation
I worked in intensive cares and operating theatres. I had a special interest in the ergonomics of monitors and alarms. It is essential to make the full use of the auditary spectrum. Grraded for urgency...'here is something I woulds like to bring to your attention' through to 'stop everything'. Then there were efforts to differentiate classes of alarms such as those related to the patients physiology or the breathing machine. It was difficult to get different companies to agree, but that was the intent. As a comment below suggests, too many similar alarms leads to all being ignored or the message buried n the noise. Great review BTW
As someone who usually drives manual I really appreciated the annoying reversing beep in my partner’s Prius cos it meant I wasn’t gonna accidentally put the car in reverse! I think you could turn it off though.
Yeah the driver hud being blocked by the wheel is a HUGE design miss.
That whole area is estically unpleasant. The steering wheel shaft cover is a baggy mess.
Woeful efficiency. I’ve averaged 3.8 miles per kWh doing 8k miles in an MG5 in the 6 months since October, including a fair amount of motorway miles. The bongs on this would drive me crazy. The best thing about this whole collab is the Toyota’s warranty.
Except that warranty doesn't extend to the Subaru...
MG5 is a gay little car
I am 76 years old. Bring on the bongs, warning lights, attention monitors, and all the aggravations. Besides I get to yell at my car when I am falsely accused, and bless it when I see the pedestrian behind me with their little dog.
God ,I’m so tired of EV reviews ! Why do I watch them 😂
does the MG5 match the ride height of the Solterra ?
Oh… we've owned two Subarus, and really loved them. It thus hurts me to say that… we wouldn't opt for a Solterra. Over a decade ago, I had hoped and even expected Subaru to start selling its R1e and Stella EVs, but it never happened -which really disappointed me. The Solterra's range is too limited, the energy efficiency too low, the regen needs work, and I don't get the impression that it has one-pedal driving. I dunno… it seems to me that this Toyota/Subaru EV is simply to have some "skin in the game," but they're not serious about producing a true contender.
Aye like the Mazda mx30. Some great features but falls way short of it's competitors.
Toyota will not survive the transition to EVs. By the end of this decade they will be hanging on by a thread and are becoming the Nokia of the auto industry.
@@JAM_2024 the Japanese to me may now be incapable of leading the pack for fear of failure and losing face. During and following the WFC it seems to me some countries (Germany in particular) went for it hell for leather while the Japanese tightened their belts and lost years of development. Different national mindset?
@@JAM_2024 Electric vehicles don't work for the 80-90% of the World driving population, Toyota is a global brand, they collaborate and participate in some of the best battery brands. They develop their own electric motors, gearboxes and so on. They are centered in global solutions, not cars that just work for rich countries of EU and EEUU, that's why they do lots of research with hydrogen, synthetic fuels and so on.
Toyota has helped brands like Tesla to start developing their electric motors and batteries, they have thousands of research papers about battery charging, degradation, electric motor optimization and so on.
Electric cars don't make sense for now, it's a trend created by politicians. Toyota's CEO has said it openly, other manufacturers CEOs have been in silence until now, but most of them say the same thing now, electric for everything is a nonsense
@@JAM_2024 I thought I heard that Toyota was not really interested in ev's anyway, so I suspect the bz might be in their lineup just to have "something ev to sell." I believe Toyota's philosophy is to focus on hybrids because on the whole hybrid building is just cleaner for the environment overall than building ev's given current technology. Since Toyota has a modest percentage stake in Subaru, I doubt the Solterra will really ever become more than just ok.
For that price you can get a Volvo XC 40 twin motor. There would be no comparison in almost every aspect apart from a slightly bigger boot.
hybrids are the worst of both world. Pick gas or electric. No comparison.
@@brendanmalloy-painting The Solterra is all electric. So is the Volvo XC 40 I was talking about. They do still make XC40 hybrids though, but I was referring to the BEV.
You, sir, are a spectacular host. Funny, and informative. I enjoyed watching this the whole way through. Many thanks!
Crikey starting at £49,995 in the UK. No thanks!
Another +40k one… I predict nobody’s going buy it.
Bruh this should be 20k starting price. And those ugly plastic bits are just insulting
Holy Moly that's Fi ng expensive.. Its a joke.
That's battery costs for you. Especially as they don't have the volumes of sale that, say Tesla or Greely/Volvo/Polestar: can't negotiate so well. If they had a more efficient vehicle they could maybe have fitted a smaller battery-but this model seems weak all round
Welcome to the Uk, the most fucked up cost of living crisis on the planet
I think this was an utterly charming and wonderful, incisive review. You didn't hold back on your opinions or try to make excuses for the car. And writing from Australia, where range (anxiety) is a concern - the UK is less than 4% the size of Oz - the relatively short distance between charges will see many (including me) reject what is otherwise a good - but not great - car. Would I buy an Outback XT over this and pocket what will be substantial savings? (The projected price of the Solterra is around 1/3 more than the XT.) Every time. I have a naturally aspirated Outback, and it's great and will not replace it with a "good" car.
I'd like someone to explain to me how its become possible to charge this much for an electric car when you only have to look at other manufacturers to find you are desperately overpriced. I understand Subaru themselves are a small-volume manufacturer but Toyota certainly are not so that's not an excuse either. Look at the new MG's, both are just as terribly cheap inside, but ones the cost of an entire new car cheaper. They both seem to have the same basic driving charactics and function, granted the Subaru has a few extra toys hidden in that menu, but thats about it. I cannot fathem the cost of this.
Other than the price (!) the occluded driver's console would put me off, followed by the beeps. There might be a way to disable them, but these things have a way of re-enabling themselves. And unless you live in a city, that battery performance is a concern.
That reversing beep is an immediate no. I'm conditioned to that being parking sensors now
Nah, seat belt chime!
@@Lecruque :but it doesn't chime unless someone's in it and the belt is undone
It had a number of chimes/beeps on our test drive which can be distracting when you are driving. It took me weeks to figure out what my CRv was beeping for after it reset some random setting.
Excellent point about the bongs and beeps. For people with hyperacusis or misophonia it would be infuriating. Not to mention it's damn annoying for anyone else. That feature alone would make it not worth buying.
The bongs and beeps can take your focus off of the road and into the cockpit which is very dangerous.
The reverse bleep can be switched off by the dealership according to the manual. Did you try the one pedal driving button on the centre consul as it has more bite than using the region paddles. The car doesn't come to a complete stop but a very slow creep which gives the driver the choice whether to stop the vehicle completely using the break. You are right in what you say about an update which should go some way to address the available range. I watched a review recently which tested three different vehicles to show their range capabilities .One of the cars gained around 100 miles more than the Solterra but the car as tested cost a shade over £100,000. Just about double the purchase cost . I have been driving my Solterra since November and 3 miles per kw is not difficult to achieve and I hope that figure will increase when the weather is warmer.
I wish the one pedal driving was more aggressive with the braking. It needs to be turned up A LOT. I like Hyundai and Tesla one pedal driving much better.
@Sonny Malone. Is there one perfect EV or ICE vehicle? Probably not. There are some Inonic 5 owners who are on their third 12. Volt battery in a year. You never know if you are going to get in your car because the battery is flat.
@@johnnyboy7459 Have you heard what is causing so many 12 volts to go bad
@Sony Malone. Yes I say a video recently from America and the guy said the Hyundai America have admitted it’s a component problem and can’t be fixed with an over air update. They seem to suffer from phantom drain. I have seen owners with battery monitors and booster packs to power the car up.
Contemplating buying the Subaru or Toyota models. Had no idea they’re related. This is one of the best vehicle reviews I’ve ever seen.
The manuals go under the center console storage tray.
Love my Subaru Solterra!! Beautifully car and ready for any road conditions! The battery could be better but it works great for me!
how so? In what way?
@@reginag.a.4187 Do you understand English? He clearly said why he likes this Solterra! Duh!
Short ime with Solterra Liimited and all quite good, so far. Excellent one-hour session, with dealer specialist, covering every detail, and all questiions. Home charging system and very low monthly miles, ALL local. Why not Toyota ??? ..... easy peasy ..... incredible local Subaru dealership .... in every respect. Very confident going forward, but let's see in next several months.
How has it been for you ?
Seems like nobody has realized yet, it's the cars with electronic shifters, especially the Japanese ones, beep in reverse. Imagine how many people didn't adopt the original Prius' slap to the left and up/down and couldn't tell which gear they were in. Same with Leaf's puck.
Toyota manuals have beeped in reverse as well
Prius does that sound in reverse too. You get used to it. It also helps because you don' t have a physical visual when you switch from D to R. You only see it on the dash. Without the sound, D and R sound the same.
That rear 'ding' is almost as annoying as "key is in the ignition" was on a Nissan. I know, I put it there.
A friend complained about his Prius (older) chiming when in reverse and hated it every bit as much as you. He found on the internet a door open/close, window up and down process that would turn off the reverse chime.
Been driving my US spec 2024 Solterra for about a month and a half now. Came from a 2013 Model S.
I get 3.8mi per kWh which is notably more efficient than it's rated 3.2.
It gets the range it's supposed to (and better).
The DCFC is consistent (definitely faster than my old Tesla).
Has a very comfortable and usable interior.
Drives and handles amazing for a SUV.
Has what seems to be a very efficient heat pump system, which not too many EV's come equipped with.
My only critique is the software. It's great that it has wireless Apple Carplay, however the built in software (including the mobile app) are not even in the same league as Tesla's software.
While the specs on paper for this class of EV are mediocre, where it excels is real world usage.
Long story short I absolutely love this car.
My last Toyota was badged as a Chevrolet and I drove it for 250,000 miles before it became too expensive to warrant replacing the struts. I have owned or leased 7 Subies since, and I have ordered a Solterra for 2024. We are city folk in a cold climate, and our longest usual journey is 150 miles over a weekend. I think we are going to be good to go.
yes, it sounds like a good choice for you. We (here in Sydney) have loved our 3 Japanese built Subaru Outbacks (premium quality and reliability). They take us 600kms return on sometimes cut up dirt roads to our destination and then driving to various vantage points while camping out there with never any thought we'll have any issues - an electric Sube with this range automatically introduces a worry factor - range
All cars need different tones (bongs) for different things. Like left and right alerts are the same. Makes me have to scan everything instead of one.
Why didn't they just call both cars the 'Meh'?
Great review. I didn't see anything here that made me feel my Enyaq was the wrong choice. I agree that the efficiency is a problem. It wouldn't be an everyday concern but people always worry about those longer journeys with a charging infrastructure that is currently a bit subpar. For the money, there are better EVs on the market. The bongs would either drive me crazy or I would learn to ignore them so even the important ones would be ignored which is a problem. The styling is fine, not amazing, but it wouldn't put me off or make me want to buy it.
Other than it's a crossover.
But it's not like there's any real choice beyond SUVs and crossovers...
I wouldn't swap my Enyaq either, I have done a few long journeys in mine. Back in October I did a trip of 500+ miles and a week ago I drove 400 miles across Ireland and back pulling a box trailer on a very cold & wet day to make a delivery.
@@toyotaprius79 Well, I've a hatchback (ioniq 5) awd and my range is in summer , with 100 km /h (62mph) is close to the wltp range, in winter (zero degrees celsius) ca 15% less than wltp.....and that is a real choice in this price level. Also the teslo model 3 is not a crossover....
Volkswagens EVs are overpriced garbage, but thanks for throwing money at our german company.
@@miskatonic6210 You're entitled to an opinion, even though you're wrong.
I can see they used the same interior-designer like most other manufactures - I think he`s called Mr. All-Dark? Thats very progressive, forewardthinking and uplifting ;-)
You would think Subaru would have learned from the Tribeca... the attraction of Subaru is a quality AWD vehicle that is very similar across all models that can be depended everyday during weather but also good for adventures. Sure Subarus get tweaked but it is a very predictable process on the 5 year update cycle. They came out with the Tribeca which looked wildly different than all other Subarus and it tanked. The Solterra doesn't look like a Subaru inside or out, compounded with weak range in a vehicle platform used by many to go on adventures (which usually means long drives somewhere) in out of the way areas (where usually there aren't chargers). My perspective is different though, Im in the US and in Rocky Mountains. We own three Subaru's right now, Crosstek, Ascent and Forrester. We looked at the Solterra but just doesn't have range needed. I understand why Subaru partnered with Toyota - leveraging a larger companies reach - and why Toyota has partnered with Subaru - leveraging a smaller companies record of dependability and popularity. I just think in this case it shot Subaru in the foot because Toyota is so against EVs in general.
I own the Solterra. I think it's only real downfall is the range and charging speeds in the winter. However, in mild/warmer temperatures....the range appears to be more efficient than initially advertised at 220miles per charge. I do a combo of highway/city though.
So what’s your range in Winter vs Summer?
@@TheBrucifer great question. The awesome news is that I've gone 275 miles with no ac and relative flat land in the summer. This was before the update to improve range readings. The charge was as advertised in a little under an hour. Winter you'll be charging for damn near an hour and a half. Range is awful at around 160-170miles no ac with heated seats and steering wheel
that's a pass from me. We LOOOOVE our subaru and want to give them a chance when we're ready to get a new car. Hopefully after a few iterations, there will be an electrified Outback with a range of at least 300 miles. Until then, we're happy to wait it out.
I wish I had seen this review before I bought my Solterra! You are spot on with everything - the bings and bongs, the poor range. I am really bothered by not having a glove box and did not even notice this when I bought it -and why not make the manual small enough to fit in the center console? I really wanted the Chevy Blazer EV but Chevy could not even provide a rough timing for availability and I didn't want to wait a year.
I was brought up with Subaru - my Dad had a new one every 3 years. I’d definitely try the Solterra.
A new one every three years is completely bonkers, Subarus can last a lifetime.
Great video, My only thing i would say is that he put the car into reverse and did not have his seat belt on so yeah it is going to beep on him all Subaru do that
I am not yet a full EV driver, hybrid for me currently, this certainly wouldn't tempt me to full EV. 2m/kWh doesn't come close to what I would hope for even in winter! It is baffling why a manufacturer would introduce an EV which is barely OK in terms of potential range and don't get me started on the chimes!
I have the red solterra... Love it🤷♂️😆
Great car!
I can’t understand why they make them look so similar, they’re not even targeting much difference in the market, aside from branding?
Hyundai / Kia and the Volkswagen group etc. do such a good job of selling the same car many different ways!
I am a 8x Subaru owner, having two at the moment (Outback Limited and Forester Touring). My mistake was in buying the models with the Driver Monitoring System. While the seat and mirror memory parts of the system are fine, I absolutely hate the software's beeping at you to keep your eyes on the road when they are in fact on the road. I think the brand is excellent from a driving and mechanical point of view. Mine have always been reliable. I agree with you though that the cars beep at everything. On the Outback, I can adjust some things in the settings menu; not so in the Forester. Over time, I have not acclimated to the beeping. Instead, I am wearying from it and I periodically think about going to another brand. Of course, that is difficult at this time of shortages and "market adjustments." I still have to say that I am intrigued by the Solterra. The limited range is not as much a problem for me since I am retired and see myself using it only for short trips. The Outback would otherwise be the car I use for long trips.
Current owners: I'm curios about the main "instrument" cluster. I currently drive a 2012 Ford Escape and drive with the seat all the way back. I can easily see the speedometer and the rest of the cluster from where I sit. During this review, the reviewer stated he had some difficulty seeing the instrument cluster sitting all the way back given the way the display is so far forward near the windshield. What is your experience?
I saw a Solterra for the first time in the metal on a convention trip to NJ. I live in Burlington, Vermont - for a Subaru not to be selling here something must be very wrong, it's a big Subaru market and a big EV one with lots of Tesla 3/Y, Bolt and Leaf (I think the Chevy and Nissan dealers here sell more EVs than anyone else outside SoCal).
I owned 3 Subaru Foresters in succession, I'm willing to bet that my favorite feature on them is not on this car. That is the radio which had the ability to pause the play when a phone call came in & resume where it stopped when the call was finished. I have never come across this feature on any other car.
I have had many Subarus in the past and my present car is a Solterra. Just like your Forester the radio starts playing when your phone call is finished.
@@johnnyboy7459 What I said was that when a phone call comes in that the radio pauses and resumes at the exact same place where it had paused, so you miss nothing of an interview for instance.
@Wilko one. My mistake but the next time I get a call I’ll check it out with interest.
Great video, love Tom's presentation
"Who is this for?" has basically been the question I've asked since I first saw the specs on this car. There are several more compelling options that get better range, are more fun to drive, offer more space, have better fit and finish and just basically do most things better than this late arrival. Unless you're a diehard Subaru fan, I can't imagine having this on my list of considerations. I live in the Washington state, which is both a Subaru stronghold and one of the top EV markets in the United States and I just saw my first Solterra yesterday in downtown Seattle. I would have imagined a new Subaru would be all over the place here by now. This thing just seems like too little, too late.
The fast DC charge time is a complete lie. It takes over two hours to get a DC 80% charge. I brought mine into the dealership after 3 days and was told that the Subaru engineers are saying that that is how it was designed. They are advertising an hour to charge but their own engineers told me it takes between 2 and 3 hours to get an 80% charge. This is not a factor for in town using a home level 2 charger, but for a road trip, it means you will spend at least 2 hours charging for every 3 you drive. This is criminal fraud.
We have a leased SOLTERRA for local errands, occasional commuting to the city (30 miles), and trips here and there. We have another ICE SUV for longer trips and when we need more space. The reverse chime is annoying.
I’m in the market to buy a new car. I always thought I’d forever be a Subaru owner and am coming to terms with the realities that this is no longer to be. I loved my Subaru Forester but there isn’t a hybrid version in N. America and no auto maker is making hybrids with manual transmissions. Driving is no longer fun. Oh and that Reverse alarm…such a deal breaker! Thanks for the great review!
So the reversing beeps would stop you buying the car and yet the eNiro which does the same is an Electrifying favourite.....hmmm
Consistency??? 😂
The reversing beep is driving me nuts.
BZ4X was tested here in Sweden during real winter conditions and was actually really bad in the cold. There was a comment that Toyota had built a really good car, but unfortunately it was a really bad electric car. Guess that the Solterra is the same... Otherwise I agree that I would also prefer the Subaru.
So honest, I'm impressed. Thank you and congrats.
Just copped it. It’s fire 🔥
Actual Range way under 200m according to other reviews
meters or miles haha
We had two software updates for the Solterra, with great results. 450km real world range, far better charging, 100kw all the time..., very efficiënt ev motors, considering the small battery pack, very good real world range of 450km, as tested by car journalists in the Netherlands.
The Solterra won a comparison test with an Audi q4 etron...the Solterra was the far better EV, and car.....rock solid.
The Bz4x won a test, another car magazine, from the VW id4.
Hi - so does that mean that software updates have now improved the battery range, so it's now closer to the claimed 250-280 than the 128 this review found?
We’ve had a solterra for just over a month now and overall we’re very happy with it.yes the mileage is a bit disappointing and I hope that we’ll get call from the dealer to take the car in and tweak the battery for greater distance. But we love it! It’s roomy enough for all our needs, a very comfortable ride, sure footed and we feel very safe in it. We’re glad that we bought this, against a car with slightly longer mileage but less capable.
You got a lifted hatchback, it will only be so efficient. Losing a part of the buffer built in doesn't sound like a good idea too me. Should of waited for a solid state battery car with faster charging/range.
Should have....
What range are you actually seeing Summer vs Winter?
In Austrailia, the Soltera gets a Square steering wheel, which makes it easier to see the display over the Toyota, which was the only reason I would have chosen it over the Toyota,. But in the UK the Subaru seems to be lumbered with the Toyota wheel
I was at a shopping centre last week where the Tesla Model Y and Toyota BZ4X were both on display so I took a look at them. The difference was unbelievable - the Tesla felt like a new approach to a car, the Toyota felt like a 15 year old petrol car converted to EV.
The guy on the Toyota stand didn’t seem to know much about EV’s and told me rapid charging takes 4 hours… clearly some work to be done on staff training 😅
Never been a fan of the Model Y. Just looks like an over bloated Model 3. Plus I could never live with that atrocious interior that Tesla have persuaded everyone is the 'future'. Pushing all of a car's core functionality onto a touchscreen is utterly crazy. The only benefit is to the manufacturer because it's cheaper to make. Same goes for those amazing giga-castings. Cheaper to make but one small bump and you've written off your car. Nice.
True, but lots of people prefer their EV in a more familiar package.
I've been looking at this car. I ask myself this question. If I spend about the same money for either this car or Tesla, why should I choose Saltera? I just can't find the answer.
Great review and really interesting comparison. Seems to be a lot of chatter on the web that Toyota have royally screwed up their EV strategy and nothing I've seen on either variant would seem to suggest otherwise. It seems that a few manufacturers are struggling to with EV development and a bit like VW with its very average ID range, Toyota needs to do much better. EVs are expensive and inconvenient to charge for many, and that's not an easy sell. If the efficiency isn't there to sell the dream of cheap running costs then the case for an EV starts to look very thin. Maybe Toyota's continued comments about hydrogen give is a clue to which tech they are really backing ?
You don't need a battery with hydrogen so that is a big advantage there.
Neither Toyota or Subaru, thanks to Toyota's weird hatred to EV's in general and their sole focus on Hybrid or the Hydrogen model it could be that in some markets they'll get banned before they even can sell anything such as Norway next year to start. Never mind the charge rate which is crazy particularly if you're DC fast charging it expect a 4hr wait on a low SoC(under 10%) to 100% as tested by other EV TH-camrs.
I can look over the fact they released with an issue that the wheels could fall off. The thing that would stop me buying it is the fact the interior dash looks like it's from 2006. The wheel arches taken from a Dacia, the charging flap cuts into the arch, the chargegate where it throttles repeated charges, the incredibly poor range and efficiency. The fact that it's almost £50k is laughable.
Chinese co production. Toyota wanted an EV fast and did a rush job
I think the front end looks better than the bZ4x which is frankly hideous in person, *BUT* that being said, I would not touch either this or the 'yota with a bargepole as they are in most ways some of the worst EVs available. They would've been great 6 years ago before we had the I-pace or anything else more competent since.
Very helpful. In “buy mode” as we speak and, trying to muster some patience for all the reasons you pointed out. Too bad, Subaru is the one I’ve been waiting on, not now. These are expensive vehicles and should be doing better. Thank You
I've been put off buying a vehicle in the past as they had put tiny door mirrors on it ("because they look better") creating blindspots (this from a company famous for their safety inventions), then tried to charge many thousands of pounds for their Blindspot elimination system!
i want to nominate you for a nobel peace prize ! ive been saying that for years! people say im stupid! but i call it common sence! wish people would learn how to drive!
Rear visibility is very bad. Reminds me of the Toyota CJ7 huge blind spot.
Strange, but every video I have watched about these 2 cars mentions the instrument display being partially blocked by the steering wheel.
In April 2024 the 2023 model is available used (very low mileage, strong warranty) for 60% of the new price. That's a great deal for the buyer. This review is focused on the new car price/features but buyers in 2024 have to consider reality. There is no competitor if you need ground clearance, and the likelihood of reliability over the long haul. Few EVs in the US are useful for driving more than 200 miles today because of the lack of charging infrastructure.
The reverse chime is a true bummer. I agree with you there are too many bells and whistles in cars today - and in just about every electronic gismo!
Wow, changing the colour of the car on the thumb nail to get more views. Reminds me when I worked for Subaru many years ago and all the press guys wanted was red demonstrators. Seems bright colours are still more photogenic.
Thank you for featuring the dozens of features that will inevitably malfunction six or seven years from now and will cost a fortune to fix. It's just all so depressing how with each model year we creep closer and closer to maniacal complexity.
I live in Australia and a Suburu fan and have been waiting for the Soltera release. I'm very worried about the range as it seems from the Canadian experience that range and efficiency are not up to scratch. We have long distances and still a low number of charging stations in this country and plenty of rough roads. I love the ground clearance it seems to be at least 50 mm or 2 inches better than the rest in the field. But rang Range range in this country. There is still no release date or specs released in Australia much to my disappointement.
Great review mate
To answer your Q the thing that would put me off is a split rear screen, as in a Prius for example. I had a Civic and after 18 months couldnt take it any more. Hence me ruling out the Genesis GV60.
The giant center displays can be very distracting.
The dealer can disable the reverse chime.
When it comes to chimes in a car, I would like to be able to replace the chimes with words.
When something unusual happens I have to look at the dash and try to figure out what that light is for, since I haven't looked at the manual in years.
So I when I first got the car, if I could have replaced the chime with "Tire Low", "Brake Engaged"...., then I'd understand the problem quicker.
My 2017 car does not have the big LCD screen so maybe LCDs give better info than dash lights.
You need an MG Maestro 😉
I must have fallen asleep, when did £50k become mid range?
Things that put me off buying a car: 1. All controls for climate control etc in a digital screen. 2. Bongs every time you go 1mph over the speed limit. 3. Driver aids only able to be adjusted or switched off via deep menu on screen (every time you start the car!) 4. Haptic buttons on steering wheel.
I like Subaru and we currently have two, but the Solterra is a HUGE disappointment. Toyota needs to get serious about BEVs and give the triplets more range and better performance. They are a generation behind the Koreans. My local Subaru dealer had a Solterra with a $140 cargo tray and $175 all-weather floor liners for an MSRP of $54,427 USD. That's way too much for the low range, slow charging, and mediocre performance. Plus, it's ugly, lacks a glove box and rear wiper, and the rear bumper looks like installing a hitch would be a PITA. X-Mode would be nice if it operated at higher speeds. I own a tree farm and my parents have a cabin on 50 acres of woodland. Both have steep spots I've tried to use X-Mode, but I end up turning it off after a few seconds because it creeps too slowly. That was the case with our ‘13 and ‘21 Crosstreks and ‘15 Forester XT. The Forester will be my last Subaru if they don't right the ship soon.
I prefer the Subaru headlight design and the standard fit 4S tyres is a bonus but I couldn't forgo the Toyota Warranty if i really wanted one of these two. However although range isn't important to me, dragging around, and paying for, the extra weight without benefiting from additional range would be. Mazda has deliberately chosen reduced weight over range in the MX30 and in the UK is nearly 40% cheaper!
You’re right about the peeping. My Suby beeps at everything 🤪
Just got one and hope it works out your me. Thanks for the comments above.
The Prius always had that reversing bong. You could ask the dealership to turn it off.
To decide whether it's to be a Toyota or a Subaru is the local dealer. I have had first-class Toyota standard service from my Toyota dealer for 20 years. Google struggles to find a Suburu one.
But I would like the Subaru.
Why change the colour of the car in the thumbnail? The grey is fine!
I am on my second Subaru xv, this one is the hybrid. It is a superb underrated vehicle. As far as the Solterra goes I think they have dropped the ball, why would I pay another 17k for a car that has such a poor range? If they can get it to 350 miles and reduce the price in line with ice cars then I may be interested, as it stands, Thanks but no thanks.
Don’t forget this car’s wheel will literally fall off. During testing in China, wheels from test vehicles fall off causing significant delays to this car’s introduction into Chinese market, the largest ev market in the world. Test vehicles were directly imported from Japan meaning the base car design is seriously flawed. Chinese market bz4 is modified so this problem wouldn’t happen, but what about cars already sold in us? On top of that, this car sells for 160k rmb in China, about 20k usd, in us, more than 40k, ouch
People with Subarus tend to tow, what’s the towing ability??
For me, I like how the interior is designed but not how it looks. For me, the problem is the colour scheme: to grey, a bit early 80's looking and maybe because of all the grey, the plastics look far less quality than they probably are.
I need to see it in real life.
It’s all black in real life, fairly classy
All of the shinny black plastic will be a dust magnet.
2 miles per kWh is what I'd expect if you were towing a small caravan.
In the video you're saying that the steeringwheel is blocking the sight on the scree.
I suppose the steeringwheel can be leveled up and down some inches. (Like in my car).
Maybe it's possible to put the wheel at that hight that it does not block any longer the screen.
(I've done so in my car...steerinng wheel adjusted to my chair position and sight on screens...(also I've an headup display but apart from that I want to be able to see the information on the screen.)
@Reinier NN . As a Solterra owner seeing the screen is easily fixed by steering wheel and seat adjustment. Toyota are moving to the airplane style steering wheel with drive by wire steering. I’m not sure if Subaru will do the same. I think the layout was originally designed for that but it’s needs homogenization in various countries. I have been a Subaru driver for many decades and just love the Solterra and I know some of the Chinese cars are less expensive but I think the build quality and reliability and established dealerships are a bonus. I see comments from people who describe the car as rubbish and I bet they have never even seen one let alone driven one. I would be curious to know what they actually drive so I could do a little assessment.
Its main advantage is its higher ride height over the competition but I think people should just go with the Ayria instead
The higher ride feels good in the front but wierd in the back seat because of it's poor design. Back seat reminds me of small truck back seats.
I put it on par with the Mazda MX 30, in other words rubbish. You mentioned “red lines” that would exclude you from buying a new EV, well here are mine.. must have a rear window wiper, must have true one pedal driving, must have the charging port on the left hand side rear, must not be front wheel drive. I know I’ve just excluded 95% of new EVs but when I’m paying forty odd thousand pounds I’m very choosy.
The price is outrageous considering the gold standard EV (Tesla Model Y) gets 300mi range and can be had for 50K US or less depending on the package.
Really kind of like the looks of the Toyota/Subaru but the plastic interior added to its poor range & power would be enough to put me off... Actually talk about the RRP and I'm running in the opposite direction!!
I just went to the Lexus RZ launch in Montreal Canada. Beautifully put together with some very nice features but 305km autonomy at best is not going to sell well in any country. 95% of people don’t need more autonomy but perception is king.