This is the BEST Solterra review I've come across. Thanks for sharing! It is VERY accurate, fair, and informative. I do own the Solterra Touring and I am very, very pleased with it. It's the best vehicle I've ever owned, and despite of some of the 'shortcomings' when it comes to range and charging (as indicated by this review), they do not pose any challenge at all to me. I've never been in a situation where I got stuck due to an empty battery. I bought this vehicle as my daily commute, and it works wonders. I can charge this at home (level 1 or level 2), and there are enough charging stations in my area as well (some of them FREE). The touring trim comes with anything you'd ever want in a vehicle, it's a super smooth ride, looks great, and it's very roomy for front and rear passengers.
4 years of EV ownership and had driven across all Central/SW Ontario, I only DC Rapid charged 3.7% of my total number of charges. And this was with a car with 140km max range. He's right, as much as people talk about needing rapid charging it's only for those super long trips (Toronto to Ottawa or Windsor) which are such a small number of my overall drives.
But it rules out folks who street park their cars in urban areas and don't have access to home charging..."One in three U.S. housing units does not have a garage, according to the 2019 American Housing Survey, and many of those households do not have their own parking spots"
@@larney37 Yes people in HOA townhomes and condos are SOL in many cases. The HOAs don't want to pay to install chargers when electric penetraton is so low.
@@JJJosh949 With 3 or 4 gas cans in the back of your vehicle, you can travel coast to coast, with little more than a moments stop to refuel anywhere, at any time. It's never about the environment, it's always about their power to keep you under control...
Alex you never fail to point out the most important things any sensible consumer would factor in switching from ICE to EV or even switching brand names. From the ground clearance, the range plus considering interior sound levels ( I am not into the 0 to 60 crowd, I do not find any relevance now that I am older 🤓 ) and heat pumps especially if you live in the Midwest are strong points to be keenly aware of once we make the jump to driving EVs. As always thank you for such an efficient review.
Glad to hear that it's not nearly as slow 0 to 60 as the numbers would lead you to believe. Low six second range is plenty quick. Nobody coming from a RAV4 or a CRV or a Forester is going to be disappointed when they take one of these for a test drive. The good cargo and good interior space, quiet ride and soft ride, are going to be big selling points. I think also the fact that it is is probably built in a Toyota plant should lead it to be quite reliable. I suspect that's also the reason for the lower charging speeds. People that buy Toyota's tend to keep their cars a long time. And Toyota certainly doesn't want to risk having their customers get a bad experience.
@@boonnamgoh8914 Interesting. I didn't know Subaru built Camrys for Toyota out of that plant in Lafayette. I wonder what the purpose was? Factory in Georgetown Kentucky that Toyota used was unable to produce enough cameras at that time? It would be interesting to find out whether the increase in reliability was due to where the cars were made, or was it simply that those generations of Camrys were more reliable in general. I used to deliver freight into the Georgetown Toyota plant. Let me tell you you could eat off the floor at that place. Place around like a Swiss watch It was amazing I'd never seen a manufacturing facility like that. I'd been in several GM and Ford plants before then. Big difference on the interiors, not to mention the attitude of the workers.
@@abraxastulammo9940 The all-wheel drive ID4 is making more power I think 300 horsepower. Although actually I don't think the 0 to 60 time is significantly different. The rear wheel drive ID4 is definitely slower than the front wheel drive BZ4X. What it really comes down to is which car do you like better? I would say the Volkswagen is perhaps a little more normal looking. It certainly is going to be comfortable. It also has a really really good turning radius especially the rear wheel drive model. But which vehicle would you pick probably for long-term reliability? I'd probably pick the Toyota. But who the hell knows both are relatively new cars and Volkswagens unreliable reputation tends to revolve around its powertrains. Being electric maybe that won't be the case, I really don't know.
If 80-90% of charging happens at home, then is the "fast DC charging kills battery life" argument a real concern, or just a marketing excuse for companies to cover for their slower charging speeds? Does fast charging on 800v architecture like the Hyundai/Kia products (which have 100,000 mile warranties) 10 or 15% of the time significantly effect long-term battery life to the point where it is actually reasonable to consider a vehicle with 36,000 mile warranties and 1 hour charging times to 80% full?
DC fast charging does not kill battery life. If you DC fast charge every day, yes it will be shorter but we are talking around 10 percent or so overall. Your battery pack should last at least ten years! As has been proven, Tesla battery packs lose around 10-15% of capacity at 100000 miles. Regarding peak voltage, Again having a very high peak voltage as 800V systems have do not translate into shorter times what is most important is bulk charging level, if you can charge at 250 KW for 5 minutes and then drop to 75 because of battery heat soak that higher peak is essentially meaningless. Case in point, the Ionic 5 (presently the high voltage champ) charges a lot less (in KW) than a Mercedes EQS at 30 minutes simply because the EQS has a much flatter charge curve. Its all about the curve, not the peak! That said, the Subaru's charging rate is pretty darned bad and definitely not road trip "worthy" given the slow charge and middling battery capacity.
@Orangeman Personally I see it the other way around. If 80-90% of charging happens at home at slower speeds that don't affect battery life, then I absolutely want the fastest charging speed possible when I'm out on the road at a DC fast charger. Even if DC fast charging shortens battery life, it'll be infrequent enough to not matter to me. Also, when I hear "DC fast charge from 0-80% in an hour at 100kw/Hr" it sounds like they are using last gen batteries and tech. Subaru/Toyota are playing catch up when it comes to EVs, and the stats on this thing show that. Wait for a the next generation.
@@JookySeaCpt You are spot on. You need fast DC charging when you are on the road. Toyota has bet against EVs and is now behind the ball - the excuse for slow charging is most likely covering for bad battery thermal management.
Really if your ev has over 200 miles of range, are you gonna burn through that much driving in a day? Its rated very close for city/highway/combined, meaning your driving nature doesn't impact range much. If you're putting 200 miles in a day, 1400 miles in a week, 73k miles a year, then a current gen EV is not for you (actually a hybrid or diesel would be your friend). Honestly look at your daily mileage, look at how many miles you drive a day. If you don't commute to work, I'd say under 40, if you do commute to work, then 60-100. I know for me, a working man and college student, in my day to day life, I have never burnt through a tank of gas, full to empty, in a day, and my jeep has about 220 miles of GAS range a tank. If I have a plug at home, an EV would impact my life exactly *NONE,* the same way it would yours. DC fast charging is really for long trips, and how often do you take those, once a year if even? If you took a roadtrip that was say 300 miles to the lake house, each way you would need to stop and DC fast charge once. Other than that, your home charger covers your daily driving the other 363 days a year. So in reality that 0.5% of the time this vehicle is being DC fast charged.
@@james2042 Stopping every 2.5 hours for an hour to DC charge adds up really quickly and gets expensive (DC cost per mile of range is around the same as using premium gas in a 20 mpg car). Level 2 charging is also atrocious - 6.1 kWh is 25 amps while most modern EVs draw 45+ amps. So now you have a daily/adventure vehicle that is so slow to charge that you need a lot of planning and the infrastructure is not there. I assume bad charging also means bad regen efficiency which eats into real world range even more plus the dumb decision to run the front motor all the time while basically every other EV is RWD. Marketed as a city car, 200 miles is plenty of range. Marketed as an adventure car? With no spare tire for maximum adventure? Subaru relied on Toyota but Toyota does zero-effort crap like this all the time because their base will not buy any other brand no matter what (2022 4Runner with a 5-speed auto anyone?).
Unless you have the off-road areas in your backyard the small battery capacity and slow charge rate pretty much Achilles heeled this vehicle from being a great road-tripping car. The smooth ride is nice but waiting 50min for a 10-80 top off when the "tank" is so small would require a lot of patience. Looks like Toyota tried to keep costs down by keeping the same 6.6KW onboard charger that's on the Toyota Prime series.
I love my Subaru Outback (2014), and was hoping for something really good in the Solterra, but I really need something much closer to 300+ miles of range on a full charge to be feasible. I'll be driving ~450 miles tomorrow and I'm taking two trips this summer where we're going to be regularly driving 500-600 miles in a day. Even just a day to go to a doctor's appointment is about 180 miles of driving for me. I won't deny that most days I would be well under 220 miles, but driving more than that in a day is a near-monthly occurrence for me, and I just can't really handle the stress of not knowing if I'll be able to find a charger (a lot of the places I'm driving are pretty rural). 300+ would make me feel a lot more comfortable.
Don’t see the big deal. 45-50 minutes will allow you to grab a bite and drink or dessert. Heck, even a romp in the backseat for 50 minutes with your SO will pass the time. I can spend 50 min on the iPhone or iPad without blinking. When traveling long distances just use the time to eat, stretch your legs and walk, take a leak, go tour Buc-ees, or catch a quick nap. As I get older….I use any excuse to hit the exit ramp.
I may wait a year or two before trying to upgrade my wife's Subaru to a Soltera, but this is exciting. We don't really do any off road driving, but it's nice to have an option for some slightly more rugged roads and we also like to have an AWD vehicle when there is snow or ice. Great review. Looking forward to the more in depth one.
Great review. As a Subaru Forester owner, I've been wondering how good the Solterra is. I think Alex did a great job explaining the pros and cons of the Solterra vs other EV's on the market. Maybe I will consider getting one in the future someday. But for now, I'm still enjoying my 2016 Forester XT.
We also have a 2016 Forester and love it. I noticed the cargo area is no where as big as our Forester. I transport cars for a living with both Subaru and Toyota as regular customers. I like both companies products, but I find they have different approaches to interior design. Subaru seem to maximize space and vision focusing on practicality. Where Toyota has more interesting interiors an body lines, but looses interior space and exterior vision - sight angles and blind spots. This is subjective, I know. I just think this is an attempt for Subaru to claim EV with a badge. Of course this is a first attempt. Hope it works and we can see a true Subaru EV in the future.
I have a 2002 Forester and a 2018 Crosstrek. I love them both. When the Forester dies, I will buy an EV. I do have a bias toward Subaru, but I will not buy one until they put an LFP battery in it. Toyota has already announced a Corolla for 2024-25 that will have LFP batteries, so I’m hoping Subaru will get them too.
I don't see much in it terms of offer here, shorter range, slower charging, less power and a very basic interior, the only pluses I see are the Subaru/Toyota name and higher ground Clarence other than that it is all downhill, I feel this car can go off road but may never come back
I think this is the most comprehensive and honest review. This is not the vehicle to go cross country or off roading the whole day. So far it works for me.
To counter the point of 100kW DCFC. If 90% of all charging are done at home, how much would faster DCFC harm long term battery health? The few times you need to travel long distances, the owner would probably regret their decision against an Ioniq 5 or Model Y.
Absolutely agree. This might be designed to get you off the beaten path, but by the time you get there, the other EV owners are already done with the hike.
It basically doesn't harm the battery, particularly if its only 100kW. But generally speaking, DC fast charging doesn't harm any modern EVs battery enough to worry about. Not sure how that meme got started. EV batteries should get approximately the same number of miles with the same wear regardless of whether you DC fast charge or not. The reason being that when you DC fast charge that typically means you are burning up the miles, so calendar aging of the battery is not dominant. If you DON'T DC fast charge that typically means you are putting fewer miles on the vehicle, so calendar aging of the pack winds up being more important. Grand result? A big nothing. -Matt
DCFC don’t harm the battery if the chemistry is on point and have BMS. Drive my Bolt EV well over 100000 miles and no degradation plus I got a new battery because of the recall
@@allentoyokawa9068 And you know this how? Just because it's a Hyundai? They've become one of the world's biggest automakers for legitimate reasons. Per Consumer Reports their reliability is average, and many of their models are recommended. We've had an Elantra for almost a decade and it's been a very good car that's had no problems at all. We don't put on a lot of miles anymore, but enough that other cars we've had would have needed something repaired by now. Both the Ioniq5 ad the EV6 look like solid designs that were very well thought out.
Great review! Can't wait to see one in the wild. BTW I believe it is just over 4500 lbs of curb weight, and not 45,000 lbs at 17:15. (I like when Alex messes up cause I do too.)
100 kw fast charge kinda kills it... every other new ev has at least 130-150kw charging with some up to 200-250 kw, which is much better, since your going to get a much higher average
Totally agree. Combined with a small battery, this car is a total dud for long road trips. Even the 6.6 kWh home ac charging is slow. It’s just their lame excuse for poor ev battery tech.
I have early build 2018 model 3 mid range and early on I got 95kwh supercharge peak and 250mi claimed range so compatible to this. And I can tell you it's not easy on road trip. The average charge speed is not 95kwh it's around 60kwh (100peak but only 10% of the charging. The rest depends on the car charge curve, condition of the battery temp, charging station etc). I would need to stop 50min for every 2.5hr driving. Now with much faster charge speed since software updates it's much better at 25min.
@@kevinchung1492 appreciate your honest feedback. I have so many friends w/ early teslas who would never admit or say anything bad about being an early tesla adapter. I see this car as more of a 2nd car for around town usage, not a long distance road trip car
@@Wasabi9111 I am a car person not tesla fanboy. Me and my wife bough the Model 3 because the price with all the tax credit were attractive. And actually we like it a lot and it's our road trip car now. With the updates to improve charging and supercharge network I can travel from NJ to Toronto in 10.5hr vs 9.5hr with the hybrid we had. The extra hour is offset by Autopilot to ease the comfort, also we can sleep in the car with AC/heat on without worry carbon monoxide. Is it a true sport sedan? No. Does it have poor build? Yes to certain degree. But Model 3 make sense for day to day commute; and now we have more EV choices just need to have the charging network working as well as Tesla for road trip. Anyway you are right 100Kwh charging is not enough, people so focus on the range on EV they have to look at other factor
I'm totally supportive of an EV future. And I'm also a Subaru owner. So I'm pretty excited that Subaru is getting their name in the EV game and seems to have a really impressive first impression. I guess the thing about Subaru is that they sell the idea of freedom. Yeah I probably drive to work and back more than anything but I know that I could throw something in the back and go wilderness camping off the grid if I wanted lol, I know that when infrastructure and mobility is struggling from all the snowfall, my Subaru will get me out. If I run out of gas there's a hundred cheap fast ways to get me going again. Having to be connected to a grid for 9 hours at a time in between 220 mile variables goes against what most will think of when they think of a Subaru. Not that I'm complaining or can even afford this car lol, but it's a glaring issue and it's something that I'm excited to see change. I think 500+ mileage to a charge along with ~4 hour charge times (long in the future) would be a spot where nobody could argue anymore and just get an EV for their next vehicle.
Desert Rose by Sting, Perfect Choice! Not thrilled about the lack of glove compartment but a promise of 90% battery capacity after 10 years is too good for that to be anything near a deal breaker. My next vehicle may be a Subaru Solterra!
@@EM.1. They will likely be the same, roughly. Short of a major change in the chemistry (such as going to LFP or a solid electrolyte or some other very major change), the current crop of actively managed EV batteries should all have roughly the same durability. Tesla's will be a bit better due to the high-pressure cylindrical design. Tesla's LFP batteries will be significantly better (LiFePO4 has 2x to 4x the cycle life of the NMC/NCA chemistry), but trade-off against range. -Matt
The tires appear to be low profile. While many people find them more attractive, they are much less rugged, especially off road and dealing with pot holes. Having said that, I am a Toyota / Subaru owner and am looking forward to seeing this vehicle! Great video Alex.
Former Subaru owner who loved her car. Disappointed with this. And it isn’t the frunk, lack thereof. Slow charging. Smaller battery. Love the clearance but we are OK in snow with our Mach E. Just too little too late describes this car.
I live in a cold and snowy region in Canada. I wonder why all recent electric cars (EV6-Ioniq5-Solterra) do not have a rear wiper. Also, I am amazed with the fact that the car needs a phone to get the maps operational.
Great review Alex, super helpful and informational as usual. I understand this is a solid car, but I just can’t justify a Solterra purchase unless I’m saving some big money on the purchase vs. other EVs. I have a 14’ Forester XT which I love, but I also had a Chevy Bolt EV for 5 years which got better range than this new EV from Subaru. Combine the lack of range on this new Subi EV with the slow charging (I had that on my Bolt plus better range), plus mediocre infotainment compared to other EV brands, and I’m just not sold on this EV. I think I’m gonna hold tight on this one and look at other brands for my next EV purchase. Subaru can clearly do better, just look at the competition.
I have to agree. This is disappointing, and Subaru or Toyota branding is only worth so much when the product isn't competitive. The AWD system and ground clearance are nice, but for what is really a road car those are modest advantages. There are some people who live on bad roads or who drive them regularly who will find this appealing, but almost everyone else will be better off with something else that has more range, charges faster, or has better performance. I also find this strangely ugly, though the interior is OK. No glove compartment is a bother. At essentially the same price I'd much rather have an Ioniq5 or EV6, or even save a few bucks and get an ID.4 with similar numbers. The Mach-E falls into there somewhere, too, though I'd much rather have the faster charging of the Korean siblings.
Great review as usual. Can't wait to hear more about this vehicle. I wanted the Ford Mach-E to be the electric car for me but the tire size, ground clearance and lack of heat pump make me be very hesitant for now. The EV6 and this vehicle are the top two in my eyes outside of the Tesla ecosystem.
Great review, as usual Alex. I look forward to changing my Forester with an EV in 2-3 years. I hope I can get better autonomy (~400 miles or so) and a Wilderness EV edition ;)
First, nice video - great pacing, great emphasis on the important parts, well done. Second - I love the fact that this is symmetrical awd as applied to an electric vehicle! If I were interested in an electric vehicle today, this would be the one (ahem - its in the price range, first and formost).
First thing thought of when Alex started the test drive on the dirt road in the middle of nowhere was a sign that said "Next charging station 250 miles".
Ha! And a footnote that dealing with a flat tire will cost hundreds to get service out in the middle of nowhere. Assiming there's even cell phones service.
The review I’ve been waiting for. We have one reserved and it was based on the announced performance, range and charging so I’m real happy with the actual quickness, ride and handling characteristics and still a little disappointed with the charging speed but we will charge at home and road trip very infrequently and when we do we’ll enjoy a longer lunch or walk break. On the charging speed though I wonder if it’s a hardware thing or software limitation, in that it might be able to be changed in the future with OTA updates? Edit: also since I live in sunny SoCa I’m not interested in the fixed glass roof which just adds too much weight and potential overheating but I’m disappointed that the Solterra doesn’t have the typical Subaru light/cream colored headliner regardless of seat trim color instead of the typical oppressive black/slate ceiling of nearly every other (Toyota) car maker.
I don't think their charging speed will increase as they chose a different type of battery chemistry to use in this. We will have to wait for Sandy Munro to tear one apart to see what they did differently but their goal appears mainly to be cost reduction.
Honestly, people think anything slower than 5 seconds to 60 mph is slow, but the truth is that MOST cars are significantly slower than that. The average is probably in the 8 to 10 second range. But that instant torque makes it seem SO much faster. For example, my 2016 Kia Soul EV+ is only 109 hp and goes zero to sixty in about 9 seconds, but you'd be surprised how quick that feels when the response is instantaneous. Moving through traffic is so much better.
@@rivengle I have it in my 2010 Escape, but not as nice as the modern piano gloss. Looks good until pollen or dust gathers and it’s a royal pain to keep it pristine. Like you said, livable, but I’m ready to overlay all of it with a nice lighter grey to lighten up the interior a bit more
@@DiaperGranny11 Yeah, for some reason (static cling?) every speck of dust is attracted to piano black surfaces and is hard to wipe off. If they could invent a dust repellent version I'd be OK with it, at least in ateas where it doesn't get banged up or touched too often.
I really wanted to love this but...I don't. No spare tire, no glove box, slow to charge, range is mediocre at best. That fabric on the dash and all the black cladding, no not for me at all. Great info as always Alex, thank you.
Range is mediocre? Volvo XC40 Recharge has 67kWh useable and the EPA-rated 223 miles. Ford Mustang Mach-E SR AWD is 68kWh and has an EPA 224 miles with the 18" wheels. These are both similar sized EV SUVs, and this is the going range. I have no idea what mystery All Wheel Drive SUV with this battery size people have seen that gets more mileage. Apart from the Tesla Model Y, and you pay a premium for their cell efficiency.
@@ShawnGBR It's mediocre in that there isn't another battery option to go further. This is marketed as a "go anywhere" car that can't GET anywhere. It can only travel 3/4 the distance as the competition, takes 2x as long to charge, and has a real risk of getting stuck on those back roads it's supposedly made for without a spare tire. My first and second cars were Subarus, and I'd love to switch from the PHEV I currently have to a full EV, so I want this car to be great. But its real-world usability just doesn't match the marketing.
@@sebastiancohnify I was today year's old when I found out not having a spare tire in a car makes you fly through a windshield. I'm learning so much, especially about terrible analogies!
Apparently No rear window wiper. Alex, did the rear window stayed relatively clear during your 30 miles gravel off-roading, or did you have to stop periodically to clear it?
Here we are in 2022. All of these companies coming out with an array of EV vehicles and though some of them look nice, I still can't see a practical use for one. Here are my reasons why. First and foremost, what people are calling "affordable" just isn't affordable for everyone, including myself. $45,000 and up isn't what I consider affordable. My wife and I own two newer vehicles, a 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited and a 2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL. Both were under $40,000 brand new. The Sonata is already paid for. It gets great mileage, over 50 MPG in the city. Now people will say, "but you have to pay for gas and if you buy an EV you don't." Yep, that's true but if I can't afford to buy the EV what's the point? The Tesla model 3 was supposed to be the affordable EV until Elon decided the prices needed to keep going up. Even Hyundai and Kia can't seem to come up with a truly affordable EV and that tax credit doesn't do any good either. Why are all EVs either SUV (Crossover) , Trucks or a stupid Hummer (aside from the poorly built and expensive Tesla model 3 or model S). How about these companies make an affordable EV Sedan? Next is Range, despite all the advancement in battery technology that I keep reading about, about 300 miles or less of range is all I see from these expensive vehicles. I am a driver, I put miles on my vehicles. The Sonata we own is only 9 months old and already has over 13,000 miles on it. About 1/3 of that is cross country driving including 1 day trips from Utah to SD. You simply can't do that in a vehicle that honestly would deliver sub 300 miles of range going through the mountains with two people and luggage. Why? The third reason. Charging issues. I have watched so many TH-cam reviews talking about all the problems with charging stations like Electrify America and others where there can be payment problems, blocked or otherwise unavailable chargers, chargers that simply won't work at all, slow chargers etc. So while the manufacturers throw out all of these claims of how fast there vehicles will charge from 10%-80% we know that's under optimum conditions which you will very rarely if ever find in the real world. Therefore you are much more likely to have to wait for 45 minutes to well over and hour or more and that's possibly after taking 15-20 minutes to find an available, working charging station that will accept your payment.
Whew you really spelled it out, and I agree. I'd be willing to bet that most middle class Americans can't legitimately afford a $45k+ vehicle without having significant debt/stressful monthly payments. And this is supposed to be on the "affordable" end of the EV spectrum. Personally, I'm shopping for a vehicle sub $25k (used) and am trying my best to wait out the current market. So far, all signs still point to hybrid for me - and realistically in my price range, probably just a 2015-2019 Forester or Outback with 30+ mpg hwy. With the disappointing range and charge times, this is hardly a roadtrip/adventure vehicle. Sure if your household makes six figures and can afford 2 cars then this will do fine...AS YOUR SECOND CAR. I guess I'm just sad because I really want to get behind the EV movement, but the pricing is too expensive and the technology still has so far to go. All this being said, if I can buy an AWD EV with respectable ground clearance that gets 325 miles of range and can charge 10%-80% sub 20 minutes REAL WORLD time, I can make sacrifices in my budget to purchase one, but realistically it can't be over $40k. I'm just not sure when/if the industry can get to this level of price/performance ratio.
@@yoinky Yes, though in this case it's really more like black, unpainted body panels. True cladding is applied to the body, not part of it. Many other Subarus use dark gray plastic cladding on the lower body, the area most likely to get dented and dirty.
(1) Glove compartment delete is a poor choice. You need a place for the owners manual, insurance cards, and registration that is not the center console. (2) Encouraging offroad driving, especially on that rocky road shown in the review, will lead to flat tires. A spare tire not fix-a-flat is really essential here.
Great overview Alex!. One thing to consider about peak charge rate is that level occurs only under optimal conditions and for a limited state of charge range. Vehicles with higher charge rates do not necessarily charge faster, if that peak is available for a more limited state of charge range as the charge curve along with peak rates are both important factors.
True, but the Hyundai and Kia vehicles really do charge a lot faster. Alex has already done a video on this very topic. They both maintain peak charging rates quite effectively, and even when they drop as the battery gets full they are still charging faster than many other cars. He found that the Hyindai/Kia claim of 10% to 80% charge in 18 minutes was exactly right. Their charge management system works well.
I would just get a Rav4 Prime XSE instead. Similar ground clearance, more HP, much more towing, faster acceleration, similar weight, larger cargo volume, full size spare tire, heat pump, and if you need good heating, an ICE engine with heat exchangers to warm the heater core and battery refrigerant, and you don't even need to worry about range anxiety. Also, probably around the same price point. And 43 EV EPA miles is good enough for most people's daily driving.
Yeah try getting one. Plus for the tech of plug in hybrids, they should be getting 60-70 miles per battery now with a 50kwh fast change with a 300 mile gas tank
Thanks for the review Alex. I won't be happy if they price it above 45k especially due to the slower DC charging speed, and lower range. This is more comparable to the standard range versions of Ioniq5/EV6, and should be priced similarly. I expect starting price to be 39k or so to be in line with others. But, I understand that it's getting harder to keep prices low due to the recent market conditions with the war. So long as Hyundai and VW keeping the prices in that range, I expect Subaru to do the same.
Alex you really gave this car a generous review. Subaru makes excellent and safe cars. It is disappointing that they didn't put in a bigger DC charger but you qualified it well at the end. 90% of all charging is at home. It's going to be a great car.
EVs don't have DC chargers on them. They have onboard AC chargers, to convert household power to DC, but for DC charging the conversion happens within the commercial charging station. The Solterra charges slowly because of the low performance battery configuration and poor cooling (compared to the competition). It's not like just upgrading a (nonexistent) charger in a few years will magically make it able to fast charge. I don't want potential buyers imagining that.
@@EUC-lid Thanks. I think range is going to be a bigger detracter. You are correct in the charging. For home charging I'm happier with lower charge rates. 250-400kw is pretty hot in a 50 yr old house garage.
Alex, Great review and you mentioned several points I will need to consider. I have a deposit for the Solterra but having problems working with my assigned dealer to configure the car. My guess the dealer is dragging their feet as they don't have pricing. You mentioned EV6 several times during your review but my visit to a Kia store was a total turn off. I was told the car will be impossible to get and I should wait a few years. LOL. You do a great job going over all the new cars and would love a video on best practice to follow to buy an electric/ICE car (which manufacturer is better to work with). Most of the salesperson in my California wants to bait your with an EV and then try to sell you a hybrid. I totally agree with you the specs are underwhelming. I wish the car had a 275 mile range as the Solterra range is the same everyday driving of my M3 SR+.
At least the Kia dealer was honest - they're selling so well availability in the next couple of years is likely to be very poor. Much better they admit that than put you on a waiting list for a car at way over MSRP that will keep being delayed.
@@markmiller3279 The dealer contacted me today with his best offer. $8K over MSRP for a Wind RWD with no options. Nice range and fast charging but still a 2 wheel drive with standard features. The charging cables and floor mats are extra. I passed and will wait for other EVs to come out. The Lexus EV is expected at around $55K which is what the EV6 is at. Kia has plenty of buyers for the newest EV on the market.
Really hope in the full review you do a deep dive between this and the ID.4 AWD. I'm not sure EV6 and MachE are as direct competitors to this car as the number of mentions in the video implies and downplaying the ID.4 is an...odd choice in this video. I think a good chunk of folks who buy Subaru's do so with the intent of hauling outdoor toys like bikes and kayaks and dogs on light-grad (forest service type) trails. Currently the ID.4 is the only EV that comes with the toolset (rails, hitch, ground clearance) to accomplish this. Well, that and the I-Pace but that is clearly not the competition here. Subaru isn't trying to beat the EV6 and MachE - they are going for their core demographic of outdoor-enthusiasts with this car in my opinion, and those shoppers probably aren't looking as serious at a EV6 or MachE for their electric outdoor needs. On the topic of the car, as a life-long Subaru owner...I dunno. I'm underwhelmed. Range and DC charge are really rough, and that jellybean profile is a tough sell for trail companions (dogs) in the back. Just feels like a half-hearted effort from Subaru
Ground clearance in the ID4, EV6 and Ioniq are all similar, and Subaru’s PR department apparently has not seem much cross shop data showing cross shops with ID4, however ID is likely still going to be the least expensive AWD option, the AWD model is hard to find right now as the Chattanooga factory is still coming in online.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide who cares what subaru says about cross shopping? I'm cross shopping them as we speak. It is very odd to not mention the most comparable vehicle in your review. Also, VW cast a lot of confusion on the actual ground clearance by listing around 8 inches initially. I know the AWD is a bit higher than the RWD. It must be higher than the Ioniq and EV6. Perhaps you could make a video about the actual ground clearance of the ID.4 as penance for this video.
I just cannot understand how Subaru does not offer a spare tire on a car that is to encourage going off the beaten path--from someone who has spent a lot of time on mountain roads, I'd never go off road without a spare. I guess an owner of one of these will be carrying one on the roof rack. I think not having a glove box is a big miss, the cloth on the dash is not a good idea for long term ownership and I am not sure I'd ever get used to that steering wheel, steering column, display set up--really strange looking. Lots to like about the car and maybe it will be improved in the coming years--Subaru and Toyota will sell every one of these they make.
I think not having a glove box for aesthetic reasons in a mainstream SUV is utterly ridiculous. Subaru needs to get Toyota's designers under control before they ruin their whole "we don't have designers" aesthetic.
As a 2 time Forester owner which has the tightest turning radius and best visibility and maneuverability in its class, the Solterra is close. The cloth on the dash is ugly and stupid, it will be dirty quickly and stay that way. The instrument cluster and steering column are ugly. The black body cladding looks cheap. It needs to have a rear window wiper, same for the Ioniq 5. I do not take my Forester off road, but the ground clearance is good for getting over high entrances at parking lots and avoiding getting hung up in snow left at entrances by the plow during or right after a storm. I suspect the Ioniq 5 would scrape bottom on some parking lot entrances and run the risk of getting stuck in the snow I mentioned. EV prices are way too high and the tax credits are not that helpful unless you pay $7,500 in income tax each year. Most comparable EV’s would cost about $18,000 more than a new Forester. I want to do my part, but that added cost is still too much. Range is also too low, manufacturers recommend charging to just 80%, plus the long cold winters here in Vermont would further reduce range.
The thing about EVs is you save over the course of the life of the vehicle. There are no oil changes and other types of maintenance. Electricity is less than gas as well. So, while the initial price is higher, the overall ownership of the vehicle is less over time.
@@benjaminsmith2287 To that end, an EV’s reduced environmental impact over ICE vehicles should also be factored into the lifetime cost. We do need to avoid always pursuing the lowest initial cost. I hope that I will soon be willing to “pay the price” to do my part for the environment. A healthy environment is “priceless”.
Another great, informative video, Alex! Overall, I think it's a good first try for a BEV from Subaru. However, I wish the range and recharging performance were better for a brand new car. With cars like Lucid claiming over 500 miles to a charge, Tesla with over 400, and many others at and above 300 miles, I think 220-230 for a 2023 model is a disappointment. While I can understand Subaru/Toyota's logic with overall battery life, I believe most people would rather have faster public charging speeds and, for me, this is another disappointment when you compare to the fast charging capabilities of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 and others. Also, I think not having a glovebox is strange, but guess I could live with that. As far as the binnacle/steering wheel situation goes, I have a feeling there would be some people who's most comfortable seating position would end up with the top of the wheel blocking their gauge cluster view. When you showed the 360 camera, it appears to be the Toyota/Lexus type 360 view, which I think is one of the worst in the industry and not very user friendly when compared to most of the competition. Lastly, not a big fan of all the black body cladding, but the overall look I think is nice, so that might would grow on me over time. I can't wait to see an in-depth look at the Toyota BZ4X (also heard there was going to eventually be a Lexus version, as well) to see how it compares.
And I disagree because the range and the performance of the Subaru Solterra is PERFECT for me because I prefer reliability and range over faster charging time. I think 220-230 is perfect for me and the biggest disappointment is your negative opinions and comments about the Solterra. And one last thing, I am a Subaru fan and I am biased with the Solterra and electric cars in general. And I am happy that I will buy a fully loaded Subaru Solterra anyway.
We have to remember the current time we live in. Sure Lucid and Tesla may have 400 mile EV’s, but those are above even a middle class person’s reasonable budget. Can’t wait to see how much the Lexus version costs compared to the BZ4X
Why are you comparing expensive ass EVs to one that is much more affordable.. Do you know how much a Lucid Air just starts at...? This really isn't that far off of a base Model 3 and you get huge ground clearance and the comfort that you'll retain most of the charge after 10 years, both are huge factors to consider.
They're marketing off-road capability but there's no option to have a spare tire? That's nuts. No glove box in a $40k car? Why not? I love Subaru cars but I'll stick with my Outback so road trips are possible.
Thanks for this review, great insights. For me your one issue is a huge one, if it take six times longer to charge between LA & SF it better be significantly more affordable in my opinion. As for it's soft-road ability I'm also disappointed. The fact that is can only go 220 miles return trip from home, Has such slow charging, no rear wiper or spare tire? These are some of the main reasons many people buy Subarus. Maybe it will bring new people to the brand but I'm guessing many Subaru folks like my self will not see it as a true Subaru offering.
Great review ! Very informative ! I don’t mind the range but charging speed was disappointing. I think most of modern day EVs have at least 150 kw charging speed these days. Can Subaru change this with OTA ? Like ford did it with mustang. Does it have OTA feature ?
I asked the same thing and Alex answered it is likely a hardware limitation even though the Solterra does possess OTA capability to at least its infotainment and safety systems if not more.
The expected starting price for this Subaru is a not so cheap $37,000 before options, taxes, and delivery fees. Expect it to start close to $40,000, or a $10,000 premium over almost the whole Subaru lineup. That is a lot of gas to buy . If you can deal with a just over 200 mile range, you may save some on the environment but not much else for quite a period of time. People charge at home as EVs don't go on long trips.
The 100kw DC charging and relatively low level 2 AC charging is disappointing. I could probably live with the 220 mile range though. I can appreciate the low charge rates to avoid battery degradation and maybe the charging curve will be aggressive but 150-170kw would have been a better rate to start with for their first EV offering. The excessive piano black in the interior is a turn off for me too and seems so 2015 now. The aftermarket paint protection companies should start offering textured film wraps for interiors. I’m hoping Subaru’s next EV will be a Crosstrek sized model.
@@timgleason2527 2016 Tesla 85s had about the same charging speeds and time to 80%. I'm starting to think though that Subaru/Toyota is actually closer to a half hour to 80%.
I live in Canada down a long rural road with a steep hill at the end. I have a preorder in for an EV6 and was briefly questioning my decision, but Subaru's range and interior design choices reinforce the feeling that I made the right choice with the Kia.
I think this car and the bz4X may sell very well. Refinement and build is something Toyota does well and 4-wheel drive, Subaru is arguably the best at it.
Another great introduction review. Can't wait for AWD evaluation. So.. I was expecting more comparisons to AWD ID4? The ID4 seems to have similar spec e.g. ground clearance. We don't have too many cross reviews of AWD crossover EVs. Hopefully when you get a chance we can revisit a 3-4 car EV review. ID4, Ionic5, EV6, AUDI Q4, MachE, MB EQB, ModelY?, Toyota BZ, Volvo xc40, c40, polestar 2....
I take the Nissan Ariya over all these cars regardless of price, I test driven the Ariya and seen all the other cars "in the flesh" and the Ariya tops them all.
228 miles is disastrous. 100% a deal-breaker. The average person would be much better suited to either wait a few years for better options, or consider something like the Rav4 Prime. Also, the interior is a mess and it seems to be missing quite a bit like spare tire, glove box, etc. This entire platform feels rushed from Subaru and Toyota. Very disappointing.
I agree. Marketing off-road with no way of carrying a spare tire? Not for me. And a 1 hour wait to charge every 200 miles? This is not a road trip car. I'll keep my Outback thank you!
"Disastrous" is hyperbole. It's not the best in range but there are other cars that have the same range (Volvo XC40, for instance). If you don't do a lot of road tripping and have access to overnight charging, then it's not ideal but OK. And I would hold off judgment that it is "rushed" before testing comes in. The car sounds more refined and capable than other EVs in its class. No spare tire is the case with most new cars out, especially EVs.
Alex, very Thorough, almost Mind Numbing rapid Fire data. I'm 70 yo, retired, and probably for my personal situation, an EV "could" be in my future. I drove a Tesla a few years ago, which impressed me with unbelievable Torque. The interior was like riding on a 💻. IMHO, I will wait for a EV in my life. Worrying about Charge stations and wait times is problematic for this old Timer. Last Fall, when my wife and I were debating to trade in our 2016 CRV Touring (which I could probably get upwards of $26,000 with 40K miles on the clock), I test drove a New 2021 CRV Hybrid. That was a No -Brainer in my Book: More HP and Torque, AED, no Plug in worries, 37-38 MPG on the Highway, 27-28 (City - I think), just as roomy, comfortable and great Honda storage , etc. For about $1500 - 1700 more over a non Hybrid Touring Model- absolute No brainer. No Turbo engine (2.0L 4 banger with electric motors). The Hybrids use Braking power to recharge the much smaller batteries (which have 8 Year warranty). Let's go back to the late fall 2021, in Virginia , I-95 , snow and Ice storm which stranded thousands on the highway in freezing cold temps for over 24 hours. If you had an EV , you would have been Milking the Battery to keep the Heating on. And worse part, YOU would be sitting on top of the Lithium Battery for over 24 hours - Not a Good Thing To Do... I'm not bashing Science and forward thinking (Climate Crazies don't want to accept the facts - it takes more fossil fuel burning to produce the elcttic power to charge these batteries), and Who Knows the affects to the Human Body from the Electro-Magnetic Waves that you are sitting on (one scientist who works for Tesla was quoted on a radio show - said "never sit in the car while it's Charging !!). We already have WiFi, Cell Phone towers, Microwaves to affect us...I for one, right Now, will wait. "Gentlemen.....Start Your Engines".
@@GregHassler "Cute?" Look at the manufacturers. Even THEY think it's still a long ways off. Didn't you notice most, if not ALL, manufacturers are still vast majority "ICE" vehicles, in their lineups. It's really simple logic. But hey, if that's "Cute," whatever floats your EV. I'm also taking a wild stab at you assuming the current Power Grid can even handle all that power draw WITHOUT still relying on Fossil Fuels, as it does now. As it will for years and centuries to come. Still see "ICE" as 90 percent of the vehicles on the road today. Especially in the Farming and Heavy Equipment industry. Average income people can't afford 50k vehicles. "Yes," it's 50k or higher once you include that charger Installation. When you reach 1000k a charge with ALL accessories running FULL BLAST while hauling a couple hundred pounds worth of humans with 5-10 minute charges, THEN you've actually accomplished something. Until then, it's just oversized RC cars running around using Fossil Fuels to charge them and rare limited Earth elements to build them.
Nice suv. Price still high and the range only 220-230. I've been looking at Fisker Ocean Sport for $37,499 and $7,500 federal tax credit brings it down to $29,999 the range is 250 miles with 275 horsepower. Also pick the color,rims and the color for the inside no extra cost. Can lease it for $379 a month with 30,000 miles a yr. I put my order in 2 wks ago and can't wait.
That’s the first time I see a Subaru interior that doesn’t look 10 years older than it is. I own a Subaru so I know. But still, not blown away by the interior compared to the competition
I have a Nissan Leaf and the piano black panel on the driver's side door sometimes reflects the sun RIGHT into my eyes. Gloss black is as unsafe as it is ugly.
Great review, as always! I really appreciate the in depths technical discussion. Interestingly a bunch of people on Reddit have pointed out the press figures for the 100kw charging speed may be wrong, as the Toyota version is already advertised as having 150kw charging in the UK, with 80% charging in 30mins.
@@meeder78 We're all well aware of that, but there are Toyota products assembled by other manufacturers. Therefore, the OP had a valid question which your response didn't answer.
Great looking car, great features. The only downside is the range. This has already been leaked at about 230. With newer cars pushing 300, that is the target to meet.
The lack of a spare tire is a deal breaker for me unfortunately. Changed way too many flats. Rather deal with it myself for 15 minutes than wait an hour for a tow truck and then pay $200
Alex, would the Subaru be a superior option over the Bz4x because of the tax credit? I know Toyota’s is going away, but Subaru still has a lot of units left to sell before the credit goes away.
Toyota still got a lot of tax credits. Prime models never sold more then 100,000 in 5 years. They still got 100,000 cars to go before sunset rules begins
Clearly the Solterra isn't 45,000 but 4,500 lbs. My bad.
Does the base model come in awd config.
@@philippefagnant1841 yes.
It’s ok…. The little truss bridge I have to drive across to get home can hold 67,000 lbs so it works either way.
LOL! It was totally worth the "Wait, wut?!?" moment.
And people are complaining about the weight of the Hummer EV...
That's the proper way to showcase a Subaru. Dirty, dusty, used. It proves they can go just about anywhere. Love it!
It’s a Chinese BYD tho, with a Japanese badge slapped on
You won’t be going very far with that range.. and then when you do.. hope you like waiting for an hour or more while that silly low range tops off.
This is the BEST Solterra review I've come across. Thanks for sharing! It is VERY accurate, fair, and informative. I do own the Solterra Touring and I am very, very pleased with it. It's the best vehicle I've ever owned, and despite of some of the 'shortcomings' when it comes to range and charging (as indicated by this review), they do not pose any challenge at all to me. I've never been in a situation where I got stuck due to an empty battery. I bought this vehicle as my daily commute, and it works wonders. I can charge this at home (level 1 or level 2), and there are enough charging stations in my area as well (some of them FREE). The touring trim comes with anything you'd ever want in a vehicle, it's a super smooth ride, looks great, and it's very roomy for front and rear passengers.
4 years of EV ownership and had driven across all Central/SW Ontario, I only DC Rapid charged 3.7% of my total number of charges. And this was with a car with 140km max range. He's right, as much as people talk about needing rapid charging it's only for those super long trips (Toronto to Ottawa or Windsor) which are such a small number of my overall drives.
When your morning work commute is 60 miles one way, a 220 mile range ain't enough. It will make it, but it needs plugged in every night.
But it rules out folks who street park their cars in urban areas and don't have access to home charging..."One in three U.S. housing units does not have a garage, according to the 2019 American Housing Survey, and many of those households do not have their own parking spots"
@@larney37 Yes people in HOA townhomes and condos are SOL in many cases. The HOAs don't want to pay to install chargers when electric penetraton is so low.
@@SeaJay_Oceans what’s the alternative on the gas side? 3-400 miles? It buys you maybe a day more?
@@JJJosh949 With 3 or 4 gas cans in the back of your vehicle, you can travel coast to coast, with little more than a moments stop to refuel anywhere, at any time.
It's never about the environment, it's always about their power to keep you under control...
Alex you never fail to point out the most important things any sensible consumer would factor in switching from ICE to EV or even switching brand names. From the ground clearance, the range plus considering interior sound levels ( I am not into the 0 to 60 crowd, I do not find any relevance now that I am older 🤓 ) and heat pumps especially if you live in the Midwest are strong points to be keenly aware of once we make the jump to driving EVs. As always thank you for such an efficient review.
Can't wait till I can seriously consider one of the cars you review and not just longingly watch
You'll get there... Just don't give up! 🚙
It's been over six or seven years already for me but at least I finally have an adult job to go with my 36 years.
Wait, have you checked if he reviewed your current car? :P
Glad to hear that it's not nearly as slow 0 to 60 as the numbers would lead you to believe. Low six second range is plenty quick. Nobody coming from a RAV4 or a CRV or a Forester is going to be disappointed when they take one of these for a test drive.
The good cargo and good interior space, quiet ride and soft ride, are going to be big selling points.
I think also the fact that it is is probably built in a Toyota plant should lead it to be quite reliable. I suspect that's also the reason for the lower charging speeds. People that buy Toyota's tend to keep their cars a long time. And Toyota certainly doesn't want to risk having their customers get a bad experience.
Used evtav 4
Actually Camry's were built by Subaru in its US factory for many years and during that period Camry's were among the top in reliability ranking
How does it compare to the ID4 awd?
@@boonnamgoh8914
Interesting. I didn't know Subaru built Camrys for Toyota out of that plant in Lafayette. I wonder what the purpose was? Factory in Georgetown Kentucky that Toyota used was unable to produce enough cameras at that time?
It would be interesting to find out whether the increase in reliability was due to where the cars were made, or was it simply that those generations of Camrys were more reliable in general.
I used to deliver freight into the Georgetown Toyota plant. Let me tell you you could eat off the floor at that place. Place around like a Swiss watch It was amazing I'd never seen a manufacturing facility like that. I'd been in several GM and Ford plants before then.
Big difference on the interiors, not to mention the attitude of the workers.
@@abraxastulammo9940
The all-wheel drive ID4 is making more power I think 300 horsepower. Although actually I don't think the 0 to 60 time is significantly different. The rear wheel drive ID4 is definitely slower than the front wheel drive BZ4X.
What it really comes down to is which car do you like better? I would say the Volkswagen is perhaps a little more normal looking. It certainly is going to be comfortable. It also has a really really good turning radius especially the rear wheel drive model. But which vehicle would you pick probably for long-term reliability? I'd probably pick the Toyota. But who the hell knows both are relatively new cars and Volkswagens unreliable reputation tends to revolve around its powertrains. Being electric maybe that won't be the case, I really don't know.
You do such a nice job, Alex. Thank you for what you do. You’re the best!
If 80-90% of charging happens at home, then is the "fast DC charging kills battery life" argument a real concern, or just a marketing excuse for companies to cover for their slower charging speeds? Does fast charging on 800v architecture like the Hyundai/Kia products (which have 100,000 mile warranties) 10 or 15% of the time significantly effect long-term battery life to the point where it is actually reasonable to consider a vehicle with 36,000 mile warranties and 1 hour charging times to 80% full?
DC fast charging does not kill battery life. If you DC fast charge every day, yes it will be shorter but we are talking around 10 percent or so overall. Your battery pack should last at least ten years! As has been proven, Tesla battery packs lose around 10-15% of capacity at 100000 miles. Regarding peak voltage, Again having a very high peak voltage as 800V systems have do not translate into shorter times what is most important is bulk charging level, if you can charge at 250 KW for 5 minutes and then drop to 75 because of battery heat soak that higher peak is essentially meaningless. Case in point, the Ionic 5 (presently the high voltage champ) charges a lot less (in KW) than a Mercedes EQS at 30 minutes simply because the EQS has a much flatter charge curve. Its all about the curve, not the peak! That said, the Subaru's charging rate is pretty darned bad and definitely not road trip "worthy" given the slow charge and middling battery capacity.
@Orangeman Personally I see it the other way around. If 80-90% of charging happens at home at slower speeds that don't affect battery life, then I absolutely want the fastest charging speed possible when I'm out on the road at a DC fast charger. Even if DC fast charging shortens battery life, it'll be infrequent enough to not matter to me. Also, when I hear "DC fast charge from 0-80% in an hour at 100kw/Hr" it sounds like they are using last gen batteries and tech. Subaru/Toyota are playing catch up when it comes to EVs, and the stats on this thing show that. Wait for a the next generation.
@@JookySeaCpt You are spot on. You need fast DC charging when you are on the road. Toyota has bet against EVs and is now behind the ball - the excuse for slow charging is most likely covering for bad battery thermal management.
Really if your ev has over 200 miles of range, are you gonna burn through that much driving in a day? Its rated very close for city/highway/combined, meaning your driving nature doesn't impact range much. If you're putting 200 miles in a day, 1400 miles in a week, 73k miles a year, then a current gen EV is not for you (actually a hybrid or diesel would be your friend). Honestly look at your daily mileage, look at how many miles you drive a day. If you don't commute to work, I'd say under 40, if you do commute to work, then 60-100. I know for me, a working man and college student, in my day to day life, I have never burnt through a tank of gas, full to empty, in a day, and my jeep has about 220 miles of GAS range a tank. If I have a plug at home, an EV would impact my life exactly *NONE,* the same way it would yours. DC fast charging is really for long trips, and how often do you take those, once a year if even? If you took a roadtrip that was say 300 miles to the lake house, each way you would need to stop and DC fast charge once. Other than that, your home charger covers your daily driving the other 363 days a year. So in reality that 0.5% of the time this vehicle is being DC fast charged.
@@james2042 Stopping every 2.5 hours for an hour to DC charge adds up really quickly and gets expensive (DC cost per mile of range is around the same as using premium gas in a 20 mpg car). Level 2 charging is also atrocious - 6.1 kWh is 25 amps while most modern EVs draw 45+ amps. So now you have a daily/adventure vehicle that is so slow to charge that you need a lot of planning and the infrastructure is not there. I assume bad charging also means bad regen efficiency which eats into real world range even more plus the dumb decision to run the front motor all the time while basically every other EV is RWD. Marketed as a city car, 200 miles is plenty of range. Marketed as an adventure car? With no spare tire for maximum adventure? Subaru relied on Toyota but Toyota does zero-effort crap like this all the time because their base will not buy any other brand no matter what (2022 4Runner with a 5-speed auto anyone?).
One thing I always look forward to when watching Alex’s review - his choice of song on the car play.
Unless you have the off-road areas in your backyard the small battery capacity and slow charge rate pretty much Achilles heeled this vehicle from being a great road-tripping car. The smooth ride is nice but waiting 50min for a 10-80 top off when the "tank" is so small would require a lot of patience.
Looks like Toyota tried to keep costs down by keeping the same 6.6KW onboard charger that's on the Toyota Prime series.
Ironically, the rav4 prime solves all those range problems
I love my Subaru Outback (2014), and was hoping for something really good in the Solterra, but I really need something much closer to 300+ miles of range on a full charge to be feasible. I'll be driving ~450 miles tomorrow and I'm taking two trips this summer where we're going to be regularly driving 500-600 miles in a day. Even just a day to go to a doctor's appointment is about 180 miles of driving for me. I won't deny that most days I would be well under 220 miles, but driving more than that in a day is a near-monthly occurrence for me, and I just can't really handle the stress of not knowing if I'll be able to find a charger (a lot of the places I'm driving are pretty rural). 300+ would make me feel a lot more comfortable.
Don’t see the big deal. 45-50 minutes will allow you to grab a bite and drink or dessert. Heck, even a romp in the backseat for 50 minutes with your SO will pass the time. I can spend 50 min on the iPhone or iPad without blinking. When traveling long distances just use the time to eat, stretch your legs and walk, take a leak, go tour Buc-ees, or catch a quick nap. As I get older….I use any excuse to hit the exit ramp.
@@ScottLawson1 i think these specs are wrong, here in finland the range is about 450km for the awd
@@BladedRocky 450km=280mi
I may wait a year or two before trying to upgrade my wife's Subaru to a Soltera, but this is exciting. We don't really do any off road driving, but it's nice to have an option for some slightly more rugged roads and we also like to have an AWD vehicle when there is snow or ice. Great review. Looking forward to the more in depth one.
You have to wait 2 years to have a EV these days, might has well order it now lol.
Great review. As a Subaru Forester owner, I've been wondering how good the Solterra is. I think Alex did a great job explaining the pros and cons of the Solterra vs other EV's on the market. Maybe I will consider getting one in the future someday. But for now, I'm still enjoying my 2016 Forester XT.
We also have a 2016 Forester and love it. I noticed the cargo area is no where as big as our Forester. I transport cars for a living with both Subaru and Toyota as regular customers. I like both companies products, but I find they have different approaches to interior design. Subaru seem to maximize space and vision focusing on practicality. Where Toyota has more interesting interiors an body lines, but looses interior space and exterior vision - sight angles and blind spots. This is subjective, I know. I just think this is an attempt for Subaru to claim EV with a badge. Of course this is a first attempt. Hope it works and we can see a true Subaru EV in the future.
@@pavementsailor Mine is a 2014, my fourth Subaru. But I would love an electric Subaru! Stay tuned.
I have a 2002 Forester and a 2018 Crosstrek. I love them both. When the Forester dies, I will buy an EV. I do have a bias toward Subaru, but I will not buy one until they put an LFP battery in it. Toyota has already announced a Corolla for 2024-25 that will have LFP batteries, so I’m hoping Subaru will get them too.
Keep on funding americas enemies
George, Keep on Keeping on with your 2016 Forester XT. EVs are being shoved down our Collective Throats. IMO< EVs need lots more Road Testing.
This would be amazing... if it came out 4 years ago.
HAHAHA omg
Which AWD EVs available today are better and less expensive?
True, but still a great option.
56min 15-80% and 100kW max DCFC is embarrassing for 2022. That’s a deal breaker.
I don't see much in it terms of offer here, shorter range, slower charging, less power and a very basic interior, the only pluses I see are the Subaru/Toyota name and higher ground Clarence other than that it is all downhill, I feel this car can go off road but may never come back
I think this is the most comprehensive and honest review. This is not the vehicle to go cross country or off roading the whole day. So far it works for me.
To counter the point of 100kW DCFC. If 90% of all charging are done at home, how much would faster DCFC harm long term battery health? The few times you need to travel long distances, the owner would probably regret their decision against an Ioniq 5 or Model Y.
Absolutely agree. This might be designed to get you off the beaten path, but by the time you get there, the other EV owners are already done with the hike.
It basically doesn't harm the battery, particularly if its only 100kW. But generally speaking, DC fast charging doesn't harm any modern EVs battery enough to worry about. Not sure how that meme got started. EV batteries should get approximately the same number of miles with the same wear regardless of whether you DC fast charge or not.
The reason being that when you DC fast charge that typically means you are burning up the miles, so calendar aging of the battery is not dominant. If you DON'T DC fast charge that typically means you are putting fewer miles on the vehicle, so calendar aging of the pack winds up being more important.
Grand result? A big nothing.
-Matt
Ioniq is trash
DCFC don’t harm the battery if the chemistry is on point and have BMS. Drive my Bolt EV well over 100000 miles and no degradation plus I got a new battery because of the recall
@@allentoyokawa9068 And you know this how? Just because it's a Hyundai? They've become one of the world's biggest automakers for legitimate reasons. Per Consumer Reports their reliability is average, and many of their models are recommended. We've had an Elantra for almost a decade and it's been a very good car that's had no problems at all. We don't put on a lot of miles anymore, but enough that other cars we've had would have needed something repaired by now. Both the Ioniq5 ad the EV6 look like solid designs that were very well thought out.
For a lot of people, $45-50K is not "affordable".
At the current pace you'll be spending that much in grocery store.
Noone calls a model 3 affordable...hmm same price
When you take the $7,500 tax credit into the equation, it will be in 30k+ region.
I agree, but the average new car price is somewhere around $47K. I guess a lot of people are car poor these days.
Not having a glove compartment might be more radical than being an EV!
All that I carry is ins. papers and registration which should fit under center console.........Paul
Great review! Can't wait to see one in the wild. BTW I believe it is just over 4500 lbs of curb weight, and not 45,000 lbs at 17:15. (I like when Alex messes up cause I do too.)
100 kw fast charge kinda kills it... every other new ev has at least 130-150kw charging with some up to 200-250 kw, which is much better, since your going to get a much higher average
Totally agree. Combined with a small battery, this car is a total dud for long road trips. Even the 6.6 kWh home ac charging is slow. It’s just their lame excuse for poor ev battery tech.
I have early build 2018 model 3 mid range and early on I got 95kwh supercharge peak and 250mi claimed range so compatible to this. And I can tell you it's not easy on road trip. The average charge speed is not 95kwh it's around 60kwh (100peak but only 10% of the charging. The rest depends on the car charge curve, condition of the battery temp, charging station etc). I would need to stop 50min for every 2.5hr driving. Now with much faster charge speed since software updates it's much better at 25min.
@@kevinchung1492 appreciate your honest feedback. I have so many friends w/ early teslas who would never admit or say anything bad about being an early tesla adapter. I see this car as more of a 2nd car for around town usage, not a long distance road trip car
@@Wasabi9111 I am a car person not tesla fanboy. Me and my wife bough the Model 3 because the price with all the tax credit were attractive.
And actually we like it a lot and it's our road trip car now. With the updates to improve charging and supercharge network I can travel from NJ to Toronto in 10.5hr vs 9.5hr with the hybrid we had. The extra hour is offset by Autopilot to ease the comfort, also we can sleep in the car with AC/heat on without worry carbon monoxide.
Is it a true sport sedan? No. Does it have poor build? Yes to certain degree. But Model 3 make sense for day to day commute; and now we have more EV choices just need to have the charging network working as well as Tesla for road trip.
Anyway you are right 100Kwh charging is not enough, people so focus on the range on EV they have to look at other factor
50+ minutes to charge to 80% is abysmal.
Front: mix of Mach-E and pre-2022 Ioniq... Rear: mix of Camry XSE trim rear air vent + 2022 IS tail lights
I'm totally supportive of an EV future. And I'm also a Subaru owner. So I'm pretty excited that Subaru is getting their name in the EV game and seems to have a really impressive first impression. I guess the thing about Subaru is that they sell the idea of freedom. Yeah I probably drive to work and back more than anything but I know that I could throw something in the back and go wilderness camping off the grid if I wanted lol, I know that when infrastructure and mobility is struggling from all the snowfall, my Subaru will get me out. If I run out of gas there's a hundred cheap fast ways to get me going again. Having to be connected to a grid for 9 hours at a time in between 220 mile variables goes against what most will think of when they think of a Subaru. Not that I'm complaining or can even afford this car lol, but it's a glaring issue and it's something that I'm excited to see change. I think 500+ mileage to a charge along with ~4 hour charge times (long in the future) would be a spot where nobody could argue anymore and just get an EV for their next vehicle.
Test drove the Solterra today, very nice drive. Great revie a Alex, I think the use case for this vehiclecworks for us.
Desert Rose by Sting, Perfect Choice!
Not thrilled about the lack of glove compartment but a promise of 90% battery capacity after 10 years is too good for that to be anything near a deal breaker.
My next vehicle may be a Subaru Solterra!
On the quicker charing Ioniq 5 and EV6, what will be their battery capacity in 10 years compared to the Subaru?
@@EM.1.
Ioniq5/kia EV6
10 yrs or 100k miles waranty on powertrain but no word on degradation
@@EM.1. They will likely be the same, roughly. Short of a major change in the chemistry (such as going to LFP or a solid electrolyte or some other very major change), the current crop of actively managed EV batteries should all have roughly the same durability. Tesla's will be a bit better due to the high-pressure cylindrical design. Tesla's LFP batteries will be significantly better (LiFePO4 has 2x to 4x the cycle life of the NMC/NCA chemistry), but trade-off against range.
-Matt
The tires appear to be low profile. While many people find them more attractive, they are much less rugged, especially off road and dealing with pot holes. Having said that, I am a Toyota / Subaru owner and am looking forward to seeing this vehicle! Great video Alex.
Former Subaru owner who loved her car. Disappointed with this. And it isn’t the frunk, lack thereof. Slow charging. Smaller battery. Love the clearance but we are OK in snow with our Mach E. Just too little too late describes this car.
And I am happy that I will buy a fully loaded Subaru Solterra because I am a Subarist from the Philippines.
I live in a cold and snowy region in Canada. I wonder why all recent electric cars (EV6-Ioniq5-Solterra) do not have a rear wiper. Also, I am amazed with the fact that the car needs a phone to get the maps operational.
A rear wiper needs to be at least an option. In addition to snow they get very dirty. I need to use my wiper a lot.
Great review Alex, super helpful and informational as usual. I understand this is a solid car, but I just can’t justify a Solterra purchase unless I’m saving some big money on the purchase vs. other EVs. I have a 14’ Forester XT which I love, but I also had a Chevy Bolt EV for 5 years which got better range than this new EV from Subaru. Combine the lack of range on this new Subi EV with the slow charging (I had that on my Bolt plus better range), plus mediocre infotainment compared to other EV brands, and I’m just not sold on this EV. I think I’m gonna hold tight on this one and look at other brands for my next EV purchase. Subaru can clearly do better, just look at the competition.
fool
Or that’s what the Subie brand brings to alm there models and you don’t realize it
I have to agree. This is disappointing, and Subaru or Toyota branding is only worth so much when the product isn't competitive.
The AWD system and ground clearance are nice, but for what is really a road car those are modest advantages. There are some people who live on bad roads or who drive them regularly who will find this appealing, but almost everyone else will be better off with something else that has more range, charges faster, or has better performance. I also find this strangely ugly, though the interior is OK. No glove compartment is a bother.
At essentially the same price I'd much rather have an Ioniq5 or EV6, or even save a few bucks and get an ID.4 with similar numbers. The Mach-E falls into there somewhere, too, though I'd much rather have the faster charging of the Korean siblings.
Well this is literally a BYD engineering and manufacturing product- made 100% in China and a Subaru badge is slapped on it. So yeah.
Great review as usual. Can't wait to hear more about this vehicle. I wanted the Ford Mach-E to be the electric car for me but the tire size, ground clearance and lack of heat pump make me be very hesitant for now. The EV6 and this vehicle are the top two in my eyes outside of the Tesla ecosystem.
EV6 are selling like hotcakes here in NE Ohio
Great review, as usual Alex. I look forward to changing my Forester with an EV in 2-3 years. I hope I can get better autonomy (~400 miles or so) and a Wilderness EV edition ;)
Try 2030+.
Nope not vn lose banned humans too high stands
First, nice video - great pacing, great emphasis on the important parts, well done. Second - I love the fact that this is symmetrical awd as applied to an electric vehicle! If I were interested in an electric vehicle today, this would be the one (ahem - its in the price range, first and formost).
First thing thought of when Alex started the test drive on the dirt road in the middle of nowhere was a sign that said "Next charging station 250 miles".
Oh great 😊
Ha! And a footnote that dealing with a flat tire will cost hundreds to get service out in the middle of nowhere. Assiming there's even cell phones service.
Greetings from southern Ontario Canada Toyota bz4x and the solterra will definitely be well received considering our fan base
The review I’ve been waiting for. We have one reserved and it was based on the announced performance, range and charging so I’m real happy with the actual quickness, ride and handling characteristics and still a little disappointed with the charging speed but we will charge at home and road trip very infrequently and when we do we’ll enjoy a longer lunch or walk break. On the charging speed though I wonder if it’s a hardware thing or software limitation, in that it might be able to be changed in the future with OTA updates? Edit: also since I live in sunny SoCa I’m not interested in the fixed glass roof which just adds too much weight and potential overheating but I’m disappointed that the Solterra doesn’t have the typical Subaru light/cream colored headliner regardless of seat trim color instead of the typical oppressive black/slate ceiling of nearly every other (Toyota) car maker.
I don't think their charging speed will increase as they chose a different type of battery chemistry to use in this. We will have to wait for Sandy Munro to tear one apart to see what they did differently but their goal appears mainly to be cost reduction.
It is likely hardware. If they designed the conductors for 100kw it may not be able to support higher rates
Honestly, people think anything slower than 5 seconds to 60 mph is slow, but the truth is that MOST cars are significantly slower than that. The average is probably in the 8 to 10 second range. But that instant torque makes it seem SO much faster. For example, my 2016 Kia Soul EV+ is only 109 hp and goes zero to sixty in about 9 seconds, but you'd be surprised how quick that feels when the response is instantaneous. Moving through traffic is so much better.
Nope 0 to60 tok 13 seconds 1980
@@sharonbraselton4302 Yep. For example, even the 1969 Camaro RS Z28, not known for being slow, had a 0 to 60 time of 7.4 seconds.
Range and charging time is a deal killer. In 2023 I would expect better... also I don't like the touch buttons and piano gloss design.
Ugh. That damn piano gloss. Can’t stand it 😕
I can live with piano glass. But that range is horrid for 2022.
@@rivengle I have it in my 2010 Escape, but not as nice as the modern piano gloss. Looks good until pollen or dust gathers and it’s a royal pain to keep it pristine. Like you said, livable, but I’m ready to overlay all of it with a nice lighter grey to lighten up the interior a bit more
@@DiaperGranny11 Yeah, for some reason (static cling?) every speck of dust is attracted to piano black surfaces and is hard to wipe off. If they could invent a dust repellent version I'd be OK with it, at least in ateas where it doesn't get banged up or touched too often.
Omg, a manuel control for the seat, and hatch. Thank you. Electrical jazz will go out over time, and this will help keep costs down.
I really wanted to love this but...I don't. No spare tire, no glove box, slow to charge, range is mediocre at best. That fabric on the dash and all the black cladding, no not for me at all. Great info as always Alex, thank you.
Range is mediocre? Volvo XC40 Recharge has 67kWh useable and the EPA-rated 223 miles.
Ford Mustang Mach-E SR AWD is 68kWh and has an EPA 224 miles with the 18" wheels. These are both similar sized EV SUVs, and this is the going range.
I have no idea what mystery All Wheel Drive SUV with this battery size people have seen that gets more mileage. Apart from the Tesla Model Y, and you pay a premium for their cell efficiency.
@@ShawnGBR It's mediocre in that there isn't another battery option to go further. This is marketed as a "go anywhere" car that can't GET anywhere. It can only travel 3/4 the distance as the competition, takes 2x as long to charge, and has a real risk of getting stuck on those back roads it's supposedly made for without a spare tire.
My first and second cars were Subarus, and I'd love to switch from the PHEV I currently have to a full EV, so I want this car to be great. But its real-world usability just doesn't match the marketing.
@@sebastiancohnify How often are you getting punctures on back roads?
@@ShawnGBR I also haven't been in a head-on crash, but you won't see me advocating for removing seat belts and air bags.
@@sebastiancohnify I was today year's old when I found out not having a spare tire in a car makes you fly through a windshield. I'm learning so much, especially about terrible analogies!
Apparently No rear window wiper. Alex, did the rear window stayed relatively clear during your 30 miles gravel off-roading, or did you have to stop periodically to clear it?
Ouch! How did Subi let Toy get away with rear wiper omission?
Here we are in 2022. All of these companies coming out with an array of EV vehicles and though some of them look nice, I still can't see a practical use for one. Here are my reasons why. First and foremost, what people are calling "affordable" just isn't affordable for everyone, including myself. $45,000 and up isn't what I consider affordable. My wife and I own two newer vehicles, a 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited and a 2022 Hyundai Tucson SEL. Both were under $40,000 brand new. The Sonata is already paid for. It gets great mileage, over 50 MPG in the city. Now people will say, "but you have to pay for gas and if you buy an EV you don't." Yep, that's true but if I can't afford to buy the EV what's the point? The Tesla model 3 was supposed to be the affordable EV until Elon decided the prices needed to keep going up. Even Hyundai and Kia can't seem to come up with a truly affordable EV and that tax credit doesn't do any good either. Why are all EVs either SUV (Crossover) , Trucks or a stupid Hummer (aside from the poorly built and expensive Tesla model 3 or model S). How about these companies make an affordable EV Sedan?
Next is Range, despite all the advancement in battery technology that I keep reading about, about 300 miles or less of range is all I see from these expensive vehicles. I am a driver, I put miles on my vehicles. The Sonata we own is only 9 months old and already has over 13,000 miles on it. About 1/3 of that is cross country driving including 1 day trips from Utah to SD. You simply can't do that in a vehicle that honestly would deliver sub 300 miles of range going through the mountains with two people and luggage. Why? The third reason. Charging issues. I have watched so many TH-cam reviews talking about all the problems with charging stations like Electrify America and others where there can be payment problems, blocked or otherwise unavailable chargers, chargers that simply won't work at all, slow chargers etc. So while the manufacturers throw out all of these claims of how fast there vehicles will charge from 10%-80% we know that's under optimum conditions which you will very rarely if ever find in the real world. Therefore you are much more likely to have to wait for 45 minutes to well over and hour or more and that's possibly after taking 15-20 minutes to find an available, working charging station that will accept your payment.
Whew you really spelled it out, and I agree. I'd be willing to bet that most middle class Americans can't legitimately afford a $45k+ vehicle without having significant debt/stressful monthly payments. And this is supposed to be on the "affordable" end of the EV spectrum. Personally, I'm shopping for a vehicle sub $25k (used) and am trying my best to wait out the current market. So far, all signs still point to hybrid for me - and realistically in my price range, probably just a 2015-2019 Forester or Outback with 30+ mpg hwy.
With the disappointing range and charge times, this is hardly a roadtrip/adventure vehicle. Sure if your household makes six figures and can afford 2 cars then this will do fine...AS YOUR SECOND CAR. I guess I'm just sad because I really want to get behind the EV movement, but the pricing is too expensive and the technology still has so far to go. All this being said, if I can buy an AWD EV with respectable ground clearance that gets 325 miles of range and can charge 10%-80% sub 20 minutes REAL WORLD time, I can make sacrifices in my budget to purchase one, but realistically it can't be over $40k. I'm just not sure when/if the industry can get to this level of price/performance ratio.
Hoping to see a further review of the Solterra soon. thx
The car is growing on me but I still can't get over the cladding on this and the BZ4X. It just makes the car look cheap and unfinished.
Can't stand cladding either. Looks bad and doesn't age well.
Is cladding the black trim on the exterior?
Yes
@@yoinky Yes, though in this case it's really more like black, unpainted body panels. True cladding is applied to the body, not part of it. Many other Subarus use dark gray plastic cladding on the lower body, the area most likely to get dented and dirty.
Great Video Alex! Ur a king!
Never apologize for a dirty Subaru, Alex.
(1) Glove compartment delete is a poor choice. You need a place for the owners manual, insurance cards, and registration that is not the center console. (2) Encouraging offroad driving, especially on that rocky road shown in the review, will lead to flat tires. A spare tire not fix-a-flat is really essential here.
Another new EV missing a rear wiper…what’s the deal? Those of us in difficult winter conditions…it’s an essential.
It has a rear view camera. Aero is the reason you won't find one on many EVs
It’ll be nice not to have my shepherd blocking my whole rear view- hopefully the camera doesn’t get mudded up easily?
Great overview Alex!. One thing to consider about peak charge rate is that level occurs only under optimal conditions and for a limited state of charge range. Vehicles with higher charge rates do not necessarily charge faster, if that peak is available for a more limited state of charge range as the charge curve along with peak rates are both important factors.
True, but the Hyundai and Kia vehicles really do charge a lot faster. Alex has already done a video on this very topic. They both maintain peak charging rates quite effectively, and even when they drop as the battery gets full they are still charging faster than many other cars. He found that the Hyindai/Kia claim of 10% to 80% charge in 18 minutes was exactly right. Their charge management system works well.
I would just get a Rav4 Prime XSE instead. Similar ground clearance, more HP, much more towing, faster acceleration, similar weight, larger cargo volume, full size spare tire, heat pump, and if you need good heating, an ICE engine with heat exchangers to warm the heater core and battery refrigerant, and you don't even need to worry about range anxiety. Also, probably around the same price point. And 43 EV EPA miles is good enough for most people's daily driving.
That was my dilemma. RAV4 prime vs. Ioniq5, at the end, I ended up signing up for an ioniq5. RAV4 prime wait is 2yrs long... 🤦♂️
Yeah try getting one. Plus for the tech of plug in hybrids, they should be getting 60-70 miles per battery now with a 50kwh fast change with a 300 mile gas tank
@@ffBkLee I wanted a RAV4 Prime the year they released, but it was impossible to find one. Now, I'm a happy Ioniq 5 owner.
Glad to see Subaru offer a regular roof. Not everyone wants a sunroof/moonroof, that can potentially crack and/or leak water into the car.
Thanks for the review Alex. I won't be happy if they price it above 45k especially due to the slower DC charging speed, and lower range. This is more comparable to the standard range versions of Ioniq5/EV6, and should be priced similarly. I expect starting price to be 39k or so to be in line with others. But, I understand that it's getting harder to keep prices low due to the recent market conditions with the war. So long as Hyundai and VW keeping the prices in that range, I expect Subaru to do the same.
HyunDIE is garbage though
Should be price in the Bolt EV and Nissan Arya price range.
@@allentoyokawa9068 I see the Japanese are still abusing the Koreans for no reason at all.
@@williamerazo3921 Should be less than the ID.4 considering the smaller battery, slower charging and lower power output of the motors.
@@Demobot1 But what of cost of X-mode, ToyoSubie safety system, Subaru most excellent suspensions, etc?
Its still great! The glovebox is a minor issue but there’s an area to store the needed documentation for operating on public roads.
Alex you really gave this car a generous review. Subaru makes excellent and safe cars. It is disappointing that they didn't put in a bigger DC charger but you qualified it well at the end. 90% of all charging is at home. It's going to be a great car.
EVs don't have DC chargers on them. They have onboard AC chargers, to convert household power to DC, but for DC charging the conversion happens within the commercial charging station.
The Solterra charges slowly because of the low performance battery configuration and poor cooling (compared to the competition). It's not like just upgrading a (nonexistent) charger in a few years will magically make it able to fast charge. I don't want potential buyers imagining that.
@@EUC-lid Thanks. I think range is going to be a bigger detracter. You are correct in the charging. For home charging I'm happier with lower charge rates. 250-400kw is pretty hot in a 50 yr old house garage.
Alex, Great review and you mentioned several points I will need to consider. I have a deposit for the Solterra but having problems working with my assigned dealer to configure the car. My guess the dealer is dragging their feet as they don't have pricing. You mentioned EV6 several times during your review but my visit to a Kia store was a total turn off. I was told the car will be impossible to get and I should wait a few years. LOL. You do a great job going over all the new cars and would love a video on best practice to follow to buy an electric/ICE car (which manufacturer is better to work with). Most of the salesperson in my California wants to bait your with an EV and then try to sell you a hybrid. I totally agree with you the specs are underwhelming. I wish the car had a 275 mile range as the Solterra range is the same everyday driving of my M3 SR+.
At least the Kia dealer was honest - they're selling so well availability in the next couple of years is likely to be very poor. Much better they admit that than put you on a waiting list for a car at way over MSRP that will keep being delayed.
@@markmiller3279 The dealer contacted me today with his best offer. $8K over MSRP for a Wind RWD with no options. Nice range and fast charging but still a 2 wheel drive with standard features. The charging cables and floor mats are extra. I passed and will wait for other EVs to come out. The Lexus EV is expected at around $55K which is what the EV6 is at. Kia has plenty of buyers for the newest EV on the market.
Really hope in the full review you do a deep dive between this and the ID.4 AWD. I'm not sure EV6 and MachE are as direct competitors to this car as the number of mentions in the video implies and downplaying the ID.4 is an...odd choice in this video. I think a good chunk of folks who buy Subaru's do so with the intent of hauling outdoor toys like bikes and kayaks and dogs on light-grad (forest service type) trails. Currently the ID.4 is the only EV that comes with the toolset (rails, hitch, ground clearance) to accomplish this. Well, that and the I-Pace but that is clearly not the competition here.
Subaru isn't trying to beat the EV6 and MachE - they are going for their core demographic of outdoor-enthusiasts with this car in my opinion, and those shoppers probably aren't looking as serious at a EV6 or MachE for their electric outdoor needs.
On the topic of the car, as a life-long Subaru owner...I dunno. I'm underwhelmed. Range and DC charge are really rough, and that jellybean profile is a tough sell for trail companions (dogs) in the back. Just feels like a half-hearted effort from Subaru
Ground clearance in the ID4, EV6 and Ioniq are all similar, and Subaru’s PR department apparently has not seem much cross shop data showing cross shops with ID4, however ID is likely still going to be the least expensive AWD option, the AWD model is hard to find right now as the Chattanooga factory is still coming in online.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide who cares what subaru says about cross shopping? I'm cross shopping them as we speak. It is very odd to not mention the most comparable vehicle in your review. Also, VW cast a lot of confusion on the actual ground clearance by listing around 8 inches initially. I know the AWD is a bit higher than the RWD. It must be higher than the Ioniq and EV6. Perhaps you could make a video about the actual ground clearance of the ID.4 as penance for this video.
@@Matt-dx3wo that’s kind of rude
What makes a Subaru outdoor instead of a jeep
@@williamerazo3921 constructive feedback is rude eh!?
Loved the “Door #1” reference, Alex. Showing your (and my) age here. Let’s make a deal!
I just cannot understand how Subaru does not offer a spare tire on a car that is to encourage going off the beaten path--from someone who has spent a lot of time on mountain roads, I'd never go off road without a spare. I guess an owner of one of these will be carrying one on the roof rack. I think not having a glove box is a big miss, the cloth on the dash is not a good idea for long term ownership and I am not sure I'd ever get used to that steering wheel, steering column, display set up--really strange looking. Lots to like about the car and maybe it will be improved in the coming years--Subaru and Toyota will sell every one of these they make.
I think not having a glove box for aesthetic reasons in a mainstream SUV is utterly ridiculous. Subaru needs to get Toyota's designers under control before they ruin their whole "we don't have designers" aesthetic.
As a 2 time Forester owner which has the tightest turning radius and best visibility and maneuverability in its class, the Solterra is close. The cloth on the dash is ugly and stupid, it will be dirty quickly and stay that way. The instrument cluster and steering column are ugly. The black body cladding looks cheap. It needs to have a rear window wiper, same for the Ioniq 5. I do not take my Forester off road, but the ground clearance is good for getting over high entrances at parking lots and avoiding getting hung up in snow left at entrances by the plow during or right after a storm. I suspect the Ioniq 5 would scrape bottom on some parking lot entrances and run the risk of getting stuck in the snow I mentioned. EV prices are way too high and the tax credits are not that helpful unless you pay $7,500 in income tax each year. Most comparable EV’s would cost about $18,000 more than a new Forester. I want to do my part, but that added cost is still too much. Range is also too low, manufacturers recommend charging to just 80%, plus the long cold winters here in Vermont would further reduce range.
The thing about EVs is you save over the course of the life of the vehicle. There are no oil changes and other types of maintenance. Electricity is less than gas as well. So, while the initial price is higher, the overall ownership of the vehicle is less over time.
@@benjaminsmith2287 To that end, an EV’s reduced environmental impact over ICE vehicles should also be factored into the lifetime cost. We do need to avoid always pursuing the lowest initial cost. I hope that I will soon be willing to “pay the price” to do my part for the environment. A healthy environment is “priceless”.
Like the infotainment way more than the current found in Subaru.
Another great, informative video, Alex! Overall, I think it's a good first try for a BEV from Subaru. However, I wish the range and recharging performance were better for a brand new car. With cars like Lucid claiming over 500 miles to a charge, Tesla with over 400, and many others at and above 300 miles, I think 220-230 for a 2023 model is a disappointment. While I can understand Subaru/Toyota's logic with overall battery life, I believe most people would rather have faster public charging speeds and, for me, this is another disappointment when you compare to the fast charging capabilities of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 and others. Also, I think not having a glovebox is strange, but guess I could live with that. As far as the binnacle/steering wheel situation goes, I have a feeling there would be some people who's most comfortable seating position would end up with the top of the wheel blocking their gauge cluster view. When you showed the 360 camera, it appears to be the Toyota/Lexus type 360 view, which I think is one of the worst in the industry and not very user friendly when compared to most of the competition. Lastly, not a big fan of all the black body cladding, but the overall look I think is nice, so that might would grow on me over time. I can't wait to see an in-depth look at the Toyota BZ4X (also heard there was going to eventually be a Lexus version, as well) to see how it compares.
And I disagree because the range and the performance of the Subaru Solterra is PERFECT for me because I prefer reliability and range over faster charging time. I think 220-230 is perfect for me and the biggest disappointment is your negative opinions and comments about the Solterra. And one last thing, I am a Subaru fan and I am biased with the Solterra and electric cars in general. And I am happy that I will buy a fully loaded Subaru Solterra anyway.
We have to remember the current time we live in. Sure Lucid and Tesla may have 400 mile EV’s, but those are above even a middle class person’s reasonable budget. Can’t wait to see how much the Lexus version costs compared to the BZ4X
Why are you comparing expensive ass EVs to one that is much more affordable.. Do you know how much a Lucid Air just starts at...? This really isn't that far off of a base Model 3 and you get huge ground clearance and the comfort that you'll retain most of the charge after 10 years, both are huge factors to consider.
They're marketing off-road capability but there's no option to have a spare tire? That's nuts. No glove box in a $40k car? Why not?
I love Subaru cars but I'll stick with my Outback so road trips are possible.
@@WakeUpAmerican000s And I will buy a fully loaded Subaru Solterra and I am happy.
"the subaru has a small frunk because it's packaged more efficiently"
Lucid would like a word.
Thanks for this review, great insights. For me your one issue is a huge one, if it take six times longer to charge between LA & SF it better be significantly more affordable in my opinion.
As for it's soft-road ability I'm also disappointed. The fact that is can only go 220 miles return trip from home, Has such slow charging, no rear wiper or spare tire? These are some of the main reasons many people buy Subarus. Maybe it will bring new people to the brand but I'm guessing many Subaru folks like my self will not see it as a true Subaru offering.
It fast charges in an hour. Not the best but I’m not sure how that’s 6 times longer. Between LA and San Francisco it’s a single charge stop.
no sunroof in the base model makes this an instant top pick for me. I only want vehicles with a solid roof
Is your bald spot sensitive to light?
Great review ! Very informative ! I don’t mind the range but charging speed was disappointing. I think most of modern day EVs have at least 150 kw charging speed these days. Can Subaru change this with OTA ? Like ford did it with mustang. Does it have OTA feature ?
I asked the same thing and Alex answered it is likely a hardware limitation even though the Solterra does possess OTA capability to at least its infotainment and safety systems if not more.
The expected starting price for this Subaru is a not so cheap $37,000 before options, taxes, and delivery fees. Expect it to start close to $40,000, or a $10,000 premium over almost the whole Subaru lineup. That is a lot of gas to buy . If you can deal with a just over 200 mile range, you may save some on the environment but not much else for quite a period of time. People charge at home as EVs don't go on long trips.
The 100kw DC charging and relatively low level 2 AC charging is disappointing. I could probably live with the 220 mile range though. I can appreciate the low charge rates to avoid battery degradation and maybe the charging curve will be aggressive but 150-170kw would have been a better rate to start with for their first EV offering. The excessive piano black in the interior is a turn off for me too and seems so 2015 now. The aftermarket paint protection companies should start offering textured film wraps for interiors. I’m hoping Subaru’s next EV will be a Crosstrek sized model.
100kW charging is fine for a smaller pack, but the 50+ minutes to charge to 80% is awful.
@@anthonyc8499 I know you’re right but imagine reading your comment just a few years ago. How far we’ve come!
@@timgleason2527 2016 Tesla 85s had about the same charging speeds and time to 80%. I'm starting to think though that Subaru/Toyota is actually closer to a half hour to 80%.
Great review. I wrote this EV off now I will consider it (if I can actually test drive it before committing to buying it)
17:14
Thats a heavy car
I live in Canada down a long rural road with a steep hill at the end. I have a preorder in for an EV6 and was briefly questioning my decision, but Subaru's range and interior design choices reinforce the feeling that I made the right choice with the Kia.
This looks like a really nice car and made well. My only concern is charging and range.
Ya the new tesla batteries will dom this
Now what would be great is a EV Outback!! Thank you for your videos!!
I think this car and the bz4X may sell very well. Refinement and build is something Toyota does well and 4-wheel drive, Subaru is arguably the best at it.
Another great introduction review. Can't wait for AWD evaluation. So.. I was expecting more comparisons to AWD ID4? The ID4 seems to have similar spec e.g. ground clearance. We don't have too many cross reviews of AWD crossover EVs. Hopefully when you get a chance we can revisit a 3-4 car EV review. ID4, Ionic5, EV6, AUDI Q4, MachE, MB EQB, ModelY?, Toyota BZ, Volvo xc40, c40, polestar 2....
I much prefer the Hyundai / Kia offerings. If this is hugely cheaper, I might be tempted. Otherwise, not so much.
I much prefer the solterra look and especially when I factor in reliability and resale value.
I take the Nissan Ariya over all these cars regardless of price, I test driven the Ariya and seen all the other cars "in the flesh" and the Ariya tops them all.
This video deserves a standing Ovation
228 miles is disastrous. 100% a deal-breaker. The average person would be much better suited to either wait a few years for better options, or consider something like the Rav4 Prime. Also, the interior is a mess and it seems to be missing quite a bit like spare tire, glove box, etc. This entire platform feels rushed from Subaru and Toyota. Very disappointing.
Agreed. Throw in colder weather and that EV range will drop below 200.
I agree. Marketing off-road with no way of carrying a spare tire? Not for me. And a 1 hour wait to charge every 200 miles? This is not a road trip car. I'll keep my Outback thank you!
Ford is selling plenty of base Mach Es that get the same range so I don’t agree that this is a deal breaker for the average buyer
"Disastrous" is hyperbole. It's not the best in range but there are other cars that have the same range (Volvo XC40, for instance). If you don't do a lot of road tripping and have access to overnight charging, then it's not ideal but OK. And I would hold off judgment that it is "rushed" before testing comes in. The car sounds more refined and capable than other EVs in its class. No spare tire is the case with most new cars out, especially EVs.
Click baited by saying " the first affordable ev", just to find out it's going to be around $50k smh
i would rather choose the ioniq5 or ev6 (if i had 50k to spend)
Love your videos! Could you do a pros and cons of the Subura Soltera vs the Audi e-tron???
Hyundai Ioniq 5 kills this thing - no 800v charging for this or the Toyota? 6.6kw for a level 2 charger? Almost a deal breaker.
Alex, very Thorough, almost Mind Numbing rapid Fire data. I'm 70 yo, retired, and probably for my personal situation, an EV "could" be in my future. I drove a Tesla a few years ago, which impressed me with unbelievable Torque. The interior was like riding on a 💻. IMHO, I will wait for a EV in my life. Worrying about Charge stations and wait times is problematic for this old Timer. Last Fall, when my wife and I were debating to trade in our 2016 CRV Touring (which I could probably get upwards of $26,000 with 40K miles on the clock), I test drove a New 2021 CRV Hybrid. That was a No -Brainer in my Book: More HP and Torque, AED, no Plug in worries, 37-38 MPG on the Highway, 27-28 (City - I think), just as roomy, comfortable and great Honda storage , etc. For about $1500 - 1700 more over a non Hybrid Touring Model- absolute No brainer. No Turbo engine (2.0L 4 banger with electric motors). The Hybrids use Braking power to recharge the much smaller batteries (which have 8 Year warranty).
Let's go back to the late fall 2021, in Virginia , I-95 , snow and Ice storm which stranded thousands on the highway in freezing cold temps for over 24 hours. If you had an EV , you would have been Milking the Battery to keep the Heating on. And worse part, YOU would be sitting on top of the Lithium Battery for over 24 hours - Not a Good Thing To Do... I'm not bashing Science and forward thinking (Climate Crazies don't want to accept the facts - it takes more fossil fuel burning to produce the elcttic power to charge these batteries), and Who Knows the affects to the Human Body from the Electro-Magnetic Waves that you are sitting on (one scientist who works for Tesla was quoted on a radio show - said "never sit in the car while it's Charging !!). We already have WiFi, Cell Phone towers, Microwaves to affect us...I for one, right Now, will wait. "Gentlemen.....Start Your Engines".
Over 40 grand and the spare tire and glove box are ommitted? That's not very Subaru-like at all.
Great video. Can't believe they got rid of the glove compartment. Not smart
I'll pass snd wait for about 10-30 years. Then they'll probably be worth it and our power grid will be able to handle this pipe dream.
It's cute that you think combustion engine vehicles will even be for sale in 10 years.
@@GregHassler
"Cute?"
Look at the manufacturers.
Even THEY think it's still a long ways off. Didn't you notice most, if not ALL, manufacturers are still vast majority "ICE" vehicles, in their lineups.
It's really simple logic.
But hey, if that's "Cute," whatever floats your EV. I'm also taking a wild stab at you assuming the current Power Grid can even handle all that power draw WITHOUT still relying on Fossil Fuels, as it does now. As it will for years and centuries to come. Still see "ICE" as 90 percent of the vehicles on the road today. Especially in the Farming and Heavy Equipment industry. Average income people can't afford 50k vehicles.
"Yes," it's 50k or higher once you include that charger Installation. When you reach 1000k a charge with ALL accessories running FULL BLAST while hauling a couple hundred pounds worth of humans with 5-10 minute charges, THEN you've actually accomplished something. Until then, it's just oversized RC cars running around using Fossil Fuels to charge them and rare limited Earth elements to build them.
@@GregHassler
Here's a shorter reply for you.
"Somebody already said what you've said, 10, 20, 30, 40, years ago. Here we are still burning gasoline."
Nice suv. Price still high and the range only 220-230. I've been looking at Fisker Ocean Sport for $37,499 and $7,500 federal tax credit brings it down to $29,999 the range is 250 miles with 275 horsepower. Also pick the color,rims and the color for the inside no extra cost. Can lease it for $379 a month with 30,000 miles a yr. I put my order in 2 wks ago and can't wait.
Don't hold your breath
Dang, this would be such an excellent vehicle if it weren’t so handicapped by that ghastly low range & efficiency.
That’s the first time I see a Subaru interior that doesn’t look 10 years older than it is. I own a Subaru so I know. But still, not blown away by the interior compared to the competition
That’s a lot of gloss black plastic on the inside. I can’t wait for that trend to end. It’s hideous.
And I love the gloss black plastic because it's BEAUTIFUL.
I have a Nissan Leaf and the piano black panel on the driver's side door sometimes reflects the sun RIGHT into my eyes. Gloss black is as unsafe as it is ugly.
@@getoffamylan6844 Nope. Gloss black IS as safe as it is BEAUTIFUL.
It's matte black.
Great review, as always! I really appreciate the in depths technical discussion.
Interestingly a bunch of people on Reddit have pointed out the press figures for the 100kw charging speed may be wrong, as the Toyota version is already advertised as having 150kw charging in the UK, with 80% charging in 30mins.
Can a large dog (German shepherd) fit in the back comfortably?
they should have made it have at least 250 range to compete with other EVs
Great video, Alex.
Alex, Is this Solterra made in a Toyota plant or a Subaru factory? 🤔
It's a Toyota.
Likely a Toyota factory.
Assembled at Toyota's Motomachi plant in Aichi, Japan.
@@robertshunter it's basically a reskinned Toyota BZ4X.
@@meeder78 We're all well aware of that, but there are Toyota products assembled by other manufacturers. Therefore, the OP had a valid question which your response didn't answer.
Great looking car, great features. The only downside is the range. This has already been leaked at about 230. With newer cars pushing 300, that is the target to meet.
That body cladding is horrifically ugly.
Not me, it's BEAUTIFUL.
The lack of a spare tire is a deal breaker for me unfortunately. Changed way too many flats. Rather deal with it myself for 15 minutes than wait an hour for a tow truck and then pay $200
None of them were slow leaks? Just carry a pump.
Alex, would the Subaru be a superior option over the Bz4x because of the tax credit? I know Toyota’s is going away, but Subaru still has a lot of units left to sell before the credit goes away.
Same car. Go with the tax credit.
Toyota still got a lot of tax credits. Prime models never sold more then 100,000 in 5 years. They still got 100,000 cars to go before sunset rules begins
bring that up north when the winter hits and let me know how it goes...
Wow, the interior in this is a mess. 😧
Agreed, that's being kind.
nice. either the SOLTERRA or OUTBACK WILDERNESS : ]