First Drive: 2024 Subaru Solterra

VICTORIA, BC — It may be somewhat tough sledding these days for EVs; sales are plateauing a little as people tighten the purse strings and more and more manufacturers are turning to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to fill out their electrification plans. That explains, in part, why we’re driving this ’24 model so late in the year; production wont’ be starting on the ’25 until late Q1 next year and it sounds as though there will be plenty of ’24 Solterras on lots as we move into ’25.

All that hasn’t stopped Subaru from continuing to massage the Solterra EV, however, as it receives a few nips and tuck for 2024 that Subaru says have been asked for by potential customers and owners over the few years that the Solterra has been in production.

You won’t see the fruits of that labour in the exterior, however; the wheel choices are the same as previous – there are 18- and 20-inch options, our tester was equipped with the latter – the headlights are the same (and better looking than the items found on the Solterra’s Toyota bZ4X twin) as are the taillights. Our tester did wear the new Smoked Carbon exterior colour, however, and it looks rather fetching and stealthy. You still have the standard contrast-colour wheel surrounds but somehow, all the chunky styling fits the Solterra better than it does the Toyota. It just jives better with the Subaru brand, which has always had a bit of a rough-and-tumble attitude while Toyota has been more of a Japanese car or SUV that’s trying to look American. Nice as the Solterra’s new colour is, though, I am sad that last year’s Elemental Red Pearl ‘do is no longer. The reason is simple: people weren’t buying it, so Subaru stopped doing it.

Inside is where the real changes are felt, as there is an all-new and oval-shaped steering wheel. Why? Well, because the Solterra has its gauge cluster mounted atop the dash, the rim of a traditional round steering wheel would obstruct it. Now, in response to customer feedback, the wheel has changed shape and can also be heated to two levels. ’24 is also the first time we’ve seen a power-adjustable front passenger seat, which rounds out the additions for 2024.

In practice, the seating position is actually quite good and the view out, very good. It’s neat having that dash just in your periphery without it obstructing your view through the windshield; it feels futuristic without some of the hokiness that can come with that territory. The back seat, meanwhile, is roomy enough even for six-foot plussers and the seatbacks also fold flat to more easily haul longer items. That’s important because the rear glass is quite slanted and although you can adjust the cargo floor for more room back there, tall items can be a challenge especially if you have a security cover.

The central infotainment display measures 12.3” and is tit-for-tat lift from the bZ4X, while most other Subarus use a vertical display. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; Toyota’s latest infotainment system works smoothly, supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is powerful and looks much nicer than it once did.

What I’m less enamoured with is the fact that if you want to use the low-speed crawl (up to 40 km/h) autonomous drive feature, you need to subscribe to a data plan. That’s because the feature uses the Solterra’s navigation system, which is a subscription service costing about $20 a month. Not having navigation is no big deal thanks to CarPlay and Android Auto support, but to have to subscribe to use an entirely different feature is a tougher pill to swallow.

Power-wise, the Subaru has a nice feather in its cap over the Toyota in that no matter which trim you choose – base, base with Luxury Package or base with Technology Package – you get dual-motor AWD as standard. That provides 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, as well as an EPA-certified 359 km of range; we saw 356 km on a full charge, which is pretty much right-on. Speaking of range and charging: you’re looking at a 10-80 per cent charge on a 100 kW DC fast charger of about 35 minutes, and that’s a figure that Subaru says should stay true in any temperature thanks to new thermal management for 2024.

Driving the Solterra is a bit of a mixed bag. As EVs with direct-drive transmissions do, power comes on right away and allows you to zip away from stop in short order. Also, like other EVs, the Solterra will run out of puff one you crest the 90 km/h mark so you do have to allow for that on high-speed passes on the highway. It is super quiet no matter, the speed, however and the ride is a good and controlled one for the most part. Repeated undulations will cause a little bit of pogo-sticking, though, which will be a bit of a groan for some occupants and don’t expect the Solterra to stay perfectly flat through high-speed turns; there is some body roll here.

Of course, it does have that well-known Star of Pleiades logo on its smooth snout and that means the Solterra should handle itself well in adverse conditions. To show what it can do, Subaru sent us out on the track at Enduro Park Canada, where we put this EV through its paces on track normally reserved for dirt bikes and ATVs. There was loose gravel, steep climbs and slippery slopes and wouldn’t you know it, the Solterra handled itself well here.

It gets a version of Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode AWD system which provides two different off-road modes – snow/dirt and deep snow/mud. We kept it in the former and it scrambled its way over these loosely-coated bumps and berms with gumption. It, of course, operates differently than your typical X-Mode system in that there are no mechanical differentials, half shafts and so on but Subaru insists that the way the EV motors combine to provide the best possible traction for forward progress son rough terrain works just as well and is worthy of the name “X-mode”. After seeing what the Solterra did in Enduro Park, we’re inclined to believe them.

Tough EV sledding it may be, but Subaru isn’t backing down and a day in the new Solterra proved that there’s still plenty of life left in the EV game.

Subaru and Parks Canada

One of the reasons we were in Goldstream Provincial Park just outside of Victoria is because Subaru is renewing their promise to outfit buyers of certain Subaru products – namely the 2025 Forester crossover – a pass to Parks Canada as part of their Adventure on Parks program. That will allow Forester drivers – as well as any passengers they can fit inside – free parking and access to day use areas in certain Canadian provincial parks. Subaru is also sponsoring various non-profit organizations – we were hosted on this particular trip by folks from the BC Parks Foundation – that operate day programs for children in need and other charitable efforts to help Canadians enjoy all the beauty our country has to offer.