Subaru Solterra 2024 review: AWD | A new electric car for the family?

The 2024 Subaru Solterra may be late to the fully electric vehicle (EV) game, but it's looking to make a strong first impression, as evidenced by the Japanese brand's move to significantly reduce its Australia pricing before first deliveries even began. And frankly, it has to be competitive in the mid-size SUV segment, which takes no prisoners.
A twin under the skin with the new Toyota bZ4X, the Solterra goes its own way with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive-only line-up, in keeping Subaru's AWD signature. That said, two grades are available, with the entry-level variant eponymous, while the flagship is dubbed Touring.
In this expert review, CarsGuide Contributing Journalist Emily Agar and her family of three spend a week living with the Solterra AWD to find out not only how well it measures up as an EV, but also how effective it is as a car for families. Ultimately, it has to succeed at both.
#Subaru #Solterra #Review
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Timecodes:
00:00 Intro
00:49 Pricing and features
01:32 Design
02:57 Practicality
05:10 Under the bonnet
05:33 Driving
06:45 Efficiency
07:57 Safety
08:34 Ownership
09:07 Verdict
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Read Emily's full review: bit.ly/3WH9ggC
Check out our Subaru Solterra hub: bit.ly/3ImCtF2
Find more SUVs: bit.ly/3QVs1X1
Visit our FamilyGuide: bit.ly/3BS40vC
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[@carsguide]

Please note that since the video was filmed, Tesla reduced the Model Y Long Range's Australian pricing and it is now the most affordable dual-motor mid-size SUV at $69,900 plus on-road costs.

[@doctordryan]

Great review!

[@Steve-jx3mh]

The problem with base model EV's being 70K plus onroads is that depending on service costs it would take about 8-10 years to recoup the cost compared to ICE vehicles. If the ICE equivalent is about 50K, so by the time you do that the battery is buggered. So from a cost perspective it doesn't make much sense really. Until EV's are the same price as ICE's they just cant compete, even with the rising cost of fuel, as the average aussie doesn't have 70K for a car.

[@johnlambert1744]

You raise a good point here, but some people aren't buying EVs because they think they're cheaper to own (TCO). Some are wanting them for the pure enjoyment of owning an EV, whatever that reason is (eg. not having to go to a servo all the time, less servicing depending on the vehicle, generally more power than an ICE equivalent, higher tech, etc.) Also the fact that EVs ARE indeed the future - ICE vehicles will be around for a long time yet, but they are not the future of the automotive industry. Anyone who thinks they are are uneducated fools. Of course EVs may not suit everyone just yet, which is why ICE is still going to be around for some time. But it shouldn't just be looked at from a cost saving perspective alone. There are so many other factors that come into play.

[@Steve-jx3mh]

@@johnlambert1744 ice are not the future, are evs the future... im yet to be convinced. But its the best of the bunch at the moment. But if governments and car makers want to transistion then cost will play a huge part in that. 70k is not viable for a good many people.

[@sandilemajiya7831]

I love the interior of this car

[@WayApp]

Looks absolutely stunning.

[@daweigo6851]

Really?

[@connorviant]

what car do you have?