Super SHOCKER Subaru Solterra - Best value EV in 2024?

Leasing.com sent Howard Ritchie to check out the Subaru Solterra - an all-new EV that's been shining through on Leasing.com in recent months thanks to high spec levels and awesomely affordable monthly payments. But does it have that solid and rugged appeal that Subaru is so well known for? In a word, yes.
It shares lots of parts with the Toyota Bz4X, but Subaru has given it enough of its own character despite being closely related to the Toyota. Despite the close collaboration between the two manufacturers, the Solterra's AWD system ensures it still feels very Subaru. And as EVs go, the Solterra is arguably one of the easiest to switch to if you're considering swapping out a petrol or diesel for an all-electric model next. In this review, Howard explains why.
00:00 - Solterra in brief
00:40 - Solterra boot space
00:52 - Subaru Solterra lease prices
01:18 - Solterra rear seats
02:12 - Subaru interior features
03:14 - What's the Solterra like to drive?
03:54 - What's the Solterra's electric range?
04:23 - Solterra Infotainment system
05:17 - Solterra - the best value EV?
Compare Subaru Solterra lease deals: leasing.com/car-leasing/subar...

[@CocaSirius]

I love that those videos are short but can they be a little bit longer! I just love his style and would want to see more of that!

[@chrishext6889]

Good review as always Howard

[@Niki-kr4gg]

Love it, these videos could indeed be abit longer. Love the host and the editor, keep it up!

[@bernardgmunger]

Good review. I totally agree with one comment that you put in highlight: it's nice to drive, it's smooth, road noise is very well cancelled, the vision is great. But you did not do a charging test. The claimed charging speed of the manufacturer is a lie. I'm still satisfied overall with my purchase, since charging happens at home for 99.9% of my charges. I rarely go farther than its range. But when you go farther, the 25 to 35 kW is slow. Very slow compared to other EVs on the market. So I plan my trips to stop eating at some place when I can leave it for almost an hour to charge. A half hour charge is not enough to do long enough a step on your trip to be valuable. But overall I find this EV to be the only real SUV 4 wheel drive on the market at a decent price. I'm still satisfied. If you don't need the road clearance this EV offers, the EV6 would have been my second choice, that one charges fast.

[@nick_0]

Loved your review, living with a solterra right now and everything you said I resonate with. It’s been a treat of a car here in the US

[@danielanzelmganszky2075]

Regarding the glove compartment: car manual, extra phone charging cable, pills against car sickness if needed, tissues.

[@Ke-wp2vg]

This man is underrated

[@ShawnGBR]

Considering the (honestly) atrocious charging speed of the 2023 model, but with Subaru's promise that they've fixed the snail's-pace charging ...look, did you just say what the promotional material about the charging speed or did you get it pugged into a DC Fast Charger? Because they said the 2023 model would charge 10% to 80% in around half an hour and that was frankly a bare-faced lie. I was one of the first to put money down when they announced the 2023 version, and nixed the request when I saw the charging tests. So: real world charging test or I don't believe a word of it.

[@bernardgmunger]

Charging speed is no good. I do 25-35 kW regularly, barely reached 50 kW for a short time, so no, charging speed is a downside to both the Subaru and the bZ4x BUT It's the "normal" EV on the market that has the highest clearance off the road. The only real SUV that is an EV. All the others are better at many things, but not at being the real height and size of a SUV. I bought it, there are things I don't like about it, but overall, it's a great car and I would buy it again. The review here talks about the smoothness on the road, that is amazing. The vision is also amazing, the wide front view and wide rear view mirrors are nothing short of spectacular compared to other cars. All the little problems with this car are just that: little problems. I'd love if the car had 150 kW of sustained charging speed. but it's a small problem since I charge 99.9% of the time at home. I've had to wait for charging on 3 trips so far... so since I knew about it, I planned on stopping at a retaurant to give it more time to charge. Not a big deal for me. So far, it's one of the best SUV that is electric on the market at a fair price. I paid 52000$CAN with all taxes, delivery fees and govenment incentives included. It's a good deal for a full 4 wheel drive of this qualilty.

[@ShredPhred]

It's a good deal if they dropped the price to 30k and it could be fast charged with a Tesla NACS super charger.

[@bernardgmunger]

Keep dreaming... It's a good full electric SUV 4 wheel drive for the price, no more, no less.

[@saferroadsuk]

Zero information on boot capacity.

[@leasingdotcom]

00.40 seconds troll.

[@saferroadsuk]

Folded down seats boot capacity not given.

[@thezanzibarbarian5729]

In collaboration with Toyota eh? Hence it looks like the BZ4XYZ _whatever!_ But isn't singing Billy Ocean's Caribbean Queen classed as cultural appropriation in today's woke world? 8-\\... And isn't that the loudest sunroof... _"In the world?"_ Thanks to Jezza Clarkson for that! As for the nicest EV on the road? _Err....!? Nope!_ The Genesis electrified GV70 is way better looking. So is the BMW i4. And the Porsche Taycan Estate too. Do I need to continue? Good review again -Mr. W.- Ooops..! Mr. R. _My bad!_ 8-((...

[@bernardgmunger]

Nicest? Maybe not, it depends on taste... But it's not ugly... Look at the CyberTruck... THAT is ugly.

[@thezanzibarbarian5729]

@@bernardgmunger It's far from ugly. But then I didn't say it was ugly. As for that Cybertruck. Well... When I was in infants school, back then, I think I drew better looking cars ;-))... And I can't even draw that well 8-))...

[@pwrrpw319]

Yep all sounds great except!!!!! , its basically a Toyota bzxy4 something something, so it comes with Crap real world range (especially in cold conditions) , and the ever present danger of its wheels falling off !!!! :(((((

[@bernardgmunger]

The wheels falling off is a problem that has been addressed and fixed.

[@king-crane4956]

And is only on the Toyota not the Subaru

[@hadtobe4502]

How much did Subaru pay you for this?

[@bernardgmunger]

I don't get paid by Subaru and agree with 90% of his content.