Subaru Announces 2023 Solterra EV
By Edward A. Sanchez – May 11, 2021
Following in the footsteps of the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru has announced its first entry into the EV space, the Solterra. The company says it will be based on the e-Subaru platform (believed to be a variant of Toyota’s e-TNGA) and will be a C-segment SUV. The company targets an on-sale date for the Solterra of 2022 for the 2023 model.
Most of the Japanese OEMs, with the exception of Nissan, have been pretty slow to embrace EVs. But of the Japanese brands, Subaru’s traditional buyer demographic is perhaps most likely to embrace an EV. Since its introduction in the U.S. in the 1970s, Subaru has always been the crunchy, rugged, nature-loving brand. It is perennially popular in the liberal, outdoorsy Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and New England (specifically Vermont). In fact, although I have no anecdotal or evidence otherwise, I wouldn’t doubt if some of its customers inquired at dealerships if the company had, or was planning to offer, an EV.
Subaru’s image in the U.S. has been a two-track proposition since the introduction of the WRX in the early 2000s. Prior to that, the Birkenstock, flannel, and L.L. Bean image predominated. For a time, Subaru even offered an L.L. Bean edition Outback. The WRX and later STI brought a younger, more aggressive, performance-oriented buyer into the fold. But there’s little doubt its traditional demographic seeking reliable, capable, outdoorsy-oriented cars remains at its core.
Little is currently known about the Subaru Solterra EV.
In the press release for the Solterra, the term “all-wheel-drive” is used several times, no doubt an effort to emphasize the brand’s traditional strength in that area. In terms of technical specifications on the Solterra, the release was rather thin, only noting its collaboration with Toyota, and a “versatile, dedicated EV platform.”
If we had to armchair-quarterback the Solterra’s specs, positioning, and branding, it’s a given that it’s going to be all-wheel drive, it will probably be close in size to the Forester and be priced in the $40,000 to 45,000 range. Any other specs, in terms of range, drivetrain, battery capacity, power output, etc., is anyone’s guess.
Ultimate, track-scorching performance probably isn’t on the menu, although it’s likely it could come in the 250-300 hp range. A 0-60 time in the six-second range would be a reasonable expectation.
Just within the past two years, we’ve seen brands that have heretofore been hostile or indifferent to EVs announce their intentions to enter the space. There are far worse companies to be allied with than Toyota, and the economies of scale and engineering resources that come with the collaboration definitely put Subaru in a favorable position with the Solterra. We look forward to getting a more detailed look at its styling and specs in the months ahead.
(Images courtesy Subaru)
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