Subaru joins EV race with Solterra electric SUV

Subaru has unveiled its first mass-market electric vehicle, the Solterra SUV, which is developed in collaboration with Toyota.

Based on the recently unveiled Toyota bZX4 EV (below), the Solterra – which means “sun” and “earth” in Latin – is unsurprisingly, a dead ringer to the Toyota except for minor Subaru specific parts such as the lobster-claw taillights, different front bumper design with an enclosed grille, and unique alloy wheels.

The similarity is even more obvious inside, with only the badge on the steering wheel and trim colour to set the two apart.

Built on the e-Subaru Global Platform which is the brand’s version of Toyota’s e-TNGA electric architecture, the Solterra’s overall dimensions are the same as the bZ4X. That means it is 4,690mm long, 1,860mm wide, and 1,650mm tall, with a 2,850mm wheelbase, giving it a similar footprint to the Subaru Forester.

It also shares its drivetrain with the Toyota, featuring a 150kW single motor front-wheel drive model, and a 160kW dual motor all-wheel drive variant. Both models are fed by a 71.4kWh lithium ion battery that provides a driving range of around 530km in the FWD variant, and approximately 460km in the AWD.

The Solterra will go on sale in the middle of 2022 in markets including Japan, the United States, Canada, Europe and China, with Australia yet to be confirmed.