2024 Subaru Solterra review: An electric adventure companion
Electric vehicles are efficient city runabouts, but you’d never drive one off-road, right? Subaru aims to challenge this common perception with the 2024 Subaru Solterra. It’s an EV through and through, but it also comes with the off-roading tools Subaru owners expect. These include standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, plenty of ground clearance, and dual-function X-Mode for tackling tough terrain.
To compile this 2024 Subaru Solterra review, we joined Subaru Canada in Victoria, BC, to drive it on everything from city streets to a genuinely challenging off-road course. From this, we conclude the Solterra has a legitimate claim to being the most off-road capable mainstream EV on the market today.
During our visit to Victoria, we also learned about Subaru’s Adventure On Parks program. Through this program, Subaru supports conservation and education efforts promoting responsible exploration in national and provincial parks across Canada.
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2024 Subaru Solterra review: Pros and cons
2024 Subaru Solterra pros:
- Goes further than most people assume a mainstream EV could
- More spritely drive feel than most competitors
- Quiet interior, even by EV standards
2024 Subaru Solterra cons:
- Below-average range
- Above-average price
- Long-time Subaru customers may find the interior less familiar than they’d expect
What’s new in the 2024 Subaru Solterra?
When the Subaru Solterra and the very closely related Toyota bZ4X launched for 2023, the most common complaints centred around slow and unpredictable charging at Level 3 fast charging stations. Subaru addresses this in the 2024 Solterra by adding a new water-to-water heat exchanger. This improves battery temperature management, which allows for faster Level 3 charging in cold weather.
Additional software changes also improve fast charging times in all conditions. Owners are no longer limited to one to two fast charges per day.
The Solterra’s new oval-shaped steering wheel improves the driver’s view of the digital instrument cluster. The passenger seat comes with a powered height adjuster on the Luxury and Technology packages. Its seatback can also be reclined to lay fully flat. This makes loading long items easier and also lets the front passenger rest while the car is charging.
The available charging cable can now charge at Level 2 speeds, saving the cost of installing a charging station for those with access to a 240-volt outlet. Low-profile roof rails are now standard equipment in Canada.
Changes to safety and driver assistance systems
Subaru has made some improvements to the Solterra’s safety systems for 2024. A new driver-facing camera enables traffic jam assist. This subscription-based feature lets you drive hands-free on certain roads at speeds below 40 km/h.
An added set of front radars equips standard front cross-traffic alert and lane change assist, which will change lanes without steering input when adaptive cruise control is on and a signal is activated. Adaptive cruise control will also now hold in traffic for up to three minutes before disengaging.
An emergency driving stop system, which brings the car to a stop when the driver is incapacitated, and an emergency steering assist system have also been added.
Subaru Canada deleted the tire pressure monitoring system on the Solterra for 2024. While this feature is mandatory in the U.S., it’s not a requirement here. Subaru Canada representatives say their customers find it expensive to install TPMS sensors on both summer and winter tires and find the alerts intrusive when sensors aren’t present. This change brings the Solterra in line with the rest of Subaru’s Canadian product line-up.
Size and exterior design
The 2024 Subaru Solterra is identical in size to the Toyota bZ4X — they’re the same car in many ways, after all — and very similar in dimensions to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, and Ford Mustang Mach-e, among others.
The Subaru Solterra has more ground clearance than any other vehicle in its segment, measuring at 210 mm. In a couple of cases, it doesn’t lead by much. The Toyota bZ4X and Honda Prologue have just 4 mm less to work with. Relative to most competitors, though, the Solterra is better by at least a centimetre.
As of 2024, the Subaru Solterra is no longer available in red. Instead, Smoked Carbon (as seen on our test unit) is available both as a standalone colour or, with the Luxury or Technology packages, in two-tone with a black roof.
Interior design
If you’ve owned other Subaru vehicles and are getting into a Solterra, not much about the interior will feel familiar. This is because Subaru and Toyota collaborated on development of the Solterra and bZ4X EVs. Most of the interior of the Solterra comes from the Toyota parts bin. This includes the digital instrument cluster, the infotainment system, and the switchgear. The two cars also share the same fabric covers on the dashboard.
While this may not seem very Subaru-like to those familiar with the brand, there’s a lot to like here. With the two available packages, the infotainment system runs off a 12.3-inch screen and is easy to operate. The digital instrument cluster is also smartly positioned to give you the information you need while keeping your eyes pointed at the road.
Seat comfort
The front seats on the 2024 Subaru Solterra are very comfortable. The available 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat is worth the upgrade. Heated front seats are standard, but you’ll need to upgrade to at least the Luxury trim to get a heated steering wheel, where heated outboard rear seats also come in. Ventilated front seats are equipped with the Technology package.
New for 2024, the optional power-adjustable passenger seat comes with a height adjuster. This features helps a lot with finding a comfortable position. The seatback can also recline fully, making it easier to load long cargo or to rest during charging stops.
How many car seats fit in the 2024 Subaru Solterra?
The 2024 Subaru Solterra can accommodate up to two fully anchored car seats at one time in the outboard rear positions. Anchors are also equipped for a centre-mounted car seat in the second row. The 2024 Subaru Solterra receives a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including a Good rating for ease of use of its LATCH connectors, which is the highest score the IIHS awards.
How much cargo space is there in the 2024 Subaru Solterra?
The 2024 Subaru Solterra has 674 litres of space behind the second-row seatbacks. When these are folded, cargo capacity expands to 1,798 litres. A new lay-flat front passenger seat makes it easier to load longer items.
Infotainment and technology features
The Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X share many components since the two vehicles were developed on a shared platform. As a result, the Solterra’s infotainment system runs Toyota’s latest software. It uses an 8-inch touchscreen in its base trim and a 12.3-inch screen with the Luxury and Technology packages. These two packages also equip a wireless charging pad.
Overall, this is a good thing. Toyota’s system is easy to learn and comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A cloud-based navigation system and conversational virtual assistant are available by subscription.
On the safety side, the Solterra benefits from several of Subaru’s safety technologies. The EyeSight suite of driver assistance features is standard. This includes pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and lane departure mitigation, and lead vehicle start alert.
The DriverFocus driver monitoring system is also standard, as are reverse automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, and the new-for-2024 emergency systems noted in the What’s New section above. These systems contribute to the 2024 Subaru Solterra’s Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.
How much power does the 2024 Subaru Solterra have?
From its pair of 80 kW motors, one mounted on each axle and both powered by a 72.8-kWh battery pack, the 2024 Subaru Solterra generates 215 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. As is the case with most Subaru vehicles, symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard equipment on the Solterra.
How does the 2024 Subaru Solterra drive?
The Subaru Solterra is a genuine pleasure to drive. Although it’s very similar in dimensions to competitors such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-e and others, the Solterra’s tighter steering and composed handling make it feel smaller than it is. It’s nimble and easy to get around, even in tighter urban environments.
One benefit of choosing the Subaru Solterra over the closely related Toyota bZ4X is the paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. These give the driver access to five adjustable levels of regenerative braking. The driver can quickly change from the firmer braking that comes with one-pedal driving to a full low-resistance coast or several points in between. This is helpful in households with multiple drivers with different preferences.
Subaru’s dual-function X-Mode is standard on the 2024 Solterra. This is the secret sauce that makes the Solterra one of the most off-road capable vehicles in its segment. Dual-function X-Mode equips drive modes for snow/mud and deep snow/deep mud, which alter throttle output, AWD torque split, and braking response to help the car get through challenging terrain.
Hill descent control is included as part of this system, as is Grip Mode, a feature that helps with climbing up hills off-road. Once you activate this and set a speed, you simply lift your foot off the brake and the car manages its own outputs to execute the climb for you. We tried this on a muddy off-road course just outside Victoria and left genuinely impressed by how well the cars performed — and on low rolling resistance tires not intended for off-roading, no less.
What is the range of the 2024 Subaru Solterra?
In Canada, the 2024 Subaru Solterra is rated for an estimated 359 km of driving range. This is down 1 km versus the 2023 rating due to the 2024 model’s newly standard roof rails and additional radar equipment. This figure is below average relative to the Solterra’s primary competitors.
How quickly does the 2024 Subaru Solterra charge?
Thanks to the hardware and software updates in the 2024 Subaru Solterra, fast charging times are significantly improved versus the 2023 model. In ideal conditions, the Solterra can now charge at a Level 3 station at speeds up to 100 kW and go from 10 to 80% in as little as 35 minutes.
How much does the 2024 Subaru Solterra cost in Canada?
The 2024 Subaru Solterra has a Canadian base price of $59,340, including destination charges and other fees. Adding the Luxury package brings the price to $63,840, and the Technology package brings the total price to $66,340.
The most important safety features and powertrain elements are standard across the board. Key upgrades in the Luxury package include a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, StarTex (artificial leather) upholstery, heated rear seats and heated steering wheel, 360-degree camera, rain-sensing wipers, and an advanced parking system, among other features.
The Technology package comes with the features on Luxury plus ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a rear washer on the backup camera, ambient lighting, and other enhancements.
While the $5,000 federal iZEV electric vehicle rebate is on hold as of this writing, the Subaru Solterra qualifies for remaining provincial and territorial incentive programs where they exist.
Is the 2024 Subaru Solterra worth buying?
The 2024 Subaru Solterra is the right vehicle for people who care more about an electric vehicle’s capability than its up-front price or outright range. Because it costs more than many of its competitors and can’t go as far on a charge, a driver who rarely ventures outside the city may find more value in shopping elsewhere.
But the Solterra’s attractive styling, nimble handling, and go-anywhere attitude will resonate with the subset of buyers who have been waiting for an EV that prioritizes these things. For the environmentally conscious adventure-seeking set, the Solterra is a great fit.
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