Fans of this usually affordable Japanese brand are in for a rude surprise when its latest family wagon arrives in showrooms at the end of this year.
The Subaru Solterra is proof electric cars are expensive.
Subaru locked in prices for its first electric car on Monday, when customers were told it costs significantly more than the brand’s petrol machines.
Subaru’s Solterra EV is just around the corner.
Priced from $77,990 plus on-road costs in its cheapest form, the new Subaru Solterra is double the asking price of an entry-level Subaru Forester (yours for $37,890).
High-grade Solterra Touring models are even dearer at $83,690 plus on-roads. For that, you could buy a Subaru Outback wagon for the Monday to Friday commute and a Subaru BRZ sports car for weekends.
American drivers can snap up a Solterra for US$44,995 ($69,000), or less than the cost of a Tesla Model Y, but Australian customers pay a $10,000 premium for the Subaru.
Subaru’s Solterra EV promises more off-road capability than most electric cars.
Blair Reed, managing director for Subaru Australia, said in August that there was “huge demand” and “limited supply” for the electric wagon.
Both Solterra models combine a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery with dual electric motors serving up a combined 160kW and 337Nm of torque.
The car has 414 kilometres of range when measured using the WLTP test procedure.
Subaru is flirting with a sporty STI version of the Solterra.
All-wheel-drive traction and proper ground clearance – an impressive 210mm, the same as a Suzuki Jimny – should make it more capable than most electric cars away from tar.
Standard gear includes a 7-inch digital dash, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, 18-inch alloys, LED headlights and heated seats in the front and rear.
The Solterra’s cabin is a step above regular Subaru models.
A long list of safety features includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, auto emergency braking and a 360-degree camera.
Touring models add a 10-speaker Harman Kardon stereo, wireless phone charging, 20-inch alloys and a panoramic sunroof.
Toyota will offer a mechanical twin to the Solterra, called the bZ4X.
Customers can choose to have a basic 7kW single-phase charger installed at their home for $2250, or upgrade to a three-phase 22kW charger for $2645.
The car is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty along with an eight-year, 160,000 kilometre guarantee for the high-voltage battery.
Keyword: Subaru Solterra Australian price and specifications