2025 Subaru Solterra

A collaboration between Toyota and Subaru, the Subaru Solterra shares a lot of DNA with the Toyota bZ4X. Featuring Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard, including several driving modes, and relatively higher ground clearance, the Solterra provides the dirt-and-snow-taming capabilities synonymous with the brand. Moreover, we appreciate the rich array of advanced safety technologies included in every Solterra.

Despite our enthusiasm for the Solterra’s competency, we think this Toyota/Subaru collaboration should have produced more range than a maximum of 227 miles, not much by today’s standards. Core rivals can deliver more than 300 miles of range. However, save that shortcoming, we are convinced that the masses of Subaru faithful will be quite satisfied with the electric Solterra’s fidelity to the brand and its legacy.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric SUVs, including the Subaru Solterra.

For 2025, Subaru significantly slashed pricing across the entire lineup. The Premium and Limited trims get a $6,500 price cut, and the Touring model costs $7,000 less than it did in 2024. More of an appearance package for what was last year’s range-topping Touring grade, the Touring Onyx Edition is now the top trim. Building on the Touring, it adds 20-inch gloss black wheels, gloss black rear badging, a rear black roof spoiler, and black interior accents.

Although the Premium trim has a slight sales advantage among Solterra grades, the Limited and Touring trims sell nearly as well.

With the 2025 price cuts, the Solterra is well positioned within its segment. The Solterra’s cousin, the Toyota bZ4X, also received a price cut this year; consequently, the base price of its most affordable all-wheel-drive version is roughly $500 more than the Solterra Premium. Others in the segment, like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Nissan Ariya, are thousands more. Offering more of a bargain, the Chevrolet Equinox EV in the LT trim with all-wheel drive is about $3,000 less (and has more range).

Before buying the Subaru Solterra, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay, as well as our guide to related federal tax credits. Solterra resale values are running about typical for the segment. Recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

The Subaru Solterra generates thrust with two electric motors, one on each axle. The total output is 215 horsepower. Because the peak torque is immediately available, acceleration is brisk but not bodacious. And the Solterra electric SUV has a sporty driving mode for quicker responses. Even then, the fun pedal isn’t too sensitive. Paddles mounted on the back of the steering wheel allow the driver to adjust the level of regeneration. We wish the Solterra offered one-pedal driving like many of its rivals, which allows you to drive around town without ever hitting the brake pedal.

Driving the Solterra SUV is generally pleasant, with a comfortable ride and predictable handling. If there’s some mild off-roading in a Solterra owner’s future, the abilities are here. The all-wheel-drive system with X-Mode uses the brakes to simulate the kind of torque distribution achieved by a limited-slip differential. The system has Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. And the standard-issue Grip Control is a low-speed cruise control of sorts. Ground clearance of 8.3 inches is a little more than its Toyota counterpart but a little less than the Subaru Crosstrek and Outback.

Other advantages of electric power in these unpaved situations include the abundant torque available at low speeds, the lack of engine noise (all the better to hear the birds singing), and no spewing of hydrocarbons over the sagebrush. Just make sure there’s enough juice in the battery to reach the next charger.

There are arguably better-looking dashboards, but the one in the Solterra follows Subaru’s usual approach of simplicity and functionality while also fitting digital gauges. We found the square steering wheel to be awkward at first, but it didn’t take long to get used to.

Things like big door pockets and a flat load floor contribute to the Solterra’s overall practicality. The rear legroom is 35.3 inches, which is not as much as, say, a Honda CR-V (40.4 inches), but it is still sufficient for most adults. The luggage space behind the 60/40 split/folding rear seats measures 27.7 cubic feet. That’s about the same as the bZ4X, Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq 5, and generous enough.

Time and again, Subaru owners have demonstrated that they’re not shallow — loving their Foresters or Outbacks or whatever for what’s beneath the surface, regardless of looks.

We argue that with the new Solterra, no justifications are necessary. There’s every chance that some buyers might be walking into a Subaru dealership for the first time, attracted not just by the idea of a new compact electric SUV but also by the styling.

The Solterra goes lavish with the obligatory SUV black plastic cladding right underneath the headlights, which then accentuates the wheel arches before creating a large rear valance. But other features bring more vibrancy, like the headlights and taillights and the unusual rear spoiler. Roof rails, strong enough to handle a rooftop tent, come with all trim levels. Furthermore, the range-topping Touring Onyx Edition gets blacked-out accents and a rear roof spoiler.

Fast(er) charging
Using a DC fast charger, the Solterra’s battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes. This still lags many competitors but is an improvement over the original 2023 model.

EyeSight driver assist technologies
Subaru’s EyeSight safety tech suite bundles features like adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking to add confidence and convenience to every drive.

Easy Regen Control
The paddles mounted behind the steering wheel allow you to control how much the Solterra slows when you release the accelerator.

X-Mode
An enhanced feature of Subaru’s standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, X-Mode increases control and stability in various driving conditions on varying surfaces.

Digital key
Using the Subaru Solterra smartphone app, several people can access one Solterra without any of them needing a conventional key. This becomes standard in the midlevel Limited trim.

Advanced Park: Driver Parking Assistance
It’s a clumsy title, but it should bring a little more elegance to slotting into parking spaces. This is a self-parking function, the kind of thing often found in luxury vehicles, now becoming available to more drivers. It is also standard in the Limited model.

Every Solterra SUV is propelled by dual electric motors, one for each axle, and all-wheel drive. The combined output is 215 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque, with each motor generating equal amounts of muscle.

The floor-mounted lithium-ion battery pack requires about nine hours for a full charge from a 240-volt source like a home charging setup. A DC fast charger can bring the battery from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes. Some rivals, like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, enjoy faster charging times.

The EPA rates the Premium version’s maximum range at 227 miles. The Limited and Touring trims, with larger wheels, are rated at 222 miles.

Using the government’s miles-per-hour equivalent protocol for comparative EV mileage, the Solterra Premium delivers 104 MPGe in mixed city-and-highway driving. The Limited and Touring trims get 102 MPGe. The higher the MPGe rating, the lower your fuel costs. This is a bit better than some other all-wheel-drive competitors, like the Volkswagen ID.4 and Kia EV6.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

As with most mainstream carmakers, Subaru offers bumper-to-bumper limited warranty protection for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Powertrain coverage is for five years or 60,000 miles. Additionally, Subaru covers the EV components for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Safety

Earning a perfect score in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) battery of tests, the Solterra was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. It also earned the top 5-Star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).