Subaru’s Solterra EV starts at $44,995
Subaru has announced pricing for its first all-electric vehicle, the Solterra SUV. The vehicle, which comes standard with all-wheel drive like most Subarus, will start at $44,995, with “Limited” and “Touring” trims starting at $48,495 and $51,995, respectively. All models will have an additional destination and delivery charge of $1,225, which will increase their cost a little more.
According to Subaru, the Solterra will have a range “up to 228 miles” and will be able to charge 80% of its battery in less than an hour. While the Limited and Touring models add features such as roof rails, wireless charging and a glass roof, there is currently no option to add more range to the vehicle, which many other manufacturers offer. .
As someone who is loyal to his Subaru Outback, that’s a bit difficult. The company touts the Solterra’s “go-anywhere capability”, but my favorite hiking spot is 108 miles from my home, with only one level two charger available anywhere along the route of two o’clock. I just couldn’t trust this vehicle to get me there and back.
The Solterra is based on the same platform as Toyota’s bZ4X, which starts at $42,000 for a front-wheel-drive model. If you want the bZ4X with all-wheel drive, you’ll have to pay $2,000 more, which is $1,000 less than Subaru’s model.
Of course, the Solterra and the bZ4X are not exactly the same car. Yes, they have the same or nearly identical lineup (comparing AWD models, anyway), X-Mode off-road assist, and infotainment systems, but Subaru’s vehicle has an extra 0.2 inches of ground clearance. There are also at least a few stylistic differences between the two vehicles (apart from being available in different colors), particularly around the front end; Personally, I prefer the Solterra’s headlights and grille, although I’m not sure I can pinpoint exactly why. And while I’m not saying I’d pay $1,000 to be able to say “I drive a Solterra” instead of “I drive a B4…no, bZX…wait,” that would at least be a consideration.
There is a complication when comparing prices between the Solterra and the bZ4X. Subaru says its electric vehicle will qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. While that’s currently available to buyers trying to get their hands on a Toyota, it probably won’t be for long, thanks to the number of other electrified vehicles the company sells. Toyota executives predicted that by October 2022, anyone looking to buy a bZ4X might only be eligible for a $3,750 tax credit, and the incentive might disappear altogether a year later.
Since Toyota estimates extremely limited availability for the bZ4X, it may be difficult to obtain it before these tax incentives end. If so, that might make the Solterra’s higher starting price a little less important.
Of course, realistically, people will likely compare Subaru’s offering with EVs like the $40,900 Kia EV6, $33,500 Chevy Bolt EUV, $42,690 Tesla Model 3, and potentially even the Rivian. None of these comparisons are perfect – the Model 3 doesn’t get the tax incentive and you have to spend an extra $9,000 to get all-wheel drive (although that also bumps it up to a comfortable 334-mile range ), and the Kia and Chevy aren’t as rugged. But given the price of the Subaru, buyers might think long and hard about what they really want from an EV before buying.
It’s also worth noting that while many manufacturers technically have electric vehicles, buying one can be a bit of a pain at the moment. The widespread shortages that make it hard to find cars in stock also apply to electric options, and we’ve seen dealerships apply blatant markups. At this point, however, it’s hard to say if the same will happen with the Solterra.
Subaru says the Solterra “will begin arriving in limited numbers at Subaru retailers this summer.”
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