Subaru Solterra, Subaru’s first electric SUV. Wait. Solterra... Solterra... Why does that sound so familiar? Let’s refresh your memory.
Do you remember taking Latin in high school? Perhaps not, since schools stopped teaching Latin sometime around the Jimmy Carter administration. But if you’re like me – old and okay with it – upon reading the word “Solterra,” you probably got hit with a flashback of your Latin teacher, Mrs. Jacobi, publicly scolding you for believing “carpe diem” was a type of fish. (What? Was that just me? This explains so much...)
I digress. The reason why Solterra looks so familiar is because you’ve probably heard/seen/spoken the words before – if you took Latin 101, at least.
SOL-TERRA. In Latin, “sol” translates to “sun,” and “terra” translates to “earth.” Sun and Earth. The lesson deepens when you consider that, in ancient Rome, Sol was also the personification of the sun god, Sol Invictus. Sun and Earth and Godly. Now that’s how you throw a party.
It’s a triple whammy from Subaru if you think about it. The first Subaru electric SUV harnesses the power of the sun (solar farms generate electricity, in this case) to drive on and save Earth, while also having Adonis-like power and the handsomeness of a god. *slow clap*
Nomenclature aside, Subaru’s new electric vehicle, which has a TBD release date of 2022, is a gamechanger. Subaru brass has kept things hush-hush. As such, details are murky, but here’s what our Lawrence Subaru dealership can tell you about the 2023 Solterra.
All-New e-Subaru Global Platform
The new, built-from-scratch platform, e-Subaru, was crafted specifically for the Solterra and all future Subaru electric vehicles. In developing this new EV platform, Subaru engineers, with assistance from colleagues from Toyota, did so with one lofty goal in mind: Create an electric vehicle platform that harnesses the power of Subaru’s iconic all-wheel-drive capability and superb driving dynamics. Oh, and it also needs to be easy to modify so that other Subaru EVs can easily swap out modules, parts, and components. Oh, and it should also be lightweight yet rigid enough to handle off-road adventures.
No big deal. Let’s just solve all of humanity’s problems while we’re at it.
Driving Range
A little bird told our Lawrence Subaru dealership that the new Solterra could have an all-electric driving range of up to or even more than 300 miles. That beats the driving range of many other available electric vehicles, including the MINI Cooper Electric (114 miles), BMW i3 (153), Volvo XC40 Recharge (208), Audi e-tron (222), Kia Niro EV (239) and VW ID.4 (250).
Note: Subaru Solterra driving range and specs have not been confirmed.
$7,500 Federal Tax Credit
As an all-electric model, the Subaru Solterra will almost surely be eligible for the max federal tax credit, which currently sits at $7,500. Additional state rebates and utility credits should also apply, further reducing your total cost to go green.
Plus, when you buy a Solterra, you’ll be buying from a brand that continually wins Residual Value Awards.
2023 Subaru Solterra Release Date
Again, as of July 2021, the Subaru Solterra EV has a tentative release date for 2022. In U.S. and Canadian markets, it will join the full Subaru SUV lineup, which includes wagons and crossovers like the Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and Ascent.
In the meantime, if you’d like to start living green(er) with a fuel-efficient vehicle, Subaru has several >vehicles that are good on gas.
The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid fits that description perfectly. Built with Subaru’s StarDrive Technology, the Crosstrek Hybrid earns an EPA-estimated 90 MPGe and can travel up to 480 miles before needing a fill-up or charge-up. You can even drive in Battery Charge Mode to give your battery about 30% more juice over 30 minutes – it's Subaru’s version of “30 for 30.” Perhaps best of all, every plug-in hybrid Crosstrek comes with Subaru’s legendary Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.
Due to limited availability, finding a Crosstrek Hybrid may be a tough task. Instead of waiting, you may want to consider sticking with a gas-sipping 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Sport for sale in Lawrence. It benefits from the same AWD system as its hybrid plug-in brother, while also returning a highly respectable fuel-economy rating of 27 city/34 highway mpg – which beats rivals like the Mazda CX-30, MINI Cooper Countryman, Jeep Renegade, and Ford EcoSport. Read our 2021 Subaru Crosstrek review for more details.
To get updates on the new 2023 Solterra, contact McCarthy Subaru of Lawrence at (855) 8944306. We’ll send you an email or give you a ring when the electric Solterra goes on sale. If you can’t wait, ask us about our Subaru Crosstrek deals near you and bring home a fuel-efficient vehicle this weekend!