Subaru unveils the Solterra, its first global all-electric vehicle

It’s expected to go on sale in Canada in mid-2022, along with its Toyota sibling

Subaru has taken the wraps off the Solterra, its first all-electric vehicle to be launched globally, at a global event based in Japan. The car is planned for worldwide sales, and will make its North American debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Solterra rides on an all-new, dedicated electric-vehicle platform, and is marginally shorter than the Subaru Outback and just as wide, but not as tall; and it weighs 231 kg more than the heaviest Outback trim. The 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery is under the floor, where it lowers the centre of gravity, and AWD models have a combined output of 160 kW.  Range is expected to be around 460 km or so on a charge in AWD trim, but that’s based on the Japanese WLTC standard, and those numbers may be in lower in official North American testing. The onboard AC charger is 6.6 kW, along with maximum 150-kW DC charging.

[An earlier version of this story listed the Solterra’s range at 175 km per charge. This error has now been corrected. —Ed.]

Publicity shots of the prototype show a handsome cabin with full-length console, tablet-style infotainment screen, and an instrument cluster perched atop a low dash, which Subaru said is a first for its vehicles.

The all-wheel system will include a version of Subaru’s X-Mode, providing more or less power as needed to the front or rear axle for grip and stability, along with new “Grip Control” for higher-speed driving on rough roads. The new platform is also designed for extra rigidity and safety, with crash energy transferred to the body skeleton to protect both the occupants and the driveline’s high-voltage systems. The platform was created jointly by the two automakers, and while Subaru calls it the e-Subaru Global Platform, Toyota calls it e-TNGA.