What the Subaru Solterra Means for the Future of SUVs
The upcoming Subaru Solterra is the future of SUVs. The Solterra will be Subaru’s first electric fully electric SUV. Here’s what that means for Subaru and the entire SUV vehicle class.
The Subaru Solterra is part of a new era of SUVs
Subaru Solterra, our first all-electric SUV, is our most technologically advanced Subaru yet. Versatile and comfortable, it is built with ample back seat and cargo room. Learn more: https://t.co/4SMUsRtoFu #SubaruSolterra pic.twitter.com/IpjALZ5CGU
— Subaru (@subaru_usa) August 31, 2021
Whether we hate electric vehicles or love ’em, they’re here to stay. President Joe Biden announced his ambitions to have electric vehicles account for 50% of the total new vehicle market share by the year 2030. Major American automakers Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors have set a more realistic goal to make 40% of new vehicles EVs by 2030. So what do these bold ambitions mean for the current decade?
President Joe Biden’s announcement means that the Subaru Solterra is part of a new era for the SUV vehicle class and all automotive vehicle classes. Billionaires like Michael Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates are betting big on EVs. It’s only a matter of time until electric SUVs like the Solterra take over the automotive industry. By 2030 electric vehicles like the Solterra should be a regular sight on American roads.
What is the range of the Subaru Solterra?
An electric vehicle’s range is its most important EV spec. Why? If your electric vehicle doesn’t have much range, it will need to charge frequently for long hours. This was the case with the discontinued Honda Clarity EV and its measly 89 miles of electric range.
Today, electric vehicles with good battery capacity get an average of at least 200 miles of electric range. Extended range battery packs offer upwards of 300 miles of electric-only range for newer EVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The Subaru Solterra currently has a range estimate of 250 miles from experts pondering the SUV’s capabilities. Anything less than 200 miles of range could give consumers range anxiety.
How much does the Subaru Solterra cost?
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is expected to start at around $40,000. It is likely that the Solterra will qualify for an electric vehicle tax credit, so consumers can end up paying under $34,000 for the electric SUV. The Solterra will cost slightly more than the average mid-size SUV after applicable EV incentives.
According to Car and Driver, the Subaru Solterra was developed with Toyota’s help, so the EV platform will reflect Toyota’s experience in creating vehicles that reduce emissions. The Solterra can also give us an idea of what the upcoming Toyota bZ4X will be like. The 2023 Subaru Solterra is expected to release in 2022. Will it shock the world, or will it be completely underwhelming?
