Did you know that the 2023 Subaru Solterra is just a rebadged variant of the Toyota bZ4X? However, Subaru’s version is more expensive than Toyota’s. Does the Subaru name carry more weight than Toyota, or is there another reason the Solterra costs so much more? Why is the 2023 Subaru Solterra more expensive than the Toyota bZ4X?

How much is the 2023 Subaru Solterra?

According to Car and Driver, the Subaru Solterra starts at $46,220 for the 2023 model year. That’s $3,005 more than the base model Toyota bZ4X. Additionally, the Solterra’s three trim levels are all more expensive than the bZ4X. The highest Toyota trim is barely priced higher than the base model Solterra. For two models that are virtually the same exact thing, that’s a pretty hefty price difference.

Why is the Solterra more expensive than the bZ4X?

According to CAD, much of the added Solterra cost comes from standard all-wheel drive. For the 2023 model year, every Toyota bZ4X comes with a standard front-wheel drive. In addition, each Subaru Solterra comes with a dual-motor setup, which is an upgrade from the bZ4X’s single-motor option. Furthermore, despite the higher price, the Subaru EV is better equipped out of the gate than its Toyota equivalent.

However, customers can upgrade the Toyota bZ4X to have an all-wheel drive system and dual-motor setup. Even more surprising is that the Toyota EV with optional AWD remains the cheaper of the two models. After purchasing AWD for your bZ4X, it’ll still cost $925 less than the base model Subaru Solterra. According to CAD, upgrading to AWD on either of the bZ4X trims costs $2,080.

Is paying for a dual-motor setup worth it?

Choosing between a base model Toyota bZ4X, an upgraded version, or the Subaru Solterra can be challenging. If all-wheel drive isn’t essential to you, maybe a dual-motor setup with more power is. If that’s the case, you might wonder how much more power you’ll actually get for the extra cash. Firstly, the 2023 Subaru Solterra uses two electric motors that combine to make 215 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque.

Contrarily, the 2023 Toyota bZ4X comes with a single motor that offers 201 horsepower. However, those who choose to pay $2,080 to upgrade to an AWD dual-motor system will get a maximum of 215 horsepower. In short, the upgraded version of the bZ4X is as powerful as Subaru’s model but remains cheaper. That’s why the more affordable Toyota EV seems like the way to go.

The 2023 Subaru Solterra is more expensive than the 2023 Toyota bZ4X

Why is the 2023 Subaru Solterra more expensive than its Toyota equivalent, the bZ4X? Subaru’s new EV is just a rebadged version of Toyota’s, but it’s always more costly. In conclusion, AWD and a dual-motor system are standard for the Solterra. However, customers can upgrade their bZ4X to AWD and the same 215 horsepower dual electric motors and still pay less.