2024 Subaru Solterra: All electric SUV pricing confirmed at last! Does this electric car have what it takes to challenge the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y?

Subaru Australia has finally confirmed pricing and specs for its long-awaited Solterra electric mid-size SUV.

The Solterra is an all-wheel drive only offering launching in two variants, with the base ‘AWD’ starting from $77,990, before on-road costs and state-based EV incentives, and the top-spec AWD Touring starting from $83,690.

Either way, the Solterra is equipped with a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, good for a WLTP-certified driving range of 414km. Both variants are also equipped with dual-motors, with combined outputs of 160kW/337Nm.

On the DC charging standard, the 400-volt Solterra can hit a peak of 150kW for a claimed 20 to 80 per cent charging time of roughly 30 minutes, while on a 7.0kW single-phase charger, a time of “seven to eight hours” is estimated.

To sell the Subaru brand promise, the Solterra will also have its own ‘X-Mode’ all-wheel drive control software (apparently not shared with its Toyota bZ4X platform-mate) as well as 210mm of ground clearance.

Standard equipment on the base AWD includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen and 7.0-inch digital instrument panel, powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and cloth interior trim. Other standard items include a power tailgate, LED headlights, a digital rear vision mirror, as well as carpet mats and a cargo tray. There is also the full safety suite, including auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keep, and blind-spot systems.

Stepping up to the AWD Touring grade adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a premium 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a wireless phone charger, synthetic leather interior trim for the seats and steering wheel, memory seat and mirror settings, power adjust for the front passenger, a panoramic sunroof, ‘intelligent park assist’, and the option of two-tone paint schemes (at an additional cost of $1200).

All Solterra variants also come with a 2kW AC home charging cable, as well as a five-year servicing pack and five years of roadside assist as standard, matching more premium rivals like Polestar and Genesis with the zero-cost servicing during the warranty period.

Subaru also offers two ‘Charging Bundle’ option packs to simplify charging for buyers. Bundle 1 at a cost of $2250 includes a single-phase 7.0kW Ocular LTE Plus Wallbox home charger system with a six-metre cable

Bundle 2, at a cost of $2645 is a three-phase variant from the same supplier, capable of 22kW charging speeds.

Subaru’s first electric car is covered by a five-year and unlimited kilometre warranty with a separate eight-year/160,000km warranty for the high-voltage battery.

The brand also confirmed it would be covered by the same capped-price service schedule as other models in its line-up, but pricing beyond the five-year included period is yet to be determined.

The Solterra's order books will open on the eighth of November and the first customer deliveries will be before the end of 2023. Subaru said it has limited supply but enough to cover "six months of production". The brand would not give more specifics on the number of units it expects during that time.

The Solterra enters a challenging mid-size electric SUV field, which is dominated by the Tesla Model Y.

Other established rivals include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, with the Ford Mustang Mach-E having also arrived in Australia recently.

The Solterra's platform-mate, the Toyota bZ4X has also been subject to extensive delays, but is expected to arrive some time in 2024.

Model	Price
Solterra AWD	$77,990
Solterra AWD Touring	$83,690
Options
Charging Bundle 1	$2250
Charging Bundle 2	$2645