2024 Subaru Solterra EV SUV: Similar Price, Quicker Charging, and Hands-Free Mode
For it second full year, the Subaru Solterra improves without a commensurate jump in price.
It's always good when a vehicle's price holds from one model year to the next. It's even better when that unchanged price buys you a vehicle with much needed improvements and new features. Take the 2024 Subaru Solterra, for example. The all-electric SUV is now capable of drastically faster charging speeds while also introducing a very limited hands-free driving mode at a price starting just above $46,000—just $120 more than last year's Solterra.
0:00 / 0:00
Hands-Free Self-Driving At Neighborhood Speeds
Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist system goes hands-free—at least for use at speeds up to 25 mph. With the system active and the Solterra moving slower than 25 mph, it'll stay in its lane and follow stop-and-go traffic without driver inputs. It will also have the capability to change lanes automatically, with the driver commanding the movement using the turn signal stalk. This driver assistance suite is standard across all trim levels—Premium, Limited, and Touring—and includes front cross-traffic alert, dynamic radar cruise control, rear camera detection, and a another newly added feature, DriverFocus. This is a distraction mitigation system that was introduced on the 2019 Forester and recognizes when a driver is fatigued or isn't paying attention to the road ahead.
Less Time Waiting On A Charge
A much-needed advancement on the Solterra is its charging system and the 2024 model sees a huge reduction in the time it takes charge on DC Fast Chargers. Going from 10 percent to 80 percent state of charge used to take nearly an hour, but it's now able to do that in as little as 35 minutes without reducing the size of the battery. It's also doing this without changing the peak DC Fast Charge rate of 100-kW. We've asked Subaru what changes were made to allow the Solterra to improve that much, as battery conditioning alone shouldn't be enough. Turns out that it's software changes and improved battery heating capacity that have allowed the faster charging time. While the peak rate of 100-kW is unchanged, the 2024 Solterra can hold that rate for much longer during its DC Fast Charge session. Even better? The improved conditioning is also good news for those in very cold and very hot climates, as Subaru states, the 2024 Solterra can charge "up to 80 minutes faster in certain conditions."
Subaru also states that the battery capacity is enough for "usable daily range," and we've also asked them what that means. From the 2023 Solterra and its 72.8-kWh battery pack, the Premium trim gets around 228 miles of range on a full charge while the Limited and Touring gets around 222 miles due to bigger tires. From what we see, the 215 hp, 249 lb-ft of torque dual-motor AWD returns for 2024 and should mean that range will remain the same. Again, Subaru came back to us with answers on this and the Premium trim does lose one mile of range while the Limited and Touring remain at 222 miles. That battery management software update also included a revision to the range estimation, and it now provides a more accurate milage than it did before these changes. The display also more accurately shows the charge time remaining to reach 80 percent and 100 percent so owners will know how long they must wait to reach either state of charge.
The 2024 Solterra Starts At $46,840
That's not the only thing that remains the same on the Solterra from 2023. You get 8.3-inches of ground clearance, 18-inch wheels on the Premium or 20-inchers on the Limited or Touring, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard or can be upgraded to the 12.3-inch touchscreen system, and X-Mode with grip control and drive mode selection are all still standard on the 2024 model.
That may also explain why the 2024 Solterra remains at a starting MSRP of $46,340 in Premium trim, just $120 more than before—prices for the mid-level Limited and range-topping Touring increase by the same amount, $120. While there are major changes to EyeSight and the charging system, the majority of Subaru's all-electric SUV remains largely the same. However, those two changes are without a doubt vital and welcome improvements over the 2023 version. Now, if we could just convince Subaru to increase the battery capacity and get its range more in line with other all-electric vehicles, that would make this a real winner for the adventurer's brand.
Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like). Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
Read More
