Subaru has revealed 2022 the new Solterra in Japan ahead of the model’s public debut at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The Subaru Solterra is the brand’s first-ever electric vehicle and was developed in collaboration with Toyota, which has its own version known as the bZ4X.

SubaruSolterra bZ4X

Subaru has unveiled its first pure-electric car, an SUV called the Solterra, which shares its mechanicals (and a lot of body panels) with the Toyota bZ4x. It will go on sale halfway through next year, and will be a rival for the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

The latest technological shift away from internal combustion engines poses a challenge for smaller carmakers, such as Subaru, that are less able to fund expensive development of EVs. At the same time, an opportunity for top-tier automakers, such as Toyota, to draw smaller rivals closer.

Subaru in terms of sizing, the Solterra is a little larger than the C-segment Forester, measuring in at 4,690 mm long, 1,860 mm wide and 1,650 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm. For context, the current Forester is 4,640 mm long 1,815 mm wide, 1,730 mm tall and has a wheelbase spanning 2,670 mm. Solterra has a minimum ground clearance of 210 mm and turning radius of 5.7 metres. The chassis is paired with MacPherson struts at the front, while the rear gets double wishbones.

Toyobaru twins, the BRZ and GR 86, the Solterra looks largely similar to the bZ4X, but it gets a few unique styling touches so people don’t confuse it for Toyota’s EV. For starters, the enclosed grille is hexagonal in shape and carries the Pleiades star cluster badge, while the headlamps have a C-shaped daytime running light signature.

SubaruSolterra bZ4X

Toyobaru meanwhile the bumper sports vertical intakes at the corners just like on the bZ4X, but the Solterra’s version has fog lamp units flanking the lower intake. Along the sides, you’ll find the same surfacing on both models, with distinctive crease lines just below the beltline and aft of the rear wheels. On that mention, the wheel arches have black body cladding on them, with those at the front extending further forwards into the bumper.

Solterra and bZ4X moving to the rear, the same C-shaped signature is replicated on the taillights that creep into the fenders, while other shared cues include a split tailgate spoiler and a large black trim piece for the rear bumper notable differences between the outside, they are pretty much identical once you get in them. Subaru says the low-mounted, widescreen infotainment touchscreen and top-mounted digital instrument cluster are a first for the brand, and they certainly give the appearance of a modern living space.

Solterra and bZ4X Subaru is powered by a 71.4kWh battery pack, and buyers will be offered a choice of two powertrains. The entry-level model is a single-motor system, which produces 201bhp and has a maximum range of around 330 miles. Above that, there’s a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive option, which has a combined output of 215bhp. However, due to the increased energy consumption by the extra electric motor, maximum range drops to around 285 miles.

Solterra and bZ4X Toyota the big centre screen sits above a pair of air vents and start button, with a touch panel that houses HVAC and media controls sandwiched between. There’s also a raised console where you’ll a gear selector dial as well as buttons to control various vehicle functions like drive modes, X-Mode and the electronic parking brake the driver, while the black panel ahead isn’t actually all screen it’s actually just the centre bit that shows key information like remaining range, vehicle speed, currently active safety systems, etc.

SubaruSolterra bZ4X

Solterra and bZ4X Toyota and Subaru have previously said their joint EV venture will play to both brands’ strengths. As such, the SUV twins will combine Toyota’s experience with electric technology and Subaru’s four-wheel-drive and off-road expertise. However, compared with the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru is aiming for even more safety and handling stability.

Solterra and bZ4X the dual-motor also comes with an X-Mode AWD drivetrain setting, which Subaru says was designed for rough roads. The system can even distribute the torque between the front and rear axles to provide the most grip possible. The front-wheel-drive model comes with 18-inch wheels as standard, while the four-wheel-drive variant can be fitted with either 18 or 20-inch alloys. Subaru has yet to confirm any other specifications.

Solterra and however, it has confirmed that its SUV will have the same 150kW DC rapid charging capability as the Toyota bZ4x, so an 80 per cent recharge should take around 30 minutes. Subaru says its electric SUV is 4,690mm long, 1,860mm wide and 1,650mm in height, which makes it around the same size as the current-generation Forester. The finished Subaru has also adopted some of the bold styling cues from the brand’s EV concept car that was unveiled earlier this year Solterra and bZ4X.

For example, the huge black wheelarch extensions and sharp headlamps have both made their way on to the finished Solterra, although the angular front end has been toned down slightly, likely in the interest of pedestrian safety. Buyers will also be able to specify a sunroof. Inside, the Solterra is similar to the Toyota bZ4x, with the two cars sharing the same digital gauge cluster, high centre console and enormous Tesla-esque infotainment system in the centre of the dashboard.

Subaru Solterra bZ4X

Solterra and bZ4X Subaru hasn’t made any changes to the bZ4x’s body-in-white, (only the bumpers and lamp units have been changed), boot space should also be the same at 452 litres. This new EV will help Subaru achieve its long-term emissions goals. By 2030, the Japanese manufacturer is aiming for all-electric and electrified vehicles to account for at least 40 per cent of its global sales.

Subaru started its shift towards electrification in 2019 by launching hybrid variants of the XV and Forester the latter of which features the brand’s e-Boxer PHEV powertrain. By 2050, Subaru hopes to reduce average CO2 emissions from its new vehicles by 90 per cent from 2010 levels.

Solterra and bZ4X Toyota latest brand had planned to launch an electric vehicle using an adapted version of its Global Platform this year, but this project has now been scrapped.

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