2027 Subaru Solterra

"Better than expected"

"This is my 3rd EV since 2015. Started with a 2013 LEAF S, traded up into a 2013 Model S 85, and finally traded into this 2024 Solterra Limited. The Model S I drove all over the country, and eventually wracked up 192,000mi. I'd like to think I'm a pretty seasoned EV owner, and spend a lot of time researching various offerings, and developments. Life circumstances change, apartment life being what it is meant no more home charging. While street parking a Tesla is fine during the summer, after 2 winters here in Central OR, it was clear I'd be better off with something AWD, more resistant to freezing up, and with less miles. A Model Y was out of the question for me due to Tesla's somewhat limited lease options. Test drove the ID.4, Ioniq 5/6, and Solterra. Despite the impressive specs around charging and range, the Hyundai's didn't speak to me from a driving perspective, felt like SUV's from the inside, and sedans on the outside if that makes any sense? The ID.4 seemed to tick most of the boxes, mostly conventional controls, quality interior, drove well. Kept coming back to the Solterra, not because of the specs, but just the vehicle as a vehicle, great feeling to drive, very comfortable, put together well, with the better AWD system between the two, a heat-pump, and being a Subaru fan (still have a 2003 WRX) I liked the quirky looks. It felt right. I did have some concerns about the charging speeds, which the 2024 model year reportedly improved upon, and the range is definitely not class leading. After putting 1100mi on it in a month, this is where I stand with it... It's more efficient than advertised, I've averaged 3.6mi per kWh (240'ish miles) with mixed driving, including a trip up to Paulina Peak (7984' elevation). This is with climate control on, and 90F to 109F summer temperatures. I attribute this to the heat-pump system, which makes heating and cooling an EV noticeably more energy efficient. As far as charging goes, I've been getting 88kWs peak all the way up past 50% on a 150kW EA charger. Granted the weather is warm so this is probably as good as I'm going to see, but it's still considerably faster than my 2013 Model S. Honestly the worst part is not having access to Tesla's charging network, people are not kidding about public level 3 chargers, they are crowded and flaky. Bonus feature almost no one mentions, and this is huge for us that don't have home charging. This car has zero phantom drain while parked, unlike Tesla's, or Rivians which can lose a few percent overnight. This adds up significantly. Pros: 8.3 inches of ground clearance True full time AWD, with identical motors front and rear (symmetrical). Heat pump ZERO vampire / phantom drain while parked Wireless Apple Carplay / Android Auto Actually gets stated range Comfortable to drive Subaru / Toyota quality Looks like the love child from a RAV4 / Forester Good sound system Cons: It's mostly built by Toyota, and their stance towards EV's is concerning No trip / route planner Mobile software is janky Level 2 charging is limited to 6.6kW No walk away power off, or locking Subscriptions for everything related to the infotainment Anyway I may update this after surviving through winter, until then."

"Green value"

"I traded my 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Premium for a 2024 Subaru SOLTERRA Premium and haven’t looked back. The improvement in road handling, speed, pickup and smooth ride is like night and day. I can charge on my 240volt at home with the Subaru charger in six hours and fast charge in 40 minutes at a CMO charging station EVGo or Checkpoint. Safety features are extraordinary in that if you look away for a second you get a notification on the dash. The look and feel is astronomical and I’m just happy. I can’t wait to drive it up to Park City this winter with its powerful AWD."

"Goldilocks EV"

"This is the perfect first time EV. It drives like a wagon, not a rocket ship. It has the NACS charing port and improved range from previous model years. And it is confident and planted on the road! Even though it is a rebadged Toyota, and looks like a Lexus from the side, it really does feel like a Subaru inside. It's the perfect around-town hauler to handle shorter trips while the Ascent handles our long drives. But that said, I did use the Pilot Gas Station EV charging network and it worked really well on an extended drive. What really threw me was the entry cost of this vehicle. The past few years, cars and, well, everything have been getting so expensive. An AWD wagon with a 100K battery warranty, with this level of fit and finish for $39K seems like a steal. It sounds like the depreciation is a little worse than what we drove before...but after years of making fun of the electrics, this seemed like a model that gave us a seriously comfortable entry point. It still has "real" locks and switches, but it has the "futuristic" powertrain. Perfect if you want an understated, uncontroversial EV."