Every Subaru with an internal combustion engine was capable of delivering a pleasant driving experience. In this review, we also focused on whether the fully electric drive changed anything in this direction.
Solterra is Subaru’s first modern electric car. Those interested in it do not have to spend a lot of time choosing it. It comes to our market with a single motorization and a single battery size. All that remains is to decide on a specific color and equipment level. Currently, the difference between the entry level and the most equipped version is CZK 120,000.
Take a look at the specific tested car in our photo gallery with explanatory labels.
I tested the basic version, which is sold from 1,580,000 CZK. It’s certainly not a little, but unlike many other electric cars, the Solterra is always equipped with all-wheel drive, and it also has a solid usable battery capacity.
The all-wheel drive, which can be called symmetrical, as with other models of this brand, thanks to equally powerful electric motors on both axles, could even be used quite well in the field.
The designers, who worked very closely with colleagues from Toyota during development, gave the car a ground clearance of 21 centimeters, which is only one centimeter less than in the case of the Forester. Important parts on the bottom are additionally protected sheets.
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Even from the outside, the Solterra looks quite off-road, thanks to the significant proportion of black plastics on the surface of the body. But I can’t shake the impression that if these parts were painted, the car would look more attractive. But maybe this only applies to the white paint that the specimen I tested received at the factory.
The interior is also quite “wild”. The main culprit is the very massive and horizontal column of the steering wheel, above which (and relatively close to the windshield) a digital instrument panel is located. I explain this solution so that Subaru (and Toyota anyway) did not want to invest in a head-up display, so they created something that replaces this technology to some extent. In addition, this area is covered with gray plastic, which does not give the impression of the highest quality.
I was also surprised that there is no storage compartment in front of the passenger seat. Neither closed nor open. Perhaps it should be replaced by a storage space in the lower part of the center console.
Recharge speed is good
Fortunately, other things are already in order. The air conditioning can be easily controlled with rocker switches, there are also buttons near the display to increase and decrease the sound of the audio system, and the parking brake switch is right next to the transmission mode selector.
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Even the central display located in the space itself has the right size, solid graphics, response and resolution.
Pros:
+ Driving characteristics
+ Fast charging
+ Space at the back
Cons:
– Cockpit layout
– Smaller trunk
-Higher price tag
I was glad that it was possible to adjust the height of the seat belt, that the seats in the front have decent lateral guidance, and in the back, thanks to the generous space in front of the knees, even larger individuals can sit comfortably.
The luggage compartment is rather average in terms of volume, and you will find it difficult to place taller items in it due to the rather steep rear window.
Driving characteristics are traditionally one of the biggest advantages of this Subaru. The chassis knows how to deal with various types of unevenness and enables a brisk, yet smooth ride, for example, even on country roads or very neglected district roads.
I did most of my test drives in winter temperatures, but not below zero. In such conditions, even if a certain percentage of highway kilometers are taken into account, the real range on one charge is a little over three hundred kilometers. In the summer, it will probably not be a problem to overcome the 400 kilometer mark. Maybe even 450. In a special test recently, the Solterra was able to drive another 45 kilometers even with the announced zero range before finally stopping. However, I did not find the courage to verify this value.
I was also satisfied with the charging speed. With a rack with a power of 150 kW, I tested how much electricity gets into the battery in half an hour. I started charging at 16 percent and after thirty minutes, when I disconnected the cable, the display showed 78 percent. This corresponds to the information promised by the manufacturer in the technical data, which is not usual for many other electric cars.
Basic technical data
Bodywork: five-seater five-door SUV
Engines/Consumption: Electric motor 160 kW – 16.0-17.9 kWh/100 km
Transmissions: automatic
External dimensions: 4690x 1860×1650 mm
Wheelbase: 2850 mm
Trunk: 452 l
Max. speed: 160 km/h
Acceleration: 6,9 s
Prices: from 1,580,000 CZK
2024-02-06 08:12:44
#quiet #companion #offroad #trips #Subaru #Solterra #test
