Summary
The Subaru Solterra is a mid-size five-door SUV, and the first fully electric model to join the Subaru family, which went on sale in the UK in spring 2023.
The Solterra is essentially the same vehicle as the all-electric Toyota bZ4X SUV, which went on sale more than a year earlier than Subaru’s verision. However, unlike the Toyota, the Subaru is only available in the more expensive all-wheel drive format, which has led to some criticism from the motoring media.
Parker‘s Tom Wiltshire argues that neither the Solterra or bZ4X “is among the best electric cars on sale at their price point”. The Subaru’s battery range and charging speeds are nothing to shout about when compared to the rest of the increasingly crowded electric SUV market, and rivals offer more room in the boot too.
That said, AutoTrader‘s Dan Trent concludes that the SUV is still a “large and spacious car perfectly suited to its family SUV role”, while Top Gear‘s Paul Horrell adds that, should you be looking for off-road ability and long-term reliability, the Solterra is certainly worth considering.
As of March 2026, the Subaru Solterra holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 69%. It scores top marks for its zero tailpipe emissions and five-star Euro NCAP safety score, but its media review scores and overall running costs are poor.
Solterra highlights
- Comfortable driving experience
- Tech-laden interior
- All-wheel drive as standard
- Capable off-roader
Solterra lowlights
- Average range and charging speeds
- Rivals offer more boot space
- No entry-level two-wheel drive model
- Toyota bZ4X comes with a longer warranty
Key specifications
Body style: Medium SUV
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £49,995 on-road
Launched: Spring 2023
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: 72kWh Touring
Score: 7.4 / 10
“Although the Solterra is a little pricey, it’s a great futuristic addition to the Subaru lineup offering customers an all-electric option.”
Author: Trinity Francis
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Subaru Solterra is an impressive, well rounded electric family SUV, but keys rivals offer substantially more range and boot space.”
Author: Ellis Hyde, John McIlroy
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The angular looks are certainly distinctive, and the Solterra is a large and spacious car perfectly suited to its family SUV role. Limited range may count against it.”
Read review
Carbuyer
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The Subaru Solterra is a four-wheel drive electric SUV that’s practical but rather expensive to buy.”
Author: Sam Naylor
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
“If you are looking for an electric car with four-wheel drive, or you want something a bit different, the Subaru Solterra is worth a place on your shortlist. However, you can buy cheaper or quicker alternatives.”
Read review
Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Subaru’s first electric car is a well-rounded family SUV that’s surprisingly good to drive, but doesn’t match the practicality or range of the best in this class.”
Author: Alex Ingram
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“We think we might prefer the Solterra to the bZ4X. The all-wheel-drive version of the Toyota is the best version, and that’s the default in the Subaru – and for less money, too. Granted, it’s not an affordable electric SUV, and nor is Subaru’s warranty quite as generous.”
Author: Tom Ford
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Solterra also lacks the premium interior of many rivals, and the real-world electric range seems to fall quite a way short of the official figure. However the Solterra has lots of plus points, the main one being the rewarding, agile driving experience, which is missing in many EVs.”
Author: Paul Clarke
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Subaru is no stranger to building SUVs, but when it comes to building all-electric ones, the Japanese firm is a bona fide first-timer. And as a maiden effort, there’s plenty to like about the Subaru Solterra.”
Author: Ivan Aistrop
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5.8 / 10
“The Solterra is in many ways a good choice. But we can’t see any reason to choose it over its Toyota bZ4X sibling – and neither model is among the best electric cars on sale at their price point.”
Author: Tom Wiltshire
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“In a world dominated by tacky SUVs, you won’t be embarrassed to be seen driving this Japanese design in town or country.”
Author: Ed Wiseman
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Solterra plays to Subaru’s strengths, and while it’s not the best all-round EV out there, it’s more engaging than you might expect.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 88%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 80%
Safety assist: 79%
The Subaru Solterra has not been specifically tested by Euro NCAP. Instead, it shares the five-star safety rating awarded to the structurally identical Toyota bZ4X SUV.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of March 2026, the Subaru Solterra has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of March 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Subaru Solterra to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Solterra, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 273 miles | B |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 3.9 m/KWh | C |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 46 | E |
The Subaru Solterra is more expensive than you might think to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The car’s battery range is competitive, but not as impressive as the 286-mile average that its sister model, the Toyota bZ4X offers. Like the Toyota, electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for petrol and diesel cars) is only average. The Solterra’s insurance premiums are surprisingly high, with expected costs being higher than many rivals of this size.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Subaru Solterra, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi Q4 e-tron | BMW iX3 | Citroën ë-C4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Hyundai Kona Electric | Kia e-Niro | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz EQA | Nissan Ariya | Polestar 2 | Skoda Enyaq iV | Tesla Model Y | Toyota bZ4X | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volvo XC40 Recharge
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Subaru Solterra at The Car Expert
Buy a Subaru Solterra
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Subaru Solterra, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
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Lease a Subaru Solterra
If you’re looking to lease a new Subaru Solterra, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Subscribe to a Subaru Solterra
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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