Subaru retailers to welcome new Solterra EV crossover in mid-2022

Subaru retailers across the UK will welcome their first fully electric vehicle (EV) into showrooms in the middle of 2022.

The new Solterra sits on a platform co-developed with Toyota – which has already revealed its forthcoming bZ4x EV crossover – and will go on sale in Europe in the middle of 2022, according to the Japanese brand.

Toyota and Subaru entered into a new business and capital alliance in September 2019.

Subaru revealed that the Solterra will be available in 204PS two-wheel-drive or 218PS four-wheel drive formats, with the former capable of a headline cruising range of around 331 miles.

The AWD version will drive the front and rear wheels with separate motors and should be able to cover 288 zero-emission miles on a single charge.

The Solterra’s high-capacity battery packs will be placed under the floor and by utilising the battery as part of the vehicle structure, it will achieve a low centre of gravity and high body strength.

Four-wheel drive Solterra models will also feature the X-Mode AWD control system that enhances the sense of security on rough roads.

By adding a new Grip Control function, which enables the vehicle to run at a constant speed while stabilising the vehicle even on rough roads, the capability is further enhanced.

Subaru suffered new car sales volumes which managing director John Hurtig branded “embarrassing” in a COVID-impacted 2020.

Hurtig said that the Japanese car brand needed to “rebuild the dealer network from the roots” as it made a bid to reverse the performance, which saw just 951 vehicles registered last year.

Year-to-date to the end of October, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) new car registrations data showed that Subaru’s sales were up 129% to 1,766 (2020: 771).

Retailers will be hoping that the new EV will keep new car sales moving in the right direction.