Subaru went all-electric in America with its Solterra battery-electric crossover. When it debuted, the Solterra offered class-leading good looks, a zero-emissions option for Subaru loyalists, and it broke new ground for the segment by offering Subaru’s legendary X-MODE in a BEV. The NEMPA membership has had a lot of wheel time in the Solterra thanks to Subaru’s outstanding support. Let’s review some praise offered by the membership, and also keep an ear out for some suggested improvements that the testing team has listed.
Soltera’s High Praise
Mike Geylin said in The Brake Report, “Silky, smooth and quick – not the normal terms to describe a Subaru sport-utility vehicle (SUV), but when it comes to the battery-electric (EV) 2024 Solterra Touring, they fit perfectly.” He concluded, “The 2024 model represented a reasonable price for an EV compact SUV; the 2025 version is a superb value for an excellent, modern EV.”
Silvio Calabi reviewed the Solterra for the Penobscot Bay Pilot, and he felt that smooth vibe as well, saying, “It’s pleasant, comfortable, dead quiet and roomy enough for ferrying mooring equipment and boat bags to the harbor.”
Jr. Damato said, “The Subaru Solterra is fairly quick , very quiet, smooth and handles better than expected.”
NEMPA member Jeffrey Zygmont highlighted the all-wheel drive system in his Substack review, saying, “…Subaru carefully engineers its four-wheel drive for balance, to deliver superior traction.”
Steve Rossi, writing for Ride-CT, said, “The experience from behind that wheel is tranquil and serene, since this first-ever electric Subaru is typically EV smooth and sultry.” Subaru crossovers are renowned for their great outward visibility, and Steve mentioned that, saying, “Large glass area provides open, airy environs.” If nothing else, Subarus are safe cars, and Steve mentioned that Soltera “…enjoys a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Safety Score.”
Writing for Cars.com, Jim Travers pointed to the Solterra’s interior functionality, saying:
“The interior is spacious enough to accommodate average-size adults front and rear, and the seats are supportive and comfortable. Cargo room is also impressive and easy to use thanks to a low, wide load floor and rear seatbacks that fold nearly flat to maximize available space for larger items.”
NEMPA Instagram influencerKatherine Angell said on her NotACarGirlReviews channel, “It’s perfect.” Hard to top that, really.
Gerry Miles drove the Solterra in a “wickid blizzid” in New Hampshire to gauge the Soltera’s winter chops. Gerry said:
“It never faltered, waited or hesitated when I pointed it at snowbanks, unplowed parking lots or the local roads full of snow, melting slop and the plows to clear the roads anew.”
What Did Members Pay to Charge?
I charged in two places. I DC charged a Ford Dealer’s ChargePoint public charger in Metro Boston and paid $0.55/kWh. I also charged at home, paying $0.32/kWh. There are no off-peak charging deals available to me in my area using Eversource power. Mike Geylin paid $0.56 at the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis, Mass.
What Did Members Think Should Be Featured In the New, Gen-2 Solterra Coming in 2026?
Steve Rossi spoke for many testers who said that “The model’s range is on the order of 220 miles. That’s somewhat shy of the 300-mile competitive set, particularly noteworthy as the weather turns cold and range decreases.” Indeed, in my own testing, I had to do more route planning and miles watching on longer trips than I prefer. NEMPA officer Zane Merva pointed out that the Solterra “Could use quicker DC charging and more range.” Member Jim Travers also pointed to range as a possible point of improvement for 2026.
My main wish for 2026 would be wireless Android Auto. The 2025 Solterra I tested needed its cord to initiate and work. We know Subaru can do it. Our 2024 Crosstrek has wireless car mirroring.
Natalie Harrington, vehicle tester at Car Gurus, created a Youtube Short which pointed out that the 2025 Solterra was a better value than the 2024. We’d love to see that trend continue forward to 2026.
Is the Soltera a “Real Subaru?”
Let’s wax philosophical for a moment and ask ourselves, ‘What defines a Subaru?” I’m sure BRZ and WRX owners may have a view wildly divergent from Ascent owners. As a five-time Subaru owner myself, what I want in a Subaru crossover is all-weather capability, toughness off pavement to a degree – I’m not interested in a Wrangler Rubicon knock-off – and safety. I’d say the Solterra has the foundation to get to that definition in a future model. Adding a spare tire would help.
In Conclusion, the 2025 Subaru Solterra
We’ll let Rick DeMeis close out this focus on the Subaru Solterra. In his podcast, he called it a “striking car that’s nice to drive.” That certainly captured my view of the Solterra. We’ve already seen some sneak previews of the all-new Solterra, and the best news is that every improvement our NEMPA team suggested will be part of the next generation.
Images by Jr. Damato and John Goreham
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