The Solterra has many excellent attributes, but not only can’t you immediately glance at it and know it’s a Subaru, but it also lacks some other important qualities.

By Keith Griffin

Subaru builds great vehicles that are largely perfect for New England. The company has excelled in quality control and has designed vehicles that are distinctly Subaru. You know when a Subaru passes you.

Thus begins my quibbles with the 2025 Subaru Solterra. On the surface, it’s within my automotive wheelhouse because it’s a Subaru (a trustworthy brand), it’s all-electric, and it has good Subaru DNA, such as best-in-class ground clearance.

All Solterras are equipped with Subaru’s Symmetrical all-wheel drive system and Subaru StarDrive Technology, which delivers fun acceleration from dual electric motors placed on the front and rear axles that deliver 249 pound-feet of torque. There is no lack of energy when it comes to highway on-ramps or passing.

Subaru Solterra X Mode. Courtesy photo

All models feature Dual-Function X-MODE, which offers snow/dirt and deep snow/mud modes, along with grip control and downhill assist control, providing confidence in low-grip or off-road conditions. Every Solterra includes 8.3 inches of ground clearance for genuine off-road capability – best in class among small electric SUVs – and standard active cornering assist and vehicle stability control for better on-road handling.

All these internal bits are great, but you can’t tell at first or second glance that this is a Subaru. Frankly, it’s derivative of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is a better choice. U.S. News and World Report, where I used to work, ranks the Mach-E best among electric SUVs, while the Solterra comes in a distant 11th. The Subaru gets knocked for its range, which in a week of testing was 224 miles. The Mustang Mach-E is over 10% better.

Also, the Solterra feels cheaper inside. Interior plastics seemed to smudge. Another pet peeve, and it’s common to EVs, is no foot well below the accelerator and brake. It’s uncomfortable on longer drives.

Another odd takeaway is the doors. They are substantial on this four-door SUV, but they frequently didn’t close on the first try. They needed to be slammed. That proved annoying, especially when placing something in the back seat.

Subaru Solterra Interior. Courtesy photo

This is a weird time to be in the market for an electric vehicle. The $7,500 tax break is set to expire as of Sept. 30. That leaves you about two months (depending on when you are reading this) to take advantage. Look for a mad push to sell EVs up to the deadline, and after the deadline, look for some price drops. Manufacturers won’t want EVs sitting on dealer lots.

Maybe consider the Solterra if you can get one at a good price. The base model has a starting MSRP of $38,495. That is down $6,500 from the 2024 model. The Mach-E, though, is about $500 less, but a much better vehicle.

It’s unusual not to lend full-hearted support for a Subaru. The Solterra, though, is too mainstream to stand out. It defies the Subaru heritage.

Longtime West Hartford resident Keith Griffin is a veteran auto journalist whose work has been published in U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe and online for various New York Times companies. He is a past president of the New England Motor Press Association.

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