The 2024 Subaru Solterra: A Leap Forward in Electric SUVs

It’s always good when a vehicle’s price holds from one model year to the next. It’s even better when that unchanged price buys you a vehicle with much-needed improvements and new features. Take the 2024 Subaru Solterra, for example. The all-electric SUV is now capable of drastically faster charging speeds while also introducing a very limited hands-free driving mode at a price starting just above $46,000—just $120 more than last year’s Solterra.

Hands-Free Self-Driving At Neighborhood Speeds

Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist system goes hands-free—at least for use at speeds up to 25 mph. With the system active and the Solterra moving slower than 25 mph, it’ll stay in its lane and follow stop-and-go traffic without driver inputs. It will also have the capability to change lanes automatically, with the driver commanding the movement using the turn signal stalk. This driver assistance suite is standard across all trim levels—Premium, Limited, and Touring—and includes front cross-traffic alert, dynamic radar cruise control, rear camera detection, and another newly added feature, DriverFocus. This distraction mitigation system recognizes when a driver is fatigued or isn’t paying attention to the road ahead.

Less Time Waiting On A Charge

A significant advancement on the Solterra is its charging system. The 2024 model sees a substantial reduction in the time it takes to charge on DC Fast Chargers. Going from 10 to 80 percent state of charge used to take nearly an hour; however, it’s now able to do that in as little as 35 minutes without reducing the size of the battery. It’s also achieving this without changing the peak DC Fast Charge rate of 100 kW. The improvements come from software changes and enhanced battery heating capacity, allowing the 2024 Solterra to hold its peak charging rate longer during sessions. Moreover, the improved conditioning benefits individuals in extreme climates, as Subaru states the 2024 Solterra can charge “up to 80 minutes faster in certain conditions.”

The battery capacity supports “usable daily range,” with the 2023 Solterra using a 72.8-kWh battery pack. The Premium trim gets around 228 miles of range on a full charge, while the Limited and Touring achieve around 222 miles due to bigger tires. The dual-motor AWD remains for 2024, with 215 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque returning. While the Premium trim loses one mile of range, the Limited and Touring maintain 222 miles. The updated battery management software also provides a more accurate mileage estimation and displays remaining charge time until reaching 80 and 100 percent.

The 2024 Solterra Starts At $46,840

The starting MSRP of $46,840 for the 2024 Subaru Solterra Premium trim is just $120 more than before. Notably, the mid-level Limited and range-topping Touring trims also see the same modest price increase. Despite major changes to EyeSight and the charging system, much of the all-electric SUV remains largely unchanged. However, these adjustments are vital and welcome improvements over the 2023 version. Therefore, if Subaru could increase the battery capacity and improve its range to align more closely with competitor electric vehicles, the Solterra would be a real contender in the adventure-ready SUV market.