$8K price cut for Subaru Solterra EV

JUST days before it arrives in dealerships, Subaru Australia appears to have applied ‘Marketing 101’ to the premium pricing of its Solterra electric SUV.

The Japanese importer has sliced $8000 from the entry price of the Solterra AWD, which now retails from $69,990 plus on-road costs.

It is still $11,000 more expensive than the next-priciest Subaru, the WRX tS Sportswagon.

The top-spec Solterra AWD Touring gets a $6700 price cut, dropping from an earlier advertised $83,690 + ORC to $76,990 + ORC.

Despite seeming expensive for a Subaru, the Solterra has only three real all-wheel drive battery electric SUV competitors in its ballpark – Toyota’s twin-under-the-skin bZ4X (AWD from $74,900 + ORC), the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Dynamiq AWD (from $80,500 + ORC) and the Tesla Model Y AWD Long Range (from $78,400 + ORC).

Like many manufacturers, Subaru opened “pre-orders” for the Solterra months before launch, but it would seem they fell short of requirements – hence the price cuts.

Coupled with that is the simultaneous launch of the bZ4X, the big T’s first fully electric model for Australia, that undercuts its Subaru sibling due to the availability of a 2WD version priced from $66,000 + ORC.

Late last year GoAuto reported details of the Solterra that is powered by a 71.4kW lithium-ion battery delivering a maximum output of 160kW and 337Nm from dual motors. Claimed NEDC range is 485km on a single charge.

Recharging from zero to 80 per cent via a 150kW DC public charger is said to take approximately 30 minutes or a single-phase 7kW AC charger takes around 9.5 hours to replenish it from empty to 100 per cent.

An 11kW three-phase AC charger cuts that to approximately six and a half hours.

Subaru says the Solterra is a capable off-roader with class-leading 212mm of ground clearance and two X-Mode settings that work with its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system to “provide exceptional grip and control”.

As well as X-Mode (a driver-activated feature designed to be used when road conditions become particularly treacherous or challenging), the Solterra includes an off-road cruise control type system called Grip Control.

Standard equipment includes a central 12.3-inch high-definition touchscreen with native sat-nav plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dusk-sensing self-levelling LED headlights with auto off, rear LED combination lights, powered auto-folding door mirrors, puddle lamps, powered tailgate, roof rails and roof carrier brackets.

Included across both variants are a carpet mat set, cargo tray, heated leather steering wheel, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, front and rear outboard heated seats, paddle-shifters for adjusting regenerative braking, digital rear view mirror and dual-zone climate-control with rear vents and remote control.

The tech and safety offering across both models includes native satnav, Subaru Safety Sense system, Subaru Vision Assist and driver monitoring system.

Touring spec replaces the six-speaker stereo with a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, 18-inch alloy wheels are supplanted by 20s, cloth upholstery becomes synthetic leather, and the front passenger gets eight-way powered seat adjustment.

Also on Touring are auto-dipping door mirrors, a wireless phone charger, driver’s door mirror position memory, panoramic glass roof, advanced parking assist and the option of two-tone paint finishes (for $1200 extra).

Customers who earlier committed to pre-ordering a Solterra will pay the new lower price and as previously announced, that price includes, as standard, a complimentary five-year service plan, five-year roadside assistance and a 2kW (8 Amp) AC charging cable with 10 Amp wall plug for charging.

In a statement Subaru says the first vehicles have arrived in Australia, with the first customer deliveries set to commence shortly and demonstration vehicles landing in participating Subaru retailers now.

2024 Subaru Solterra revised pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.