In addition to the charging time, the range and thus the battery performance of electric cars is particularly important. And it is precisely because of those characteristics that Subaru was in a bad position after the Solterra’s market debut last October. Because the performance of the built-in lithium-ion high-voltage battery with a capacity of 71.4 kWh performed miserably poorly in car tests. Depending on the model variant, the range should actually be up to 466 kilometers and the power consumption should be at least 16 kWh per 100 kilometers according to WLTP. The “sporty rear” reduces power consumption and increases the range, the Japanese advertise.
However, after tests carried out, the ADAC, for example, came up with a significantly lower range, as the automobile club recently reported. The model variant Solterra Platinum Plus made it only 350 kilometers with one battery charge, instead of the 416 kilometers specified by the manufacturer. The average consumption was 20 kWh per 100 kilometers – if only in summer. In winter, consumption in the ADAC test was usually not less than 30 kWh per 100 kilometers. This gives the mid-range SUV a range of just 240 kilometers.
Even with fast charging, the Solterra, which weighs a good two tons and is largely identical to the Toyota bZ4X, hardly reached the charging capacity of up to 150 kW specified by the manufacturer. Although a charging capacity of 145 kW was measured, it did not last five minutes. Furthermore, the average charging power from 10 to 80 percent was 93.7 kW. On AC columns with around 7 kW, the battery was fully charged after 9.5 hours. The ADAC came to the conclusion: “The properties as an electric car can be improved.” This was obviously also reflected in the registration figures. In November, the Solterra was registered 34 times in Germany, but there were no new registrations for the SUV in January and February.
In the meantime, Subaru has noticed the bad values of its first electric car and wants to improve the battery performance and the associated functions. According to a report by the online magazine “Edison”, an update should speed up the charging performance. Although the maximum charging capacity is still just 150 kW, the number of maximum fast charging processes per day is to be increased. Because the energy consumption of the battery cells is higher than previously assumed. The Japanese also want to improve the display for the range, which previously gave lower values than the actual range. In addition, after the update, the energy consumption by the air conditioning is taken into account. It is also possible to integrate charging stops into the route planning of the navigation system.
Solterra drivers, on the other hand, will have to do without a new onboard charger for the time being. A corresponding device, which brings the three-phase alternating current to the drive battery with up to 11 kW, is not to be released until the 2024 model year.
Overall, the ADAC gave the electric SUV a grade of 2.1, which the Solterra owes above all to its good safety equipment and the good performance in the automobile club’s Ecotest. The four-door has various driving assistants, such as an automatic emergency braking system in the event of an impending collision, a warning system that is active in parking mode if a car or bicycle is approaching, and a pedestrian detection system. With the help of lane centering, the vehicle should maintain an optimal line when cornering. A system for traffic sign recognition is also on board.
The Solterra also has the “X-Mode”, which is intended to enable controlled driving through deep snow or mud. The “Grip Control” function is intended to keep the driving speed constant on inclines and uneven surfaces. Cameras attached to the vehicle from the outside should enable an all-round view via a central 12.3-inch display. There is also a 7-inch display for driving information in the interior behind the steering wheel, including a digital speedometer.
Technically, the almost 4.70 meter long and 1.86 meter wide SUV – as is typical for Subaru – relies on all-wheel drive with one motor each at the front and rear. With a total engine output of 218 hp, the electric model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. The system shuts down at a driving speed of 160 km/h.
The Solterra starts at 57,490 euros in the cheapest version. In addition, Subaru grants a guarantee of up to eight years or a mileage of up to 160,000 kilometers. In the event of a breakdown, you can use free roadside assistance. This also applies to an empty drive battery; here, the manufacturer has an affected vehicle towed to the nearest charging station. However, the service is only valid once a year and for the first eight years after the vehicle was purchased. Subaru hopes that the Solterra will still be successful thanks to the improvements it has made.
Sources: Subaru (1), Subaru (2), Edison, ADAC
