2024 Subaru Solterra Touring

In the increasingly crowded world of compact electric SUVs, the Subaru Solterra, introduced in 2023, has not been content to rest on its laurels. A cousin of the Toyota bZ4X, it’s made several significant improvements for 2024—but remains behind class leaders nonetheless. The Solterra is powered by dual electric motors (215 hp), which deliver respectable acceleration and power. Overall, the Solterra is a good everyday driver, with a smooth drivetrain and comfortable ride. The cabin is spacious, with plenty of headroom and legroom all around. Its 8.3 inches of ground clearance, AWD, and X-Mode enhanced traction feature gives it mild off-road chops. Improvements for 2024 include a better DC fast-charging system, which can refill the battery from 10% to 80% in about 35 minutes; improved EyeSight driver-assist technology, including Traffic Jam Assist, which allows hands-free steering in gridlocked traffic; and a redesigned, squarish steering wheel that provides a better view of instrument panel. However, the Solterra also has a few weaknesses worth noting, the biggest of which is an EPA-estimated range of just 227 miles—pretty puny for an EV with an MSRP that can top 50 grand. Also, some of the cabin materials could use an upgrade, and the 240-volt charging time is on the high side.