Subaru Solterra Aussie pricing will make a dent in your wallet, not in the market

Today we learned the Australian pricing of the all-electric 2023 Subaru Solterra and its not cheap. The manufacturer’s list price for a Solterra AWD starts at A$77,990, while the more expensive model, the Solterra AWD Touring starts at A$83,690.

The Solterra is Subaru’s first entry into the EV SUV market, one of Australia’s fastest-growing vehicle segments. When you enter a market late, it’s important that you come to the party with a compelling offering and the Subaru’s specs vs pricing is not better than the market leader.

Today, you can order a Tesla Model Y for A$65,400 (plus on-roads) and have one in your driveway for A$71,049 (in Victoria). This means you would need to pay a premium for the equivalent mid-sized SUV from Subaru.

When it comes to range, the Solterra offers 414km, compared to the cheaper Model Y which good for up to 455km of range (both on the WLTP standard).

The entry-level Solterra is AWD, vs the RWD entry from Tesla, but this is unlikely to move the needle for many. You could compare it to the MY Long Range for A$78,400 +ORC, but then the range comparison explodes with up to 533km vs 414km.

Subaru has a long history of performance and this car is offered with Dual electric motors that deliver a combined 160kW of power and 337nM of torque. They do not provide a 0-100km/hr time in the release, but given the vehicle has been available internationally for some time, we know this is around 6.9 seconds.

“We are delighted to extend the opportunity to all Australian motorists to reserve their order in the first allocation of our first all-electric Subaru SUV.”

Subaru Australia’s Managing Director, Blair Read

When it comes to technology and safety, the list is decent, let by a 12.3″ central touchscreen.

The car features Subaru’s Safety Sense tech which includes radar cruise control, emergency driving stop system, emergency steering assist, lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, road sign alert and more.

There is Vision Assist system that offers Blind spot monitoring, a panoramic 360 mirror, rear crossing traffic alert and rear parking sensors.

For those who drive a lot, there’s a driver monitoring feature that warns you when it detects drowsiness and distractions.

When it comes to charging, the Solterra can recharge its 71.4kW battery from 20-to-80% in around 30 minutes on a 150kW DC fast charger. Subaru is also offering 2 charger bundle options for home, which range between $2,250 and $2,645 which includes installation.

If you disagree and just have to have that Subaru badge, then you’ll be able to order a Solterra from Wednesday, November 8th.

Limited volume remains available for pre-order in the initial Australian allocation. To place a pre-order, from Wednesday 8th November, customers are invited to visit subaru.com.au/solterra to pre-order online or contact their local Subaru Retailer.