The Solterra XT is feature-packed with Subaru’s dynamic elements, which is familiar ground for aficionados of the brand
Gotta love it when a legacy car brand tries to inject a little bit of its spirit and flavour as it navigates the brave new world of electrification.
Long known for its rally-conquering exploits in the World Rally Championship, many folks have come to associate Subaru with punchy performance and the rocksteady stability afforded by its all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrains.
In case you missed it, Subaru and Toyota have worked together on several projects, including fun ones like the BRZ / 86 rear-drive coupes and also, the all-electric Solterra / bZ4X BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicle).
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True to Subaru form, the dual-motor Solterra XT isn't just AWD, but its 73.1kWh electric motor punches out the equivalent of 343hp, which makes for satisfyingly perky progress. It will muscle itself to 100km/h from standstill in 5.1secs, but as we will discover during our time with the edgy crossover, the Solterra XT offers a lot more than just straight-line performance.
When there is substance to an EV, you never have to rely on clickbaity 0-100km/h times. In fact, we find straight-line acceleration times to be one of the more spurious metrics of an EV. It may be good for impressing the pub bores, but gets tiring very quickly (especially for the passengers) in the real world, least of all if the car is intended to serve utility and beast-of-burden duties.
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To its credit, Subaru doesn't talk up the Solterra XT's acceleration time, but instead, lays out plenty of emphasis on driving feel and engagement. If you're familiar with Subarus of yore (circ. Mid-1990s to 2000s), you'll appreciate their fluid drive dynamics and organic feel, a lot of which have made their way into the Solterra.
It certainly cuts a chunky cool silhouette with its contemporary design, which perfectly suits its urban warrior credentials. To fans of the brand, there is a reassuring continuity to its form that can be traced back to the brand's earlier wagon / crossover offerings.
EV adoption might have hit new highs in Singapore, but not everyone takes to it as easily, especially with regards to touch-only interface.
There is such a thing as being overly high-tech, where controls become touch-operated for the sake of it, as opposed to being meaningful for the user. Let's put it this way, even Ferrari has moved away from haptic touch controls and started putting physical controls back into its models.
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Like the Toyota bZ4X with which Subaru co-developed its e-Subaru Global Platform, we like how the Solterra convincingly straddles both the analogue and digital world in terms of both drive and user experience, As a side-note, we would have preferred for the 14-inch centre screen to have been more wide than tall.
The Solterra XT boasts an intelligent combination of hard controls for essential features and airy touchscreen elements for those who need to feel they are operating an extension to their smart devices.
However, you never feel overwhelmed by the technology, because driving the Solterra XT is surprisingly intuitive to drive and operate and you can exploit its AWD in the same manner you would on the brand’s ICE models.
There’s an even, progressive nuance to its steering, power delivery and chassis composure. Ride refinement over poorly paved surfaces never rattles your fillings loose and there’s good body control for when the going gets fast. The steering doesn’t feel disconnected like on most EVs, but keeps up a constant chatter of communication.
The Solterra XT’s 2850mm wheelbase translates to ample room for passengers and lugging loads.
In fact, our stint with the Subaru's versatile activity vehicle saw us transporting a STI Recaro seat on one day, as well as our two rescue dogs for a park outing on another. (photo above: David Khoo)
It offers commodious comfort for up to five adults as well, with the car’s occupants kept properly comfortable on longer jaunts. However, it isn’t just cushy cruising, because there’s plenty of naughty to go with the nice.
True to Subaru form, the Solterra XT will acquit itself well over rough-road terrain as well, because it features an X-Mode that can be toggled to configure the AWD system for optimum grip, so as to handle various surface conditions. (photo above by David Khoo)
The Solterra XT is a compelling bridge between the ICE and EV worlds, with ergonomics and drive experience familiar territory to brand fans. Paddle-shifters can be used to toggle brake regeneration, while the powertrain delivers the immediacy characteristic of BEVs, with all of this supported by AWD surefootedness, which is a familiar trait to Subaru enthusiasts.
Subaru Solterra XT
Battery: 73.1kWh, AWD
Power: 252kW (343hp)
Torque: 437Nm
0-100km/h: 5.1secs
Top Speed: 160km/h
WLTP range (combined): 436km
Kerbweight: 2050kg
