From an owner point of view, this is by far most accurate review of this car..I live in Ontario Canada and drive the Lexury package for last 3 months...never had to charge it pass 85% and I drive 140KM round trip per day on the highway...there is over the air update in April for BZ4X to unlock 15% of battery capacity...it may affect the Solterra as well so it will have more range...I am happy with current range and will rather have long term battery longevity...great in snow by the way
I received my 2024 Solterra Luxury package last week and have already logged over 1,800 kilometers tripping between Montréal, Gatineau and Toronto! The charging experience was straightforward and simple, the drive / handling / comfort are fantastic and it drives through harsh summer storms with ease. Loving it so far!
Carmakers need to stop being cheap on rear whipers. Thing is, in Eastern Quebec where potholes are hilariously full of everything making your car dirty and where snow will fill the back of the vehicle in a minute, even with carmakers saying “no no it’s fine, aero will do the job”, it’s just a must have and a safety issue. We continuously need to wash our rear windows. As ridiculous as it can sound, it can be a deal breaker.
Also in Quebec. Was following an Ioniq 5 the other day. Same problem. Defrost does not get the job done. Either put a wiper or install as standard equipment a camera that projects view of the back in location of rear view mirror.
@@mikej238 When you’ll be able to speak French without the help of Google Translate, i’ll give you moral permission to question my spelling mistakes. 😁
I have to wonder if a custom car shop worker can add a rear wiper to the EVs that do not have this NEEDED item. My first EV, IONIQ 03 had no wiper, I hated that. My NIRO BEV does have one. Here in Maine its needed
I drove the solterra (limited) as a loaner and was blown away by how quiet and refined it was. I drove it in clear weather with the climate control ooff at 65 mph and the available range was 285 miles. However when i switched the A/C it dropped to 225 miles. Loved the dial X mode feature and it didn't feel like a SUV because of the battery weight. Felt extremely stable. Very easy and intuitive to drive the 360 camera and visibility was fantastic. Didn't like the mamanual passenger seat and plastic door latches
Also this car has one of the most advanced batteries today built by CATL..same battery supplier for Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Plostar, Lexus as well as Toyota BZ4X- AWD version only...great heat/ cold management system..
Been enjoying my BZ4X for the last 3 months . Glad you enjoyed this one ! Not perfect as you indicated , but I am confident Toyota/Subaru will address the issues with software updates
@motormouth_auto we test drove the 2024 today, Sept 22, 2024 and LOVED it. I drive about 24 km return to work in the lower mainland so I won’t have a range issue. This is perfect for us. As for total distance range, we have no issue charging overnight or stopping to charge around 200k mark. That’s probably where we’d stop and have a meal anyway. Andrea, the steering wheel has changed for 2024 and they’ve shaved the top and bottom to its square’ish. Being 5’2” and 5’6” we loved that so it didn’t impede the dash. I have to say, it’s extremely comfortable to sit in and drive and very ergonomic. It fit like a glove! Oh ya, no glove box but you can use the centre console 🤷♀️ Thanks for this review! It really helped.
Something that would be useful is to mention in the reviews for those kinds of hatchbacks is if the rear windows gets dirty in rain/snow driving. I've seen some disastrous rear windows on Ioniq5's this winter and it seems to be a trend on those EVs... less drag should not equal less rear visibility. Great review as usual, love you guys
Seems like a cool EV…. I like that you guys always say the color name of cars you are reviewing. And really cool to see you filming in Dana Point Harbor!! That’s in my back yard 😎👍🏼👍🏼
I recognize Dana Point and Ritz Carlton. My neighborhood! So glad to hear good review! It would be a local commuter car for my husband. I like the idea of retaining battery life , but power seats should be standard
Dutch carmagazine tested the Solterra against the Audi q4 etron. The Solterra was the far better and more comfortable car..... . Given the significantly smaller battery pack and more efficient EV motors, the better EV as well. Range 323km compared to 380 km of the Audi. They were very impressed with the recent software updates for the Solterra, they put the Solterra nr1.
Hoping the next generation will be just a bit more Subaru (in all their weird quirky ways), I prefer the way they lay out their interiors to Toyota and I don’t feel like it feels Subaru enough. Happy they were able to reduce development costs with their Toyota partnership!
Very informative video as usual. My wife is interested in the EV6, however I like to provide her information on other options (competitors). I will share this with her. Thanks.
I laugh when you accelerated, Zack looks shock and fell back to the seat. This vehicle has a nice front and back but the rest looks like a RAV4. Interior is nice. The dashboard (The speedometer) looks almost like Prius. I think the range and price are not good, perhaps I will wait in the future to get it a better range and less pricey. Great video guys!! 👍🏻👍🏻☕️☕️
I think the Lexus is the best looking but it is subjective. I don't think the bZ and Subaru look much different. From the side and back they are very similar and the differences are mostly in the front. Inside, I see no difference.
Does anybody know how much the range drops in the Solterra when the weather gets cold? I like the AWD capability which would be great for snowy weather, but from what I've seen from other reviews, the drop in range can be pretty severe. The BZ4x has radiant heaters under the steering wheel and passenger compartment (hence no glovebox) which helps prevent the range from dropping as much, but the Solterra doesn't have this feature.
I have a 240 mile range EV and have been level 1 charging for 2 years (4 miles per hour charge). In the off chance I forget to charge or drive a lot in one day, I can supercharge, or I just drive my other car (PHEV). Agreed that range and charging issues are overblown for most.
Im liking the sunshine 🌞 and my friend from Toronto reported a sunny day too just earlier. Gosh Andrea, Zack was scared then when you accelerated. Subaru always bring out robust cars whether fossil fuel or electrified.
Bonjour, Andreea & Zack. You remember, I asked once about plug-in Crosstreck... Well, we got one. When my wife drives it, she goes electric to work and on gas on the way back home. I like it. I take it sometimes, for electric-only drives. It si a bit lazy, but I like it. How you compare it vs Soltera? (power, 0-50 km/h...) Merci beaucoup.
I agree about the gloss back plastic finishing. I am not a fan. It is fast to show dust, smudges, and scratches, including fingernail, and is difficulty to keep clean. It is even worse when it is outside the vehicle, like the rear end panneling on the 2023 Corollas. As for the heads up display, the Pontiac Gran Prix had one that projected the speed onto the lower windshield that kept your eyes on the road and kept you from getting an untintentional speeding ticket. I also agree about the need to have dual power seats. Not to be sexist, but if the husband is driving, the wife wants the same convenience/comfort. Someday..., manufactures will get this.
Toyota needs to put the same motors in this that it puts in the RZ450e and also a bigger battery and then they'll have something if you don't mind how it looks. The only advantage I see to this is that it rides higher than most of the competition, other than that, there are much better EV's if you can get a hold of them. My guess is that they don't care to sell a lot of these so they didn't try too hard. I have a Rav4 Prime and it has about the same horsepower as this and I can say it's fantastic around town in EV mode and adequate on the highway. To make it satisfying for a vehicle of this weight you need more like 300 hp. The Prime has 302 hp in hybrid mode and that's good when you want to pass. Oh and, yes this is a Subaru by name, but it's really a Toyota.
Not only the same motors as the Lexus but the same battery would be an even simpler fix. The North American Solterra and bZ4X AWD have a slower charging CATL battery than the bZ4X FWD and the Lexus RZ. CATL is not a bad manufacturer, but in this case, my theory is that Toyota had some supply chain issues with Panasonic batteries, could not get enough and they got stuck with "bargain bin leftovers" from CATL.
@@benjaminsmith2287 CATL indeed has a good reputation and produces batteries for many bands. I don't know why Toyota has 2 different battery types in these vehicles and why they would choose for some a CATL with slow charging in ideal conditions and seemingly almost unusable DC fast charging in cold weather. I'm not an engineer and I don't even play one on TV ;)
@@benjaminsmith2287 In addition, it appears Toyota believes the Panasonic batteries are better or more premium. That's what they put in their Lexus RZ...
You said in the video that "Subaru's goal is to have the battery retain 90% of its battery life at the 10 year mark" but that's not reflected in the warranty which states 8yr warranty to 70% capacity. Kind of misleading. From the Subaru Canadian website: "The Subaru Battery and Electric Drive Unit Limited Warranty covers repairs needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship in the following components: high voltage battery pack, AC/DC inverter, DC/DC converter and transmission and electric motor assemblies. These components are covered for 96 months, or 160,000 km, whichever comes first, with retention of 70% or more of the original battery capacity* over that period."
Hello, What is the rage for the Solterra for winter driving here in Canada? Since we have harsh winters here especially in Quebec at minus 25 degrees Celsius. Thank you.
I'm also in Quebec. I had reserved one and since asked for a refund of my deposit. Partly because of the high price, but mostly because of reports of range and charging shortcomings in cold weather that were much worse than typical EVs.
I suppose you could reserve now. It will be 1 to 3 years by the time it arrives and you could hope the the "defects" are resolved by then. When reading/viewing winter charging reviews, keep in mind that the North American Solterra and AWD bZ4X have an even slower charging battery than the FWD bZ4X and the European AWD cars.
Out of all three, I actually like this best. I actually took one out during a Subaru day and it was pretty good, but range is the huge issue for me. Btw, love the no date sub. 14060?
@@jml9550 yeah something about pre ceramic really appeals to me. Tool watch vs jewelry. Love the SD and Daytona. Awesome collection. Wear them in good health.
@@sleepyintoronto thx appreciate it. I wear them everywhere except shady area, not sitting in a bank box that’s for sure. Rolex sort of turning me off now, especially AD sales’ tactics. I gotta kiss up and buy their products? Nah, I am too old for that. It wasn’t like that 15 years ago. With that said, I wouldn’t say no to Batgirl at retail though.
@@jml9550 yup Rolex has definitely changed over the last decade. I remember the days when you could actually get something off MSRP even for sports watches. Just a few years ago, I was visiting family in Ottawa and the AD there had 2 Platona in the display. Tried it on and definitely not for me because is weight, but he also had a brand new panda 116500 but wanted 20k for it. Passed on that and regret it to this day…almost as much as selling a minty flat 4 Kermit for $6k.
I have a 40-mile round trip commute M-F, and might have up to another 60 miles/day use during the day. I can charge each evening. I think either the Toyota or Subaru would be a good option for my use. But, as a longtime Volvo fan (S60, S80, V60XC, XC60, XC90) so will most likely stick with them. Sure Volvos cost more, but you get more too. Not a fan of all the "piano-black" finishes.
Toyota/Subaru need to work on adjusting the instrument binnacle to the steering wheel. Perhaps they need to be able to more the cluster up a few millimeters.
@@N8RTH and the useless donkeys at VW cancelled the heat pump for the ID4 and announced another price increase by 2500 bucks. Who’s dumb enough to buy an EV without a heat pump in Canada?
Whatever. It'll get OTA updates to improve both. But it has some aspects of it that are unique to Toyota/Subaru, like radiant heating and it probably does better off road and in bad weather than others as well.
As far as EV specifics are concerned, the technology is not as advanced or efficient as Tesla. As for the size and utility, I would think the Model Y (SUV) would be more comparable to a Solterra. If you don't need the ground clearance, are OK with a smaller car and don't need AWD, a base Model 3 costs about the same as a base Solterra. If you want AWD or more space, in Canada, you'll pay more with Tesla. Might be different in the US, where Subaru gets no federal subsidies (unless they do a workaround through a lease) and where EV subsidies can there cover more expensive vehicles than in Canada and therefore more Tesla models are admissible in the US. In Canada, only the base RWD Model 3 gets a federal subsidy.
The cargo space in the back you didn't have right, it's about 30 cubic feet. Also that rear floor cargo lid can be slid down further to get another inch and a half
Wow, CA.... Awesome, you two even look more sunnier!! Thank you for sharing. Sorry to say that I'm not fan of the design... both interior and exterior... Not fun to look at.
The lack of towing ability is a show-stopper, especially if you are a single-vehicle family. I at least want to be able to bring sheet goods home from the big-box hardware store once a year.
I just switched from a Forester to a ‘22 WRX. Missing the hatch and rear wiper, but have found that the lower angle of the rear window combined with using rear defrost keeps me from really needing a rear wiper. Even on warmer dies, the rear defrost seems to move the water along well enough, albeit slower than a rear wiper would.
The problem none of the big boys is solving is after-sales support. They don’t have enough techs to support problems in a timely manner. Maybe a site here or there will have a specialty-tech but most do not and you’re gonna be waiting for a fix if needed. This offering from Toyota/subi is too little, too late. Not enough of anything to make it worth the price relative to competitors. Who is gonna accept an offering like this from Toyota/sub, when even Toyota has basically admitted this isn’t their best effort. They’re not really going to come up with anything worthwhile until at least 2025 with their new platforms. Great review as always, but this ain’t it.
Regarding after-sales support, at least the "big boys" have a dealership near most people, that can handle probably 90% of the problems you might encounter. I live in "tiny town" Ontario, and have a Toyota, GM, Ford, and Dodge dealer within 5 minutes of the house. Tesla Service is many hours away. Sure...I hear they send techs out to you, when you can get it scheduled, then have to re-schedule to come back with the parts they need. Eventually the "big boys" will have some sort of EV certified techs (I would assume). I don't expect it will be a big step up for their techs already working on hybrids.
A lot of hype about how one doesn’t really need to worry about distance on the battery, after all, it’s easy to charge at home. All of this because “range” is a big deal. Most families cannot afford to have a car that’s only for when you need to travel long distances sitting in the other garage stall. EV’s are not priced for families that have 2 to 4 kids who can barely make it from one paycheck to the other. I have noticed that all of the people pushing EV’s seem to be in the upper middle class (or higher) that have lots of extra money to spend on cars or their kids have moved out and they now have some extra money to spend on car payments. EV’s are great technology but the battery technology and the charging infrastructure are really lagging the “push” by politicians towards EV’s.
Weather looks nice. Wish I were there. Without the badge it could be a Toyota. I feel the nose has a little Ford vibe. Ugly ocean of black plastic. Does it come with a complimentary roll of PPF?
Would be my 1st choice for EV if not for that fact that you can get Chevy Bolt for under $20k after fed tax credit in some states. But literally half the price of all competitor at level 2 charging. I agreed on piano black and fake chrome interior. Those thing are a big hazardous when the sunlight beam redirected to your eyes. Never like them and would never buy a car with those kind of interiors.
For the battery life warranty, BMW made the same promise when they released the first version of i3 from 10 years ago. Implementation is simple, they just software cap the 100% charge of what you can use, to 90% of the physical battery charge, then when the battery degrades, they just up the software cap, so that you can use the hidden battery. I don’t think they can make better batteries (they sourced them) then others, or they do better battery management than others.
So I think the answer is not much different than Toyota bZ4X. Beyond the range/charging speed, this is a nice vehicle. I don't really like the interior mainly due to the piano black and it's just gray or black. Hopefully Toyota and Subaru will get rid of all that piano black at some point and add in better colors. As far as the range goes, I'm just not prioritizing it as the defining factor of an EV. As the "V" part in "EV," it seems to be very nice. Enough acceleration, comfortable ride, quiet, well screwed together, and if you drive on gravel or muddy roads, or in snow, it'll handle that well also. My question is how do the lower rung bZ4X/Solterra compare to the Lexus RZ recently driven. Is the Lexus much better in terms of quietness, ride, premium feel?
You are a Canadian presenter. Maybe get sponsors that accept Canadians. I tried carnivore and they only accept zip codes. No postal codes !! I used your link ??!? Am I doing something wrong. ?
I agree the Solterra does look better than the BZ4X. I put my name down for BZ4X (base fwd black) at 3 dealers in BC Canada. I gave up waiting and bought a Model 3 which only took two weeks to arrive. The Model 3 range is longer as mentioned and we do quite a few road trips where the range will come in handy.
Your trunk space is limited like any compact sedan. You can buy the cheaper Corolla sedan for $25k or $55k Model 3? Does gas and maintenance for the Corolla cost $30k over 5 years?
Similarly equipped to the M3, the Corolla would be over $30K. Subtract the EV subsidies ($12K in my province) and the difference in purchase price is no longer as much. Total cost of ownership might even be same or lower, if you drive enough and your electricity is cheap. There is also a difference in cost to the planet that some people are willing to pay extra for...
So this whole Toyota customers are going to Tesla seems in a good part because people have to wait too long for Toyotas. This is true of the RAV 4 Prime as well. Toyota is still dealing with a broken supply chain. A Model 3 seems like a much different type of car than a bZ4X.
Is there still an economic argument for EVs? When base trims start in the 50s and you have to replace the battery when do you start saving money. How are all these batteries being disposed of are they recharged? Just taking a pause before blindly considering EVs.
@@davidjym I'm not talking about the starting price I am talking about are gas savings still a consideration when the entry point starts in the 50s. Not everyone but a LOT of people can afford 50K for a car. I'm not talking about affordability. I'm asking if EVs still "make sense" when someone is paying 50 to 70K +
Brands need to stop doing the dash screens behind the steering wheel… it’s ridiculous and non sense. Depending on the sitting position most of the times you can’t see the screen because of the steering wheel 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻
So this has a 71 kwh battery 220 miles range and model y has 75 kwh battery but put out 330 miles plus the technology is far superior in the tesla not to mention the charge network
@17:00.. how is the base trim called "Premium"? 🤔 Does Subaru not know the definition of the word premium? Their "Limited" trim should be the base trim. Since it has the "limited" amount of features. 🤣 Haha!
I’m glad you guys are OK that particular vehicle on the Toyota side couldn’t keep the wheels on and they were having problems with that one too that was the first recall now they have a second recall hopefully they’ll fix it. Until they get their software fixed in their tires to stay on this vehicle you should stay away from.
That's nonsense that the wheels didn't stay on the bZ4X. It was an issue that was found last June and resolved back in October. No wheels fell off of customer's cars. Recalls happen and sound scary but if caught early don't result in accidents.
@@benjaminsmith2287 well, the first recall was because they couldn’t keep the Lugnuts on. And I believe the second recall was a software issue. You should go back and read what actually happened. That’s why the first recall happened they couldn’t keep the Lugnuts on.
@@JoeL-zx2tl That was resolved. Why is it constantly being brought up as if the current cars have this issue? There are always software issues with cars for recalls.
I own a Solterra and while going out during a heavy storm, one street had a current of about 8" of water coming down and I drove through it at about 13 MPH and several undercarriage panels got ripped off and it was not cover under the guarantee. But the worst part is that the spare parts are not available and I can be without a car for 2.5 months according to the Subaru dealer. Subaru is selling cars without caring for having spare parts available. Be Careful.
The Lexus RZ seems to close to the same price ranges if not a bit higher- but you get a better looking vehicle IMO_ faster, better looking but sacrifice 25 mile range with the 20" wheels. And you get the usually better dealership experience at most Lexus dealers.
From an owner point of view, this is by far most accurate review of this car..I live in Ontario Canada and drive the Lexury package for last 3 months...never had to charge it pass 85% and I drive 140KM round trip per day on the highway...there is over the air update in April for BZ4X to unlock 15% of battery capacity...it may affect the Solterra as well so it will have more range...I am happy with current range and will rather have long term battery longevity...great in snow by the way
I received my 2024 Solterra Luxury package last week and have already logged over 1,800 kilometers tripping between Montréal, Gatineau and Toronto! The charging experience was straightforward and simple, the drive / handling / comfort are fantastic and it drives through harsh summer storms with ease. Loving it so far!
Carmakers need to stop being cheap on rear whipers. Thing is, in Eastern Quebec where potholes are hilariously full of everything making your car dirty and where snow will fill the back of the vehicle in a minute, even with carmakers saying “no no it’s fine, aero will do the job”, it’s just a must have and a safety issue. We continuously need to wash our rear windows. As ridiculous as it can sound, it can be a deal breaker.
Also in Quebec. Was following an Ioniq 5 the other day. Same problem. Defrost does not get the job done. Either put a wiper or install as standard equipment a camera that projects view of the back in location of rear view mirror.
What's a whiper?
@@mikej238 When you’ll be able to speak French without the help of Google Translate, i’ll give you moral permission to question my spelling mistakes. 😁
I have to wonder if a custom car shop worker can add a rear wiper to the EVs that do not have this NEEDED item. My first EV, IONIQ 03 had no wiper, I hated that. My NIRO BEV does have one. Here in Maine its needed
Why? The Toyota Camry doesn’t have a wiper on it’s rear window.
I drove the solterra (limited) as a loaner and was blown away by how quiet and refined it was. I drove it in clear weather with the climate control ooff at 65 mph and the available range was 285 miles. However when i switched the A/C it dropped to 225 miles. Loved the dial X mode feature and it didn't feel like a SUV because of the battery weight. Felt extremely stable. Very easy and intuitive to drive the 360 camera and visibility was fantastic. Didn't like the mamanual passenger seat and plastic door latches
Also this car has one of the most advanced batteries today built by CATL..same battery supplier for Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Plostar, Lexus as well as Toyota BZ4X- AWD version only...great heat/ cold management system..
Thank you for this awesome review. I am taking delivery on a new 2024 Solterra Limited myself this coming week!
Been enjoying my BZ4X for the last 3 months . Glad you enjoyed this one ! Not perfect as you indicated , but I am confident Toyota/Subaru will address the issues with software updates
I’m curious,what issues could be fixed with software?
@@Mark-gq5vl fast charging limits, display changes, more accurate range shown, % of battery etc
@@davidp.4727 Fingers crossed they help you out. I had VW iD4 on order and cancelled it after I saw how VW was not supporting their cars.
This looks better than the BZ4x. Needs more range, 300 miles and I'm sold . Also geat job Andrea and Zack 👍🙂
I would consider this EV except that I dislike both Subaru dealers in Ottawa. Great Review!
@motormouth_auto we test drove the 2024 today, Sept 22, 2024 and LOVED it. I drive about 24 km return to work in the lower mainland so I won’t have a range issue. This is perfect for us. As for total distance range, we have no issue charging overnight or stopping to charge around 200k mark. That’s probably where we’d stop and have a meal anyway. Andrea, the steering wheel has changed for 2024 and they’ve shaved the top and bottom to its square’ish. Being 5’2” and 5’6” we loved that so it didn’t impede the dash. I have to say, it’s extremely comfortable to sit in and drive and very ergonomic. It fit like a glove! Oh ya, no glove box but you can use the centre console 🤷♀️
Thanks for this review! It really helped.
Something that would be useful is to mention in the reviews for those kinds of hatchbacks is if the rear windows gets dirty in rain/snow driving. I've seen some disastrous rear windows on Ioniq5's this winter and it seems to be a trend on those EVs... less drag should not equal less rear visibility. Great review as usual, love you guys
And which ones have rear wipers. I think the ID4 has a rear wiper, but maybe the Solterra and the other ones they compare it to don't.
Interesting car by Subaru... amazing video Andrea and Zack!
Thank you, glad you liked the review.
Way to show the world ..Subie and Toyota !
Seems like a cool EV…. I like that you guys always say the color name of cars you are reviewing. And really cool to see you filming in Dana Point Harbor!! That’s in my back yard 😎👍🏼👍🏼
I recognize Dana Point and Ritz Carlton. My neighborhood! So glad to hear good review! It would be a local commuter car for my husband. I like the idea of retaining battery life , but power seats should be standard
A pox on power seats, say I, and I say why so. Its one more expensive thing to break in ""X" amount of time.
Yay I’ve been waiting for this one! Thanks guys.
Thanks for watching!
This is awesome. You two are incredible. Thank you
Dutch carmagazine tested the Solterra against the Audi q4 etron. The Solterra was the far better and more comfortable car..... . Given the significantly smaller battery pack and more efficient EV motors, the better EV as well. Range 323km compared to 380 km of the Audi. They were very impressed with the recent software updates for the Solterra, they put the Solterra nr1.
Hoping the next generation will be just a bit more Subaru (in all their weird quirky ways), I prefer the way they lay out their interiors to Toyota and I don’t feel like it feels Subaru enough. Happy they were able to reduce development costs with their Toyota partnership!
It definitely is an interesting option. Thanks for the video.
I like it better than the bZ4x. The design looks better upfront and the availability of X-mode.
X mode is also available on the Bz4x
Very informative video as usual. My wife is interested in the EV6, however I like to provide her information on other options (competitors). I will share this with her. Thanks.
I laugh when you accelerated, Zack looks shock and fell back to the seat. This vehicle has a nice front and back but the rest looks like a RAV4. Interior is nice. The dashboard (The speedometer) looks almost like Prius. I think the range and price are not good, perhaps I will wait in the future to get it a better range and less pricey. Great video guys!! 👍🏻👍🏻☕️☕️
Haha thanks for watching, glad you had a good laugh.
@@andreaspencer9813 You are an very welcome! 👍🏻👍🏻
Zach & Andrea often are demonstrative about acceleration. I enjoy their reviews.
Zack's look of concern and uneasiness seems always directly related to Andrea's look of deviance and fun.
Range would seem to be its least competitive feature. However, long term reliability is a key factor to consider.
Looks better than BZ4X & RZ450e - Wish to see Single body colors.
I think the Lexus is the best looking but it is subjective. I don't think the bZ and Subaru look much different. From the side and back they are very similar and the differences are mostly in the front. Inside, I see no difference.
Sun out, Andrea's guns out. When is she starting her youtube fitness channel? 😄
Love your presentations ❤
It seems that on the Subaru the 4-wheel drive system is permanent, in addition to X-Mode, while on the Toyota it is on request. Can you confirm this?
Spot on. great review.
Does anybody know how much the range drops in the Solterra when the weather gets cold? I like the AWD capability which would be great for snowy weather, but from what I've seen from other reviews, the drop in range can be pretty severe. The BZ4x has radiant heaters under the steering wheel and passenger compartment (hence no glovebox) which helps prevent the range from dropping as much, but the Solterra doesn't have this feature.
Lol…..I was going to say Canada looks warm today. 🤣. Can you get this without the two tone paint? Thanks !
Ford Mach E front end, Rav 4 side, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross rear.
It's just a machine that gets you to places. Everyone is copying from each other since the beginning of time.
I like their concern with longevity of the battery. My son’s Honda battery died
As for off-road driving, I guess you have to be careful and avoid hitting the battery compartment, to avoid damage to the battery.
this lady gives me positive vibes
she kinda creeps me out
After watching the whole thing, I’m less skeptical
Is the protection plate under the car is exclusive to the Subaru or the Toyota have one too ?
I have a 240 mile range EV and have been level 1 charging for 2 years (4 miles per hour charge). In the off chance I forget to charge or drive a lot in one day, I can supercharge, or I just drive my other car (PHEV). Agreed that range and charging issues are overblown for most.
Its interesting how the car has a Canadian lic plate in USA
Im liking the sunshine 🌞 and my friend from Toronto reported a sunny day too just earlier. Gosh Andrea, Zack was scared then when you accelerated. Subaru always bring out robust cars whether fossil fuel or electrified.
It was glorious being in California! 🌼☀️🌼☀️
@Andrea Spencer Certainly looked it Andrea 🌞🌞☀️
Zack is always holding on for dear life.
@@andreaspencer9813 Glad you found a sunny window to enjoy. We've been boating out here instead of driving.
Bonjour, Andreea & Zack.
You remember, I asked once about plug-in Crosstreck... Well, we got one. When my wife drives it, she goes electric to work and on gas on the way back home. I like it. I take it sometimes, for electric-only drives. It si a bit lazy, but I like it.
How you compare it vs Soltera? (power, 0-50 km/h...)
Merci beaucoup.
I agree about the gloss back plastic finishing. I am not a fan. It is fast to show dust, smudges, and scratches, including fingernail, and is difficulty to keep clean. It is even worse when it is outside the vehicle, like the rear end panneling on the 2023 Corollas. As for the heads up display, the Pontiac Gran Prix had one that projected the speed onto the lower windshield that kept your eyes on the road and kept you from getting an untintentional speeding ticket. I also agree about the need to have dual power seats. Not to be sexist, but if the husband is driving, the wife wants the same convenience/comfort. Someday..., manufactures will get this.
interesting this press car has Ontario plates
Toyota needs to put the same motors in this that it puts in the RZ450e and also a bigger battery and then they'll have something if you don't mind how it looks. The only advantage I see to this is that it rides higher than most of the competition, other than that, there are much better EV's if you can get a hold of them. My guess is that they don't care to sell a lot of these so they didn't try too hard. I have a Rav4 Prime and it has about the same horsepower as this and I can say it's fantastic around town in EV mode and adequate on the highway. To make it satisfying for a vehicle of this weight you need more like 300 hp. The Prime has 302 hp in hybrid mode and that's good when you want to pass. Oh and, yes this is a Subaru by name, but it's really a Toyota.
Not only the same motors as the Lexus but the same battery would be an even simpler fix.
The North American Solterra and bZ4X AWD have a slower charging CATL battery than the bZ4X FWD and the Lexus RZ. CATL is not a bad manufacturer, but in this case, my theory is that Toyota had some supply chain issues with Panasonic batteries, could not get enough and they got stuck with "bargain bin leftovers" from CATL.
@@Andre-cj3ec CATL is the top battery manufacturer and has advanced batteries. Not sure which ones Toyota are using and how they're managed.
@@benjaminsmith2287 CATL indeed has a good reputation and produces batteries for many bands. I don't know why Toyota has 2 different battery types in these vehicles and why they would choose for some a CATL with slow charging in ideal conditions and seemingly almost unusable DC fast charging in cold weather. I'm not an engineer and I don't even play one on TV ;)
@@benjaminsmith2287 In addition, it appears Toyota believes the Panasonic batteries are better or more premium. That's what they put in their Lexus RZ...
You said in the video that "Subaru's goal is to have the battery retain 90% of its battery life at the 10 year mark" but that's not reflected in the warranty which states 8yr warranty to 70% capacity. Kind of misleading.
From the Subaru Canadian website:
"The Subaru Battery and Electric Drive Unit Limited Warranty covers repairs needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship in the following components: high voltage battery pack, AC/DC inverter, DC/DC converter and transmission and electric motor assemblies. These components are covered for 96 months, or 160,000 km, whichever comes first, with retention of 70% or more of the original battery capacity* over that period."
Hello, What is the rage for the Solterra for winter driving here in Canada? Since we have harsh winters here especially in Quebec at minus 25 degrees Celsius. Thank you.
You will have a lot of rage during harsh winter driving this stated 222-228 miles range EV.😊
I'm also in Quebec. I had reserved one and since asked for a refund of my deposit. Partly because of the high price, but mostly because of reports of range and charging shortcomings in cold weather that were much worse than typical EVs.
I suppose you could reserve now. It will be 1 to 3 years by the time it arrives and you could hope the the "defects" are resolved by then.
When reading/viewing winter charging reviews, keep in mind that the North American Solterra and AWD bZ4X have an even slower charging battery than the FWD bZ4X and the European AWD cars.
That piano black finish would drive me nuts 😀. So many manufacturers use it these days and I don't get the appeal
I'm only here because I saw a video about this vehicle having an excellent lease offer until 4/30/24. Raviwaden video.
Out of all three, I actually like this best. I actually took one out during a Subaru day and it was pretty good, but range is the huge issue for me. Btw, love the no date sub. 14060?
Love the 14060 too. I have a 16600 and a 116520 white dial. Love them both.
@@jml9550 yeah something about pre ceramic really appeals to me. Tool watch vs jewelry. Love the SD and Daytona. Awesome collection. Wear them in good health.
@@sleepyintoronto thx appreciate it. I wear them everywhere except shady area, not sitting in a bank box that’s for sure. Rolex sort of turning me off now, especially AD sales’ tactics. I gotta kiss up and buy their products? Nah, I am too old for that. It wasn’t like that 15 years ago. With that said, I wouldn’t say no to Batgirl at retail though.
@@jml9550 yup Rolex has definitely changed over the last decade. I remember the days when you could actually get something off MSRP even for sports watches. Just a few years ago, I was visiting family in Ottawa and the AD there had 2 Platona in the display. Tried it on and definitely not for me because is weight, but he also had a brand new panda 116500 but wanted 20k for it. Passed on that and regret it to this day…almost as much as selling a minty flat 4 Kermit for $6k.
Yes! First to press thumbs up and first to view the video
Awesome
Getting rid of the glove box is a new trend of cutting cost?
I have never seen it before just with the RZ, Solterra and bZ4X.
I have a 40-mile round trip commute M-F, and might have up to another 60 miles/day use during the day. I can charge each evening. I think either the Toyota or Subaru would be a good option for my use. But, as a longtime Volvo fan (S60, S80, V60XC, XC60, XC90) so will most likely stick with them. Sure Volvos cost more, but you get more too. Not a fan of all the "piano-black" finishes.
Not a big fan of the new instrament clusers, no matter how i adjust my seating the steering always get in the way.
Toyota/Subaru need to work on adjusting the instrument binnacle to the steering wheel. Perhaps they need to be able to more the cluster up a few millimeters.
It terms of looks, I prefer the Subaru Solterra over the Toyota bZ4x. It just slightly looks better.
Overpriced, uncompetitive range and charging speed. It's out of date before you even buy it. Nice.
Typically Subaru and Toyota
The Subarus and Toyota drivers can drive their “outdated” cars for years after the Teslas are scrap metal.
@@N8RTH and the useless donkeys at VW cancelled the heat pump for the ID4 and announced another price increase by 2500 bucks. Who’s dumb enough to buy an EV without a heat pump in Canada?
Whatever. It'll get OTA updates to improve both. But it has some aspects of it that are unique to Toyota/Subaru, like radiant heating and it probably does better off road and in bad weather than others as well.
Precisely!! Yet another $45+ Thousand dollar EV with low range mileage
How does it compare to a Tesla Model 3?
As far as EV specifics are concerned, the technology is not as advanced or efficient as Tesla. As for the size and utility, I would think the Model Y (SUV) would be more comparable to a Solterra.
If you don't need the ground clearance, are OK with a smaller car and don't need AWD, a base Model 3 costs about the same as a base Solterra. If you want AWD or more space, in Canada, you'll pay more with Tesla.
Might be different in the US, where Subaru gets no federal subsidies (unless they do a workaround through a lease) and where EV subsidies can there cover more expensive vehicles than in Canada and therefore more Tesla models are admissible in the US. In Canada, only the base RWD Model 3 gets a federal subsidy.
The cargo space in the back you didn't have right, it's about 30 cubic feet. Also that rear floor cargo lid can be slid down further to get another inch and a half
Looks like the 2023 Prius gauge cluster. Not sure why they want it so far away.
And howmany cc in power macheen
Does it ‘feel like’a Subaru inside? It doesn’t ‘look’ like one …which I can’t explain. Lol. Not my thing but seems nicely designed.
Looks like a Toyota, not a Subaru.
Wow, CA.... Awesome, you two even look more sunnier!! Thank you for sharing.
Sorry to say that I'm not fan of the design... both interior and exterior... Not fun to look at.
The lack of towing ability is a show-stopper, especially if you are a single-vehicle family. I at least want to be able to bring sheet goods home from the big-box hardware store once a year.
I just switched from a Forester to a ‘22 WRX. Missing the hatch and rear wiper, but have found that the lower angle of the rear window combined with using rear defrost keeps me from really needing a rear wiper. Even on warmer dies, the rear defrost seems to move the water along well enough, albeit slower than a rear wiper would.
I've been driving my solterra last 3 months in our harsh cold weather in Ontario Canada and never once had the need for rear wiper
The problem none of the big boys is solving is after-sales support.
They don’t have enough techs to support problems in a timely manner. Maybe a site here or there will have a specialty-tech but most do not and you’re gonna be waiting for a fix if needed.
This offering from Toyota/subi is too little, too late. Not enough of anything to make it worth the price relative to competitors.
Who is gonna accept an offering like this from Toyota/sub, when even Toyota has basically admitted this isn’t their best effort. They’re not really going to come up with anything worthwhile until at least 2025 with their new platforms.
Great review as always, but this ain’t it.
Regarding after-sales support, at least the "big boys" have a dealership near most people, that can handle probably 90% of the problems you might encounter. I live in "tiny town" Ontario, and have a Toyota, GM, Ford, and Dodge dealer within 5 minutes of the house. Tesla Service is many hours away. Sure...I hear they send techs out to you, when you can get it scheduled, then have to re-schedule to come back with the parts they need. Eventually the "big boys" will have some sort of EV certified techs (I would assume). I don't expect it will be a big step up for their techs already working on hybrids.
And how mach das it in $
A lot of hype about how one doesn’t really need to worry about distance on the battery, after all, it’s easy to charge at home. All of this because “range” is a big deal. Most families cannot afford to have a car that’s only for when you need to travel long distances sitting in the other garage stall. EV’s are not priced for families that have 2 to 4 kids who can barely make it from one paycheck to the other. I have noticed that all of the people pushing EV’s seem to be in the upper middle class (or higher) that have lots of extra money to spend on cars or their kids have moved out and they now have some extra money to spend on car payments. EV’s are great technology but the battery technology and the charging infrastructure are really lagging the “push” by politicians towards EV’s.
Ah that shiny black plastic block in the middle... I can see gazillions of scratches and finger prints from day one.
mercedes EQS and audi : am i joke to you ?
Weather looks nice. Wish I were there. Without the badge it could be a Toyota. I feel the nose has a little Ford vibe. Ugly ocean of black plastic. Does it come with a complimentary roll of PPF?
Is it normal that you guyz didn’t mention the leader of that category Tesla Model Y as a benchmark for range, price, avalablility… help me here
I like that Subaru solterra
Would be my 1st choice for EV if not for that fact that you can get Chevy Bolt for under $20k after fed tax credit in some states. But literally half the price of all competitor at level 2 charging.
I agreed on piano black and fake chrome interior. Those thing are a big hazardous when the sunlight beam redirected to your eyes. Never like them and would never buy a car with those kind of interiors.
For the battery life warranty, BMW made the same promise when they released the first version of i3 from 10 years ago. Implementation is simple, they just software cap the 100% charge of what you can use, to 90% of the physical battery charge, then when the battery degrades, they just up the software cap, so that you can use the hidden battery. I don’t think they can make better batteries (they sourced them) then others, or they do better battery management than others.
looks like BZ4X slap with Subaru badge.
As long as “ petroleum “is available , wouldn’t think the batteries are the alternative !
It's going to be mandatory all over the world sooner than later.
Piano black needs to 100% go away. Immediately.
Lol. So true
Meh, still has that eyesight technology that causes my Subaru to randomly give me a heart attack when it encounters shadows and man hole covers.
Some of the front end design and overall shape reminds me of a Mustang Mach E. Not so much with the interior.
So I think the answer is not much different than Toyota bZ4X. Beyond the range/charging speed, this is a nice vehicle. I don't really like the interior mainly due to the piano black and it's just gray or black. Hopefully Toyota and Subaru will get rid of all that piano black at some point and add in better colors. As far as the range goes, I'm just not prioritizing it as the defining factor of an EV. As the "V" part in "EV," it seems to be very nice. Enough acceleration, comfortable ride, quiet, well screwed together, and if you drive on gravel or muddy roads, or in snow, it'll handle that well also.
My question is how do the lower rung bZ4X/Solterra compare to the Lexus RZ recently driven. Is the Lexus much better in terms of quietness, ride, premium feel?
Does it qualify for 7500 USD federal tax credit?
No, because it's not made in North America.
Once driving Subaru’s all wheel drive, I won’t go back.
You are a Canadian presenter. Maybe get sponsors that accept Canadians. I tried carnivore and they only accept zip codes. No postal codes !! I used your link ??!? Am I doing something wrong. ?
Sorry but I have a big issue with this Solterra... I can't stop driving it...
I agree the Solterra does look better than the BZ4X. I put my name down for BZ4X (base fwd black) at 3 dealers in BC Canada. I gave up waiting and bought a Model 3 which only took two weeks to arrive. The Model 3 range is longer as mentioned and we do quite a few road trips where the range will come in handy.
Your trunk space is limited like any compact sedan. You can buy the cheaper Corolla sedan for $25k or $55k Model 3? Does gas and maintenance for the Corolla cost $30k over 5 years?
Similarly equipped to the M3, the Corolla would be over $30K. Subtract the EV subsidies ($12K in my province) and the difference in purchase price is no longer as much. Total cost of ownership might even be same or lower, if you drive enough and your electricity is cheap. There is also a difference in cost to the planet that some people are willing to pay extra for...
So this whole Toyota customers are going to Tesla seems in a good part because people have to wait too long for Toyotas. This is true of the RAV 4 Prime as well. Toyota is still dealing with a broken supply chain. A Model 3 seems like a much different type of car than a bZ4X.
@@benjaminsmith2287 stupid Covid pandemic is the cause or chip shortage coincidence during Covid times? It was so easy to buy any car before 2020!
@@Andre-cj3ec BMW M3?
I prefer that ordenary geer
Is there still an economic argument for EVs? When base trims start in the 50s and you have to replace the battery when do you start saving money. How are all these batteries being disposed of are they recharged?
Just taking a pause before blindly considering EVs.
It's too bad we have to figure it out as we go with how things are going.
@@davidjym
Both for good and bad I don't think ppl are even thinking about value proposition of EVs now. It's just a cool vehicle to have. 🤷♂️
@@chrislim7976 for sure EVs don't make economical sense at this point. Not everyone can afford a 50k+ vehicle. 😂😂😂
@@davidjym
I'm not talking about the starting price I am talking about are gas savings still a consideration when the entry point starts in the 50s.
Not everyone but a LOT of people can afford 50K for a car.
I'm not talking about affordability. I'm asking if EVs still "make sense" when someone is paying 50 to 70K +
@@chrislim7976 It doesn't make sense. Both the purchase price and the difference between filling up with gas and plugging in electricity.
Brands need to stop doing the dash screens behind the steering wheel… it’s ridiculous and non sense. Depending on the sitting position most of the times you can’t see the screen because of the steering wheel 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻
Ioniq 5 for me please. Not a fan of the overwrought cladding on the Solterra.
Not sure the designers knew what they were doing, inside and out.
So this has a 71 kwh battery 220 miles range and model y has 75 kwh battery but put out 330 miles plus the technology is far superior in the tesla not to mention the charge network
Didn't even mention the Tesla Model Y as an alternative. Bias maybe? Or nah, those Tesla's will never catch on.
Thanks for the video, you are great! but please less wordsssss, you talk too much! lol
@17:00.. how is the base trim called "Premium"? 🤔 Does Subaru not know the definition of the word premium?
Their "Limited" trim should be the base trim. Since it has the "limited" amount of features. 🤣 Haha!
But the future of the cars, are the full hydrogen.. Don't think?
I’m glad you guys are OK that particular vehicle on the Toyota side couldn’t keep the wheels on and they were having problems with that one too that was the first recall now they have a second recall hopefully they’ll fix it. Until they get their software fixed in their tires to stay on this vehicle you should stay away from.
To be fair, Subaru had the same wheel issue, but it has apparently been resolved for both.
That's nonsense that the wheels didn't stay on the bZ4X. It was an issue that was found last June and resolved back in October. No wheels fell off of customer's cars. Recalls happen and sound scary but if caught early don't result in accidents.
@@Andre-cj3ec The issue was that the fix wasn't done properly on some Subarus. Wheels aren't falling off of these cars.
@@benjaminsmith2287 well, the first recall was because they couldn’t keep the Lugnuts on. And I believe the second recall was a software issue. You should go back and read what actually happened. That’s why the first recall happened they couldn’t keep the Lugnuts on.
@@JoeL-zx2tl That was resolved. Why is it constantly being brought up as if the current cars have this issue? There are always software issues with cars for recalls.
I would seriously consider this if the GD panoramic roof opens up. They hire engineers right?
Even this subaru will some how still manage to pop the head gaskets 🤣
Says the azzklown of RUclips.
You lost me at 8” screen and manual seats. In 2023??
I own a Solterra and while going out during a heavy storm, one street had a current of about 8" of water coming down and I drove through it at about 13 MPH and several undercarriage panels got ripped off and it was not cover under the guarantee. But the worst part is that the spare parts are not available and I can be without a car for 2.5 months according to the Subaru dealer. Subaru is selling cars without caring for having spare parts available. Be Careful.
Thanks for this feedback, it was very helpful when I am trying to buy a car for my daughter
Talked to my Subaru Dealer, 13 were ordered and 13 orders were cancelled.
BS.
The Lexus RZ seems to close to the same price ranges if not a bit higher- but you get a better looking vehicle IMO_ faster, better looking but sacrifice 25 mile range with the 20" wheels. And you get the usually better dealership experience at most Lexus dealers.