The Solterra is Subaru's first electric car. It's a Subaru-badged version of the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ. We loved certain aspects of it — specifically its off-road capability. But the price point thus far has been a significant drawback. The Solterra is Subaru's most expensive vehicle. It starts at $44,995, which is $46,220, when you factor in the freight charge. A fully loaded touring trim starts at $51,995 — about $12,000 more than an Outback Wilderness.
However, a new lease deal — leasing may be the way to go with EVs —may allow you to score a Solterra for relatively cheaply. Cars Direct spotted a Solterra lease incentive (confirmed on the Subaru website) offering a Solterra for $399 per month. And while some EV "deals" require a substantial cash outlay and your better-functioning kidney to achieve a manageable monthly price, the Solterra only requires $399 due at signing. So, the effective cost for the deal — active through October 31st — is just $410 per month.
Alas, there are a couple of catches.
The deal is for the "Premium" trim Solterra
Subaru is offering the $399 deal on the Premium trim Solterra, which, despite the name, is the base model. It's reasonably well-appointed. All Solterras come with Subaru's excellent symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. And some premium features like heated seats and a leather steering wheel come standard. But the base spec sacrifices roof rails and has — (audible gasp) — only a 6-speaker unbranded sound system. And it may be harder to find at dealers than upper trim models.
And the Solterra doesn't have much range
The Premium trim Solterra does have the most range in the lineup. But that's only 228 miles. When you factor in charging to only 80 percent, that's an effective range of about 180 miles. And that's in optimal weather conditions. Colder weather could drop that range still further. That, paired with relatively low fast charging, will make it hard for a Solterra to serve a one-car household.
