Subaru, Toyota in race to introduce first EV

A Japanese brand beloved by Australian drivers has detailed its new family SUV that is due to arrive in showrooms later this year.

Subaru is poised to beat Toyota to the punch with the introduction of a new electric SUV the two brands developed together.

Both makers planned to introduce electric rivals to the Tesla Model Y earlier this year, but production setbacks, which have haunted Toyota since the pandemic, have pushed the launch dates back.

Subaru says its Solterra electric car will be available to order in October ahead of an arrival later in the year. Toyota has announced it won’t have its bZ4X in local showrooms until next year,

The Subaru Solterra EV is on its way to Australia.

The Solterra shares hardware with the bZ4X and Lexus RZ electric cars, taking a similar approach to the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ sports car twins.

Full details for the Solterra have not been confirmed but Australian customers can expect the car to have twin 80kW motors for a total of 160kW, linked to a 72.8kWh battery.

The Solterra EV will have decent ground clearance and all-wheel-drive.

Claimed range is about 540 kilometres.

The Solterra costs $US44,995 in the United States ($69,750), where it undercuts the cheapest Tesla Model Y by less than $2000.

That suggests the Solterra could arrive for less than $70,000 drive-away in Australia, where competition with its Toyota twin could return a win for consumers.

Subaru’s Solterra EV has a lot in common with the Toyota bZ4X.

Subaru Australia boss Blair Read says the brand will offer a “total value proposition” rather than razor-sharp pricing to counter Chinese contenders such s the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV.

The brand hasn’t announced exact specifications for the car. Read says final price and equipment details represent a difficult proposition, because “if you ask 10 different customers what they look for on a car, you’re going to get 10 different answers”.

The cabin of Toyota’s bZ4X is almost identical to the Subaru.

“It’s about putting forward the product that we believe is going to resonate with a customer who’s going to consider purchasing a Subaru Solterra,” he said.

Read says there is “huge demand” and “limited supply” for the Solterra, which is unlikely to arrive in numbers to rival the Subaru Outback or Forester.

The brand is installing charging points at dealerships in preparation for the car’s arrival.

The Solterra will be the first of several electric Subaru models that could include a high-performance vehicle from the manufacturer’s STI department.

Toyota’s bZ4X is just around the corner.

“While we don’t have STI in the current generation, the workshop is not closed,” Read said.

“Those STI engineers are working away on future products, so you haven’t you haven’t heard the last of STI.

“The line the factory have shared, and STI have shared, is that they have been prioritising future product development and working on future technologies.

“So there is definitely more to come.”