Subaru Solterra SUV

150kW Limited 71.4kWh 5dr Auto AWD [2023]

If the Subaru Solterra EV looks familiar, it’s because it’s virtually identical to the Toyota bZ4X.

The two manufacturers have joined forces to bring different strengths to each brand’s electrification programme.

It is not the first time they’ve worked together – in fact, the partnership dates back to 2005, when they agreed on a business collaboration.

A couple of years later, Toyota began building some of its vehicles at Subaru’s USA manufacturing HQ in Indiana, followed by an expansion of the partnership in 2008 to include development and production.

Its rear-wheel drive sports cars, the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ were jointly developed in 2012. Meanwhile, Subaru used Toyota's hybrid system to establish its first plug-in car, the Crosstrek, unveiled in 2018 for global markets but a car that never arrived in the UK. 

The following year, the two automakers launched a new business and capital alliance. Each owned 20% of the other company’s shares, committing them to new versions of the 86 and BRZ (which arrived in 2021), as well as expanding the sharing of resources to create autonomous vehicles.

Finally, in 2021, the Solterra and the bZ4X arrived.

So, it’s not a case of Subaru simply removing a Toyota badge and replacing it with its own.

Both have been jointly developed by the two manufacturers from the ground up.

With each playing to their respective strengths - the Subaru Solterra is all-wheel drive as standard, as you might expect from a manufacturer with bona fide off-road and rallying credentials - that should only benefit its customers.

We’ll see if the Solterra delivers in practice.