The New 2023 Subaru Solterra SUV | Subaru of El Cajon

Learn About The 2023 Subaru Solterra SUV

At Subaru of El Cajon

Ride and Drive Event

Executives from Subaru of El Cajon attended the 2023 Subaru Solterra "Ride and Drive Event". In these types of events, Subaru puts its new models through the paces in front of its top dealers. This gives these dealership representatives hands-on, real-life experiences with the technology and performance behind these vehicles, making them informed brand ambassadors when they return. View the gallery below for a first look at the 2023 Subaru Solterra going through its paces at a recent Ride & Drive in Portland, Oregon. To learn more visit https://www.subaruofelcajon.com/2023-solterra-ev-launch.htm

Subaru Solterra Ride and Drive Event

Participated by Subaru of El Cajon
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Learn More About the Solterra in Southern California

Subaru of El Cajon is the home base for the Subaru EV experience. Our team has driven the Solterra over hills, rocks, and berms. We have taken it on the back windy roads and driven the freeways of San Diego. We know this car inside and out, like no other retailer does.

We know there is much more demand for this fantastic car than there are cars available. We also know that can be frustrating. We are here to help with your research onto Solterra and to guide you to your best choice for your lifestyle.
A lot of people have questions about the Solterra and EVs in general. Here are the top questions you may have.
  1. What is the range of Solterra?
  2. How does that range compare to other EV’s?
  3. What rebates and incentives are available in California?
  4. What is the expected lifetime of the battery?
  5. How long does Solterra take to charge?
  6. What kind of scheduled maintenance is required?
  7. What do all the different types of chargers do and what do I need?
  8. What if I can’t find a charger, or don’t have one at home?
  9. It’s a Subaru – how far “off-road” can I go?
  10. What affects my range and how do I get more miles per charge?
  11. Is Solterra just another Toyota with the Subaru name?
Click for Answers
  1. The Solterra has a maximum range of 228 miles on a full charge. Most people in the US drive about 40 miles per day. In California we drive a bit more, but 95% of all people drive less than 100 miles per day so Solterra has more than enough to get your there and back.
  2. There are a lot of EVs to choose from. Solterra compares nicely with the VW ID.4, Mustang Mach-E, and the Hyundai Ioniq5 as well as others. Some competitors have a bit more range (and you can pay a lot more for really long range), but Solterra has more ground clearance that any comparable EV on the market, leading cargo capacity and passenger room as well as some things like X-Mode, Grip Mode, and S-Pedal Mode that no other EV has.
  3. Rebates, tax and other incentives can be confusing. We’ve made it easy. Here is the place to go: drivelean.ca.gov. Enter your zip code, answer a few questions and you will see a listing of all possible incentives at that time for California.
  4. Solterra has a fantastic warranty on it’s battery as well as the entire car. The Solterra battery has an 8-year / 100,000 mile warranty and is guaranteed to have at least 705 of it’s capacity left at the end of that warranty.
  5. Under an hour for 80% charge on a DC fast charger / 9.5 hours on a level 2 charger (depends on the amount of charge left in the battery) / and if you use the emergency level one charger (comes with the car) it can take more than 24 hours. Don’t panic. The level one is for true emergencies only.
  6. Another thing that’s great about Solterra is it does not need much maintenance at all. Every 5,000 miles of 6 moths you should have your tires rotated and systems inspected. That’s about it.
  7. There are three main charging systems you can use:
    1. DC Fast Charger (80% charge in under an hour) – You will find these stores, malls, restaurants, etc., but are the most expensive option.
    2. Level 2 charger (you should have one of these installed at your house to charge overnight) – Costs can be offset by rebates on the charger and/or the installation. Electricity costs are minimal if you charge overnight.
    3. Level one emergency or back up charger (comes with Solterra). This can take up to 24 hours or more to charge your car and is provided for emergencies only.
  8. This is one of the top questions and it can be an issue. When considering an EV you need to see how it fits your life and is there a charger at work, hone or other area you can use. If it is beyond difficult, then an EV may not be the right choice for you at this time. That said, there are thousands of chargers in CA you can use. You cannot use any of the Tesla chargers as they are for Tesla use only.
  9. Solterra will go just about anywhere a regular engine Subaru will go and in some cases, even more places because Solterra has X-Mode AND our exclusive new Grip Mode (3 mph or less, you can actually increase the grip of the tires to get over and around things no other comparable EV can.
  10. Range can be impacted by one of the “three T’s.” Terrain, temperature and temperament. The more hills you climb the more energy you use. Extreme hot (over 110 F or extreme cold 14F will also impact your available energy. This is true for every EV made. Finally- temperament… If you drive more conservatively and keep the AC on econ mode versus driving like a mad person you will extend your range. If you jut want to have a blast. Switch from Eco to Power mode and get ready to have your sock blown off.
  11. No is the short answer. Toyota and Subaru worked together on this car and they have one that is similar to Solterra, but Solterra wins the day for several reasons like: X-mode, Grip mode, S-Pedal Mode, STANDARD Symmetrical All Wheel Drive (optional on Toyota), and The Federal Tax Credit will run our for Toyota soon – we have tens of thousands of tax credit cars to sell, so in the long run, Solterra wins.

What Else Makes the Solterra Special?

So, what makes Solterra a Subaru?  Solterra comes standard and exclusively with symmetrical all-wheel drive. It even has X-Mode, hill ascent, and descent assists just like other off-road-ready Subaru crossovers. Ground clearance stands at 8.3 inches while dual electric motors produce a total of 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque.  

New in Solterra is the Safety Exit Alert which watches for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars when you are about to get out of the vehicle (both format and back seats). We also have a new 360-degree camera system so when you are parking in the busy streets of La Mesa, you see the full picture and can park more safely.  

Solterra rides on a 112.2-inch wheelbase with shorter front and rear overhangs and a nearly flat floor, enough to unravel up to 126 cubic feet of passenger and cargo space. All in all, it's a great place to spend some time, especially with the upgraded Harmon-Kardon sound system.   

The 2023 Subaru Solterra has EyeSight driver assist technology with blind-spot monitoring, lane changing assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and many more.. Of course, it also comes standard with many airbags, including side-curtain, side pelvis/torso, and knee airbags to give you the peace of mind you deserve while driving through Santee. 

Learn More About Using Solterra Features:

Contact the Experts

For more information on Solterra, please give our Solterra Love Team a call at 619-440-0404 and ask for Rone. You can also email us here: Solterra@subaruofelcajon.com and we will get right back to you!