Subaru Solterra EV Has Record Sales Amidst Subpar Reliability

Stuck in the middle again.

The 2024 Subaru Solterra is a fascinating contrast. It achieved a remarkable feat by setting another new sales record in June, yet it received below-average reliability ratings from two respected sources. This intriguing combination is further accentuated by its lower-than-expected predicted owner satisfaction. There's more to this unique story. 

The 2024 Subaru Solterra EV is between the best and the worst. How can that be? It had record sales in June but had subpar reliability. People like deals, and Subaru offers incentives like 0% financing and other manufacturer deals to move Solterra off retailers' lots. Find out more in my Solterra report here. 

It's working.

Subaru of America (SOA) reported delivering 1,236 Solterra EVs to customers in June compared with only 574 in June 2023. That's an impressive 115.3 percent increase over the same period last year. 

It was the best June ever for Solterra. 

SOA sold 5,385 Solterra EVs through the first six months of 2024, compared with 2,972 models delivered to customers through June 2023. That's an 81.2 percent increase, the highest percentage of sales increase on any nameplate in the lineup.

That's the good news. Now for the bad. 

J.D. Power says the 2024 Subaru Solterra is subpar in reliability, but as you can see, this hasn't hurt sales. Customer incentives have made all the difference. 

The Subaru Solterra has a J.D. Power quality and reliability score of 67/100. That's well below average and worthy of a C- or a D grade. Consumer Reports isn't that generous. 

J.D. Power says its reliability score "measures the level of defects, malfunctions, and design flaws experienced by vehicle owners. It covers the entire vehicle, from engine to infotainment system." 

Consumer Reports gives Solterra a 47/100 reliability score, which is further below average and worthy of an F grade. It gets an even lower predicted ownership satisfaction score of 2/5, or 40/100. 

Consumer Reports says, "We expect the 2024 Solterra will have about average reliability compared to the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2023 models."

How does Solterra compare with other EVs in terms of reliability?

In comparison with other EVs, the Solterra doesn't look so bad. Here are the predicted reliability scores from Consumer Reports. None of them look good. 

• Nissan Ariya - 62/100
• Kia EV6 - 48/100
• Toyota bZ4X - 47/100
• Subaru Solterra 47/100
• Ford Mustang Mach-E - 45/100
• Chevrolet Blazer EV - 35/100

Should you avoid the Solterra?

It's crucial to understand that new vehicles often encounter the most reliability issues. It typically takes automakers a few years to iron out these 'bugs.' The 2024 Subaru Solterra is in its second year and is expected to show significant improvement. This improvement potential should not deter you from considering it now. 

Find out more about the newly-upgraded 2024 Solterra in my model guide here. 

The 2024 Subaru Solterra is the top performer in terms of the percentage of sales increase due to manufacturer sales incentives. According to two respected sources, the Solterra EV has below-average reliability. Neither is a surprise.

Are you considering a Subaru Solterra EV this year? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a top Torque News reporter since 2012. I’ve invested over 13 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role, working with every major car brand. I am an experienced Rocky Mountain Automotive Press member. You'll find my expert Subaru analysis here. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Competition Subaru