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The all-new 2023 Subaru Solterra EV compact SUV arrives mid-2022, which will be the future for Subaru Corporation. With automakers dropping the internal combustion engine faster than Henry Ford dropped the horse and buggy, should Subaru bring back the Baja pickup in an all-electric platform?
At Subaru Report, we've talked about an Ascent-based midsize pickup and a Crosstrek-based subcompact pickup, but what about a new Solterra-based all-electric compact pickup?
photo credit: Design AG - Designer Kleber Silva
Our friends at Design AG released a new rendering of an all-new Subaru Solterra EV pickup. We think they crushed it, and an all-electric pickup is precisely what Subaru Corporation needs to build for Subaru of America. The small pickup segment is growing in North America, and many are available now or will hit the market soon. Subaru was way ahead of the curve with the Baja pickup, but now they are lagging. It's time to resurrect the Baja and use the Solterra platform.
The compact pickup segment is taking off
The all-new Ford Maverick just introduced is already a success; the compact pickup is already sold out for months, and Ford hasn't even started selling the base XL model ($19,995) yet. The Maverick will also come in a hybrid powertrain and should get around 40 mpg in city driving.
photo credit: Ford Motor Co
New EV pickups are on the way
The Rivian R1T is the first purpose-built electric pickup to hit the market, months ahead of the Ford F-150 Lightning. A report from Automotive News says Ford is increasing production as it scrambles to meet consumer demand for the new electric truck. The upcoming full-size Chevrolet Silverado EV and Tesla Cybertruck are coming soon.
About the same size as the Ford Maverick, the all-new gas-powered Hyundai Santa Cruz offers another compact pickup in the U.S. that the South Korean automaker will likely convert to an electric model in the near future.
Subaru will be left out of the hot pickup segment if they wait to see how well the all-electric Solterra compact SUV sells when it arrives this year. Subaru Corporation CEO Tomomi Nakamura says, "So we know that we have to shift or accelerate this plan (40 percent electrified vehicles by mid-2025 to 2030.) Based on how the market receives the new Solterra EV, we can plan for what kind of ratios (50-60 percent) we should target for EVs and hybrids."
photo credit: Design AG - Designer Kleber Silva
The all-new 2023 Subaru Solterra arrives mid-2022, and it will be the automaker's most important new vehicle launch ever. As the automotive industry moves away from the internal combustion engine and toward electric models, Subaru could be in the hunt with a new Solterra compact all-electric pickup like the one pictured above.
Subaru says the all-new 2023 Solterra all-wheel-drive compact EV SUV will determine how fast or slow they move to a fully electric lineup. Check out the complete report in the link below.
Would you buy a new 2023 Subaru Solterra all-electric compact pickup? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
You Might Also Like: Subaru Says The New Solterra EV Will Determine Its Electrification Plans
Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Photo credit: main image Design AG - Designer Kleber Silva
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Comments
I would much rather see a
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I would much rather see a midsized Subaru pickup (based on the Ascent platform). While I understand that there is a demographic for a Baja sized pickup, my thought is if a manufacturer is going to offer a truck, let it be "truck-sized" with a bed that offers the utility that truck owners require. If Subaru feels that a Baja-sized truck is all they want to offer, I'll get an Outback and load all my gear inside.
Subaru definitely needs to
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Subaru definitely needs to launch a new Baja type vehicle. Something to fit between the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz would be perfect. Subaru doesn't need a mid or full size truck as the majority of truck owners aren't going to go out and want a subaru. Instead potential crossover shoppers would consider it possibly even stealing customers from Ford and Hyundai's compact trucks. As far as feawit needs at least a 4 foot bed, flip down rear seats with large opening to extend the bed to 5-6 feet for longer objects you don't want hanging off the tailgate, hybrid option if not ev, tons of storage, bed outlets, roomy cab at least the size of the Maverick's. Basically I picture a Forester with a bit more aggressive front end but with a truck bed right behethe rear seat.
As a former Baja owner, I'd
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As a former Baja owner, I'd buy a Solterra pickup in a heartbeat. Loved my Baja (now owned by my son = otherwise I'd still be driving it). My current 2019 Crosstrek is a truly great car, but still lacks the Baja's versatility to haul stuff that won't fit behind the seats.
As a former Baja owner, I'd
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As a former Baja owner, I'd buy a Solterra pickup in a heartbeat. Loved my Baja (now owned by my son = otherwise I'd still be driving it). My current 2019 Crosstrek is a truly great car, but still lacks the Baja's versatility to haul stuff that won't fit behind the seats.
With all the recent
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With all the recent competition, a Solterra-based small truck wouldn’t come close to meeting the needs and wants of customers. The bed size would be about 2-3 feet by the time both bulkheads were integrated, towing would only be about 1,500-2,500 pounds, and most importantly there would be no lockable storage since the Solterra doesn’t have a “frunk”. A huge win for Subaru would be to use the newly announced Toyota Truck EV to make a Subaru-branded Tacoma-like EV. I’d buy that in a heartbeat, especially since I traded in a fully-loaded Tacoma for my first Outback many years ago (3 Outback’s ago) because it didn’t have full time four wheel drive, got horrible gas mileage, and most importantly sucked in mixed snotty and dry road conditions. So whether Subaru uses that platform or not, I’ll be getting one (to go with the Solterra that will also be in the driveway).
Subaru should have a midsize
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Subaru should have a midsize truck that. Competes with the Tacoma and Frontier. I believe you will win over several truck owners because of the style and durability. It is gap Subaru needs to close in its inventory.