Subaru Solterra Is Near The Bottom In New J.D. Power EV Experience Study

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How do owners of the all-new Subaru Solterra like their new electric vehicle? According to J.D. Power, Solterra has a low overall customer satisfaction rating. See why it gets lower than average for all mainstream EVs.

Subaru Corporation's first stab at making an all-electric vehicle seems to have come up short. If you ask the Solterra's owners, they aren't all that happy with it. A new report from J.D. Power says that according to its 2024 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study, the Subaru Solterra gets well below average scores compared with other mainstream (non-luxury) Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).

Here are the J.D. Power EVX rankings for mass-market electric vehicles

  • Mini Cooper Electric - 770
  • Ford Mustang Mach-E - 764
  • Hyundai Ioniq 6 - 759
  • Kia EV6 - 739
  • Nissan Ariya
  • Chevrolet Bolt EUV - 738
  • Chevrolet Bolt EV - 733
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 - 727
  • Segment Average - 718
  • Kia Niro EV - 706
  • Ford F-150 Lightning
  • Subaru Solterra - 691
  • Volkswagen ID.4 - 677
  • Hyundai Kona EV - 675
  • Nissan LEAF - 651

photo: Tucson Subaru

What does J.D. Power say?

Quality and cost of ownership have emerged as the top factors influencing satisfaction. Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power, says, "Quality and reliability are the most important drivers of a positive EV ownership experience. As EVs extend to the broader market, minimizing problems will be key to meeting consumer expectations."

What does the EVX measure?

The overall EVX ownership index score measures electric vehicle owner satisfaction. The 2024 study includes ten factors (in alphabetical order): accuracy of stated battery range; availability of public charging stations; battery range; cost of ownership; driving enjoyment; ease of charging at home; interior and exterior styling; safety and technology features; service experience; and vehicle quality and reliability.

Since its launch, I have covered the Solterra, and it's been a bumpy road. 

Here is what Consumer Reports owner surveys reveal

  • Road Test 67/100
  • Predicted Reliability 47/100
  • Predicted Owner Satisfaction 2/5

What does Consumer Reports say?

"The Solterra, Subaru's first electric vehicle, is essentially a twin of the Toyota bZ4X. It has smooth and quick acceleration, agile and responsive handling, a roomy cabin, and a decent overall drive." 

"But its short electric range, slow charging times, and limited EV-specific features make it less appealing than competitors such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. It feels like a rather half-hearted first attempt at an EV."

In my recent report, I found that the least satisfying new models in the Electric SUV category are the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X.

MY TAKE

I think these things are essential to know for several reasons:

1. The Solterra is not value-priced. Few Subaru customers will spend $50,000 plus for the new Solterra EV that may have reliability issues.  

Presently, Subaru's only electric vehicle, the Solterra, is slow-selling and only accounts for less than 2 percent of Subaru of America's sales volume.

2. Solterra's battery range needs to improve. The Solterra needs more range, so Subaru may give the EV a complete overhaul sooner than expected. A Subaru SUV typically gets a remodel after five years, but the Solterra needs to be more competitive in its range.  

3. The Solterra will be the first of many new Subaru EVs. New Subaru CEO Atsushi Osaki announced the new ramped-up EV plan and that more electric models are coming to U.S. customers. The Japanese automaker wants to get half its global volume, an estimated 600,000 units, from full-electric models in 2030.

Subaru Solterra sales tell a story.

Subaru of America reports Solterra sales dropped again in February.

The 2023 Solterra EV decreased by 14.3 percent, with 322 electric SUV models delivered to U.S. customers in February compared with 347 models sold in February 2023. 

What's next for the Solterra?

For the 2024 Subaru Solterra, three new upgrades have been announced. 

1. Solterra has improved charging performance.

Subaru significantly improves the 2024 Solterra's charging performance. Solterra now has a high-capacity lithium-ion battery that charges from 10 percent to 80 percent as quickly as 35 minutes, with a state of charge indicator displaying the estimated time to 80 percent or 100 percent. 

2. Solterra gets a redesigned steering wheel.

The second upgrade is the Solterra's newly redesigned steering wheel with regenerative braking force paddle switches.

3. New EyeSight capability.

Subaru's EyeSight just improved—the 2024 Solterra debuts EyeSight with advanced driver-assistance features. The Solterra is the only Subaru model with improved EyeSight safety technology.

What is the 2024 Solterra pricing?

There was no Solterra price increase, but dealer fees increased by $120 for all Solterra trims. 

The 2024 Solterra has three trim levels: Premium, Limited, and Touring. The Solterra Premium trim starts at $46,340. The Limited trim carries a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $49,840. The top-of-the-line Touring trim is priced at $53,340. Prices include destination and delivery fees ($1,345). 

When will the 2024 Subaru Solterra arrive in U.S. showrooms?

The newly updated 2024 Subaru Solterra EV will begin arriving at retailers nationwide in early 2024. Stay tuned. 

This is the latest information regarding the Subaru Solterra. I'll keep you updated with any new information.

Until then, visit torquenews.com/subaru regularly and bookmark the page for my latest updates.

Your turn

If you are a 2023 Subaru Solterra owner, let us know your opinion of the electric SUV. Let us know in the comments below. 

Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed the Subaru Solterra story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.

For additional articles related to new Subaru models, here are a few of my top stories you may enjoy. 

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I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

I’ve got you covered! - I cover all Subaru all the time - It’s called the “Subaru Report.” Check back daily for my expert Subaru analysis!

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photo credit: Subaru