Is Interest In The New Subaru Solterra Trailing Off? One Significant Reason Why
The all-new 2023 Subaru Solterra EV just finished five months of 2023. So how is the new Subaru electric compact SUV doing? Customer interest in the all-new 2023 Solterra is dropping, as the May sales report from Subaru of America indicates.
How is the 2023 Subaru Solterra doing in its first five months of 2023? The first Solterra sales were in November 2022, and its first entire month was in December. Subaru of America (SOA) reported that the all-new 2023 Subaru Solterra EV had 436 compact SUV sales in May, so there are five months of 2023 sales to look at sales performance.
January - 499
February - 347
March - 513
April - 603
May - 436
With the May sales in the books, the all-electric Solterra compact SUV has 2,398 new models delivered to U.S. customers for the year's first five months. May was a down sales month for the new Solterra EV when sales should have picked up with the new model inventory improving. Subaru retailers have Solterra models to sell, so why aren't they moving off retailers' lots?
Is range the problem?
The 2023 Subaru Solterra has the lowest price among the least expensive new electric SUVs with all-wheel-drive, but the range is also the lowest. Here is the list of new EVs with all-wheel-drive by price and range.
2023 Volvo C40 Recharge - $55,300 | Standard Range: 226 miles
2023 Tesla Model Y - $54,990 | Standard Range: 330 miles
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB - $54,500 | Standard Range: 243 miles
2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge - $53,550 | Standard Range: 223 miles
2023 Kia EV6 - $48,700 | Standard Range: 310 miles
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E - $45,995 | Standard Range: 247 miles
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 - $45,500 | Standard Range: 303 miles
2023 Toyota bZ4x - $45,415 | Standard Range: 222 miles
2023 Subaru Solterra - $44,995 | Standard Range: 222 miles
We drove the new 2023 Subaru Solterra in the mountains of Colorado and found an issue with the new EV. We drove up I-70 into the mountains and pushed the Solterra up the steep incline to the Lookout Mountain exit. We started with 167 miles of range left and drove 7.5 miles. We only had 115 miles of range left when we reached the exit.
We used 52 miles of range in just 7.5 miles of uphill driving. For those who will use the Solterra for mountain excursions, the range of 222 miles will get used up quickly and could deter active customers living in mountainous regions from buying the new EV.
Customers looking for a battery electric vehicle will get a Solterra with all-wheel-drive all-weather performance, fun-to-drive, unique vehicle balance in severe conditions, and top safety scores. Subaru infused the 2023 Solterra EV with its core values, not those of other automakers. But the range could be a problem for some customers.
What is the price of the 2023 Solterra?
The 2023 Solterra is offered in three trim levels, Premium, Limited, and Touring. Pricing for the Solterra Premium trim level starts at $46,220. The Limited trim carries a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $49,720. The top-of-the-line Touring trim is priced at $53,220. Prices include destination and delivery fees ($1,225). Subaru says US retailers set the actual price and may charge more.
The all-new 2023 Subaru Solterra EV's first five months of sales performance reveal that interest may be dropping off for the new EV. Subaru's first-ever electric vehicle was a good start for the Japanese automaker, but there are all-electric all-wheel-drive SUVs with more range.
The Solterra needs more range, and new Subaru EVs are coming in the next five years and will likely have an extended range. Check the report in the link below for more details.
You Might Also Like: Subaru Says 4 New EVs For U.S. By 2026 In A Rapid Electric Ramp Up
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.
Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.
Leave your comments below, share the article with friends, and tweet it out to your followers!
Photo credit: Subaru Report