CAR /
IMPRESSION
April 1, 2022
Impressed by its off-road capability on snowy roads – Test drive of the Subaru Solterra prototype on snow | SUBARU
SUBARU SOLTERRA Prototype | Subaru Solterra Prototype
Test Drive of the Subaru Solterra Prototype on Snow
The Subaru Solterra, Subaru's first SUV-type BEV born from joint development with Toyota, is scheduled for release around mid-2022. A prototype test drive event for the vehicle was held at the Gunma Cycle Sports Center (Gun-Sai) in the mountains of Minakami, Gunma Prefecture. As the test drive event was scheduled for late February, the conditions were naturally expected to be challenging snowy roads. I participated to assess its performance.
Text & Photographs by HARA Akira
Subaru Primarily Developed the Electric All-Wheel Drive System
The sister car to the Solterra is the Toyota bZ4X. In terms of collaboration between Subaru and Toyota, one might recall the relationship between the sports models BRZ and 86. However, those vehicles are equipped with horizontally opposed engines and manufactured by Subaru, indicating Subaru's leading role. This situation is different.
In contrast, for these two models, Toyota took the lead in major components such as the body, electrical systems, and safety systems. Subaru's contribution is the electric all-wheel drive system, primarily featuring its unique "X-Mode." However, it is the all-wheel drive system that is ultimately crucial for driving performance. With this expectation in mind, I took the wheel of the Solterra in the deep snow.
The Solterra is a mid-size SUV with a body size of 4,690mm (length) x 1,860mm (width) x 1,650mm (height) and a curb weight of around 2 tons. The front-wheel drive system uses a single 150kW motor, while the all-wheel drive system employs a dual-motor setup with 80kW motors front and rear, totaling 160kW. The spacious underfloor houses a water-cooled lithium-ion battery with a total capacity of 71.4kWh. Protective measures are in place to prevent coolant from entering the battery case or causing short circuits in the event of an accident.
The exterior differs from the bZ4X with Subaru's signature hexagonal grille at the front and C-shaped headlights and taillights. With large 20-inch wheels (18-inch on FF models) positioned at the four corners and a lower roofline for an SUV, the overall image is quite sporty.
The impression remains the same upon entering the driver's seat. The driving position, with legs stretched forward, and the design of the top-mounted 7-inch meter, which is viewed over the steering wheel, are fresh. Furthermore, the rear legroom is ample, and the luggage space is sufficiently large, suggesting it can be used as a versatile vehicle.
The 6km Gun-Sai road course, located at an altitude of 900 meters, is sometimes used for cycling races, as its name suggests. However, it has recently become a mecca for car enthusiasts, with frequent four-wheel driving events. This time, however, we were faced with packed snow conditions due to heavy snowfall. The course features tight corners and elevation changes, with a track width of only about one and a half cars, bordered by hard snow walls on both sides. It's a course layout that would challenge an ordinary car.