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IMPRESSION
April 1, 2022
Impressed by its off-road capability on snowy roads – Test drive of the Subaru Solterra prototype on snow | SUBARU
Unparalleled Confidence on Snowy Roads
I shifted into D by turning the circular dial shifter on the center console to the right, activated the X-Mode button next to it, and started immediately. The tires were fitted with Bridgestone's latest studless tires, the "Blizzak VRX-3." Even discounting their grip, the traction applied to all four wheels was outstanding, which was immediately apparent as soon as I started driving.
When approaching corners with speed limits of 20km/h, 30km/h, and 40km/h depending on the curvature, deceleration was smooth using the paddle shifters (equipped only on the Solterra AWD model; Toyota's version does not have them) to increase regenerative braking. On the subsequent straightaways, accelerating forcefully propelled the car forward in a straight line. On rough patches caused by ruts, the rear end would occasionally slide, and the traction control indicator would flash orange momentarily. However, overall, it demonstrated a ride with exceptional confidence.
Once familiar with the course, I switched to S-Pedal Drive mode, which maximizes regenerative braking (effectively one-pedal driving). This proved to be even better. I was able to complete almost the entire lap using only the accelerator pedal. While it cannot overcome the limits of tire grip, the ease with which it navigated the snowy course was truly astonishing.
X-Mode also includes "Grip Control," a feature unique to Subaru that allows the vehicle to traverse rough terrain at a constant speed. By setting the speed in 2km/h increments between 2km/h and 10km/h, it maintained traction even when two wheels were lifted on the test bumps, clearing the obstacles with ease.
After thoroughly enjoying the high performance on snowy roads enabled by the independent front and rear motor all-wheel-drive system, I conveyed my impressions to Daisuke Ono, the Project General Manager in charge of development. He explained, "First, the inherent quality of the e-Subaru Global Platform is a key factor. Furthermore, the technical challenges of all-wheel drive that could not be overcome with conventional engine vehicles were easily surmounted by adopting responsive electric motors."
He further emphasized, "While Subaru's X-Mode all-wheel drive system has been adopted by Toyota, paddle shifters, drive modes, and Grip Control are exclusive to Subaru." He also noted, "Regarding the suspension, by stiffening the compression side of the dampers, cornering with minimal roll is achieved. Additionally, by increasing the resistance of the EPS (Electric Power Steering), straight-line stability is excellent." This suggests that high potential performance can be enjoyed even on regular roads.
It has been announced that the Toyota bZ4X will be sold only through leasing and subscription services in Japan. What will be the sales strategy for the Solterra? With numerous rival BEVs debuting in the same segment, the selling price is also a point of interest. We await the official announcement.
