2023 Subaru Solterra

Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) calls the 2023 Solterra the brand's first EV, with standard all-wheel drive, and reports Subaru planned to build only 6,500 of them for the 2023 model year. It shares its platform with the Toyota bZ4X, which is why several of its recalls are joint Toyota and Subaru campaigns. MotorTrend's first drive (opens in a new tab) highlights 8.3 inches of ground clearance and more than 220 miles of range, which put it in the outdoor-capable corner of the EV market. On range, MotorTrend's review (opens in a new tab) says it does not knock its socks off.

The range depends on the wheels. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts the estimate at 222 miles for the Limited and 228 for the Premium, and InsideEVs (opens in a new tab) reports the EPA combined range at about 222 to 228 miles depending on whether the car wears 18- or 20-inch wheels. If you take long trips, the 18-inch Premium is the one to want.

NHTSA lists four campaigns. Two are about the wheels: 22V444 (June 2022, a joint Toyota bZ4X and Solterra recall) says hub bolts may loosen and a wheel can detach after low-mileage use, and 23V064 (February 2023) covers improperly tightened hub bolts on Solterras. 25V577 (September 2025) covers the defroster and defogger not working during certain HVAC faults, such as an electric compressor failure, and 25V744 (October 2025) covers the display function of the panoramic view monitor. A separate service campaign, WRG23-1, reprograms the forward recognition camera and appears in owner complaints. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: a used Solterra with an open hub-bolt recall should not leave the lot.

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA on the 2023 model year. Forward collision avoidance is the largest group at 9, then electrical system and unclassified problems at 8 each, vehicle speed control at 6 and service brakes at 4. One filed complaint describes hitting a stationary deer at night after the forward camera reprogramming recall (WRG23-1) was still open and Subaru declining to investigate it. Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) rates the 2023 Solterra less reliable than other cars from the same model year. CarFactBase (opens in a new tab) shows a 5.0-star overall NHTSA crash rating, so the concern is with driver-assist and electrical behavior, not crash protection.

When you inspect a used one, test the forward collision and lane-keeping systems on a road drive, look for phantom braking, and ask the seller for proof that the hub-bolt recalls were performed.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) says the Touring that listed from $53,220 now starts at $24,100, and used prices run from $20,800 for the Premium to $24,100 for the Touring at a dealership. KBB's depreciation page (opens in a new tab) puts it in the 75th to 100th percentile for depreciation among 2023 SUVs, which is the reason a nearly new car is now half its sticker price. CarGurus (opens in a new tab) puts the nationwide average for used Solterras at $23,396. Energy cost is low: the EPA rates it 102 to 104 MPGe at about $700 a year.

On the EPA's numbers the Solterra is right in the middle of its class: 102 to 104 MPGe and $700 a year, against 95 to 107 MPGe and $700 to $800 for the 2023 Lexus RZ, 99 to 107 MPGe and $700 to $750 for the Volkswagen ID.4, and 82 to 103 MPGe and $750 to $900 for the Ford Mustang Mach-E, all on fueleconomy.gov (opens in a new tab). Efficiency does not separate them, so the choice comes down to price, reliability record and how the car drives. The Solterra shares the bZ4X's recalls and its below-average reliability rating, and its 8.3 inches of ground clearance is the trait Subaru buyers typically shop for.