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The fully electric 2024 Subaru Solterra is Subaru's very first fully electric vehicle in its range. The Forester and Outback are very popular vehicles for families because of their very generous legroom and boot space they're a winner for families. Let's see how the fully electric Solterra fares as a BabyDrive and put it through our family car testing with Infasecure child seats and Thule prams…

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BabyDrive Verdict

This five-seater electric SUV is said to have a range of up to 485 km. Like the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 sports cars, this Subaru shares A LOT with the Toyota version, which is called bZ4X EV (as well as the Lexus RZ). I've also driven both of those and they are identical in many ways including the complete lack of glove box! Let's see if Subaru's version lives up to its brand promise as a practical car for families…

2024 Subaru Solterra

When it comes to installing child seats in the 2024 Subaru Solterra EV, there are ISOFix points in both outer rear seats. They are not within plastic guides, but they are nice and easy to connect to and clearly labelled.

2024 Subaru Solterra ISOFIX child seat anchorages in the second row

All three rear seatbacks have top tether anchorages, which are clearly labelled and easily accessible through the boot.

2024 Subaru Solterra top tether child seat anchorages in the second row

The three Infasecure child seats I tested fit nicely across the rear seats of the 2024 Subaru Solterra. I installed the Infasecure Achieve More and Infasecure Momentum More, both forward-facing and the Infasecure Cocoon Go Infant Capsule, rear-facing behind the driver.

2024 Subaru Solterra with three child seats installed in the second row

Three child seats fit really comfortably in the back with good legroom for rear passengers, too. The rear footwell is flat, so there is plenty of kick room, and it's easy for little passengers to move around to get in and out of their seats. We could fit a 180cm driver in front of the rear-facing Infasecure Cocoon Go.

2024 Subaru Solterra legroom with forward-facing child seats installed in the second row

The Solterra's rear occupants are kept comfortable with air conditioning vents, so rear passengers can stay comfortable while driving. There are also USB-C sockets for charging their devices and heated seats for adults and big kids.

Rear passengers have good storage in the Subaru Solterra with cup holders in a fold-down armrest in the central seat back. Coffee cups and kids' drink cups fit well and there is a well for storing a phone or kids snacks!

There are map pockets on the back of the front seats. They are large enough to hold and conceal an iPad, and they house the manual as there is no glove box in the Subaru Solterra.

2024 Subaru Solterra legroom with forward-facing child seats installed in the second row

The rear door bins in the Solterra will hold two refillable water bottles, and there is storage in the handle wells.

In the front of the 2024 Subaru Solterra, the door bins will hold a wallet and iPad with the water bottle.

The central console has two cup holders, each holding a reusable or disposable coffee cup. Behind the cup holders is a large central console box. In front of the cup holders is a phone tray with a retractable lid.

Underneath the central console bridge is a great storage area for an iPad or wallet. There's also a shelf for phones and USB, USB-C, and 12V charging sockets.

There is no glove box in the Subaru Solterra! It is the strangest thing to get used to but you can see the similarity here with the Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ.

The Solterra's boot has good storage. The boot floor is nice and flat with a rubber floor mat. Great for transporting a medium-sized family dog or an emergency nappy change.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for dogs with two rows of seats in use

When empty, the 2024 Subaru Solterra's boot space fits fourteen shopping bags, which is comparable to the Tesla Model Y‘s fifteen, the Kia Niro that holds eleven, the Volvo XC40 holding twelve, and the Kia EV6 holding thirteen.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for shopping with two rows of seats in use

The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat…

Thule Sleek

…will fit in the Solterra boot with seven shopping bags.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for shopping with single stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats…

…will fit in the boot of the 2024 Subaru Solterra with five shopping bags.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for shopping with tandem stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Sleek, future-proof, multi-configuration pram with a single seat and bassinet beside it…

will fit in the boot of the 2024 Subaru Solterra with no shopping bags

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for shopping with tandem stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Urban Glide 3 single is the ultimate all-terrain stroller…

Thule Urban Glide 3

… with the back wheels on, it will fit in the Solterra boot with four shopping bags.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for shopping with single stroller pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Thule Urban Glide 3 double is Thule's beloved ultimate all-terrain stroller…

… with the back wheels removed, it will fit in the boot of the 2024 Solterra with three shopping bags.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for twin side by side stroller pram and shopping with two rows of seats in use

The Thule Spring, lightweight and one-handed folding stroller…

Thule Spring

… fits in the boot of the Subaru Solterra with eight shopping bags.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for shopping with compact pram if two rows of seats are in use

The Subaru Solterra's boot can also accommodate a 90L, a 70L and two 40L Thule Chasm duffle bags.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for luggage with two rows of seats in use

You can put a medium-sized dog in the boot of the Subaru Solterra.

2024 Subaru Solterra boot space for dogs with two rows of seats in use

The Subaru Solterra has a clear media screen that is easy to navigate using the icons down the right-hand side. It's different to the layout of other Subarus as it's based on Toyota's system.

It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which allows you to access your phone's messaging, navigation, and listening apps while driving.

You can customise many aspects of the car, including the sound, so those with noise-sensitive kids can turn things down or off.

You can also customise the car's driver and safety assist system to turn off the ones you don't want. Also, create a charging schedule too.

The Solterra has a built-in Sat-Nav.

When you put the Solterra in reverse, the camera images are lovely and clear and fill the screen. There is a birds-eye camera view…

… as well as other views…

… and there's a 3D surround camera too.

The climate and heated seat controls are on the main dash below the media screen. This fixed position makes them easy to use and change while driving.

The steering wheel in the 2024 Subaru Solterra is a bit of a funny shape! It's like they have gone for a Peugeot 2008-style wheel, but it doesn't feel as good ergonomically. With woven upholstery and dash, the interior doesn't feel up to Subarus's usual calibre.

The Solterra is a nippy drive, and being fully electric, you have the great benefits of driving your kids to school or sleep and sitting while your kids nap or waiting at pickup with the aircon running without chewing through fuel or polluting the air around you.

With three Infasecure child seats in the back of the 2024 Subaru Solterra, visibility is excellent over the top of them, and the surround camera is great.

2024 Subaru Solterra with three child seats installed in the second row

Overall, the 2024 Subaru Solterra makes a very practical and fun BabyDrive for those looking for an electric family car. Three Infasecure child seats fit in the back, legroom is good, and the boot can hold a double Thule Urban Glide 3 pram.

The Subaru Solterra has a five-star ANCAP safety rating and has seven airbags as standard.

Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags are standard. A centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes is also standard

 

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BabyDrive Indepth

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Tace Clifford
About Tace Clifford
Tace Clifford founded BabyDrive in 2017 after discovering a huge information gap in mainstream car reviews that left new parents and expanding families in the dark when it came to one of the biggest purchasing decisions of their lives.

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