Subaru Solterra Wilderness on the cards

The 2024 Subaru Solterra could spawn an offroad-focussed Wilderness variant in line with the Japanese brand’s adventurous spirit.

Subaru already offers a trio of Wilderness variants in the US, based on the Crosstrek, Forester and Outback, and Subaru Australia has previously made no secret of its willingness to offer them here.

Speaking at the launch of the 2024 Subaru Solterra – the Japanese brand’s first EV – Subaru Australia managing director Blair Read told carsales that could extend to the all-new mid-size electric SUV.

“Watch this space,” said Read when asked about the potential of a Solterra Wilderness, adding that Subaru Australia is “in discussions” with its Japanese headquarters on the matter and that, while such a project was yet to be confirmed, he was “always confident”.

“If you look at what’s happened… with Wilderness, it appeals to the Subaru buyer,” he said. “It enhances the capability of the vehicle, it plays right into the heart of what the Subaru SUV range stands for.

“Would it [a Solterra Wilderness] make sense and would it make a good offering? One hundred per cent.”

In North America, each Wilderness vehicle gets all-terrain tyres, unique bumpers, a front skid plate, water-resistant seat trim, heavier-duty roof rails and various design tweaks.

There are also revised gear ratios tailored to suit low-speed off-road driving, as well as a more advanced X-Mode with additional drive modes for snow/dirt and deep snow/mud.

Wilderness versions of the Forester and Outback also have more ground clearance for added capability in rough terrain.

Applying many of those attributes to the Solterra would be easy. Plus, Subaru’s first EV would have some inherent benefits for off-road work.

Tuning the traction control of an EV is easier than a petrol car, for example. Instead of having to control fuel flow there’s faster-responding electrons to play with.

Plus an EV has a relatively low centre of gravity and no requirement for an air intake, potentially making water crossings easier (although shielding the battery and high-voltage components from water ingress is an added challenge).

Currently the Solterra doesn’t get a spare wheel, but Subaru Australia is working on a solution that would allow a full-size spare to be added as an accessory.

A longer driving range would also be an advantage, given the relatively modest distance between charges currently available.

Subaru doesn’t quote a WLTP range figure for the Solterra but the mechanically-identical Toyota bZ4X (badges and the front bumper are the main changes) claims 411km for the dual-motor AWD version.

For those really wanting to adventure, having the ability to travel further between charges obviously brings benefits.

But the bigger challenge for a Solterra Wilderness is getting it manufactured in right-hand drive.

No Wilderness models have been sold in Australia to date. That’s primarily because of subtle design differences between left- and right-hand drive models and in some instances different production locations (Australian-delivered Outbacks come from Japan, for example, whereas American versions are manufactured at a US plant in Indiana).

But Read says the fact the Solterra is built in Japan brings potential benefits for Australia.

“The EV production being based out of Japan, that is something that does potentially make it easier in the future for us.”

All of which bodes well for an upcoming Solterra Wilderness, but don’t hold your breath for a more affordable front-drive, single-motor version of the Solterra.

Read essentially says it will never happen (although keep in mind Subaru had previously said all models would be all-wheel drive before it later introduced the rear-drive BRZ sports coupe).

“It’s not something we would entertain,” he said emphatically about a two-wheel drive Solterra

“What do customers expect from the Subaru brand? Do they expect a two-wheel drive SUV? Subaru customers don’t, that’s what they tell us and that’s what makes us unique in the market and that’s what customers expect.”

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