Subaru Solterra, SVX and BRZ: Almost always have all-wheel drive

On July 15, 1953, industrial history was written in Japan. Five technology companies came together under the umbrella of the newly formed Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (FHI). These include a company in the aerospace industry whose roots go back to 1917. It is a new automotive division of Subaru that has grown to become the world’s largest manufacturer of four-wheeled vehicles. Today the former Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. as Subaru Corporation; the name was changed in 2017.

Subaru has been active on the German market since 1954, but it is the best service provider in this country. But the Japanese have a strong community. And Subaru is carefully developing its exterior image against the background of the fact that it cannot compete with the loud manufacturers anyway. The aim is to put together an attractive package for all those customers who want to own something special and who know about the well-known reliability of six-star cars. Subaru impresses less with its sporty driving characteristics and more with its durability. For many customers of this brand, this is the main selling point. Even on German roads, old models with mileages of more than 250,000 to 300,000 kilometers are not uncommon.

Full warranty up to 160,000 km

The Japanese believe in their technology so much that they offer an exemplary warranty package: up to eight years of full warranty up to 160,000 km, a five-year protection letter promising up to 160,000 km and, from July 2023, a three-year warranty on the original. spare parts and accessories. By the way, Subaru drivers are more satisfied with the car and the service of the workshop.

To date, more than 23 million models with all-wheel drive have been produced, making Subaru the world’s most successful manufacturer of large-scale all-wheel drive vehicles. We have selected three useful examples for a brief test below because they have special features.

Soltera – the future

The Solterra ushers in a new era at Subaru: It’s the brand’s first all-electric vehicle. However, the Solterra is not a true Subaru: It was co-developed with Toyota and is largely identical to the Toyota bZ4X. Unlike Toyota, Subaru is only available with all-wheel drive. It’s part of his DNA. But it is no longer the familiar all-wheel drive, where all the main parts, from the engine to the transmission and the final drive to the rear differential, are arranged in a single line, i.e. completely symmetrical from side to side. This results in a stable flow of the vehicle that has no disruptive effects, which results in greater driving stability.

The “new” all-wheel drive is implemented through two electric motors, each with 109 hp, through electronic control. System output is 218 hp. Where the crankshaft was on Subaru in the era of combustion engines, the battery is now the heart of the electric car and sits inside the floor of the car, ensuring a low center of gravity and good stability. The Japanese are in good hands here: With a 71.4 kWh battery, Subaru promises a range of 416 (with Platinum Plus equipment) to 466 kilometers (Comfort) according to the WLTP standard. Performance is similar to this class: zero to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.

The driver’s display is mounted on top

At 4.69 meters, the crossover SUV is as tall as a mid-size sedan. At 1.65 meters, he stands clearly above such a person. Thanks to elegant 20-inch wheels, strong plastic panels and a very angular shape, this Subaru stands out from other electric cars in this class. Designers showed courage.

And here too, the traditional Japanese stay true to themselves. While other German electric SUVs with stiffer chassis attract negative attention, the two-ton Solterra offers long-distance suspension comfort even without the adaptive damping control thanks to the conventionally tuned chassis.

When you look at the cockpit in airplane cockpit style, you see the display is mounted on top, as has been the case with Peugeot for many years. However, the clear view over the steering wheel is not good for every driver, as the steering wheel, which is full of buttons, has to be adjusted awkwardly all the way down to get a clear view of the instrument cluster. So it is literally on his knees. Everyone should test for themselves if it works in their specific case. I had no problem with my height of 1.70 meters.

The Solterra starts in the basic Comfort version at 58,490 euros, and is already well equipped. The top version Platinum Plus has almost everything on board – but for a whopping 61,990 euros. And how is it going? In 2024, three-phase charging will finally be introduced at Solterra to shorten the time needed to charge ACs in home wall boxes. According to Volker Dannath, four new fully electric models will hit the market by 2026. Which? However, Subaru’s CEO has yet to reveal this.

SVX – best selling

First of all: The abbreviation does not stand for the Roman numeral 15, but for SUV (with X for all-wheel drive). About 40 percent of all Subarus sold in this country are XVs. This makes it the best selling style of the brand; just ahead of the Forester. Because of

Subaru is the opposite of sleek, stylish SUVs that look just like they do, but focus on simpler terrain. The standard all-wheel drive of the XV is not only capable of handling off-road terrain, it also copes with it. This gives it a unique selling point in this compact SUV class. With a base price of 32,990 euros for the XV 2.0ie with hybrid technology, it is one of the most common all-wheel drive cars. Technically speaking, the XV is basically a smaller Forester. And in short, the SVX is not only the most attractive Tiguan, but also 10,000 euros cheaper than it.

Now with a forward radar

The special feature of the new generation SUV? They always have the special Eyesight driver assistance system on board, which is supplemented by a forward radar. Like a second pair of eyes, two stereo camera lenses mounted on the left and right side of the interior mirror monitor what is happening on the road by taking three-color images and processing them using advanced image recognition. By determining the shape, speed and distance from the image, the system can identify cars, motorcycles, bicycles and even pedestrians. As soon as EyeSight detects a danger, the system warns the driver and, if necessary, even applies the brakes automatically to prevent an accident.

© Rainer Ruthe

Even Subaru can’t ignore the new times. The modified XV 2.Oie (that’s what it’s really called!) has a 17 hp electric motor that supports a 150 hp vacuum cleaner. That does something, but not much. Consumption should be reduced by 0.4 liters per 100 kilometers. In a short test we needed about eight liters. On the other hand, the boxer is impressive for his high level of race improvement. Because of the horizontally opposed pistons, it produces fewer vibrations than a conventional inline four cylinder. Acceleration is nice and linear, but not overly punchy.

The XV is now called the Crosstrek

However, the Subaru XV will no longer be available in 2024. When the third generation debuts in Germany on January 27, 2024, the XV will be called the Crosstrek. The new one gets major changes at the front and rear. With narrow headlights, a lower radiator grille and taillights, the Crosstrek’s design language is based on the flagship of the brand, the Subaru Outback. The Crosstrek takes the drive from the XV, which, however, has been heavily modified.

Due to the more difficult cleaning of the exhaust gas, 14 hp fell by the wayside. The direct injection petrol engine now delivers 136 hp and 182 Newton meters of torque, which is supported by an electric motor integrated in the Lineartronic. The run to 100 km/h is extended to 10.8 seconds, and a top speed of 198 km/h is possible. Savings miracles do not happen. Factory consumption is quoted as 7.7 liters Super per 100 km. 114 hp 1.6i without the small electric has been removed from the range.

With new steering from Bosch, the Crosstrek should be more controlled and faster when cornering. According to Subaru, noise level and driving comfort are also said to be improved. Subaru charges at least 34,790 euros for the Crosstrek, 1,800 euros more than the XV.

BRZ – elite

The Subaru BRZ breaks away from Japanese tradition: It doesn’t have mandatory all-wheel drive but “only” rear-wheel drive. It took a long time until Subaru was able to bring the second generation BRZ to Germany in March 2023. This Subaru is a bit reminiscent of Jaguar’s slimmed-down F-Type. Under the long hood sits a new naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which develops 234 hp and a maximum torque of 250 Newton meters at 3,700 revolutions. If you’re looking for a car that’s easy to control with your playful instincts, you’ll do just fine with the BRZ, which costs 38,990 euros.

© Rainer Ruthe

The sports car is a joint development with Toyota and is therefore similar to the GR86. As such, Subaru is one of the last cars that delivers the driving pleasure of an old-fashioned analog car. Who needs a high-end, expensive sports car with hundreds of horsepower for fun driving when, like here, you have a rustic transmission, a powerful, naturally aspirated engine, rear-wheel drive, unfiltered acceleration and Low weight on the plus side. All elements of true driving pleasure that you no longer find in other “sports cars” that weigh several tons.

© Rainer Ruthe

The four cylinder intake has become more powerful. The fact that the BRZ seems surprisingly powerful in everyday life is due to the clever coordination of the accelerator pedal setup. It responds most strongly in the first half of the pedal travel. The BRZ, which weighs less than 1.3 tonnes, starts very quickly even with gentle pedal pressure. Letters disappear and heartbeats increase. That’s how sports cars work!