LOS ANGELES — The auto brand best known for outdoorsy types debuted its first battery electric vehicle Wednesday. The Subaru Solterra SUV will be able to travel more than 220 miles on a single charge when it comes to market in May 2022, generating zero emissions as it wheels over every hill and dale with its legendary symmetrical all-wheel drive. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Subaru Solterra SUV will be able to travel more than 220 miles on a single charge when it comes to market in May 2022

  • It is also the first Subaru with a 360-degree surround view camera and a digital key

  • Subaru has dabbled with electrification in the past, starting with a hybrid version of its Crosstrek SUV

  • The Solterra was jointly developed with Toyota; Subaru developed the chassis and all-wheel drive system

What’s new about the system with the Solterra is that it now has grip control — a sort of cruise control for drivers as they scale and descend hills. It is also the first Subaru with a 360-degree surround view camera and a digital key, so drivers who’ve used their Solterra to go rock climbing, kayaking or mountain biking don’t need to worry about carrying (and potentially losing) a physical key. Their phone can lock, unlock and turn on the car.

“Subaru customers love adventuring. They love the planet,” Subaru of America’s Car Line Planning Manager Garrick Goh told Spectrum News 1 at an event in Malibu, where a Solterra effortlessly navigated a dirt road, shallow stream and rocky embankment emitting nothing but a slight whirring sound. “They want to do the right thing for this world. Because EVs are cleaner, there is significant demand from our customer base for this type of vehicle, so this is our answer to that question.”

Subaru has dabbled with electrification in the past, starting with a hybrid version of its Crosstrek SUV. The Crosstrek is currently available in gas-powered and plug-in hybrid electric versions and is the only other Subaru model that can be recharged with a plug. The Solterra was jointly developed with Toyota; Subaru developed the chassis and all-wheel drive system.

With a name derived from the Latin words for sun and earth, the Solterra is a play for Subaru’s planet- (and dog-) loving clientele with a high-tech twist. Gone is Subaru’s traditional hexagonal grille, replaced, for the most part, with a solid front fascia that subtly indicates its electric status. Inside, a large multifunction touch screen dominates the dash. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does wireless phone charging. 

While its profile is more of an oversized hatchback, the Solterra is higher off the ground and roomier inside. Its undercarriage has 8.3 inches of ground clearance for drivers who prefer roads less traveled precisely because they are more difficult and lead to more pristine experiences. And if they plan to stay away from society for a while, its cargo hold has 30 cubic feet of space for all their REI gear when the rear seats are folded.