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Is the new 2023 Subaru Solterra all-electric SUV a safe vehicle for customers? The new Solterra EV earned a five-star safety award from JNCAP in Japan earlier this month. Now Subaru Corporation reports that Solterra was awarded the maximum five stars from the 2022 European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP) safety performance test.
It's the second award for the highest result in the battery-electric vehicle category. What does it mean for consumers?
The Solterra achieved top scores in Adult Occupant Protection (88%), Child Occupant Protection (87%), Vulnerable Road Users Protection (79%), and Safety Assist (91%). All four assessment areas stand above the minimum threshold required.
Subaru says the Solterra achieved "a remarkable score" in the Child Occupant Protection with a maximum score in crash test performance of both frontal and lateral impact based on six and ten-year-old children.
photo credit: Euro NCAP
Solterra also received a very high automatic emergency braking (AEB) car-to-car score with 5.6/6 points in safety assist assessment thanks to the preventive safety system EyeSight.
The Solterra EV also attained a remarkable score for AEB Cyclist, with a score of 8.7/9 points for the Vulnerable Road Users assessment area. The system performed well in the tests of its response to pedestrians and cyclists, with collisions avoided in most test scenarios as well as to other vehicles.
How does Solterra achieve the top scores?
The Solterra uses the newly adopted e-Subaru Global Platform (e-SGP), jointly developed with Toyota as a platform exclusively for battery electric vehicles (BEV), for its collision safety performance.
Subaru says the e-SGP is a multi-load pass structure that disperses and absorbs the impact of a collision throughout the body, ensuring the safety of the occupants and, at the same time, enhancing the protection performance for various parts with high voltage, such as the battery.
In addition, the extensive use of high-strength, ultra-high-tensile steel sheets has achieved both high collision safety performance and light vehicle weight, which leads to improved driving dynamics.
The new Solterra sold in the U.S. comes equipped with Subaru's next-generation EyeSight safety technology. The driver-assist system uses stereo cameras with nearly doubled expanded view coverage for collision prevention.
Subaru says EyeSight has reduced the rear-end collision rate by 84 percent and the pedestrian accident rate by 49 percent. The rear-end collision rate for vehicles equipped with EyeSight is 0.06 percent.
All 2023 Solterra trim levels feature standard EyeSight driver assist technologies, which monitor traffic movement, optimize cruise control, and warn you when you're swaying outside your lane. The Pre-Collision System 3 can apply full braking force and bring you to a complete stop in emergencies.
Solterra's Dynamic Radar Cruise Control3 and Lane Tracing Assist3 "can take some of the stress out of driving by helping with steering, braking, and throttle control in daily traffic and on long road trips," says Subaru.
Subaru says, "We will continue to evolve safety performance, which is an essential element that supports the enjoyment and peace of mind that Subaru proposes, aiming for zero fatal traffic accidents by 2030."
When will the 2023 Subaru Solterra arrive in the U.S.?
Toyota manufactures the 2023 Subaru Solterra EV at its plant in Japan. Toyota recently reported a twenty-three percent increase in global production, impacting Solterra manufacturing. Subaru of America has yet to announce when the Solterra will arrive in U.S. showrooms. With production re-starting this month after Toyota fixed the wheel problem, the 2023 Subaru Solterra should come to U.S. customers soon.
What is the price of the Solterra?
The 2023 Solterra is offered in three trim levels, Premium, Limited, and Touring. Pricing for the Solterra Premium trim level starts at $46,220. The Limited trim carries a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price of $49,720. The top-of-the-line Touring trim is priced at $53,220. Prices include destination and delivery fees ($1,225). Subaru of America says retailers set the actual price and may charge more.
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is the safest vehicle in the battery-electric category and a good choice for families concerned with safety. The latest JNCAP testing and the Euro NCAP scores give the Solterra EV the highest five-star score in its global testing.
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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Photo credit: Subaru
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