When you think of EV brands, Subaru isn’t the first name that pops into mind, but that may change now that the brand has two electric models in its lineup.
Priced from $215,800 with COE, the E-Outback joins the Solterra XT, which debuted in January this year. Both SUVs are underpinned by the e-Subaru Global Platform that’s designed for Subaru’s EV models.
At media launch in Nomads, Motor Image Enterprises, Subaru’s official Singapore dealer, highlighted the E-Outback’s numerous advantages that include performance and range, passenger space, versatility, and safety.
Notably, the E-Outback is the quickest and most powerful Subaru model to date. It packs two electric motors that deliver 280kW (375bhp) and 536Nm of torque – enabling the SUV to do zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
Feeding the motor is a 74.7kWh battery with up to 443km of driving range. Maximum charging speeds are 22kW (AC) and 150kW (DC). With the latter, the battery can be topped-up from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes.
As expected, the E-Outback is equipped with all-wheel drive, which not only controls drive force distribution based on road and driving conditions, but the regenerative braking force as well. X-Mode, which helps drivers deal with even more challenging conditions such as deep snow and mud, is standard, too.
Inside, the instrument panel is displayed on a 7-inch TFT LCD, while the infotainment is on a 14-inch touchscreen. Amenities include a pair of wireless chargers, three USB-C ports (one in front, two for the rear passengers), dual-zone climate control, and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
Although the E-Outback’s overall length is 155mm longer than the Solterra XT’s (4845mm versus 4690mm), its wheelbase of 2850mm is identical to the latter’s. That extra length is found in the rear overhang, resulting in a boot capacity of 619 litres or 178 litres more than what the Solterra offers.
Helping keep occupants secure is Subaru Safety Assist, the brand’s suite of safety features that include Pre-Collision System (PCS), Safe Exit Assist (SEA), and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC).
At $215,800, the E-Outback costs $8,000 more than the Solterra XT. It’s not hard to imagine a Solterra XT buyer opting for the E-Outback instead for its added performance and practicality.
Surprisingly, however, Motor Image says that E-Outback customers are primarily family men and women in their 30s and 40s who need the extra space for their children’s accoutrements.
Meanwhile, Solterra XT buyers tend to be in their 40s or 50s, and they don’t need the extra practicality as their children are older and/or living independently.
This story was first published on Sgcarmart.
