technology | On the road

Subaru’s Solterra has come a long way in just a couple of years, first debuting as the Japanese firm’s first all-electric model and now making an impact on the world sporting stage.

The impressive EV now acts as the Official Safety Car for the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK), marking Subaru Europe’s debut in official motorsport and the first time an electric vehicle has taken on this role.

The Solterra made its debut in round seven at Donington Park in Leicestershire recently.

This event featured three WorldSBK races, including two on the main race day, along with competitions from World SuperSport and the Women’s World Championship.

A WorldSBK statement said it is proud to announce a new partnership with Subaru, marking the start of an unprecedented collaboration from 2025 to 2027, four Subaru Solterra vehicles – the brand’s first all-electric SUVs – will play a crucial role at every WorldSBK round.

Seemingly a “left-field” choice, it features enhanced cooling and stiffer suspension for high-speed use. And also included are spoilers and diffusers.

The interior is basically a stripped down version with sport bucket seats, roll cage, and safety gear.

It has the same 71.4kWh battery and AWD but is optimised for race track maximum performance.

To maximise its presence, Subaru even allowed guests to take part in exclusive hot laps with a pro driver and well as test drives on the circuit.

Design and practicality

The standard model still has an eye catching presence with its high ground clearance (210mm), muscular wheel arches, and a rugged profile that hints at its off-road potential.

There are two specifications, Limited and the Touring model driven here.

Both models have a premium feel and come with a range of features. This model adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, and leather upholstery. Both trims include heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 360-degree parking camera, making it easier to manoeuvre this large vehicle.

Inside, the SUV has a spacious cabin for five passengers, with plenty of legroom floor.

It offers 452 litres of boot space, along with a 60/40 split-folding seatback and a two-position load floor for flexible storage.

The wide tailgate opening and low lift-over height make loading and unloading simple. Additionally, fixed cross-bar mounting points provide extra options for carrying cargo, which is great for adventurous owners.

Performance

Powered by dual 60kW motors and a 71.4kWh battery, it offers a claimed 289 miles of range (WLTP). However, real-world conditions, such as high speeds and adverse weather, can significantly reduce this. Range anxiety with EVs is also diminishing as more rapid charging is available, from 10-80 per cent in under 35 minutes, at 150 kW charging points.

Acceleration is impressive, reaching 0-60mph in about seven seconds. Its off-road capability, thanks to Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD and X-MODE, allows it to handle challenging terrains with settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud.

It also handles well, in its everyday form feeling stable and well planted on corners, or in race mode when racing around race tracks.

Technology and safety

The interior features a prominent 12.3-inch touchscreen that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, alongside a seven-inch digital driver’s display that provides real-time information. The touchscreen also manages infotainment through the Harman/Kardon eight-speaker system and navigation.

While the technology is cutting-edge, traditional rotary secondary controls add a sense of robustness to the cabin.

The firm’s EyeSight system enhances safety with features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision braking. Additional safety technologies, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, instil confidence in various driving situations, complemented by a full suite of airbags.

Pricing and updates

Starting at £52,495 for the Limited, it the price puts it among the more expensive options in the electric SUV segment. Mitigating this is superb Subaru off-road capability alongside premium features.

For those willing to wait, a refreshed 2026 model is set to arrive in early 2026, promising tweaked styling, faster charging, and an enhanced range of up to 25 per cent.

Factfile

Subaru Solterra Touring EV
Price: £55,505
Mechanical: 218PS, 160kW twin-motors, 71.4kWh battery, driving all wheels via automatic transmission
Max Speed: 100mph
0-62mph: 6.9 secs
Range: 257 miles
Insurance Group: 39
C02 emissions: 0
Bik rating: 3%
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles, 8yrs/100,000 battery

Volkswagen’s ID.7 Tourer combines appealing design and functionality, offering a 445-mile range, spacious interiors, advanced technology, and strong safety systems. Priced from £55,260, it effectively balances luxury and practicality for families.

Volkswagen is producing some seriously good cars in the moment. I say at the moment, it nearly always has, but this big ID is its best EV yet.
The market is all about SUV/crossovers, so the big family saloon/tourer bucks the trend somewhat, but seems to have limited competition around. Except maybe for the VW Group stablemate Skoda Superb.

The German brand has clearly put some serious thought into the aesthetics of the ID.7. This car boasts a drag coefficient of 0.25. The aerodynamic profile not only looks good but also contributes to its claimed range of 445 miles.

Range anxiety is decreasing as battery power delivers and an ID.7 Pro S with a standard technology package and output of 210 kW or 286 PS, recently covered a distance of 585 miles on just one battery charge on a test run in Italy.

It’s huge at just under five metres, although this tourer has a slightly taller roof, with roof rails to allow for extra capacity.

Standout features include the illuminated VW badge on the slim grille while to the rear, there are tinted windows with a horizontal LED light strip.

Other features include body-coloured bumpers and door handles; gloss black door mirrors with integrated indicators, black roof; silver roof trim strip and 19-inch alloy wheels round it all off.

The interior offers a spacious layout with generous head and legroom, large glass panels and minimal clutter.
The build quality is the best yet and improves on some of the cheaper finishes on earlier models. Exactly what you would want for a motor costing in excess of £55k.

For that you get plenty of standard equipment, but this model managed to add another £4k worth of extras.

The gear selector is a rocker switch located behind the steering wheel, and the absence of a handbrake lever creates extra space between the front seats for a large central console with deep storage capacity

The comfortable seats are heated with power adjustments and lumbar support and there are leather style trim to steering wheel and door and soothing ambient lighting with 30 colour options.

The vehicle is equipped with a 15-inch display, an augmented reality head-up display and operates the sat nav with preloaded European maps, speed limit display, and the ability to connect two mobile devices simultaneously. Infotainment includes a DAB digital radio, 8+1 speakers

Additional features include an online voice assistant, and multiple USB-C ports along with wireless smartphone charging. The optional panoramic sunroof can toggle between opaque and transparent modes via touch or voice commands.

You would expect an estate type vehicle to have plenty of luggage space and this is no exception, with a compartment volume of 605 that expands to a cavernous 1,714 litres

Range anxiety is a diminishing problem with more efficient batteries and a growing charging grid country-wide. The model features an 87 kWh battery mated with a 286 PS motor, which deliver rapid pace and hits 60mph in just 6.7 seconds. It also produces a massive 545Nm of torque, making it ideal for towing.

As for that huge claimed range, I got nowhere near it, and with a week of filthy, wet, dark and cold weather, it was difficult to tell . But I reckon 350 might have been nearer the mark and the car went back with plenty of range left. Fast charging allows for a 10-minute charge that provides 126 miles of range and can go from 10% to 80% in 28 minutes.

For a big vehicle it handles really well, offering good stability on corners with plenty of grip. But it really is a comfortable, practical estate, at home around town and particularly pleasant on long motorway journeys.

It is packed with safety kit that includes a full complement of airbags, driver fatigue detection, electronic stability control with traction control and a reminder system for unfastened seat belts.
Additional features assisted braking and various traffic and pedestrian warnings.

Factfile

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer Pro S Match
Price: £55,260
Mechanical: 286PS electric motor and 89kWh battery powering rear wheels via single speed auto transmission
Max speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 6.7 seconds
Range: 424 miles
Insurance group: 38
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
BiK rating: 2%
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

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