THE LOWDOWN

Known for their reliability and safety, the Solterra All Electric SUV is the brand’s first 100% electric vehicle, a family-friendly automatic SUV. That means zero Co2 emissions, so it’s far more environmentally-friendly than a traditional combustion gas-guzzler. It’s also the first electric with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive – which means no matter which wheel is stuck in a pothole, the car cleverly sends power to the right one to effortlessly haul you out.

So, to put it simply it’s a 4×4 that won’t make you feel guilty about the planet, and – stop press! – one which has just scooped the Which? Best Buy in the ‘Medium/Large’ SUV category.

As you’ll know if you take an interest in the government’s climate, erm, commitments, this autumn the PM pushed back the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by five years to 2035. Enough to have even the most ardent tree-hugger wondering if now’s a good time to make the leap to electric – even with their cheaper running costs and virtuousness.

That’s why Muddy’s head did a 360-degree swivel while driving by this dip-your-toe finance offer from Exeter’s Livery Dole. Put down a £3221 deposit before Christmas, and for £359 per month, you can drive away a brand new Subaru Solterra All Electric Touring for 24 months. Then, even if the UK’s gone to hell in handcart in two years’ time, you can hand it back, or assuming you love it too much, buy it outright or go for a part-exchange.

Ready for a test drive? Buckle up and let’s take her for a spin.

THE DRIVE

Quiet, isn’t she? That’ll be the *checks manual* 71.4kWh battery and the very solid cabin which insulates you well from traffic noise. Sorry about my noisy kids in the back who are asking for Kanye West to be turned up on the 8 speakers and subwoofer, but hey, at least they’re not squabbling over leg room. There are acres of space back there – even for my 6ft 2 eldest son – along with two Isofix fittings for baby seats.

Look, no keys! I’ve just chucked them in the roomy central section where you can also pop your coffee and hide your stuff away.

Want your bottom warming? You can turn on the heated seats from the passenger side. Mine’s whacked up to three and the faux leather heated steering wheel is nice and toasty too. Both are so quick to heat that even the mad morning dash to the train station with my ever-late daughter is less stressy.

It’s a nice high ride, as this car has good ground clearance to get you over those bumps and humps, and a large windscreen.

The level of automation is impressive thanks to Subaru Safety Sense which detects hazards with a wide angle camera and alerts you in advace. I know it’s not for everyone but there’s something very reassuring knowing if you were to accidentally venture across lanes, it would pull you back. Or if you missed a car coming up on you from behind at speed, the wing mirror flashes an alert. It will even brake for you if it thinks you won’t stop in time. If you like the ease of cruise control you’ll love this dynamic version which adjusts the speed according to the traffic.

At night, the lights switch between various settings, without ever blinding an oncoming driver. It’s like driving along in a pool of light, and brilliant if you’re stressed about night-driving. And check out those aerodynamic spoilers.

For a 4×4, it holds the road really well, even on tight corners and, boy, did it fly up those hills without a grumble. Pop into X-Mode and something called Hill Descent Control maintains the speed so you can concentrate on the steering.

THE LOOKS

Would you think it was a 4×4 from the exterior? Looks pretty smart to me. Good enough to turn up to a work meeting, and risk though a flooded lane. It’s on the large side for an SUV – I was more aware of being careful when squeezing through parked cars either side of the road than I was in the similar Subaru Outback I reviewed.

Colourwise, you can choose from seven, including various shades of grey, a pearl mica white, Dark Blue Mica, Midnight Black and (I don’t make up the names) Emotional Red.

The wheels are sporty 20in alloys, which you can customise with splash guards to keep your paintwork clean, handy if you’re forever navigating muddy tracks.

The Infotainment screen is massive – 12.3in – and a mix of modern touch-screen and old school press buttons underneath, which being a bit old school myself, I really liked. AppleCARPLAY and phone charging is wireless but you have to plug in via a cable to access Android Auto.

But once you do there are all your contacts, music, podcasts and phone, and handily, things like the Voice Activation, and radio volume can be accessed from the steering wheel.

Need a big boot? You got it – 452 litres and 10 more underneath where the charging cables are stored. Levers pop down the back seats when you need to make the boot bigger – already large enough for four to five big suitcases/ dog cages/sports gear and a whopping supermarket shop.

Powered tailgate, for easy closing of the boot and a tonneau to securely hide your luggage from prying eyes. Tick, tick.

I also love the grippy texture and inverse slope of the dashboard – no more Cheesy Wotsit dramas on tight corners!

THE TECH

Brain in gear? Here comes the science: the 71.4kWh battery delivers a range of up to 289 miles (but in reality closer to 230 or less depending on whether you have air con/heating blaring out). It’s a 218PS/336Nm electric motor with that clever All-Wheel Drive system and a minimum 210mm ground clearance.

It claims a 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds and when you need more or less oomph to those wheels you can switch between Eco/Normal/Power by pressing a button marked Drive Mode.

X-Mode helps you through tough driving conditions like snow and ice, very reassuring when you’re up on Dartmoor.

When it comes to charging, you can either plug in to a three-pin socket, or more likely, you’ll probably want to have an EV wall charger installed as it’s around three times as fast to charge. The car’s Infotainment can advise on your closest EV station, or check for free on ZapMap which has some 36752 locations mapped across 21906 charging locations (as of Nov 22) 6.9% of those in the South West. Cost-wise, you can expect to pay 8-11p per mile at home or 25p per mile when you’re out.

I didn’t try it but there’s also an app to plan journeys, find your car, assess your driving efficiency, check the charge and pre-heat or cool the car remotely.

COOL BITS

Infotainment Screen on Subaru Solterra showing reversing

The parking and reversing help is brilliant, thanks to that huge screen which shows you two pictures side by side, of both your car and what you’re reversing into. I’m not sure if I had it in an odd setting but it bleeped in reverse mode, rather than just when I was about to hit something which was off-putting.

You can set the driving seat to two positions. When you stop and start the car, it automatically pushes the car seat into and out of your set driving position, ready for pulling away or to give you more room to get out. Nifty!

THE MUDDY VERDICT

So, what’s in it for you? Cheaper running costs provided you’re not doing long hauls up and down the motorway. I always think of Subaru as one of those ‘if you know, you know’ brands. Once you’re hooked, you’re in it for life – and here’s your chance to try before you buy.

Good for: an electrifying chance to dip your toe into the future!; a second family car; big, busy, sporty families with loads of kit to carry; it’s a dream for parents of large teens; zero road tax until 1 April 2025; people who struggle with reversing and nighttime driving; easy to use tech; options on a panoramic sunroof.

Not for: if you frequently do 200+ mile journeys; zero off-road parking or access to a close three pin plug or wall charging box; Luddites who’d rather stick with the polluting devil you know; range-anxious, although once you’re used to it, its only like filling up at the garage without the exorbitant fuel costs.

The damage: With the 24 month Personal Contract Offer you can drive away for £359 including VAT per month, a £3221 including VAT deposit, based on 8000 miles per annum (excess mileage charged at 19.8p per mile.) For comparison, the OTR price is £55,495, monthly from £569, deposit £10,490, APR Representative 5.9%.

Fancy a test-drive?

Go on, you know you do! Give the fabulous Livery Dole owners Joe and Hayden and their team a call. They’re 100 years-old this year (Livery Dole not Joe and Hayden) with a brilliant range of new and used Subaru, Isuzu and Mitsubishi, so they know what they’re about.

Vehicles come with a 60-point health check from Livery Dole’s award-winning workshop; preferential finance rates; three years FREE service plan and 12 months FREE roadside assistance; 12-month unlimited mileage warranty and minimum 6 months MOT; full HPI certification. Plus, low-rate finance options available on both new and used vehicles.

Livery Dole, 18 Trusham Road, Marsh Barton, Exeter, Devon EX2 8QG Tel: 01392 215141. Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Saturday: 8.30am-5pm, Sunday by appointment.

Buy or hire? Muddy reviews the new Subaru Solterra All-Electric SUV

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