Bay Harbour: February 06, 2025

18 <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News Thursday <strong>February</strong> 6 <strong>2025</strong> Agile Solterra a solid first EV for Subaru SUBARU HAS TAKEN the full electric vehicle plunge, but it took some hand-holding from Toyota, who own a 20 per cent share of the company, to get them across the line and into the world of EVs. Their first battery electric vehicle is the Solterra, a Subarufied version of Toyota’s bZ4x EV, arrived here in March. Its debut was a case, through no fault of its own, of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our EV market had just been flipped on its ear with the axing of the previous Government’s generous clean car rebate. This scheme meant those purchasing an EV costing $80k or less received a rebate of around $8000. The EV road got even rockier in April when owners had to start paying road user charges of $80 per 1000km. No surprises then, that EV sales this year have hit the proverbial wall, and will take a long time to rebound. The Solterra not only marks the debut of a Subaru battery electric vehicle (BEV) in New Zealand, it signals increased diversification in the Subaru model line-up that will include Motoring with Bob Nettleton more hybrid and EV models in future. The next one is expected to be the new generation Subaru Forester, the likely recipient of a Toyota-developed hybrid system. It will be transformational, with this and other models hamstrung by Subaru’s seriously underwhelming hybrid system. This why they have dialed up Toyota help get their hybrid house in order. A two-model Solterra line up heads up our market and leads off with the standard variant retailing at $79,990. Hard on its heels is the more lavishly appointed $84,990 Touring supplied for this road test. A two-tone paint option is available on selected paint colours to give your Solterra a bit more visual street appeal. Price-wise, the groundbreaking Solterra sits right in the middle of our EV market, and faces the heat of rampant discounting by many manufacturers to move stock. The Subaru brand has a strong reputation, putting it in a slightly better position to weather this storm. Both Solterras are fitted with Subaru’s acclaimed Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive mounted to the company’s new e-Global Platform. Dual function X-Mode helps traverse tricky terrain, while 210mm of ground clearance does its bit. If a long new vehicle warranty is important to you, then you won’t find it here with only a three-year guarantee on offer, although it does come with unlimited kilometres. Even so, Subaru is dragging their heels a bit, with most new vehicle warranties here good for at least five-years. MG has thrown down a challenge to its New Zealand rivals, recently announcing an industry-leading 10-year/250,000km warranty. Sitting roughly size-wise between the Forester and Outback, the Solterra has plenty of power and off-road smarts, according to Subaru. They reckon this sets up well to explore more remote areas, if you are game enough to venture that far from an EV charger. I’m not convinced it’s capable of mixing it in the rough stuff, or wading through shallow creeks as reassuringly as its siblings. It felt like a light duties-only AWD, happiest on reasonably well formed tracks, and ski field roads. Equipped with dual electric motors strategically positioned Ratings out of 10: Performance 8; Handling 7; Build Quality 7; Comfort 7; Passenger and Load Space 8; Value for money: 6; Styling 7; Safety – Five star ANCAP crash rating. Overall points out of 10: 7.5 at the front and rear, alongside a cutting-edge 71.4kW lithiumion battery, Solterra delivers a maximum power output of 160kW and 337Nm of torque and has an NEDC test range of 485km. In real-world driving, I found the EV range mostly panned out at around 350km, an okay effort, not class-leading. The test car had more than enough heft to shift this decent sized SUV with plenty of urgency, and surrounds the vehicle occupants in a cloak of silence as it does so in lower-speed town driving. It’s a repeat performance on the open road, although the absence of engine bay sounds amplifies road noise, with the tyres a bit chirpy on coarse chip seal. Throttle response is exhilarating. Standing start acceleration provided by the electrified system makes most conventional engines seem pedestrian. A single-speed automatic is ultra-smooth and efficient. Charging the Subaru Solterra is easy, with both AC and DC charging capability. Charging from 20 to 80 per cent via a 150kW DC charger takes around 30 minutes, whereas via a singlephase 7kW AC charger, 20 to 80 per cent is a more laborious seven to eight hour haul. A roomy and welcoming cabin has an abundance of usable passenger and cargo space. Thoughtfully designed instruments and controls show plenty of attention to detail, and are easy to read and use. Stalk controls for the windscreen wipers and indicators are all within easy reach of the driver. Subaru’s all-electric offering includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, the company’s Safety Sense technology, wireless phone charging and a panoramic 360-degree view monitor. The heated seats, two front and the outside rear seats, are heavenly on cold frosty mornings, so much so, that it becomes a real mental battle to leave them for the frigid conditions outside the vehicle. There’s an impressive panoramic sunroof, although it steals a few valuable centimetres of headroom, especially for taller back seat occupants. The Solterra also features a line-up of leading edge safety kit including dynamic radar cruise control and blind spot monitoring that alerts the driver to surrounding vehicles that just out of their view. The suspension, in unison with the symmetrical AWD system, offers confident and sure-footed road holding on our usual mixed bag of road surfaces. With its balance, poise, and agility, the extra weight of a battery pack at each end of vehicle enables it to superimpose itself on the road. The ride is generally comfy apart from lapsing into listless mode over high frequency bumps common in around town motoring. subscribe AND sAVe 20% OFF THe rrP* *Based on savings for 12 issues New ZealaNd’s premier magaZiNe for lovers of yesterday’s cars classicdriver.co.nz 0800 624 295

Thursday <strong>February</strong> 6 <strong>2025</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News 19 Classifieds Contact us today Phone our local team 03 379 1100 Trades & Services Your local professional FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING, GAS & DRAINAGE • Bathroom repairs • Renovations • Leaks • Blocked drains • Gas and drainage Trades & Services LIFESTYLE BLOCK MOBILE SHEARING Professional friendly fast service No job too big or too small • Shearing • Crutching • Tailing • • Drenching • Foot Trimming • • Stock Removal • Call Shaun Adams for a free quote 021 204 1274 or 03 960 3112 Adamsshearing.com Cars Wanted Trades & Services Trades & Services Carol and Chris Phone 376 5322 or email chcheast@laserplumbing.co.nz WINDOW TINTING tintawindow advanced film solutions 99% uv block fade protection heat control reduce glare 25 Years Experience privacy films frosting designs non-darkening films Workmanship Guaranteed Lifetime Warranties on Most Films UV block Free Quotes Canterbury and Districts 03 365 3653 0800 368 468 BATHROOM TILER wet area waterproofing, underfloor heating, soap boxes, old to new, for best results, call Devon on 021 375-888 or 03 329 5511 BEST BATHROOMS Full renovations specialists, LBP builder. Free quote, all building property maintenance. Ph 387-0770 or 027 245 5226 ciey@xtra.co.nz BRICKLAYER George Lockyer, Governors <strong>Bay</strong>. UK trained with over 40 years exp. Smaller jobs & brick repairs preferred. No job too small. 027 684 4046 E: georgelockyer@xtra.co.nz BUILDER New builds, alterations, decks, fencing. 30 yrs in the trade has given me ability to build to a high standard. Free quotes. Ph Brent 027 241 7471 CHIM CHIM CHIMNEY SWEEPS We’ll sweep your logburner’s flue, check firebricks, baffles, airtubes & controls. We’re experts on coal-ranges, and can sweep any sized open fire. We quote & undertake repairs, flue extensions & install bird netting. 0800 22 44 64 www.chimchim. nz ELECTRICIAN. JMP Electrical. Experienced & registered.. Expert in all home electrical repairs & maintenance.Call James 027 4401715 PLUMBER Do you need a reliable plumber? Quality and timely services. No job too big or small. Phone V Plumbing Ltd. 022 351 4125 Real Estate A home wanted to buy in Banks Peninsula. Private cash buyer - family wanting the quiet life. Please phone Yvonne 021 055 3751 Wanted To Buy A Flying Nun records and tapes wanted. Will pay Pin Group Coat $1000, Six Impossible Things $700, Surburban Reptiles Sat Night $1600. Anything by 25 cents, Gordons, Builders, Clean, Mainly Spaniards, Playthings, Toy Love or any other Flying Nun and 80s alternative punk bands. Dave 021 222 6144 Pennylane Records, Sydenham, Chch, 7 days. Wanted To Buy All jazz records wanted, Kiwi and overseas artists. Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside, ECM, Verve, Impulse, CTI, Milestone etc. Top prices paid for good titles. Please phone Dave 021 222 6144, Pennylane Records, Chch. 7 days. TOOLS, Garden garage, saw benches, Lathes. Cash buyer Phone 355-2045 ADD SOME COLOUR TO YOUR ADVERT! Gardening book made for the South. store.odt.co.nz $35 EACH PURCHASE HERE Enjoy the BEST of Christchurch living FREE TO DOWNLOAD Featuring 26 Informative Tabs at your fingertips CHRISTCHURCHAPP SCAN HERE WITH YOUR CAMERA ITS FREE - DOWNLOAD IT NOW