Toyota BZ4X, Subaru Solterra electric-car twins get third update ahead of Australian arrivals
Toyota Australia's first electric car will have had its third tech update before it arrives in local showrooms in early 2024 – and the Subaru Solterra twin now has an unusual point of difference.
After a stalled start, Toyota Australia's first electric car – the BZ4X – and its identical twin the Subaru Solterra are now on their third iteration of software calibrations.
And that's even before they arrive in Australian showrooms late this year and early next year.
Another round of subtle but important updates to the Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra twins were announced at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show today – but there are no external visual changes.
The Japanese companies have addressed widely publicised shortcomings with the charging time and driving range, which was much shorter than claimed estimates from the manufacturers.
In particular, changes to the latest versions of the Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra twins are claimed to include:
- Improved battery 'warm-up' performance during cold conditions reduces charging time by up to 30 per cent at low outside temperatures;
- Extended real-world driving range by reducing power consumption and optimising air conditioning controls;
- Automatic activation of 'eco' mode contributes to reduced energy consumption by reducing dependence on air-conditioning systems, seat heaters, and heated steering wheels;
- A humidity sensor to detect fogging on the windshield and more precisely control the timing of outside air intake;
- Information on vehicle charging status – while it is charging – has been added to the instrument cluster display;
- The meter displays the charging time from the current remaining charge to 80 per cent (which Toyota is important when using a quick-charger on long trips.
Further to these changes, the latest version of the Subaru Solterra has at least one point of difference beyond the badges.
Subaru unveiled a new, more compact 'squared-off' steering wheel – which does not obscure the instrument cluster in the same way the larger round steering wheel does in the Toyota BZ4X.
For now it is unclear whether the squared off steering wheel (pictured below) will be fitted to Australian-delivered examples of the Subaru Solterra – and Toyota BZ4X – or if both models will initially be sold locally with old-school round steering wheels.
The Subaru Solterra is due to arrive in Australian showrooms within weeks – about three months before the Toyota BZ4X.
Drive understands the delay for both models is linked to waiting for the latest 'V3' versions of the twin vehicles – unveiled in Japan today – rather than launching with the superseded 'V2' technology.
Australian pricing and specifications for the Subaru Solterra are due imminently, while details for the Toyota BZ4X are due closer to local showroom arrivals next year.
While both Toyota and Subaru are building hype around the imminent Australian arrivals of these two models, they are in fact considered by industry analysts as 'stop-gap' electric cars. That is, electric cars that have been based on a heavily-remodelled petrol car platform.
Up to a dozen new vehicles based on Toyota's next-generation electric-car platform – also unveiled at the 2023 Tokyo Motor Show today – are due in showrooms from 2025 onwards.
Subaru says it will have four electric cars in showrooms from 2026, which are also expected to be shared with Toyota.
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