For some people, having a car and all the perks that come with it is enough. No matter how logical it seems, the industry is moving towards cars that can drive themselves with improved driver assistance. The electric 2024 Subaru Solterra will not only join the show but also have the brand’s first hands-free driving technology. This feature is one of many new ones added to Subaru’s EyeSight package for the 2024 Solterra EV. Subaru says that in stop-and-go traffic, drivers will be able to switch directions with just a flick of the turn signal while staying in their lane at up to 25 mph. So, the Solterra has systems that keep an eye on the driver to stop the kind of abuse that caused Tesla to recall two million cars in December. It’s not an extra $12,000 choice; the base model comes with it too. While it’s not the first of its kind in the Toyota ecosystem, which includes Subaru, the Solterra is the first Subaru car to offer this feature. (The Solterra and the Toyota BZ4X are the same.) Toyota used a similar technology in the Lexus LS500h and the Mirai hydrogen-powered car. Even though Mazda has yet to get it, it will be soon. Of course, these tools will only help if the driver keeps their eyes on the road. You can clean up coffee spills or twist off bottle caps, but you can’t text or watch YouTube videos. Even though this isn’t a huge step forward, many people will benefit from the daily improvement in their quality of life. Other changes to the 2024 Solterra, like the addition of new paddles behind the steering wheel to change the amount of regenerative braking power, are definitely “quality-of-life” improvements. The SUV’s better battery cooling cuts the time it takes for DC fast charging to drop from 10 to 80% to about 35 minutes while speeding up charging at low temperatures. Also, the Solterra comes with basic roof rails that can hold up to 700 pounds in static and 176 pounds in dynamic loads. Subaru says this means it can be used for a tent on top. With a base price of $46,340 shipped, the 2024 Subaru Solterra should be able to get the $7,500 federal tax credit. Still, the EPA needs to add the 2024 Solterra to its list of qualifying cars, so check to make sure you can deduct $7,500 from your taxes.
