2023 Is Shaping up to Be an Exciting Year for Subaru SUVs

Subaru has staked out a place as one of the top makers of SUVs with a family of models that have dominated the SUV market for years. For 2023, not only will Subaru continue to build upon its reputation, but it will also expand its family of models. The latest addition to the Subaru SUV family is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). While Subaru offers an available hybrid engine for the Crosstrek, the 2023 Solterra will be the very first BEV offered by Subaru, built on a compact SUV platform. This will give drivers the option of getting the exceptional performance and quality of a Subaru SUV with the fuel savings and zero emissions of a BEV. As your premier NJ Subaru SUV dealer, these should be rolling into our dealership here at Richard Lucas Subaru soon. In addition to the Solterra, Subaru has an array of exciting models coming to us for the 2023 model year. Let’s take a look at some of the vehicles and features we have to look forward to for the upcoming year.

A Look at Some of the Standard Tech Features for 2023
Every Subaru SUV features the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system that comes standard on all models. This means you are not getting an SUV originally designed as a front-wheel or rear-wheel drive vehicle that has been retrofitted with an all-wheel drive instead. These Subaru SUVs are built from the ground up as all-wheel drive vehicles, so they are perfectly designed to tackle rough terrain and inclement weather with ease.

In addition, Subaru equips its SUVs with its EyeSight Driver Assist Technology features to keep you and your passengers safe. This is a suite of various driver assistance and safety features that utilize the latest in safety innovation. It’s no wonder the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Subaru Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent as Top Safety Picks in 2022.

Five Great SUV Models to Choose From

With the addition of the Solterra, the Subaru family of superior SUV models will increase to five for 2023. The smallest member of the family is the Crosstrek, but don’t let its subcompact design fool you. The Crosstrek may be small, but it offers exceptional handling and performance. The compact Forester SUV is compact in name only and has plenty of room for up to five adults to sit comfortably in its roomy interior, with plenty of space in the trunk for all of your belongings.

The Outback is the midsize SUV model in the Subaru family and is a great choice for those looking to transport passengers regularly, with plenty of room for all your belongings and a rugged build allowing you to venture off the pavement. With its comfortable space, your kids will enjoy the ride and won’t serenade you with choruses of “are we there yet?” The largest model in the Subaru SUV family is the Ascent. This three-row SUV seats up to eight passengers, making it ideal for people with large families or plenty of friends. You can save the trouble of carpooling on a night out by taking them where they need to go in the spacious Ascent. And as for the fifth member of the Subaru family, let’s take a deeper look at this new addition…

Say Goodbye to the Pump With the All-New 2023 Subaru Solterra

If you are wondering how Subaru came up with the name for its new BEV SUV, the Solterra, the automaker turned to Latin: Sol meaning the sun, and Terra meaning the earth. Subaru’s move toward electric vehicles is helping capture the power of the sun while contributing to saving the earth. The Solterra will also be saving you, as far as your wallet is concerned, as you will no longer be a prisoner of the gas pump. The Solterra is the second Subaru SUV to feature an alternative energy powertrain, with the Crosstrek offering a 2.0-liter Boxer-4 Hybrid engine. This takes the exceptional fuel economy of the Crosstrek and gives it an amazing boost, especially in city driving.

While other automakers offer BEV SUV models, none can compare to the Solterra. This vehicle is equipped with the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System, as well as Subaru’s X-MODE to give you enhanced traction in certain road conditions. It also comes with many of the standard EyeSight safety features, an enormous 12.3-inch color touchscreen for the Starlink Multimedia system, and 8.3 inches of ground clearance. As a result, you will get the performance you expect in a Subaru SUV, with the benefits of a BEV.

The 2023 Solterra runs on dual AC permanent magnet synchronous electric motors powering the front and rear axles. These will deliver 215 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. Powering the pair of electric motors is a 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged at a public DC fast charging station or conveniently at home using a 240-volt power source. The Solterra is expected to have a range of up to 228 miles on a full battery charge.

Get Lost in the Wilderness…With the Wilderness
In 2022, Subaru introduced the latest Forester and Outback models designed for off-road enthusiasts. The 2023 Outback and Forester Wilderness editions feature increased ground clearance, a wider stance, specialized Yokohama all-terrain tires wrapped around off-road wheels, and standard front skid plates, so you have what you need in your Outback or Forester when hitting the trail. The Outback Wilderness gives you 9.5 inches of ground clearance, allowing you to get up and over anything in your path. The front skid plate will give you peace of mind, shielding key parts of the Subaru’s undercarriage from rocks, logs, and other debris.

One of the more interesting features of the Wilderness models is the StarTex interior material. Fabric seats can get wet and stained, and leather can get more easily damaged from the elements you bring in when you’ve been out all day in the woods or by the beach. Subaru addresses this by using StarTex, a waterproof fabric made from recycled materials that can better stand up to what you, your passengers, and your pets may accidentally track into your 2023 Subaru Forester or Outback Wilderness after you’ve been out in the wilderness.

The Subaru Ascent Reaches New Heights

Subaru has given the three-row Ascent a mid-generation facelift with new upgrades that provide the Ascent with a sleeker and more aerodynamic appearance, resulting in a smoother ride for you and your passengers. The 2023 Ascent also has a bolder look courtesy of its new gloss black and chrome grille.

Another thing you are sure to love about the 2023 Ascent is the new Starlink Multimedia system on a massive high-resolution 11.6-inch color touchscreen. This comes standard on all models of the Ascent, so you don’t have to pay a premium to get this advanced system. One of the coolest features is the standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, so now you can leave those annoying USB cables at home where they belong. There is even an available Cabin Connect system that allows you to talk to the passengers in the third row of seats through the Ascent’s sound system. This will save your vocal cords and help keep you and your family safer by not having to take your eyes off the road to turn around to talk.

It’s Time to Get Excited for 2023

Subaru is primed for a big year in 2023. The all-new Solterra gives you a Subaru SUV that has the benefits of all-electric power. Similarly, the Crosstrek Hybrid helps reduce your gas consumption in this great subcompact SUV. If you are into off-roading, the Wilderness model of the Outback and Forester gives you the features you need to tackle the trails, while the upgraded Ascent comes with an enormous standard touchscreen and other features to make one of the best three-row SUVs even better. You could say that these upgrades will help the Ascent climb to the top of the family SUV pack. Best of all, no matter which Subaru SUV you choose, you get a high-quality vehicle with standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and EyeSight driver assistance features. Is 2023 the year of the Subaru? We think so, and we invite you to come in and see for yourself.