separated after birth

Who invented it? This question often arises when two automakers get together and put a common model with different logos on the wheels. Take the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra for example: Toyota said it was in development at launch in 2019. BMW answered by all of us. Actually? It’s probably in the middle.

This is exactly where Subaru and Toyota meet. As early as 2010, both debuted the same model with the Toyota Verso-S and Subaru Trezia, with their logos affixed to each. While its proponents call it cost savings, the bad guys call it badge engineering, because a car probably needs more brand identity than just an affixed emblem. But Toyota project manager Daisuke Ido says with the new duo Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X it’s a real collaboration: “50 to 50”. He joined just two years ago and at the time he didn’t even know who was on the development team and which brand. Having the same last name as Subaru’s project boss, Daisuke Ono, shouldn’t have made things easy.

The difference is in the details

Now both SUVs are ready. Both are their brand’s first all-electric models. While such twins are often forced to differ in design, the same genes dominate here. If you don’t look closely when you walk in, you won’t notice the brand until you see the logo on the steering wheel. Otherwise, the cockpits are confusing: a long, adjustable steering column, a speedometer above it, and a mini-display for remaining range; plus a floating center console with rotary knobs for direction of movement and a central twelve-inch touchscreen. Externally, the profiles of the two five-seaters are almost indistinguishable, and the headlights are almost identical. With the larger (tail)door on the Subaru, but with a loading volume of 452 liters, only the surrounding sheet metal and the details of the rear view differ.

So why two models? “Because of different customers,” Daisuke and Daisuke say at the same time. Toyota is the mass brand, the full range supplier – you have to have a wide range of products. So there’s the 204 hp (150 kW) and bZ4X with front-wheel drive or the 218 hp (160 kW) adaptive 4×4 where the engine on the rear axle takes a break when the driving situation doesn’t require it. And Subaru? I have private clients: rural residents over 45 who rationally buy a car and then emotionally talk about it and always want all-wheel drive. Exactly the description of a typical Swiss customer. That’s why Solterra has a permanent 4×4 system with 218 horsepower, as you are used to from the brand.

All-wheel drive cost range

Toyota contributes to the common platform, including electric motors; both share the battery with a net capacity of 71.4 kilowatt-hours (kWh). But there are different ranges, up to 516 (Toyota) or 465 kilometers (Subaru), as tuning, all-wheel drive and assistants are special. Permanent all-wheel drive needs more power than demand-controlled. While the bZ4X itself takes care of efficient recovery, ie energy recovery during braking, you can intervene yourself with Solterra in three stages, using the gearshift pedal on the steering wheel. But both can both drive and brake using only the accelerator pedal.

All the differences in details make a big difference, this is definitely after a few rounds of testing at a test site near Madrid. The bZ4X scores with reasonable, simple handling and a factory consumption of 16.3 kWh/100 km should dispel the fear of electric driving. Subaru’s Solterra consumes 1.5 kilowatt hours more on average, but brings the fun factor into play as all four wheels are constantly driven. It is particularly convincing on mud and gravel that some Swiss customers will likely use: Combustion engines require high engine speeds to operate on steep slopes. But Subaru creeps electronically controlled from the first engine rev. Nobody misses today’s rather thirsty Subaru petrol engines.

However, Solterra also outperforms its Toyota twin in terms of base price at 55,900 francs compared to 49,400 francs. Permanent all-wheel drive is not free.