Two years into our ownership experience of the 2023 Subaru Solterra, and we’re still loving it. It’s practical, smooth, and super easy to live with, especially with the charger in our garage. While not perfect, this car does exactly what we want it to do: a daily commuter and occasional road warrior to Palm Springs. We’re learning a lot about how to maximize range, too. The most crucial lesson? Get used to letting the automatic climate control do its own thing.
In most cars, we typically keep the climate controls in manual mode because we love the ability to change the fan speed and temperature. In the 2023 Subaru Solterra, we ended up changing our usage habits with regard to the climate controls. Every time we drive it, Eco and Automatic modes stay on. That makes it incredibly efficient, managing cabin temperature so superbly. Too cold? Heated seats and the steering wheel work together with the climate control system to keep you cozy without using too much energy. Hot out? Ventilated seats help keep you chill, while invigorating air flows effortlessly from the vents.
The Solterra’s climate control impresses every time we use it. It maximizes passenger comfort without using excessive amounts of energy. The result? A comfortable cabin, no matter the temperature. Best of all, it teaches you how to take advantage of all the tools and features at your disposal to help get the most out of every charger. It’s also proof that driving efficiently does not have to come at the cost of comfort. Both can coexist.
2023 Subaru Solterra: Let It Be
When left in automatic mode, the driver and passengers can only change the temperature. Changing the fan speed immediately puts the Solterra’s dual-zone climate control system in manual mode. This results in higher energy consumption, affecting the vehicle’s driving range. That’s where the Eco function comes in. In addition to reducing energy consumption, it manages the climate control system’s operation to help you get the most out of the car.
When using the climate controls on the 2023 Solterra, resist the urge to manually change something. Let the car do its thing. Although this seems messy, it’s far from it. Simply press two haptic feedback buttons just below the 12.3-inch touchscreen: Eco and Auto. This allows the car to set the cabin temperature for maximum comfort and efficiency, minimizing loss of driving range. Doing this even allows the car to automatically turn on the heated front seats and steering wheel when it’s too cold, or the ventilated seats when it’s too hot. Need to cool or heat the cabin? The climate control system automatically increases the fan speed, quieting down once it’s at a comfortable temperature.
Long story short, let the climate control do its thing. Leave the Eco and Auto settings to maximize its efficiency. It does a better job at getting the cabin nice and cozy than you’ll ever do. Doing this allowed us to get impressive efficiency, especially in combination with the Eco drive mode. We frequently average 4.0 miles per kWh or higher. As a result, we constantly exceed the Subaru’s 222-mile EPA-estimated driving range rating, averaging anywhere between 230 to 260 miles. So yes, let the climate control system be. You’ll benefit from it. A lot.
