Subaru is a well-known and generally well-liked automaker with many great cars. That being said, Subaru is by no means perfect, and the Japanese automaker has made a few disappointing cars before. The most disappointing 2023 Subaru model is one of the company’s newest offerings – the Subaru Solterra.

Here’s how Subaru’s lineup ranked against each other

U.S. News wrote that the best Subaru vehicle in the 2023 model year is the BRZ. It has an overall score of 8.7 out of 10, making it the second-best car in its segment. Then there’s the Forester, which has an overall score of 8.2 out of 10. The Outback followed closely with its overall score of 8.1 out of 10. Then there’s the Legacy and its overall score of 7.8 out of 10.

After that are the Crosstrek and the Crosstrek Hybrid, the two versions of the Crosstrek were tied as both have an overall score of 7.7 out of 10. Then there’s the Impreza, which has an overall score of 7.5 out of 10. The second-worst Subaru car right now is the WRX, which has an overall score of 7.4 out of 10.

The most disappointing Subie overall, however, is the Solterra. This brand-new Subaru EV only has an overall score of 6.9 out of 10. That low score is disappointing and makes it one of the worst electric SUVs on the market. The only electric SUV with a worse score is the Toyota bZ4X, which shouldn’t be a surprise since the bZ4X is almost identical to the Solterra.

Why the Solterra is the most disappointing 2023 Subaru

The Solterra starts at a price tag of about $45,000, and that’s about average for an electric SUV. The reason why this Subaru EV has such a low score largely has to do with the fact that it’s not very practical. The Japanese automaker only offers one powertrain option for the Solterra right now. It has two electric motors that work together to get 215 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque.

Since it has two electric motors, this Subie also gets all-wheel drive as standard. The powertrain isn’t weak, but it’s paired with a 72.8-kWh battery pack as standard. That battery pack only allows the electric SUV to get 220 miles of range. That’s a terrible range number, and most EVs on the market offer more than that.

Subaru also doesn’t offer a longer-range option, so 220 miles is the most that drivers will get. In addition to the Solterra’s terrible range, its interior isn’t great. It has a clean and simple design, but it doesn’t come with enough features to justify its $45,000 price tag.

The 2023 Subaru Solterra does have some bright spots

That being said, U.S. News did give the electric Subie some compliments. While its interior is “bland,” it’s very comfortable. The seats are spacious and supportive, and the electric SUV has good ride quality. However, the best aspect of the Solterra is its off-roading capabilities.

Subaru is well-known for making cars that can off-road well, and this seems to be what the Japanese automaker wanted the Solterra to excel in. Since it’s an EV, its electric motors can generate torque instantly, which is handy during off-roading. Its standard all-wheel drive is also a useful off-roading feature. On top of that, the Solterra has 8.3 inches of ground clearance, which helps it do well off-road.

These bright spots don’t do enough to stop it from earning the label of the most disappointing 2023 Subaru, however.