Solterra Subscriptions

As the one year anniversary of leasing my 2024 Subaru Solterra Limited just passed, I’m now being prompted to renew the subscriptions I got for free for a year. What does each one cover, how much are they, and are they worth it?

Safety Connect

Trial service still active, “up to 10 years.”

I’m not sure what exactly this entails, but the manual (p. 36) talks about “SUBARU SOLTERRA CONNECT subscribers,” and discusses how “the system is designed to send an emergency call to the response center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location (without needing to push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to speak with the occupants to ascertain the level of emergency and assistance required.” This will be triggered by airbag deployment, a seatbelt pretensioner operates, or the vehicle has been involved in a severe rear-end collision.

Drive Connect ($16/month)

“Drive Connect empowers you to enhance your drive with increased command inside your vehicle. Through the voice-activated Intelligent Assistant, which will learn your driving preferences and work with Cloud Navigation, you’ll experience personalized routes based on your preferences. Or, if you would like to speak with a live agent, Destination Assist can help you get to where you want to go.”

Enables these features:
  • Cloud Navigation (“brings maps, personalization and intelligent assistant together in the multimedia system [and] allows you to use voice-activated commands or touch-screen to search for directions, find points of interest, or explore local businesses [...] [f]eatures provide route details, turn-by-turn guidance options, alternate routes, and views of live traffic”).
  • Intelligent Assistant. (Some of this functionality is available without a subscription, per p. 93 of the Getting Started Guide, and p. 36 of MSA5M2431A_STIS.pdf (SolterraCONNECT Subaru Multimedia...) “Intelligent Assistant is a subscription-based service that allows you to control the multimedia system with voice command and allows you to operate navigation, integrated streaming, radio and phone. Without the subscription, the assistant will only be able to support voice commands for radio and phone.”
  • Destination Assist.
// TODO link the guides

Worth it? I don’t think so. I use CarPlay for everything the above offers, and then some. (Which is probably at least part of why GM and others are dropping support for Android Auto and CarPlay. Miss me with that nonsense!) 

Remote Connect ($8/month)

“With Remote Connect, check battery status, find the nearest charging station, and more.” Works with the smart phone app (currently known as SubaruConnect, “formerly known as the SUBARU SOLTERRA CONNECT app,” and published by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.) to enable these features:
  • Guest Driver
  • Vehicle Status
  • Last Parked Location
  • Unlock/Lock
  • Remote Start
  • Climate Settings
  • Charge Management
  • Charing Station Locator
  • Digital Key (if equipped)
Worth it? This one’s the only one I’d personally consider subscribing to, if only for the ability to drop in and see what the State of Charge (“SOC”) is when I’m off doing something and it’s charging (hanging out at a bar, or Disneyland, or at the office after hours and wondering if I can start planning to head home). Likewise, the digital key might be handy on occasion, though I’ve found it to be somewhat unreliable and inconsistent and have had to re-set it up several times.

I live in a Mediterranean climate so I’m not so concerned with starting it remotely or pre-cooling / hearing it. I don’t find myself using the digital key, and I don’t need to know the charge status, except maybe when I’m at a charger that has idle fees. I’m also against “subscribing” to car features in general (and I’m not alone). This is a wobbler, to be honest. I’ll probably let convenience tweak my indignation.

Wi-Fi Connect (3rd party service provided by AT&T)

“Connect up to 5 compatible devices and start streaming videos, music, movies and more by turning your Subaru into a powerful Wi-Fi Hotspot. Integrated Streaming Take your music with you by linking your Apple Music™ or Amazon Music™ account in any capable vehicle.” Links to myvehicle.att.com.

For AT&T Wireless customers, unlimited plans start at $10/month (marked down from $20/month, which might be the ‘normal’ price?).

If you’re not an existing AT&T Wireless customer, $25/month for prepaid unlimited data, or 12 months for $225/year ($18.75). 

Worth it? Eh, maybe. Probably not. Everyone has unlimited data and gobs of available hotspot data use on their smartphones already. If AT&T has coverage places your phone doesn’t, or if you need cheap unlimited data, maybe?

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