Why Doesn't The Subaru Solterra Have A Glove Box?

"Subaru's decision to replace the glove box in the Solterra with a radiant heat panel is a deliberate functional choice aimed at improving winter performance and passenger comfort. Rather than blowing warm air from vents, radiant panels emit infrared heat that warms surfaces and occupants directly, much like the sun's rays. That's especially useful in EVs, where conserving battery power is crucial."

"Traditional climate systems that rely on resistance heating or heat pumps can quickly drain a battery, particularly in colder climates. By integrating radiant heat into the dash and footwell area, Subaru aims to provide more targeted warmth while drawing less energy from the battery. While Subaru hasn't publicly released detailed specs for the panel itself, several auto reviewers-including Car and Driver -have noted the Solterra's strong cold-weather readiness, even without the familiar glove box."

Subaru replaced the glove box in the all-electric Solterra with a radiant heat panel built into the dash and footwell to warm occupants directly. The radiant panel emits infrared heat that warms surfaces and legs rather than relying solely on blown air. Radiant heating provides targeted warmth while reducing reliance on energy-intensive resistance heaters or heat pumps, helping conserve EV battery power in cold conditions. The Solterra includes heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and available all-wheel drive to enhance cold-weather capability. The Solterra shares a platform with the Toyota bZ4X, which retains a glove compartment in U.S. models. Subaru has not released detailed panel specifications.

Read at InsideEVs