Compare the2023 Subaru SolterraVS 2022 Mazda MX-30

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Mazda MX-30 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Solterra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The MX-30 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Solterra has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The MX-30 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Solterra has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The MX-30 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Solterra’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The MX-30 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Solterra and the MX-30 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Subaru Solterra weighs 710 to 850 pounds more than the Mazda MX-30. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 16 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Solterra’s warranty.

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 72 more horsepower (215 vs. 143) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the MX-30:

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the MX-30 on a full charge:

The Solterra’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MX-30 are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the MX-30 (235/60R18 vs. 215/55R18).

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MX-30’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Limited/Touring has standard 20-inch wheels. The MX-30’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Solterra has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda MX-30 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Solterra has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The MX-30 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the MX-30 (112.2 inches vs. 104.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Solterra is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the MX-30.

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the MX-30’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the MX-30 (8.3 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Solterra has 5.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MX-30 (95.7 vs. 89.8).

The Solterra has .3 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the MX-30.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The MX-30’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Solterra Limited/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The MX-30 doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Both the Solterra and the MX-30 have standard heated front seats. The Solterra Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the MX-30.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Solterra Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The MX-30 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Solterra’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The MX-30 doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s Advanced Park can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The MX-30 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.