Compare the2023 Subaru SolterraVS 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5

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 Hyundai Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Subaru Solterra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Ioniq 5 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Solterra. But it costs extra on the Ioniq 5.

Both the Solterra and the Ioniq 5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Solterra its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ioniq 5 has not been fully tested, yet.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 6 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 47 more horsepower (215 vs. 168) than the Ioniq 5 Standard Range’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Ioniq 5:

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 Ioniq 5 are solid, not vented.

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Ioniq 5’s (36.7 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Solterra has .4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room and .1 inches more front shoulder room than the Ioniq 5.

The Solterra has a much larger cargo volume than the Ioniq 5 with its rear seat up (29 vs. 27.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Solterra easier. The Solterra’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28 inches, while the Ioniq 5’s liftover is 30.2 inches.

The Solterra has a higher standard payload capacity than the Ioniq 5 (1045 vs. 957 lbs.).

The Solterra’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ioniq 5’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Ioniq 5 SEL/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Solterra the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Subaru service department.) The driver of the Ioniq 5 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Solterra Limited/Touring has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Ioniq 5 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Solterra and the Ioniq 5 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 Ioniq 5.