Compare the2023 Subaru SolterraVS 2023 Nissan Leaf

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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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 Leaf 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 Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Solterra and the Leaf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Subaru Solterra weighs 465 to 996 pounds more than the Nissan Leaf. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Solterra is safer than the Leaf:

	Solterra	Leaf
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	105	211
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	201 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	1.14 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	245 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	870 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.63 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.38 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	647 lbs.	937 lbs.

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 Leaf has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 8 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 68 more horsepower (215 vs. 147) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 236) than the Leaf’s standard electric motor. The Solterra’s electric motors produces 1 more horsepower (215 vs. 214) than the Leaf PLUS’ standard electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

		Miles
Solterra
	Premium Electric Motors	228 miles
	Limited/Touring Electric Motors	222 miles
Leaf
	SV PLUS Electric Motor	212 miles
	Electric Motor	149 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Solterra’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Leaf:

	Solterra	Leaf
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.5 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the Leaf (235/60R18 vs. 205/55R16). The Solterra Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (235/60R18 vs. 215/50R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Premium has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S. The Solterra Limited/Touring’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Leaf SV PLUS.

Suspension and Handling

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 Nissan Leaf has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the Leaf (112.2 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Solterra is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

Chassis

The front grille of the Solterra uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Leaf doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Solterra has 3.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Leaf (95.7 vs. 92.4).

The Solterra has 2.7 inches more front hip room, 3.5 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

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

Cargo Capacity

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 Leaf doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Solterra Limited/Touring, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Leaf doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Leaf doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Solterra’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Solterra and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Solterra is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 Leaf’s passenger windows don’t 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 Leaf can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Leaf’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Solterra’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Leaf S’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 Leaf doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Solterra’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV PLUS.

When the Solterra Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Leaf’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Solterra has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Leaf SV PLUS. 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 Leaf.

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 Leaf doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Solterra has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Solterra has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Solterra offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.