Compare the2023 Subaru SolterraVS 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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.

Both the Solterra and the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine:

The Solterra can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 222 to 228 miles. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 33 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Solterra higher (10 out of 10) than the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid (7). This means the Solterra produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid are solid, not vented.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Limited/Touring has standard 20-inch wheels. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid (112.2 inches vs. 108.5 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

The Solterra has .7 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more front shoulder room than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid.

The Solterra has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid can only operate 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.