Compare the2023 Subaru SolterraVS 2023 Polestar 2

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 Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Polestar 2 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Polestar 2.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Solterra’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

The Solterra has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Polestar 2’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Solterra has standard rear cross-path warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Polestar charges extra for Cross Traffic Alert on the Polestar 2.

Both the Solterra and the Polestar 2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, 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 Polestar 2 has not been tested, yet.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Solterra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Polestar covers the 2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Polestar 2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 24 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Polestar dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Solterra’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Polestar vehicles. With 137 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Polestar.

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 243) than the Polestar 2 Single Motor’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Polestar 2:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Polestar 2 (112.2 inches vs. 107.6 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Polestar 2’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Solterra has .7 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Polestar 2.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The Polestar 2’s rear seats don’t recline.

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 Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Solterra has standard extendable sun visors. The Polestar 2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 Polestar 2 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.